Martin, Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Martin is a village and civil parish
in the New Forest
, Hampshire
. The nearest town Fordingbridge
is 7 miles (11.3 km) to the southeast, and the cathedral city of Salisbury
is 12 miles (19.3 km) to the northeast.
and Tidpit are close by. Martin is the most westerly parish in Hampshire, although it was part of Wiltshire
until 1895. The main Dorchester - Salisbury
road passes about half a mile to the west of the village (A354
).
The church at Martin dates from Norman times although much of its fabric is fourteenth century. The village green still has the village pump, consisting of an iron frame with a cranked spindle through it. The base of the 15th century village cross can also be seen here.
The chalk grasslands of Martin Down are a National Nature Reserve
.
in Hampshire.
The name Martin probably derives from "Maeretun" meaning "boundary farm." Martin is first documented around 945 when land at Martin formed part of a grant by King Edmund to Æthelflæd
. At the time of the Domesday Book
of 1086 it was included in the manor of Damerham
, and subsequently descended with that manor. In 1266 Henry III
granted to Glastonbury Abbey
a weekly Wednesday market in their manor of Martin, and a fair on the eve, day and morrow of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
, and in 1332, Edward III
granted a market on Fridays. In 1483 part of the Abbot of Glastonbury's manor of East Martin was granted to the King
for the enlargement of his park of Blagdon, Dorset.
There was a manor of West Martin which may have originated as a grant of land from Damerham manor granted by Henry de Sully
Abbot of Glastonbury in the 12th century. It was annexed before 1400 by Robert Petevyn, and afterwards belonged to the estate of Little Damerham. The nearby manor of Tidpit was also held of Glastonbury Abbey in the 13th century, and subsequently became merged with that of Damerham.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the New Forest
New 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....
, 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...
. The nearest town Fordingbridge
Fordingbridge
Fordingbridge is a town and civil parish with a population of 5,700 on the River Avon in the New Forest District of Hampshire, England, near to the Dorset and Wiltshire borders and on the edge of the New Forest. It is south west of London, and south of the city of Salisbury. Fordingbridge is a...
is 7 miles (11.3 km) to the southeast, and the cathedral city of Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
is 12 miles (19.3 km) to the northeast.
Overview
Martin is situated on the Allen River (a tributary of the Avon) in Hampshire. The village street runs north-west to south-east through the parish. The hamlets of East MartinEast Martin
East Martin is a hamlet in the civil parish of Martin in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. The hamlet lies just to the east of the village of Martin, Hampshire. Its nearest town is Fordingbridge, which lies approximately 6 miles south-east from the village....
and Tidpit are close by. Martin is the most westerly parish in Hampshire, although it was part of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
until 1895. The main Dorchester - Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
road passes about half a mile to the west of the village (A354
A354 road
The A354 is a primary route in England which runs from Salisbury in Wiltshire to Easton on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, a total distance of . From Salisbury the road crosses Cranborne Chase and briefly merges with the A350 at the Blandford Forum bypass before crossing the Dorset Downs and...
).
The church at Martin dates from Norman times although much of its fabric is fourteenth century. The village green still has the village pump, consisting of an iron frame with a cranked spindle through it. The base of the 15th century village cross can also be seen here.
The chalk grasslands of Martin Down are a National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
.
History
Martin is surrounded by prehistoric sites, including Bokerley Dyke, and the very long Grim's Ditch which extends into Dorset and Wiltshire. Knap Barrow is 95 metres long and is the longest barrowLong barrow
A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal tumuli or earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
in Hampshire.
The name Martin probably derives from "Maeretun" meaning "boundary farm." Martin is first documented around 945 when land at Martin formed part of a grant by King Edmund to Æthelflæd
Æthelflæd of Damerham
Æthelflæd, known as Æthelflæd of Damerham to distinguish her from other women of the same name, was the second wife of King Edmund I of England....
. At the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 it was included in the manor of Damerham
Damerham
Damerham is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located near to Fordingbridge. As well as being the location of notable Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows, Damerham was an important Anglo-Saxon manor mentioned in the will of Alfred the Great. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086,...
, and subsequently descended with that manor. In 1266 Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted to Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
a weekly Wednesday market in their manor of Martin, and a fair on the eve, day and morrow of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June...
, and in 1332, Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
granted a market on Fridays. In 1483 part of the Abbot of Glastonbury's manor of East Martin was granted to the King
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
for the enlargement of his park of Blagdon, Dorset.
There was a manor of West Martin which may have originated as a grant of land from Damerham manor granted by Henry de Sully
Henry de Sully
Henry de Sully was a medieval monk, Bishop of Worcester and Abbot of Glastonbury.-Life:Henry became prior of Bermondsey Abbey in 1186. In September 1189, following the death of Henry II of England, Richard I of England appointed him Abbot of Glastonbury...
Abbot of Glastonbury in the 12th century. It was annexed before 1400 by Robert Petevyn, and afterwards belonged to the estate of Little Damerham. The nearby manor of Tidpit was also held of Glastonbury Abbey in the 13th century, and subsequently became merged with that of Damerham.