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Odiham in Southampton County England History and GeographyODIHAM, a market-town and parish in the hundred of ODIHAM, Basingstoke division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 26 miles (N.E.) from Winchester, 37 (N.E.) from Southampton,and 40 (W.S.W.) from London, containing, with the chapelry of Lyss-Turney, and the tythings of Hillside, Murrell-Green, Rye with Stapeley, and North Warnborough, 2983 inhabitants. This place was formerly a free borough belonging to the Bishops of Winchester; and the castle, which stood about a mile north-west of the town, was built before the time of King John, in whose reign it became celebrated for its resistance to the army of Louis, the Dauphin of France, having sustained a siege for fifteen days, though garrisoned only by three officers and ten private soldiers. That monarch was here a few days before the signing of Magna Charta, attended by a retinue of not more than seven knights. In the 27th of Edward I., the town, park, and hundred, were granted to the queen, as part of her dower. In the reign of Edward III., David Bruce, King of Scotland, having been made prisoner at the battle of Neville's Cross, was confined in this fortress for eleven years. The town is pleasantly situated on the side of a chalk hill, and from the neighbouring chalk-pits the adjacent country is supplied with manure, the means of conveying which is afforded by the Basingstoke canal, which passes about a mile north-east of the town. A bookclub has been established about forty years, and races were formerly held here. The manufacture of cotton stockings was carried on a few years since, but at present there is no trade deserving particular notice. In some parts of the parish hops are cultivated. The market is on Tuesday; and fairs are held on the Saturday preceding Mid-Lent Sunday, and July 31st, for horses and cattle. The county magistrates hold a meeting every fortnight; and constables are annually chosen at the court leet of the manor, held at Easter: a court for the recovery of small debts has fallen into disuse. Odiham was summoned to send members to parliament in the reigns of Edward I. and Edward II., but never made any return. The living is a vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of Grewell, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's books at £23. 11. 5½., and in the patronage of the Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury. The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is a large ancient building of brick, coated with stucco. There are places of worship for those in the Connexion of the late Countess of Huntingdon, and Independents. A free school, for the education of twenty boys, was founded in 1694, by Robert May, and endowed with £600 for its support, and £200 for apprenticing the children; the funds were subsequently augmented by a rent-charge of £10 for five additional children, and an addition of £20 per annum to the apprentice fund, the bequest of James Zouch, Esq., but this benefaction has become much reduced in value from losses: about twenty-three children are educated, and three on an average are annually apprenticed. A National school is supported by subscription, and another school, in which the children are partly clothed, is supported by dissenters. Near the church is an almshouse, founded and endowed by Sir Edward More, in 1623, with property producing about £80 per annum, for the support of eight poor widowers and widows; and there are apartments for two more poor persons, with stipends from other benefactions. Vestiges of the keep of the ancient castle are visible about a mile north-west of the town; and the remains of a royal residence have been converted into a farm-house, still called Palace Gate. William Lilly, the grammarian and astrologer, was born here about 1468. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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