Medstead
Encyclopedia
Medstead is a village and civil parish
in the East Hampshire
district of Hampshire
, England
. It is 4.3 miles (6.9 km) west-southwest of Alton
. The village has a population of around 2,000 and adjoins the village of Four Marks
. At over 700 feet above sea level, they are some of the highest villages in Hampshire. The village also has its own restored railway station
on the Watercress Line
, services from which connect with the nearest national rail station 4.3 miles (6.9 km) to the northeast, at Alton
.
At one time, Medstead came under the large civil parish of Bentworth
until its decline in the mid-19th century. Although today, Medstead's parish borders the parish of Bentworth.
, Old Alresford
and Medstead. The Domesday Book of 1086 confirms the establishment of the Liberty's Mother Church, St. Mary the Virgin, Old Alresford. In the Liberty of Alresford, St. Mary the Virgin had been established as the Mother Church at Old Alresford with chapelries of St. John the Baptist at New Alresford and St. Andrew at Medstead. Except for brief periods most of this land remained in the hands of the Bishop Of Winchester, as Chief Lord of the Liberty of Alresford, and St. Andrew's remained a chapel of St. Mary the Virgin, served by a Curate appointed by the Rector of Old Alresford, until 1850.
In 1850 the Liberty was transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the living of Old Alresford was divided into three parishes: Medstead, New Alresford and Old Alresford. Consequently, Medstead became an independent ecclesiatical parish with its own incumbent.
In 1945 the churches of Medstead and Wield
became a united benefice, and in 2003 the churches of St. Mary's Bentworth, St. Mary's Lasham
, St. Andrew's Medstead and St. Peter & St. Paul Shalden
became the united benefice of Bentworth, Lasham, Medstead and Shalden.
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 East Hampshire
East Hampshire
East Hampshire is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Petersfield. Other towns are Alton, Horndean and Whitehill-Bordon....
district 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...
. It is 4.3 miles (6.9 km) west-southwest of Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
. The village has a population of around 2,000 and adjoins the village of Four Marks
Four Marks
Four Marks is a large village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is southwest of Alton, on the A31 road....
. At over 700 feet above sea level, they are some of the highest villages in Hampshire. The village also has its own restored railway station
Medstead and Four Marks railway station
Medstead and Four Marks railway station is a railway station in the English county of Hampshire, serving the villages of Medstead and Four Marks.-History:Opened in August 1868 as Medstead, it changed to its present name on 1 October 1937....
on the Watercress Line
Watercress Line
The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to...
, services from which connect with the nearest national rail station 4.3 miles (6.9 km) to the northeast, at Alton
Alton railway station
Alton railway station is a railway station in the town of Alton, in the English county of Hampshire. The station is the terminus for two railway lines; the Alton Line which runs to Brookwood and onto London Waterloo and the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, which runs to Alresford. The latter once ran...
.
At one time, Medstead came under the large civil parish of Bentworth
Bentworth
Bentworth is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies approximately west of the town of Alton and about 8 miles south of Basingstoke, just off the A339 road. The parish covers an area of , of which about are woodland...
until its decline in the mid-19th century. Although today, Medstead's parish borders the parish of Bentworth.
History
The origins of the ecclesistical parish of Medstead can be traced back to the Saxon period and the granting of the Liberty of Alresford which covered the present-day ecclesistical parishes of New AlresfordNew Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
, Old Alresford
Old Alresford
Old Alresford is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It is situated some 1 km north of the town of New Alresford, 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester, and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton....
and Medstead. The Domesday Book of 1086 confirms the establishment of the Liberty's Mother Church, St. Mary the Virgin, Old Alresford. In the Liberty of Alresford, St. Mary the Virgin had been established as the Mother Church at Old Alresford with chapelries of St. John the Baptist at New Alresford and St. Andrew at Medstead. Except for brief periods most of this land remained in the hands of the Bishop Of Winchester, as Chief Lord of the Liberty of Alresford, and St. Andrew's remained a chapel of St. Mary the Virgin, served by a Curate appointed by the Rector of Old Alresford, until 1850.
In 1850 the Liberty was transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the living of Old Alresford was divided into three parishes: Medstead, New Alresford and Old Alresford. Consequently, Medstead became an independent ecclesiatical parish with its own incumbent.
In 1945 the churches of Medstead and Wield
Wield
Wield is a civil parish in Hampshire, England. It includes two neighbouring villages, Upper Wield and Lower Wield.The parish church, dedicated to St James, is in Upper Wield. It is mainly Norman, and is a Grade I listed building.- External links :*...
became a united benefice, and in 2003 the churches of St. Mary's Bentworth, St. Mary's Lasham
Lasham
Lasham is a small village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is northwest of Alton, just off the A339 road. The nearest railway station is Alton, southeast of the village....
, St. Andrew's Medstead and St. Peter & St. Paul Shalden
Shalden
Shalden is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is northwest of Alton, just off the A339 road.The nearest railway station is Alton, southeast of the village....
became the united benefice of Bentworth, Lasham, Medstead and Shalden.
Further reading
- A Guide to St. Andrew's Church, Medstead (available in church)
- Chris Tew A History of St. Andrew's Church (2005)
- Gordon Timmins Medstead, a Village History (2003)
- Domesday Book, Hampshire edited by Julian Munby (1982)
- Lorents Rathbone A Chronicle of Medstead (1966)
- Nellie Moody A Short History of Medstead(1932)
External links
- Medstead Village website - medstead.org
- Hampshire Treasures Volume 6 (East Hampshire) pages 223, 225, and 226
- St. Andrew's Parish Church, Medstead - website also includes more details on Medstead and its history
- Stained Glass Windows at St. Andrew, Medstead, Hampshire
- Medstead Parish Council website
- Google Maps: Medstead