MILTON
Mildeltune (xi cent.); Muletune, la Muleton,
Miletone (xiii cent.); Midelton (xiii-xviii cent.);
Midleton (xiv-xviii cent.); Medylton (xv cent.);
Melton (xvi cent.).
The parish of Milton lies upon the shores of
Christchurch Bay, midway between Christchurch and
Lymington. It contains 5,803 acres, of which 1,917½
are arable, 1,462 permanent grass, 701½ woods and
plantations, (fn. 1) and 5 land covered with water. The
south-western half of the parish lies upon the Bagshot
and Bracklesham Beds, the north-western half upon the
Hamstead, Bembridge, Osborne and Headon Series.
Like the neighbouring parishes, it contains several
disused gravel-pits, clay-pits and brick fields. Two
miles of cliffs, 100 ft. in height, form the southern
boundary of the parish; from here the land rises very
gradually northwards until a height of 210 ft. is
reached, close to Wootton Farm, in Little Wootton
Inclosure, 4 miles from the coast. Walkford Brook,
forming for more than 3 miles the western boundary
of the parish, falls into the sea close to Naish Farm,
through the chine known as Chewton Bunney. The
Avon Water forms the north-eastern boundary of the
parish and Danes Stream, which rises upon Bashley
Common, the eastern.
In the north of the parish Broadley Inclosure,
Wootton Copse Inclosure, Little Wootton Inclosure
and part of Brownhill Inclosure belong to the southernmost fringe of the New Forest. In the village, which
is about a mile from the sea, on the Christchurch and
Lymington high road, is an old moat possibly marking
the site of the mill. (fn. 2) East of the village is the hamlet
of Barton, beautifully situated upon Barton Cliff. In
the gravel beds topping the cliffs have been found
numerous spear-heads and other weapons of the early
Stone Age. In 1910 a pot of the late Celtic period
was found on Barton Common. (fn. 3) Half a mile northeast of the village is New Milton, a modern extension,
with a station upon the London and South Western
main line to Bournemouth, and north of New Milton
is the hamlet of Bashley, where are the Manor Farm,
the residence of Major Brett, and Bashley Lodge.
To the south-east is the hamlet of Ashley, including
Ashley Clinton, the residence of Lieut.-Col. Henry
Renebald Clinton, J.P., while in the north of the
parish is the hamlet of Wootton. To the west is
Ossemsley Manor, the property and residence of
Sir Alfred Cooper, with its fine wooded grounds, and
Ossemsley Manor Farm.
Fernhill Manor House is mostly of early 18thcentury date, and is planned in a single square wing.
There are remains, however, of a house of 16thcentury date, probably in the form of an H, the
later building taking the place of the central block,
and only a part, the present (and probably the
original) kitchen, remaining.
Bashley Common was inclosed in 1817, (fn. 4) Fernhill
and Walkford Commons in 1827, (fn. 5) Ashley Great and
Little Commons in 1862. (fn. 6)
Among place-names that occur are Walkeforde (fn. 7)
and La Gore, (fn. 8) the modern Walkford and Gore Farm
(xv cent.); Erthe Pitts, Perocke, West Place, Southayes,
Libertyes and Pyckerett (fn. 9) (xvi cent.).
MANORS
In the time of Edward the Confessor
MILTON was held by a certain Alwin
in parage. In 1086 it belonged to
Hugh de Port, (fn. 10) and the overlordship remained in the
Port family, being held by their descendants the
St. Johns (fn. 11) in the 14th century. However, in the
15th century it was evidently held of the Earls of
Salisbury, being in 1477 held of the Duke of Clarence
as of Christchurch Castle (fn. 12) (q.v.), and in 1511 of the
king as of his earldom of Salisbury. (fn. 13) From that date
the overlordship seems to have lapsed.
The manor was held of Hugh de Port in 1086 by
a certain William Orenet, (fn. 14) who is almost undoubtedly
to be identified with the William de Chernet who was
holding neighbouring lands in Hampshire of Hugh de
Port. (fn. 15) This William de Chernet was represented in
1166 by Hugh de Chernet, who held three fees, in
which Milton was included, of Hugh de Port's heir. (fn. 16)
In the early 13th century John de Chernet was holding
the manor as half a knight's fee, (fn. 17) and from that date
it followed the descent of South Charford (q.v.), in
Fordingbridge Hundred, until the end of the 14th
century, when this intermediate lordship presumably
lapsed and the manor passed to the immediate holders.
Of these the first mentioned is Lucy de Limesey,
who was holding Milton of John de Chernet in the
early 13th century. (fn. 18) Later in the century Henry
de Thistleden and Thomas Chalcombe (fn. 19) were, it
seems, holding the manor jointly, but before the
beginning of the 14th century Thomas Chalcombe
was holding the whole manor and receiving grants of
free warren, &c., in the same. (fn. 20) John Chalcombe,
successor of Thomas, died seised of the manor,
'formerly belonging to John de Limesey,' in 1330 (fn. 21) ;
his widow received a quarter of the manor in dower, (fn. 22)
but his heir was his brother Henry. Before 1346,
probably by failure of heirs male to Henry Chalcombe,
Milton had presumably been divided among three
heiresses, doubtless his three daughters. Thus in 1346
John Champfleur (possibly a son of one of the
heiresses), Edith Peverell and Margaret Grimstead
held the manor. (fn. 23) Before 1363, however, a settlement had evidently been made on the heirs of Edith
Peverell, since in that year Sir Henry Peverell, kt.,
died seised of the whole manor, leaving a son and
heir Thomas. (fn. 24) The latter granted it in 1365 to
Sir Thomas Tyrrell, kt., (fn. 25)
whose son John in 1428 held
half a fee in Milton. (fn. 26) In
1475 the manor belonged to
Sir Thomas Tyrrell, son of
John, and was in that year
settled upon Thomas Tyrrell,
the grandson of the latter, in
tail. (fn. 27) The grandfather died
two years later, (fn. 28) and the
grandson in the year 1510,
being succeeded by his son
Thomas, (fn. 29) whose son Sir
Henry Tyrrell, kt., died
possessed of the manor in
1589. (fn. 30) He was followed by his son Thomas, who
died four years later, leaving a son John, (fn. 31) upon
whom the manor devolved. He in 1595 sold it to
Robert Odber of Hurn Court, (fn. 32) who, however, does
not seem to have owned it at his death in 1614. (fn. 33)
In 1670 the manor belonged to William Bursey and
William MacNeill, (fn. 34) and in 1718 William Bursey
together with his wife Anne suffered a recovery
of it. (fn. 35) In 1790 it was conveyed by William Farr
and Katherine Hicks, widow, to Jonathan Elford and
Richard Fozard Mansfield. (fn. 36) In 1802 it belonged
to John Bursey, from whom it passed in 1832, when
his son John Bursey entered into possession and held
the same until his death in 1852. He was succeeded
by his daughter Frances Elizabeth Bursey and she in
turn by her nieces, by whom the property was in
November 1885 conveyed to trustees of the Dent
family (then resident at 'Barton Court'). In 1892
the Milton Manor Farm was acquired by Mr. Thomas
John Jones, by whom it has since been sold to the
Barton Court Estate Co. Ltd. It is now subdivided among numerous purchasers, and the whole
character of the property changed. (fn. 37)
Tyrrell. Argent two cheverons azure in a border engrailed gules.
In 1570 William Juniper died possessed of an
estate known as the manor of MILTON or COPED
HALL, which he held of the queen as of the manor
of East Greenwich. It was described as lately
belonging to the monastery of Beaulieu, (fn. 38) but no
record to this effect has at present been found.
The so-called manor of BARTON (Bermeton,
xiv and xv cent.; Barmeton, xiv-xvi cent.; Barhampton, xvii cent.).—An estate here was held of
the lord of Christchurch for an eighth of a knight's
fee in 1397 (fn. 39) in Milton parish, but the first mention
of a manor is in 1559, when John Dowce died
possessed of it, then worth £4 yearly. (fn. 40) William
Juniper acquired it soon after, and at his death it
was described as the capital messuage or farm called
Barmeton. (fn. 41) The next record of it that has been
found is in 1654, when Richard Stephens, lord of
Winkton Manor, owned the 'site of the manor' of
Barton. (fn. 42) It remained in the Stephens family until
the 18th century, when Richard Stephens in 1733
sold it to Thomas Le Marchant of the Inner Temple.
The latter willed it to his son John le Marchant, but,
the will not being properly attested, a confirmatory
deed by the heir-at-law was granted in January
1769. In 1771 John Le Marchant of Guernsey
conveyed 'the scite of the manor of Barton, etc.,' to
Edward Dampier of Corfe Castle, in whose family
it remained (the last holder having taken the name
of Crossley) until 1903, when Mr. Alexander Paris
of Barton House, the present owner, bought the
site of the manor and the land known as 'Barton
Common' from Mr. Crossley Dampier Crossley. (fn. 43)
The Barton manor farm-house and lands, originally
part of the estate, were sold in 1896 by Mr. Crossley
Dampier Crossley to Mr. David Duncan, from whom
the same have since passed into different hands. (fn. 44)
The manor of FERNHILL (Fernehelle, xi cent.;
Farnhill, xiii-xv cent.; Farnhall, xv-xix cent.).—In
1086 Earl Roger of Shrewsbury held the third of a
hide in Fernhill, and Nigel held it of him. It had
been owned by one Godric in the reign of the
Confessor. (fn. 45) The estate was afterwards acquired by
the de Redvers, Earls of Devon, and about 1200
William sixth earl granted the manor of Fernhill to
Richard de Fernhill to be held of Christchurch
Manor by castle guard. (fn. 46) In 1262 Richard de
Fernhill, the successor of the original grantee, held
the manor, (fn. 47) which ten years later he conveyed to
John de Fernhill to be held by the latter in tail, with
remainder to Richard. (fn. 48) The manor was afterwards
acquired by John Fromond, who died in 1420,
having by his will directed his feoffees to convey it
to the Warden and scholars of St. Mary's College,
Winchester, the income derived to be devoted by
them, among other things, towards supplying sixteen
choristers in the college with proper clothing. (fn. 49) In
1431 the manor was held for a quarter of a knight's
fee by Richard Seman, one of the feoffees, and John
Hall, (fn. 50) while later in the same year it was held for
half a knight's fee by Sir Maurice Berkeley, kt., one
of the assignees of the original feoffees, and Sir John
Hall, kt. (fn. 51) The will was duly carried out in the year
1445, and from that date up to the present time the
manor has belonged to Winchester College. The
tenure is copyhold for lives without power of renewal.
No manorial courts have been held in recent years.
The so-called manor of BASHLEY or BATCHLEY
(Bailocheslei, xi cent.; Bailocusleia, xii cent.; Bayleckeslegh, Ballokeshulle, xiii cent.; Bayllokeslee,
Baillakesley, Badeslo, xiv cent.; Baggesley, xv cent.;
Baldoxley, Balloxley, xvi cent.; Ballexley, xvii cent.;
Balleoxley, xix cent.) was in the time of the
Conqueror held in chief by Alsi the priest, who had
also held it of the Confessor (fn. 52) ; soon afterwards it
was acquired by Christchurch Priory. (fn. 53) In 1262
William Boscher had held land there of Christchurch
Manor, for which he owed castle ward at Christchurch, (fn. 54) and in 1315 Robert Boscher died possessed
of Bashley Manor. (fn. 55) His son William being then
an infant of five, the lands were ordered to be
delivered to his widow Agnes. (fn. 56) This estate (fn. 57) is
probably represented at the present day by Bashley
Manor Farm, which is now owned by Major Brett,
whose ancestor James Brett was holding the same in
1829. (fn. 58) The priory still owned part of the original
estate in 1384, when it received a grant of free
warren there. (fn. 59) This land seems to have been
absorbed into their manor of Somerford (q.v. supra);
it is included in an extent of the manor in 1628, (fn. 60)
and sixty years later there is mention of a copse at
Bashley belonging to the manor. (fn. 61)
The so-called manor of OSSEMSLEY (Oselei,
xi cent.; Osmondesle, xiv cent.; Osmondley, xviii
cent.; Ossamsley, Ossolei, Ossolie, xix cent.) was
derived from two estates held there in 1086 by
Earl Roger of Shrewsbury, one of which was held
of him by Nigel and the other by Fulcuin. In
the time of the Confessor Salide had held the
former and Godwine the latter. By 1086, however,
the whole of both estates, except 1 acre of meadow
in the former and 2 acres of meadow in the latter,
had been absorbed into the king's forest. (fn. 62) In 1670
Thomas Stevens was 'seised' in fee of an ancient
messuage called 'Osmondsley' with 172 acres there
and in Milton, together with 180 acres of uninclosed
furze and heath called Eastfield. (fn. 63) It was probably
this estate, then described as a manor, which his
successor Thomas Stevens conveyed to John Jeanes, jun.,
in 1740. (fn. 64) In 1808 the estate belonged, together
with the site of the manor-house, to Sir Henry
Worseley Holmes, bart. (fn. 65) In 1820 it was conveyed
by William Boothby and Fanny his wife to Thomas
Carr. (fn. 66)
The so-called manor of NAISH (Ashe, xiv cent.;
Aisshe, Aishe, xvi cent.) and SOUTH CHEWTON
(Chyveton, xiv cent.; Chewghton, Southchuton,
Shopton, Choppeton, xvi cent.; Southcheveton, xvi
and xvii cent.) belonged to Christchurch Priory at
the time of the Dissolution. (fn. 67)
In the 13th century Walter Noht granted a tenement in Milton to the priory of Breamore. (fn. 68) About
the same time Nicholas son of Robert of Breamore
granted the canons there a rent service and tenement
in Milton. (fn. 69)
The Bishop of Salisbury held half a knight's fee
at Bashley and Everton (in Milford parish) in 1346. (fn. 70)
It was still in the hands of the bishop in the year
1428, (fn. 71) but no further record of it has been found.
In the year 1330 there was a windmill here
belonging to John de Chalcombe, lord of the manor, (fn. 72)
and in 1086 half a mill belonged to the estate at
Bashley held by Alsi. (fn. 73) There was also a mill
belonging to Fernhill Manor situated close by the
manor-house, but this no longer exists.
In 1304 Thomas Chalcombe received a grant of
free warren in his manor of Milton, together with
a weekly market to be held there on Tuesdays and
an annual fair on the vigil, feast and morrow of St.
Mary Magdalene. (fn. 74) This was confirmed in 1318,
when the market-day was changed to Thursday. (fn. 75)
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY MAGDALENE consists of a chancel with
vestry, a nave and a western tower. It
was rebuilt in 1832 except the tower, which is of
early 17th-century date. The chancel, nave and
vestry are of brick. The tower is built of ashlar,
and is of two stages with an embattled and pinnacled
parapet. The lower stage serves as an entrance
porch. The seatings, fittings, &c., are all modern.
At the west of the nave is a plain gallery, and
over it in the walls of the tower is a small carving of
a conventionalized tree, on either side of which
appears the inscription:—
9–5 || John Blake, William Meservis, Church-wardens.
In the ground stage of the tower is a well-designed
monument of grey marble, taken from the old church,
to Thomas White, 1720, son of Ignatius White of
Fiddleford (co. Dorset). This was erected by his
widow Frances (Wyndham). It consists of a niche
hung with curtains, which are drawn back, showing
a three-quarter length marble statue of a man in a
periwig and armour of a fanciful nature and with a
vizored helm at his side. In his hands he holds
a rapier with a wavy blade like a Malay kris, with
a bowl hilt and a plain guard. Over the niche is a
correctly proportioned composite entablature with a
curved cornice, detached columns, flat pilasters, &c.,
the whole supported on enriched consoles and surmounted by urns, a shield of arms and festoons of
flowers and fruits. The arms are: Azure three
crosslets bendwise or impaling Azure a cheveron
between three lions' heads razed or. Chained to
the monument is a real rapier like that carved in the
marble, with its hilt inlaid with silver. The blade
is stamped with three armed heads.
The tower contains two bells marked 1593 W.I.
I R. R.W. R.M.
The plate consists of a silver chalice, paten cover,
paten flagon and alms-plate, all of 1726 and all
inscribed 'Frances White, widow, 2nd of April,
1727.'
The first book of the registers contains all entries
from 1695 to 1739, and a transcript of those from
1654 to 1691, with a few gaps. The second contains all entries between 1740 and 1812 except
marriages, which run to 1753 and are continued
separately in two books from 1754 to 1790 and
from 1791 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
Milton was until 1867 a chapel
to Milford Church (q.v.), and as
such belonged to Christchurch Priory.
After the Dissolution it was served by curates in
charge, who were appointed by the vicar of Milford.
This continued down to 1867, (fn. 76) when Milton was
constituted a distinct rectory in the patronage of the
vicar of Milford. The tithes of Milton were in
about 1630 settled by Henry Hastings upon his wife
Anne as jointure. The Hastings family continued to
hold the rectory till 1702. (fn. 77) In 1768 Elizabeth
Smith, Caleb Preston and Anne his wife and Mary
Smith conveyed one-fourth of it to Caleb Smith. (fn. 78)
The rectory of Bashley, which belonged to Christchurch Priory, was granted in 1550 to George
Mill. (fn. 79)
The present impropriators of the great tithes are
Col. Clinton, Mr. Jesse Adnitt and Mr. John Appleby.
There is a Baptist chapel, erected in 1864, in the
hamlet of Bashley; another, erected in 1898, in the
hamlet of Ashley; and a Primitive Methodist chapel
in the hamlet of Wootton.