Meonstoke
Encyclopedia
Meonstoke is a village in Hampshire
, England
. Meonstoke lies in the Meon Valley where it cuts through the Middle Chalk of the South Downs
. Old Winchester Hill
is at the edge of the parish to the east.
It sits on the eastern bank of the River Meon
. On the northern part of the western bank is Corhampton
. The A32
crosses the river between the two villages, which have formed a single civil parish
since 1932. On the southern part of the bank is Droxford
. Soberton
lies to the south of the parish, Hambledon
to the east and Exton
to the north.
times a roadway developed along the South Downs, passing south of Old Winchester Hill and crossing the River Meon
at Exton. There is a Neolithic stone barrow on the southern slopes of Old Winchester Hill. Also on the Hill are eight Bronze Age
barrows. Old Winchester Hill is the site of one of a chain of five Iron Age
forts along the South Hampshire Ridgeway.
There are few Roman remains in the Meon Valley, and none in Meonstoke.
The Meonwara
, a Jutish tribe settled in the Meon Valley in the sixth century, but the stoke in the village’s name is of Anglo-Saxon origin.
It is possible that Borough English or Ultimogeniture
the tradition of inheritance by the last-born of a parent's estate, which was recorded in the village as late as 1801, began with the Meinwara,
Menestoche is mentioned in The Domesday Book
, with 28 heads of families listed, suggesting a possible population of 140.
In the thirteen century, Meonstoke was granted a weekly Market, suggesting the importance of the village at the time.
The church of St Andrew mainly dates from the 13th century, with a later tower, probably 15th century with early 20th century repairs. These included the addition in 1906 of a memorial window by Mary Lowndes
, a leading light in the Arts and Crafts Movement
.
A church was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but the first mention of a rector
is found in 1262. Rectors of the parish have included: Thomas Chaundler
, Christopher Bainbridge
, Lawrence Humphrey
, John Harris
and Laurence Henry Woolmer
.
A national school
was bult in the village in 1842.
The former Meon Valley Railway
passed to the east of the village but the planned station and yard at Meonstoke were never built. The route is now the Meon Valley Railway Line Trail
, which can be joined here.
The singer / songwriter Frank Turner
comes from Meonstoke.. He mentions the area in his song "To Take You Home" on the album Love Ire & Song
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...
. Meonstoke lies in the Meon Valley where it cuts through the Middle Chalk of the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
. Old Winchester Hill
Old Winchester Hill
Old Winchester Hill is a chalk hill in Hampshire, England surmounted by an Iron Age hill fort and a Bronze Age cemetery. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The hill fort has never been fully excavated.-Location:...
is at the edge of the parish to the east.
It sits on the eastern bank of the River Meon
River Meon
The River Meon is a river that flows through an area of Hampshire in southern England known as the Meon Valley, it flows generally southwards from the South Downs to the Solent. For most of its route it is a chalk stream, with a length of 21 miles .The River Meon rises approximately...
. On the northern part of the western bank is Corhampton
Corhampton
Corhampton is a village in Hampshire, England. It lies on the western bank of the River Meon. It forms a civil parish with Meonstoke which adjoins on the eastern bank....
. The A32
A32 road
The A32 is a road in Hampshire, southern England, that links Gosport and Alton. Starting at Gosport, facing Portsmouth, it travels north via Fareham, Wickham, Droxford, before joining the A31 road near Alton...
crosses the river between the two villages, which have formed a single civil parish
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...
since 1932. On the southern part of the bank is Droxford
Droxford
Droxford is a village in Hampshire, England, lying in the Meon valley, and lies around 3¾ miles east of Bishop's Waltham within the new South Downs National Park. The A32 passes through the village between Gosport and Alton...
. Soberton
Soberton
Soberton is a village in the Meon Valley, Hampshire, England and is bordered by villages such as Newtown and Droxford. It is listed in the Domesday Book under its original name, 'Sudbertone'/'Sudbertune', and comes under Winchester City Council....
lies to the south of the parish, Hambledon
Hambledon, Hampshire
Hambledon is a small village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire in England, situated about north of Portsmouth.Hambledon is best known as the 'Cradle of Cricket'. It is thought that Hambledon Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs known, was formed about 1750...
to the east and Exton
Exton
Exton is the name of a number of settlements:In the United Kingdom:* Exton, Somerset * Exton, Devon* Exton, Hampshire* Exton, Rutland* a fictional New Town in BBC Radio 2's Mrs Dale's Diaryin the United States:* Exton, Pennsylvania...
to the north.
History
Flint implements found near Old Winchester Hill suggest that the area that is now the parish of Meonstoke was inhabited over 20,000 years ago. Later, in neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times a roadway developed along the South Downs, passing south of Old Winchester Hill and crossing the River Meon
River Meon
The River Meon is a river that flows through an area of Hampshire in southern England known as the Meon Valley, it flows generally southwards from the South Downs to the Solent. For most of its route it is a chalk stream, with a length of 21 miles .The River Meon rises approximately...
at Exton. There is a Neolithic stone barrow on the southern slopes of Old Winchester Hill. Also on the Hill are eight Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
barrows. Old Winchester Hill is the site of one of a chain of five Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
forts along the South Hampshire Ridgeway.
There are few Roman remains in the Meon Valley, and none in Meonstoke.
The Meonwara
Meonwara
Meonwara or Meonsæte is the name of a people of probable Jutish origin who colonised what is now known as the Meon Valley, an area in southern Hampshire, England, during the late 5th century and early 6th century.-Area of settlement:...
, a Jutish tribe settled in the Meon Valley in the sixth century, but the stoke in the village’s name is of Anglo-Saxon origin.
It is possible that Borough English or Ultimogeniture
Ultimogeniture
Ultimogeniture, also known as postremogeniture or junior right, is the tradition of inheritance by the last-born of the entirety of, or a privileged position in, a parent's wealth, estate or office...
the tradition of inheritance by the last-born of a parent's estate, which was recorded in the village as late as 1801, began with the Meinwara,
Menestoche is mentioned in 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...
, with 28 heads of families listed, suggesting a possible population of 140.
In the thirteen century, Meonstoke was granted a weekly Market, suggesting the importance of the village at the time.
The church of St Andrew mainly dates from the 13th century, with a later tower, probably 15th century with early 20th century repairs. These included the addition in 1906 of a memorial window by Mary Lowndes
Mary Lowndes
Mary Lowndes was an important British stained-glass and poster artist, and an active member of the Suffragette movement. She was a leading light in the Arts and Crafts Movement and Chair of the Artists Suffrage League .-Work:...
, a leading light in the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
.
A church was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but the first mention of a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
is found in 1262. Rectors of the parish have included: Thomas Chaundler
Thomas Chaundler
Thomas Chaundler was an English playwright and illustrator.A manuscript at Trinity College, Cambridge depicts Chaundler presenting one of his plays to the Bishop of Bath, Thomas Beckynton, in 1460....
, Christopher Bainbridge
Christopher Bainbridge
Christopher Bainbridge was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of York from 1508 until his death.-Early life:...
, Lawrence Humphrey
Lawrence Humphrey
Lawrence Humphrey was an English theologian, who was president of Magdalen College, Oxford, and dean successively of Gloucester and Winchester.-Biography:...
, John Harris
John Harris
-Politics and government:*John Harris , English MP for Grampound in 1555*John Harris English MP for Bere Alston in 1640*John Harris , English MP for Liskeard...
and Laurence Henry Woolmer
Laurence Henry Woolmer
Laurence Henry Woolmer was the Bishop of Lahore from 1949 until 1968. Educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and St Peter's College, Oxford he was a banker before being ordained in 1938. After a curacy at St Paul’s, Salisbury, he became a Missionary in India, eventually rising to be...
.
A national school
National school (England and Wales)
A national school was a school founded in 19th century England and Wales by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education.These schools provided elementary education, in accordance with the teaching of the Church of England, to the children of the poor.Together with the less numerous...
was bult in the village in 1842.
The former Meon Valley Railway
Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway was a cross-country railway in Hampshire, England that ran for between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton...
passed to the east of the village but the planned station and yard at Meonstoke were never built. The route is now the Meon Valley Railway Line Trail
Meon Valley Railway Line (trail)
The Meon Valley Railway Line is a recreational footpath and cyclepath in Hampshire, England.The trail follows part of the bed of the former Meon Valley Railway , which closed in 1968...
, which can be joined here.
The singer / songwriter Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
comes from Meonstoke.. He mentions the area in his song "To Take You Home" on the album Love Ire & Song