Keyhaven
Encyclopedia
Keyhaven is a hamlet
on the south coast of England
in the county of Hampshire
. It is a fishing village, but the trade has been in decline for a period of years and its main draw now is tourism, especially sailing.
and is just within the borders of the New Forest National Park. It is in the civil parish of Milford on Sea
, and it lies at one end of the shingle
bank which leads to Hurst Castle
. Keyhaven draws visitors through its outstanding natural beauty, from the views over the Solent
to the abundance of open farm land. To the east of Keyhaven lies the nature reserve
of Keyhaven marshes.
to the water meadows of the Avon around Christchurch
.
Keyhaven was a port as early as 1206. There seem to have been two manorial estates here, one held by Bath Abbey
, and the other by the Bishop of Salisbury
. The lands of Bath Abbey were held by them until the time of the Dissolution
, but in the 17th century it seems that the two manors were merged, and in 1802 the estate was purchased by Sir John D'Oyly
. He subsequently sold it and by the 19th century it had passed, like other lands in the area, to William Cornwallis-West
.
Like the rest of the West Solent area, a considerable salt
industry developed soon after the Conquest
. This had disappeared by 1400 but was revived in the 17th century with the introduction of new techniques.
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
on the south coast of 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 county 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...
. It is a fishing village, but the trade has been in decline for a period of years and its main draw now is tourism, especially sailing.
Overview
Keyhaven lies in the district of the New ForestNew Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
and is just within the borders of the New Forest National Park. It is in the civil parish of Milford on Sea
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...
, and it lies at one end of the shingle
Shingle
Shingle can refer to:*A flat covering element for a roof, including**Shake , a wooden shingle that is made from split logs**Roof shingle, a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements...
bank which leads to 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...
. Keyhaven draws visitors through its outstanding natural beauty, from the views over the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
to the abundance of open farm land. To the east of Keyhaven lies the nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
of Keyhaven marshes.
History
The name "Keyhaven" means ‘Harbour where cows are shipped’; OE cū (genitive cȳ) + hæfen. Cattle and sheep were transported from the Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
to the water meadows of the Avon around Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
.
Keyhaven was a port as early as 1206. There seem to have been two manorial estates here, one held by Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England...
, and the other by the Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
. The lands of Bath Abbey were held by them until the time of 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...
, but in the 17th century it seems that the two manors were merged, and in 1802 the estate was purchased by Sir John D'Oyly
Sir John D'Oyly, 6th Baronet
Sir John Hadley D'Oyly, 6th Baronet was a politician in Great Britain. He was Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1790 to 1796.He is buried in the South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata, India.- References:**...
. He subsequently sold it and by the 19th century it had passed, like other lands in the area, to William Cornwallis-West
William Cornwallis-West
William Cornwallis Cornwallis-West VD JP , was a British politician.Born William Cornwallis West, he was the son of Frederick Richard West, son of the Hon. Frederick West, younger son of John West, 2nd Earl De La Warr. His mother was Theresa, daughter of John Whitby...
.
Like the rest of the West Solent area, a considerable salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
industry developed soon after the Conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
. This had disappeared by 1400 but was revived in the 17th century with the introduction of new techniques.