HORDLE
Hordwell (x–xvii cent.); Herdel (xi–xvi cent.);
Hordhull, Hordhill (xii–xvii cent.); Hordul (xiv–
xviii cent.); Hordell (xvi–xviii cent.); Hordill,
Hordall (xviii cent.).
The parish of Hordle is situated west of Lymington
upon the shores of Christchurch Bay, stretching back
inland for a distance of four miles. It contains 3,854
acres, of which 1,653¼ are arable, 1,345 permanent
grass, 452¼ woods and plantations (fn. 1) and 3 land
covered with water. It lies entirely upon the
Hamstead, Bembridge, Osborne and Headon Series,
with the exception of a small portion of coast in the
extreme south-west, which lies upon the Bagshot and
Brocklesham Beds. There are several disused gravel
pits, two clay pits, a brick field and some old kilns in
the parish.
Hordle Cliffs extend along nearly the whole of the
coast, and in the beds of gravel which cap the cliffs
many weapons of the Early Stone Age have been
found. The land falls gradually towards the north,
where a height of 183 ft. is reached upon Stanley's
Common. Danes Stream flows from north to south
through the west of the parish, making a sharp turn
eastwards at Taddiford Farm; and the Avon Water
forms part of the north-eastern boundary.
The village is situated upon cross-roads in the
centre of the parish; one of these runs south to
Hordle Cliff and Milford, while the other runs
north-west, past Vaggs and Hordle Grange and
Stanley's Farm, towards the hamlet of Tiptoe. The
hamlet of Downton, with its smithy and inn, 'The
Royal Oak,' is south of the village; and east of
Downton is Lea Green, with Downton Manor Farm.
Yeatton House, the residence of Mr. Charles Howard
Ward, J.P., and Yeatton Farm are north of Downton.
South of Downton, between Hordle Cliffs and
Hordle Bridge, at the junction of the road from
Hordle with the road from Milton, are Hordle
Grange, the Manor Farm and the site of the old
church, which was pulled down in 1830 in consequence of the decrease of the population in the south
of the parish, owing to the decline of the salt
industry. Since 1887 very extensive building operations have been carried out upon the eastern end of
Hordle Cliffs, giving rise to the popular seaside
resort known as Milford-on-sea.
The main road from Milton to Boldre runs east
right across the parish, along the site of the Roman
road, crossing the Avon Water just before it reaches
Gordleton, where is a water mill. Darby Lane and
Silver Street are the names by which different
portions of this road are known.
The main London and South Western line to
Bournemouth cuts across the north of the parish in a
south-westerly direction. Hordle House, beautifully
situated upon the cliffs west of Milford-on-Sea, is the
property and residence of Mr. Samuel H. Mangin,
and Arnewood House, just east of the village, of
Mrs. Manson.
The Domesday Survey mentions six saltpans here,
which, together with a mill, were worth 15d., (fn. 2) and
from those days up to quite recent times the salt
industry was a very important and valuable one here.
Early in the last century, however, the development
of the Cheshire salt mines and springs brought about
a great decline in the industry, which has now entirely
ceased.
There is a detached portion of this parish separated from the rest by nearly a mile of coast which
belongs to Milford parish. (fn. 3) This portion consists of
a very curious elongation of Milford beach, which
runs out south-east into the sea for a distance of
nearly two miles, forming the eastern extremity of
Christchurch Bay. It is merely a strip of a few yards
in width for the first mile and a-half, but it then
turns east and widens out towards the mainland.
Upon its southern extremity stands Hurst Castle, a
fort consisting of a circular stone tower, dated 1535,
strengthened by semicircular bastions of later dates. (fn. 4)
It is now chiefly used as a signal station. The
distance from here to the nearest point on the Isle
of Wight is only three-quarters of a mile, but the
sea here is very deep and the tide rushes through
with great violence. Here are also a lighthouse and
coastguard station. At low tide vast stretches of mud
are uncovered, uniting the promontory with the
mainland.
An award was made on 9 September 1820 under
the Act of 1811 for the inclosure of the manor of
Arnewood in this parish. (fn. 5)
Among ancient place-names are Beketon, (fn. 6) surviving in Bekton Farm; Bunny and Gorleton,
surviving in Gordleton; Tadeford, the modern
Taddiford Farm (fn. 7) ; Roselingesaker and la Bache
(xiii cent.) (fn. 8) ; Tadebridge and la Langemede
(xiv cent.). (fn. 9)
CASTLE
HURST CASTLE
HURST CASTLE was erected by
Henry VIII to defend the approach to
Southampton Harbour against the French.
The work was begun in 1541 and finished by the
end of 1544. (fn. 10) The first captain of the castle was
Thomas Bertie, (fn. 11) his deputy the sub-captain being
Christopher Rippenden. In 1561 Thomas Carew
was captain. (fn. 12) The establishment at that time consisted of the captain, his deputy, porter and a master
gunner, a 'deputy's man,' eight soldiers, another for the
porter and eleven gunners. (fn. 13) Thomas Carew was succeeded on his death by Sir Thomas Gorges, kt., (fn. 14) who
in 1593 petitioned for the repair of the platforms,
which were so decayed as to be incapable of supporting the guns. (fn. 15) In 1608 the captaincy was
granted to Sir Thomas for his life with remainder to
his son Sir Edward, (fn. 16) and in the same year commissioners were appointed to survey the decays, and
extensive repairs were carried out. (fn. 17) Sir Edward
Gorges, afterwards Baron Gorges of Dundalk, succeeded his father as captain in 1610. (fn. 18) The castle
seems to have continued in a somewhat inefficient
state, and in 1628 when the porter was ordered to
stay a ship, though he was 'very willing' he 'had
neither powder nor shot to do it with, and of his
twenty-seven pieces of ordnance not above four or
five would do any service, and they but for a shot or
two.' (fn. 19) In the following year a mild scandal was
caused by the captain himself smuggling a parcel of
tobacco into the castle. (fn. 20) In 1635 most of the brass
ordnance in the castle was exchanged for iron. (fn. 21) In
1642, in the absence of the captain, the castle was
occupied by Capt. Richard Swanley for 'the King
and Parliament.' (fn. 22) It was the last prison of Charles I
before being moved to Windsor prior to his trial;
he was brought here on the last day of November 1648
from Newport (fn. 23) and remained.
Lord Gorges was succeeded in the captaincy by
Col. Thomas Eyre, who in 1650 secured a grant of
further ordnance and an increase in the number of
soldiers stationed there. (fn. 24) In 1653 Thomas Wansey
petitioned to be restored to the office of lieutenant of
the castle, which he had lost by his disaffection to
the late government (fn. 25) ; he was reinstated in 1659, (fn. 26)
when Col. Eyre was confirmed in his office of
governor. (fn. 27) At the Restoration in the following year
Col. Eyre lost his post, and Edward Strange was
appointed captain, (fn. 28) the office of governor being
allowed to lapse. In January 1661 the king ordered
the garrison to be disbanded and an estimate made
of the expense of demolishing the castle (fn. 29) ; the
latter idea was, however, speedily dropped, and five
months later, although the forces were paid off, (fn. 30)
arrangements were made for additions involving an
increase in the annual expenditure from £324 11s. 4d.
to £632 15s. 10d. (fn. 31) In 1666 it was decided that
the castle should be garrisoned by men from Sir
Robert Holmes' company in the Isle of Wight. (fn. 32)
This was not done until 1671 owing to the state
of disrepair in which the castle (fn. 33) was. Sir Robert,
who was governor of the Island, reported that
there was scarcely a gun mounted and no stores
or provisions in the castle (fn. 34) ; nothing, however, was
done, and three years later he wrote complaining
that there was hardly a room not fallen in and into
which the rain did not come. (fn. 35) Repairs were then taken
in hand and the garrison established, Capt. Strange
becoming governor. (fn. 36) In 1675 a master gunner
and three other gunners were added to the establishment, there being then nearly thirty guns mounted
at the castle. (fn. 37) In the same year Sir John Holmes
petitioned for leave to purchase the governorship with
the daily pay of 10s. for £500, (fn. 38) and this being
granted him he was appointed to the post. (fn. 39) Captain
Roach, who was captain of the castle at this time,
having murdered a certain Lieut. Newman, fled to
Yarmouth, and borrowing a black cloak took boat to
Hurst, where he was arrested. (fn. 40) In 1689 Henry
Holmes was appointed to the captaincy. (fn. 41) The
castle has undergone many improvements and alterations in recent times and is now connected by submarine telegraph with London and Osborne.
MANORS
The earliest record of Hordle that
has been found is a Saxon charter of the
year 903, a grant by King Edward to
Tata son of Æthehun of 3 hides of land there. (fn. 42) In
the time of the Confessor Hordle was held by Justin
in chief, but in 1086 it belonged to Oidelard, who
held it of Ralph de Mortimer. (fn. 43) Hordle was probably granted soon after to the Redvers, lords of
Christchurch, and it was during the minority of
Baldwin sixth Earl of Devon in 1229 that the king
gave to the men of Hordle to farm the whole of the
demesne, together with their rents and works, at
the yearly rent of £7 10s. (fn. 44) Very soon after the
family of Trenchard acquired a great part, if not
the whole, of this estate. (fn. 45) A portion of it was
granted by Waleran Trenchard to one Ralph Bardolf,
who sold it to Amice wife of the sixth Earl of Devon;
she in about 1250 gave it to Breamore Priory to be
held by them of Waleran. (fn. 46) Other parts of the
estate were retained by the Trenchards, and at the
end of the 13th century Henry, Waleran's successor,
held half a knight's fee in Hordle and Sharprix of
which he had been enfeoffed by the Earl of Devon. (fn. 47)
Thus two separate manors were evolved, one the
Trenchard Manor and the other that held by
Breamore Priory; the overlordship of both belonged
to the lords of Christchurch and they were held for
half a knight's fee each. (fn. 48)
The priory manor, afterwards known as the manor
of HORDLE BREAMORE, comprised, in addition
to the land mentioned as having been granted by the
Countess of Devon, several other holdings granted by
other benefactors. Among these were Robert Amfrey
and his sons Henry, Nigel (fn. 49) and William, all of whom,
together with William Gallun, John de Cans (fn. 50) and
Laurence de Compton, gave land in Hordle to the
priory. All these grants were made prior to 1301. (fn. 51)
In 1309 and again two years later an agreement was
come to between the prior and John Trenchard with
regard to land held by the prior of the latter. (fn. 52) The
priory continued to hold the estate up to the Dissolution. (fn. 53) In 1537 the estate, then worth £6 2s. 10d.
yearly, was granted to Henry Marquess of Exeter and
his wife Gertrude in tail-male. (fn. 54) In 1578, however,
it belonged to Thomas Carew, who dying that year
was succeeded by his son Henry; it was then known
as the manor of Hordle Breamore. (fn. 55) Henry Carew
owned the manor at his death in 1614, when it passed
to his son Henry, (fn. 56) who three years later settled it
upon himself and his wife Dorothy in tail-male. (fn. 57)
In 1639, however, upon his conviction for recusancy,
two thirds of the manor, which was then worth £6
yearly, were forfeited to the king, who granted a lease
of them to Brian Williams and Richard Bingham for
twenty-one years, in the event of the recusancy continuing so long. (fn. 58) Henry Carew, however, died a few
months later, and the manor passed to his son George,
then aged seven. (fn. 59)
In 1694 the manor belonged to Sir William Lewen,
in whose family it remained until the middle of the
18th century. (fn. 60) In 1748 it belonged to William
Rickman, but by 1768 had passed to Edward Ives, in
whose family it remained until 1809, (fn. 61) when Arabella
Ives, widow, was holding. In 1810 it belonged to
James Guy, in 1826 to John Lawrence, John Rogers
being at that time in possession as mortgagee. A
Thomas Legh held the manor in 1834, but it had
passed before 1856 to Dr. F. Chambers, who sold it
in that year to Mr. S. Laing, from whom it was
purchased in 1863 by Colonel Frederick Clinton,
whose son Lieut.-Col. Henry R. Clinton is the present
lord of the manor. (fn. 62)
It has been seen that Henry Trenchard held
HORDLE TRENCHARD as half a knight's fee in
Hordle and Sharprix (fn. 63) ; castle guard at Christchurch
was in 1263 due from him in respect of this land. (fn. 64)
His successor John Trenchard was in 1309 described
as chief lord of Hordle, (fn. 65) and seven years later he
and the Prior of Breamore were returned as the lords
there. (fn. 66) In 1346 the estate belonged to Henry
Trenchard, (fn. 67) and in 1397, (fn. 68) and again in 1414, (fn. 69)
Roger Griffin held it in right of his wife. In 1428
John Trenchard was lord of Hordle, (fn. 70) but later in
the same year, no doubt after his death, Robert
Dingley and John Lisle owned the half fee which had
once belonged to him. (fn. 71) During the next 200 years
no record of the estate has been found, but in 1633
it was again in the hands of the Trenchards, Sir
Thomas Trenchard, kt., suffering a recovery of the
manor of Hordle, which had belonged to his father,
Sir George. (fn. 72) Immediately afterwards, however, the
manor was acquired by Robert
Jason, who, dying in the
following year, was succeeded
by his son Robert. (fn. 73) He was
created a baronet in 1661, (fn. 74)
and in 1680 his son Robert,
second baronet, sold the
manor to Richard Hawkins. (fn. 75)
This cannot apparently have
been an absolute sale, (fn. 76) for in
1706 Sir Robert's daughter
and collateral heiress Anne, (fn. 77)
together with her husband
Thomas Partington, conveyed
the manor to Robert Southam
to hold for ninety-nine years from 1683. (fn. 78) Warner,
in his History of the county, mentions a tombstone
in the church, now no longer to be seen, commemorating the death in 1720 at the age of 112 of one
Christopher Clark, lord of the manor of Hordle, (fn. 79)
but no other record of his lordship has been found.
In 1747 the manor was sold by Robert Lewen and
Richard Glynn to William Rickman for £1,400, (fn. 80)
and there was a settlement of it by William, Rebecca
his wife and Thomas Rickman in 1762. (fn. 81) A few
years later it was acquired by Edward Ives, who in
1773 conveyed it to John Missing. (fn. 82) The later
descent of this moiety of Hordle has not been traced,
but it probably merged in the main manor in the
19th century.
Jason, baronet. Azure a golden fleece in a double tressure counter-flowered or.
The manor of DOWNTON or LEA GREEN
(Duneketon, xiii cent.; Donketon, xiv cent.; Donckton, xvi cent.; Dunkton, xvi–xviii cent.; Dounckton,
Dunkerton, xviii cent.) originated in an estate which
was owned in the reign of Henry III by the heirs of
Isabel de Granges, held of the lord of Christchurch
for a quarter of a knight's fee. (fn. 83)
In 1263 the estate seems to have belonged to
Thomas de Orweye, who owed castle guard at
Christchurch for land at Downton. (fn. 84) In 1516 Robert
Dummer of Downton and his wife Agnes conveyed
the manor, apparently by way of settlement, to Sir
Thomas Trenchard, kt., Thomas Molines and Thomas
Chewe, (fn. 85) and a hundred years later it belonged to
Sir Edward Gorges, kt., who in 1619 received a grant
of free warren there. (fn. 86) It was, however, acquired
soon after by Sir Thomas Trenchard, kt., who owned
it in 1633, together with the manor of Hordle (fn. 87)
(q.v.). It passed with the latter manor to Robert
Jason, (fn. 88) and was included in the settlement made by
his son in 1639 for the benefit of St. Paul's Cathedral. (fn. 89)
It subsequently devolved upon Anne the wife of
Thomas Partington, and was in 1706 conveyed by
them to Robert Southam. (fn. 90) It was purchased at the
end of the 18th century by Admiral Sir William
Cornwallis, whose heir, Mrs. Anne Maria Whitby,
was the grandmother of the present lord of the manor,
Col. William Cornwallis-West, V.D. (fn. 91)
In 1397 an estate in Downton and Everton, in
the parish of Milford, was held for a quarter of a
knight's fee of the lord of Christchurch. (fn. 92) This was
owned in 1544 by Sir William Berkeley, who in
that year obtained licence to alienate it to John
Mille; it was at that time still held of Christchurch
Manor. (fn. 93) It had, however, by 1633 become absorbed
into the manor of Downton, which comprised at that
date land at Everton. (fn. 94)
The manor of ARNEWOOD (Ernemude, xi cent.;
Ernewode, xiii cent.; Arnewode, xiii–xvi cent.) was
derived from the estate which Hugh Latinarius held
there in chief in 1086. (fn. 95) It paid no tax at that date,
although it was worth 30s., and had been assessed at
I hide and I virgate when in the time of the Confessor Siward held it of Earl Tostig. (fn. 96) Although the
greater part of this estate, which was afterwards held
of Christchurch Manor for a quarter of a knight's
fee, (fn. 97) gave rise to the manor of Arnewood, a small part
of it was held differently and became another manor
of Arnewood, which was subsequently fused with that
of Ashley, the combination of the two being known
as the manor of Ashley Arnewood (q.v. infra). Nigel
of Buckland had an estate here in 1265, for which he
owed castle guard at Christchurch in time of war. (fn. 98)
Soon after this the owners of the quarter fee were
Nigel of Buckland, Richard Bacon, Henry Long,
Simon of Arnewood and Richard of Fernhill, (fn. 99) while
in 1316 the whole estate was possessed by John of
Buckland. (fn. 100) Not long after the manor must have
escheated to the overlord, for in 1384 William de
Montagu Earl of Salisbury and lord of Christchurch
sold it to Thomas Street. (fn. 101) No further record of the
manor has been found until the year 1575, when it
was conveyed by James Arnewood to Robert Ryves,
William Bulkeley, Thomas Clavell and William
Cullyford. (fn. 102) From this date until the year 1715
there is another blank period,
but the family of Bulkeley
seems to have retained an
interest in the manor, for in
the latter year it was conveyed
by Mary Bulkeley, widow,
Thomas Durell and his wife
Anne, William Bulkeley and
George le Brun and his wife
Mary to Thomas Brudinell,
Clement Helgrove and
Thomas Watts. (fn. 103) In the
same year apparently the
manor was acquired by
Edmund Dummer, whose
daughter and co-heir married John Bond; their
great-grandson Mr. Nathaniel Bond of Creech
Grange, Wareham, is the present lord of the manor.
Bond. Argent a cheveron sable with three bezants thereon.
The manor of ASHLEY ARNEWOOD was the
result of a fusion in the 16th century of the manor of
ASHLEY (Esselie, Esselie, xi cent.; Asselegh, Easleghe, Eyslye, Aschleye, xiii cent.; Asshele, xiv cent.;
Aysshley, xv cent.; Assheley, xv–xvi cent.) with the
secondary manor of Arnewood.
In 1086 an estate in Ashley was held by Nigel of
Earl Roger of Shrewsbury; in the time of the Confessor it had been held by Saolf. (fn. 104) Another estate
there was in 1086 held by the sons of Godric Malf,
who had himself held it of the king in the time of
the Confessor. (fn. 105) Both estates had since those days
been encroached upon by the New Forest. Ashley
was probably included in the grant of Christchurch
made by King Henry I to Richard de Redvers, for
his successor Earl William in about 1200 granted an
estate there in free marriage to Hawise the wife of
William Avenel. (fn. 106) She gave it to her son Nicholas,
on whose death it went to his son William Avenel. (fn. 107)
He held it as the manor of Ashley, and upon his
death without issue in 1253 it escheated to the Crown
as Norman's lands. (fn. 108) It was granted in the following year to Thomas Waleran in recognition of good
service rendered by him in Gascony, (fn. 109) but in 1263
it was again in the hands of the lord of Christchurch,
Baldwin de Redvers, seventh Earl of Devon, dying
possessed of it in that year. (fn. 110) At the beginning of
the 14th century Reginald de Bettesthorne had a
holding in Ashley worth 5s. yearly, and on his death
the king appointed William de Bettesthorne and John
de Ivez custodians of his heirs. (fn. 111) In 1316 the lords
of Ashley were, in addition to the king, Roger de
Bettesthorne, John and William of Fernhill, John of
Downton, Philip of Rockhampton, (fn. 112) Henry de
Thistleden and John de Veyl. (fn. 113)
No further records of any separate estate of Ashley
have been found until the year 1494, (fn. 114) the manors
of Ashley and Arnewood, which were subsequently
fused into one, being evolved from an estate in Arnewood, Milford, East Ashley, Barton and North
Sway, which was held for a knight's fee of the manor
of Ringwood, (fn. 115) and in 1346 belonged to William of
Buckland, Robert Long, Richard of Fernhill, Margaret
of Bettesthorne and Thomas Reynolds. (fn. 116) The
original owner of this fee had been Richard of Fernhill. (fn. 117) Nothing, however, has been found to suggest
what holding in Arnewood this actually was.
In the year 1428 Sir John Berkeley, kt., died owning
a small estate in Arnewood which had come to him
through his wife Elizabeth Bettesthorne. (fn. 118) It descended like Minstead (q.v.) to his grandson Sir
Maurice Berkeley, on whose death in 1474 the Arnewood estate passed to his daughter Katherine, (fn. 119) who at
her death in 1494 owned the land in Arnewood, worth
10s. yearly, together with an estate in West and East
Ashley worth 23s. 4d. yearly, all of which passed to
her daughter Warborough, (fn. 120) afterwards the wife of
Sir William Compton. Lady Compton died in 1526,
when the two estates were known as the manors of
Arnewood and Ashley, the latter being worth only 20s.
yearly. (fn. 121) Sir William died two years later, his son
Peter succeeding to the manors, (fn. 122) which passed at the
death of the latter in 1544 to his son Henry, afterwards Lord Compton. (fn. 123) The two estates about this
time came to be regarded as one manor, which, when
Lord Compton died in 1592 and was succeeded by
his son William, was called the manor of Ashley and
Arnewood. (fn. 124) Soon afterwards the manor was acquired
by Roger Tulse, who in 1632 conveyed it to John
Button and Henry Tulse, (fn. 125) probably by way of
settlement only, as he still owned it in the following
year. (fn. 126) In 1670 (fn. 127) it belonged to George Stanley,
but the only subsequent record of it that has been
found is in the year 1803, when William Ireland and
his wife Betty conveyed it to Richard Randell, it
being then called the manor of Ashley Arnewood. (fn. 128)
At the time of the Domesday Survey there was a
mill at Hordle, which, with six salt pans, was worth
15d. (fn. 129) The present mill, known as Gordleton Mill,
is upon the Avon Water in the north-east of the
parish.
CHURCH
The church of ALL SAINTS is a
modern building in red brick with stone
dressings, consisting of chancel with
north vestry, nave and south-west porch, above which
is the tower. The detail is in 13th-century style,
with considerable use of moulding and foliage. It is
the second church on the present site, and replaces a
less suitable building erected about 1830 at the time
of the destruction of the old church.
The site of the old church is at Hordle Cliff,
about 2 miles to the south of the present village, and
though consisting only of a graveyard inclosure is of
interest owing to its position, which would be just
outside the early forest limits. Tradition, probably
accurate, tells of the existence of a village near the
church, now disappeared owing to cliff erosion, and
as Hordle, like Lymington, was an important saltmaking centre, the early village would naturally be
on the coast.
Several illustrations of the church, which was taken
down in 1829, are preserved at the vicarage and
show it to have consisted of chancel, north and south
transepts with chapels, nave and central bell turret.
The south door at least was of 12th-century date.
The bells are three in number: treble, cracked
and unhung, inscribed 'Love God IW 1694';
second, 'Serve God IW 1619'; third, 'Praise God
1637 I D.'
The plate consists of a silver chalice of 1650; a
paten of 1651, given by Henry Kicher and Jane his
wife; a flagon of 1841 and a plated spoon.
The registers begin in 1754 and are as follows:
(i) marriages from 1754 to 1812; (ii) baptisms and
burials 1772 to 1812; (iii) are incomplete, 1785 to
1794.
ADVOWSON
Hordle Church was existing in
the time of the Conqueror, when it
belonged to Christchurch Priory.
It afterwards passed to the family of Redvers by
virtue of the grant of the priory made to them by
Henry I, and in about 1140 the ownership of the
priory was confirmed by a charter of Baldwin de
Redvers, first Earl of Devon, and Richard his son. (fn. 130)
From very early times Hordle was a parochial
chapelry annexed to the vicarage of Milford (q.v.)
and served by the vicar. In more recent times
it was served by a curate appointed by the vicar,
but in February 1867, by an Order in Council,
Hordle was declared a vicarage distinct from
that of Milford, in the patronage of the Bishop of
Winchester. (fn. 131)
The present impropriator of the great tithes, which
have been commuted for an annual payment of
£118, is Mr. Nathaniel Bond. There is a Baptist
chapel at Tiptoe.
There are apparently no endowed charities in the
parish.