East Stratton
Encyclopedia
East Stratton is an estate village at the entrance to the landscaped grounds of Stratton Park
, some eight miles north of Winchester
, Hampshire
, England
in the parish of Micheldever
. Both park and village demonstrate the evolution of a landscape directed by three eminent families - Wriothesley, Russell and Baring - during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In East Stratton can clearly be seen a sequence of village development stretching over four centuries. At the north end, thatched cottages dating from the 17th and 18th centuries border the lane which sweeps down to the entrance of the Park. Around the village cross-roads and War Memorial
are grouped other cottages and the 'new' 19th century church, All Saints, East Stratton and farm. Further south are five pairs of early 19th century estate cottages and the 19th century Plough Inn (now renamed the Northbrook Arms). A dozen house erected in this century by the Rural District and Forestry Commission
now extend the village as far as Cold Harbour, once a small separate hamlet.
) about AD900 by King Edward the Elder
and remained in the Abbey's hands until the Dissolution
. In 1564 the manor was purchased for £1,318 by Sir Thomas Wriothesley
, later Earl of Southampton
(d.1550). The last earl, Thomas
(d.1667), made "the house at Stratton Park
one of his chief seats in the Country." He was probably responsible for first enclosing the park.
In 1667 the manor passed to Thomas's daughter Lady Rachel and her husband William, Lord Russell
who is said to have "pulled down part of the town or hamlet of Stratton and laid it into his Dear Park". Lord and Lady Russell improved the estate and house, laying out "orchards, gardens and avenues, planted groves, wildernesses and other ornaments to adorn and accommodate this beautiful and pleasant scene". Lord Russell was executed in 1683 for complicity in the Rye House Plot
but Lady Russell continued to look after the estate until her death in 1723.
In 1723 the estate passed to Lady Russell's grandson Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford
. He is generally credited with the demolition of "a great part of the ancient mansion at Stratton Park
lest it should cause the magnificent residence at Woburn Abbey
to be neglected ..."
In 1801 Sir Francis Baring purchased the estate for £150,000 and the Baring family have owned the Stratton estate ever since. Sir Francis immediately started improving the estate. The old house was removed and remodelled in the classic style by George Dance Jnr who designed the 'new cottages'. The House became The Vyne Stratton School in the 1920s, but not for long.
Open fields round the village were closed in 1800-1850, the park was twice extended south and new cottages and the Plough Inn were erected at the south end of the village. East Stratton Farm lay in the middle of the new road to the New Farm. By the middle of the century lots of the old village had been knocked down for improvements to the park.
Opposite where the old church had stood a new school was built, to replace the old one which had burnt down, by Sir Thomas Baring in 1846, he described it as 'a neat Elizabethan style' and it still stand in the park today. The school could accommodate 150 children but its average attendance was 60. It was closed in the 1920s.
The old church which had been largely rebuilt in 1810 was demolished and a cross was built in its place. The new church, All Saints, was built in the village and was opened in 1888.
Stratton Park
Stratton Park, in East Stratton, Hampshire, was an English country house, built on the site of a grange of Hyde Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries; it was purchased with the manor of Micheldever in 1546 by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton...
, some eight miles north of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
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...
in the parish of Micheldever
Micheldever
Micheldever is a village in Hampshire, England, situated 6 miles north of Winchester.It lies upon the River Dever . The river, and village, formerly part of Stratton Park, lie on a Hampshire grass downland, underlain with chalk and flint...
. Both park and village demonstrate the evolution of a landscape directed by three eminent families - Wriothesley, Russell and Baring - during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In East Stratton can clearly be seen a sequence of village development stretching over four centuries. At the north end, thatched cottages dating from the 17th and 18th centuries border the lane which sweeps down to the entrance of the Park. Around the village cross-roads and War Memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
are grouped other cottages and the 'new' 19th century church, All Saints, East Stratton and farm. Further south are five pairs of early 19th century estate cottages and the 19th century Plough Inn (now renamed the Northbrook Arms). A dozen house erected in this century by the Rural District and Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
now extend the village as far as Cold Harbour, once a small separate hamlet.
History
The Manor of East Stratton was granted to the New Minster (Hyde AbbeyHyde Abbey
Hyde Abbey was a medieval Benedictine monastery just outside the walls of Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was dissolved and demolished in 1538....
) about AD900 by King Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...
and remained in the Abbey's hands until the Dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. In 1564 the manor was purchased for £1,318 by Sir Thomas Wriothesley
Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton
Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, KG , known as The Lord Wriothesley between 1544 and 1547, was a politician of the Tudor period born in London to William Wrythe and Agnes Drayton....
, later Earl of Southampton
Earl of Southampton
Earl of Southampton was a title that was created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1537 in favour of the courtier William Fitzwilliam. He was childless and the title became extinct on his death in 1542. The second creation came in 1547 in favour of the politician...
(d.1550). The last earl, Thomas
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton
Sir Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, KG , styled Lord Wriothesley before 1624, was a 17th century English statesman, a staunch supporter of Charles II who would rise to the position of Lord High Treasurer after the English Restoration...
(d.1667), made "the house at Stratton Park
Stratton Park
Stratton Park, in East Stratton, Hampshire, was an English country house, built on the site of a grange of Hyde Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries; it was purchased with the manor of Micheldever in 1546 by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton...
one of his chief seats in the Country." He was probably responsible for first enclosing the park.
In 1667 the manor passed to Thomas's daughter Lady Rachel and her husband William, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell was an English politician. He was a leading member of the Country Party, forerunners of the Whigs, who opposed the succession of James II during the reign of Charles II, ultimately resulting in his execution for treason.-Early life and marriage:Russell was the third...
who is said to have "pulled down part of the town or hamlet of Stratton and laid it into his Dear Park". Lord and Lady Russell improved the estate and house, laying out "orchards, gardens and avenues, planted groves, wildernesses and other ornaments to adorn and accommodate this beautiful and pleasant scene". Lord Russell was executed in 1683 for complicity in the Rye House Plot
Rye House Plot
The Rye House Plot of 1683 was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized....
but Lady Russell continued to look after the estate until her death in 1723.
In 1723 the estate passed to Lady Russell's grandson Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford
Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford
Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford was the son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford.Russell married his sister's stepdaughter, Lady Anne Egerton, daughter of Scroop Egerton, 1st Duke of Bridgwater, on 22 April 1725.He died in 1732, aged 24 at Corunna, Spain, without issue...
. He is generally credited with the demolition of "a great part of the ancient mansion at Stratton Park
Stratton Park
Stratton Park, in East Stratton, Hampshire, was an English country house, built on the site of a grange of Hyde Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries; it was purchased with the manor of Micheldever in 1546 by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton...
lest it should cause the magnificent residence at Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey , near Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the seat of the Duke of Bedford and the location of the Woburn Safari Park.- Pre-20th century :...
to be neglected ..."
In 1801 Sir Francis Baring purchased the estate for £150,000 and the Baring family have owned the Stratton estate ever since. Sir Francis immediately started improving the estate. The old house was removed and remodelled in the classic style by George Dance Jnr who designed the 'new cottages'. The House became The Vyne Stratton School in the 1920s, but not for long.
Open fields round the village were closed in 1800-1850, the park was twice extended south and new cottages and the Plough Inn were erected at the south end of the village. East Stratton Farm lay in the middle of the new road to the New Farm. By the middle of the century lots of the old village had been knocked down for improvements to the park.
Opposite where the old church had stood a new school was built, to replace the old one which had burnt down, by Sir Thomas Baring in 1846, he described it as 'a neat Elizabethan style' and it still stand in the park today. The school could accommodate 150 children but its average attendance was 60. It was closed in the 1920s.
The old church which had been largely rebuilt in 1810 was demolished and a cross was built in its place. The new church, All Saints, was built in the village and was opened in 1888.