Downton, Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Downton is a hamlet in Hampshire
, England
situated - mostly - around a crossroads on the A337 road where the road from Lymington
to New Milton
intersects with the road from the original settlement of Hordle
northwards. It is mostly in the parish of Hordle, although most of the population live in the part that is in the parish of Milford
. Part of the Green belt, its population is static.
for 1160 as a 'new place'. The name is first recorded as Dunchinton although more commonly Donketon and Coates states that this is most likely derived from Dunneca's farm or otherwise from *OE dunnocatu-n (farm of hedge sparrows). In 1263 the estate seems to have belonged to Thomas de Orweye although, by 1397, it had expanded to include part of Everton
in Milford. After c. 1500 the manor became part of the extensive possessions of the Milles family of Southampton
, builders of Hurst Castle
. The manor was purchased at end of the 18th century by Sir William Cornwallis (with adjoining manors) whose heir, Mrs. Anne Whitby was the grand mother of last lord of the manor, Col. William Cornwallis-West. He went bankrupt in 1923 and the estate was sold. The western part, owned by the Ashley Clinton family, was sold a few years later although the planned large scale development was prevented.
Piecemeal house building followed for the next few decades. Before the 1980s, the A337 road west of Downton made six sharp turns, but the road has since been straightened.
The region has always been one of dispersed settlement although, with its forge
and the inn
known as The Royal Oak, Downton provided one centre for the provision of services in Hordle. Whilst the inn remains, today the adjacent businesses are car-related. Currently it is threatened by plans for extensive gravel extraction.
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
situated - mostly - around a crossroads on the A337 road where the road from Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
to New Milton
New Milton
New Milton is a market town in south west Hampshire, England. The town has a high street and holds a market every Wednesday. Situated on the edge of the New Forest, the town is about 6 miles west of Lymington town centre and 12 miles east of Bournemouth town centre.-History:New Milton dates back...
intersects with the road from the original settlement of Hordle
Hordle
Hordle is a village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire, England. It is situated between the Solent coast and the New Forest, and is bordered by the towns of Lymington and New Milton. Like many New Forest parishes Hordle has no village centre...
northwards. It is mostly in the parish of Hordle, although most of the population live in the part that is in the parish of Milford
Milford on Sea
Milford on Sea is a large village and civil parish located on the south coast of England in the county of Hampshire. With a population of approximately 4500, Milford has a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs in its high street, which borders the village green.-Overview:Milford on Sea is village...
. Part of the Green belt, its population is static.
History
Downton is first mentioned in the Pipe rollsPipe Rolls
The Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls, are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833. They form the oldest continuous series of records kept by...
for 1160 as a 'new place'. The name is first recorded as Dunchinton although more commonly Donketon and Coates states that this is most likely derived from Dunneca's farm or otherwise from *OE dunnocatu-n (farm of hedge sparrows). In 1263 the estate seems to have belonged to Thomas de Orweye although, by 1397, it had expanded to include part of Everton
Everton, Hampshire
Everton is a village in the civil parish of Hordle, near Lymington, in the English county of Hampshire.-Overview:Everton is at the junction of the A337 and B3058 roads. It is in the southeast of the parish of Hordle. The village has around 760 houses, the majority having been built since 1970. It...
in Milford. After c. 1500 the manor became part of the extensive possessions of the Milles family of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, builders of Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle on the south coast of England is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, built at the end of a long shingle barrier beach at the west end of the Solent to guard the approaches to Southampton. Hurst Castle was sited at the narrow entrance to the Solent where the ebb and flow of the tides...
. The manor was purchased at end of the 18th century by Sir William Cornwallis (with adjoining manors) whose heir, Mrs. Anne Whitby was the grand mother of last lord of the manor, Col. William Cornwallis-West. He went bankrupt in 1923 and the estate was sold. The western part, owned by the Ashley Clinton family, was sold a few years later although the planned large scale development was prevented.
Piecemeal house building followed for the next few decades. Before the 1980s, the A337 road west of Downton made six sharp turns, but the road has since been straightened.
The region has always been one of dispersed settlement although, with its forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
and the inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
known as The Royal Oak, Downton provided one centre for the provision of services in Hordle. Whilst the inn remains, today the adjacent businesses are car-related. Currently it is threatened by plans for extensive gravel extraction.