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Andover in Southampton County England History and GeographyANDOVER, a borough, markettown, and parish, having separate jurisdiction, in the division and hundred of ANDOVER, county of SOUTHAMPTON, 26 miles (N. by W.) from Southampton, and 64 (W. S. W.) from London. The parish contains 4219 inhabitants, of which number, 4123 are in the borough, and 96 in the chapelry of Foxcote. Andover, or according to the charter, seal, and official documents, Andever, is a corruption of the Saxon Andeafara, which signifies the passage of the Ande, denoting the proximity of the town to the small river Ande or Anton. It was in the church at this place, that Anlaf, King of Norway, in 994, received the sacrament of confirmation, under the sponsorship of King Ethelred, promising that he would never more come in a hostile manner to England, which engagement he religiously performed. The town, situated on the border of the Wiltshire downs, and near the edge of an extensive tract of woodland forming the north-west portion of the county, is neat, airy, and well built; it consists principally of three long streets, not lighted, but well paved under an act obtained in 1825, and is plentifully supplied with water. There is a small theatre; and during Weyhill fair assemblies are held in the town-hall. The manufacture of silk has, of late, entirely superseded that of shalloons, which was formerly carried on here to a great extent; and the opening of a canal hence, through Stock bridge to Southampton Water, has, by the inereased facility of conveyance, materially improved the trade of the town, particularly in corn, malt, and timber; of which last a vast quantity is forwarded from Harewood forest, for the supply of Portsmouth dock-yard. The market, principally for corn, is on Saturday, and there is a smaller one on Wednesday. The fairs are on Midlent Saturday, and old May day, for horses, cattle, cheese and leather; on the 16th November for sheep, and on the following day for horses, hops, cheese, &c. Three miles west of Andover, and within the out hundred belonging to the town, is Weyhill, where an annual fair is held, which, although originating in a revel anciently kept on the Sunday before Michaelmas day, has gradually become the largest and best attended in England; merchants and manufacturers from every part of the kingdom assembling here for the transaction of business. It is held on the 10th October and six following days, by charter of Queen Elizabeth, confirmed by Charles II. The first day is noted for the sale of sheep, of which the number sold has frequently exceeded 150,000; on the second, the farmers hire their servants; after which hops, cheese, horses (particularly cart colts), cloth, &c., are exposed for sale; during the first three days the bailiff of Andover holds a court of pie-powder, and receives two-pence from each booth in acknowledgment of his jurisdiction. An additional fair, principally for sheep, was instituted in 1829, to be held on the 1st of August. The townreceived its first charter of in corporation from king John; but that under which it is now governed was granted by Elizabeth. The government is vested in a high steward, a recorder, a town clerk, twelve approved men, and twelve capital burgesses: a bailiff and two magistrates, having exclusive jurisdiction, are annually chosen, by the members of the corporation generally, from among the 'approved men.' The bailiff appoints two serjeants-atmace to attend him. Courts of session for the borough are held quarterly; and there is a court of record for debts and damages under £40, held every Monday, under an act of 41 Elizabeth, the bailiff and steward presiding. The town-hall was erected in 1825, at an expense of £7000, towards which each of the members for the borough, Sir J. W. Pollen, Bart. and T. A. Smith, Esq. presented £1000; it is a handsome and spacious building of stone, surmounted by a cupola; on the basement is the market-house, over which are a council-room for transacting the business of the corporation, and a hall for holding the quarter sessions. The borough sent representatives to all the parliaments of Edward I., but made no return after the first of Edward II., till the 27th of Elizabeth; since which period it has continued to send two members to parliament: the right of election is vested in the corporation; the bailiff is the returning officer. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's books at £17. 4. 3½., and in the patronage of the Warden and Fellows of Winton College. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient building with a fine Saxon doorway at the west end, the chancel is separated from the nave by the belfry. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and Methodists. The grammar school, in which ten boys are educated, each paying two guineas per annum, was founded and endowed in 1569, by John Hanson, Esq.; its endowment was subsequently increased by Richard Kemis: the master, receiving £20 per annum, resides in the house and is allowed to take private pupils: the school house was built by the corporation, on land given by Richard Blake, Esq., and is kept in repair at their expense. In 1719, John Pollen, Esq. one of the representatives of the borough, erected a school-house, and endowed the same with £10 per annum, for educating twenty poor children; a National school, in which two humdred and fifty children are educated, is supported by subscription. An hospital for eight poor men was founded by John Pollen, Esq., and six alms-houses for poor women were erected with funds bequeathed by Catherine Hanson, but they have no endowment; she also bequeathed an acre of ground, planted with trees, to be appropriated as a walk for the recreation of the inhabitants. The Roman road from Winchester to Cirencester passed near Andover, and is yet visible in Harewood copse; and besides two or three small encampments near the town, there is a larger one, about a mile to the south-west, on the summit of Bury hill. Some beautiful specimens of Roman pavement have recently been discovered in the neighbourhood. Andover gives the title of viscount to the Earl of Suffolk. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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