New Milton
Encyclopedia
New Milton is a market town
in south west Hampshire
, England
. The town has a high street and holds a market every Wednesday. Situated on the edge of the New Forest
, the town is about 6 miles (10 km) west of Lymington
town centre and 12 miles (19 km) east of Bournemouth
town centre.
, Ashley
, Bashley
, and Wootton
. It is recorded as having a population of approximately 23,000 in 2001.
of 1086 and literally means "Middle farm." It was part of the lands belonging to Hugh de Port, and the estate was held from him by William Chernet. The Chernet family maintained possession of Milton into the 13th century, although lesser families were managing the estate on their behalf. The most important of these were the Chaucombe (or Chalcombe) family, who were probably the first people to build a church in Milton in the mid 13th century. In 1303 Thomas de Chaucombe was given permission to hold a weekly market
on Tuesdays at Milton, as well as an annual fair
on the feast day of Mary Magdalene
, but this attempt to create a market town
seems to have failed. From 1365 to 1565, the manor was in the possession of the Tyrrell family. The manor passed through various hands in subsequent centuries. The last significant owners were the Bursey family in the 19th century, and in the 1890s the remaining lands of the estate were subdivided and sold. In close proximity to Milton was the manor of Fernhill. In the Domesday book, it was held by Nigel from Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
. In the 15th century, John Fromond, the owner of this scattered estate, willed
the lands to Winchester College
, in whose hands the estate remained down to the 19th century. Another estate called "Gore" appeared by the 15th century, and still survives (partially) as a farm to the west of the town.
The traditional village centre of Milton was just south of the church. Up to the 1960s, moat
ed earthworks were still visible next to the road known as Moat Lane. Excavations of these earthworks in 1956 revealed a series of peasant enclosures and hut remains dating from the 9th to the 12th century, but no evidence of a manorial farmstead was found. The parish church of Milton is dedicated to Mary Magdalene
and consists of a chancel
with vestry
, a nave
and a western tower
. The medieval church was pulled down and replaced around 1830, although the tower is of an earlier 17th century date. In 1835 a Church of England
National School
was founded on an island of land near the village green
, where children were taught until just after World War I
. In 1881, the population of the entire Milton parish was only 1489 people, and Milton was still a small village. The location of the village on the main Christchurch
to Lymington
road (now the A337) meant that there were two coaching inn
s - The Wheatsheaf and The George - the former of which is still operating.
was opened, which is still in operation today. A new town developed, which expanded rapidly with the coming of the railway and the name New Milton was used for the first time and can originally be traced back to the Post Office that stood opposite the train station. In 1895, the owner of the Post Office, Emma Newhook, commissioned a sign, which read - "New Milton Sub Post Office" to differentiate it from the post office in Old Milton. This was officially accepted in 1896, and so the name New Milton caught on. Much of the local farmland has been developed, first in the 1960s for commuter housing and again in the 1970s for small industrial/trade units. There is a mix of housing from cottages on the outskirts to more modern, urban housing in the central area. Milton village subsequently became known as Old Milton, and lies between New Milton and Barton on Sea.
There are a few notable architectural points of interest in the local area. However, a distinctive row of Coast Guard Cottages are to be found in Barton Lane, Barton on Sea, which were built at the end of the nineteen century by the Government of the day to house armed guards to try and stop the smuggling that was rife at the time. The Barton on Sea and Mudeford coastline was renowned for smuggling with many of the offshore seaways and routes to shore being named after well known local smuggling families. It was in this context that Frederick Marryat
, author of The Children of the New Forest
, was sent on patrol here as a young naval lieutenant in 1821, to watch over the Christchurch Bay area. Britain's first reinforced concrete
bridge was built in 1901 just outside New Milton at Chewton. There was an earlier experiment in building with this material in its unreinforced form at Sway (Sway Tower). Also built in 1900 was the Tudor style water tower
, which can be found in Osborne Road. It has a staircase and is constructed with a turret, slit windows and battlements. It is a striking orange-red colour, was built from locally manufactured bricks.
On 23 August 1940, 8 August 1942 and 22 January 1943 bombing raids were carried out upon New Milton by the German Luftwaffe. The town's water tower was suggested as the target. During the Second World War, New Milton homed evacuees and was a transit station for soldiers going to the battlefields. It also had an army hospital. It was a favourite for the American airmen who were based at the nearby airfields at Lymington and Holmsley.
The Memorial Centre in Whitefield Road commemorates those who died in the raids, as well as townspeople who have died more recently. Bricks can be purchased for inscription and insertion into the wall of the Memorial Room, which stands to the left of the front door and contains mementos saved from the original building, which was destroyed by fire in the 1970s.
While Barton is a common English place-name, the etymology of Barton-on-Sea is unique. It means "Beorma
’s Farm", and appears twice in the Domesday Book
, as Bermintune and as Burmintune.
The coast at Barton on Sea is particularly well-known for its geological content, being home to many fossils in the Barton geological beds
. The cliff tops are home to a scenic golf course
. A cliff-top path runs between Barton and the village of Milford on Sea
. From there, the Solent Way
stretches all the way to Emsworth
, on the West Sussex
border. It is also well known for the fact that it was the first place in England to try out rock groynes.
, situated on the corner of Stem Lane, which is regarded as the leading collection of motorcycles and accompanying memorabilia in the country.
The Forest Arts Centre (formerly known as the New Milton Drama Centre) is situated at the end of Old Milton Road. It comprises several exhibition/activity rooms, a bar area and the main 150 seat studio theatre. It hosts a wide range of performances, including multi genre music, theatre, comedy, dance, films, literature - as well as putting on an array of activities and workshops for people in the community of all ages. Although having a reputation of catering mainly for the town's more elderly population, Forest Arts is slowly building up the quality of the acts it puts on, and has done especially well in attracting big name comedians to perform warm-up shows at the venue. These have included Hugh Dennis
, Harry Hill
, Frank Skinner
, Russell Howard
, Simon Amstell
, Phil Jupitus, John Hegley
and Alun Cochrane
.
The Memorial Centre also hosts various activities, including painting, dancing, indoor bowls, yoga, model car racing, and the Decorative and Fine Arts Society. It contains one of the largest function rooms in the local area, seating 350, with a raised stage. It also has two further rooms for hire upstairs, and there is a platform lift for disabled access. Like Forest Arts, its activities to date have centred mainly on the elderly population, but its position next to the 'Rec', skate park and youth café make it an ideal centre for younger people. The newly formed Friends group is promoting involvement of local schools and businesses, and is currently refurbishing the Centre to make it more attractive to hirers.
The town's leisure amenities include: a park with children's play area, a skate park and full size basketball court, Fawcett playing fields, a community centre, tennis courts, a bowls club, a library and a sports centre, including swimming pool, sauna, gym, squash courts and multi-activity sports hall. Being near the New Forest, the town is also a good location to be based for walking, cycling and riding. There are many holiday and caravan parks in the surrounding area.
The town also increasingly attracts shoppers from throughout the surrounding area. Although the high street is not long, it caters for the mixed local population of retirees and young families, and includes young children's clothes shops, toy shops, electrical stores, shoe shops, young adult clothing, ladies clothing, gentleman's outfitters, and a large traditional department store, Bradbeers
, as well as the supermarkets, convenience stores and eateries.
Along New Milton high street there are also supermarkets, a wine shop, bakers, butchers and art centres.
There are also a selection of independent schools.
(Local State & Independent Schools.)
The Arnewood School has approximately 1200 students, and has achieved second phase Technology College status. The school has a large sixth form, which is in the top ten percent in national statistics. The school achieved 72% A*-C in 2008 (60% including English and Mathematics).
Around New Milton, very popular colleges include Brockenhurst College
and Totton College
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in south west 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...
. The town has a high street and holds a market every Wednesday. Situated on the edge of 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....
, the town is about 6 miles (10 km) west of Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
town centre and 12 miles (19 km) east of Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
town centre.
History
New Milton dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and encompasses Old Milton, Barton on SeaBarton on Sea
Barton on Sea is a coastal village situated in Hampshire, England. As a settlement, Barton has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, although the modern village was largely built in the 20th century. It is effectively a suburb of New Milton...
, Ashley
Ashley, West Hampshire
Ashley is a village located in the southwest of Hampshire, England. It lies on the eastern outskirts of New Milton in the New Forest district, and is two miles inland from the sea. Its history dates back to the Domesday book of 1086, when two estates were recorded. In the 15th century much of...
, Bashley
Bashley, Hampshire
Bashley is a village located in the south of Hampshire, England. It lies in the New Forest on the outskirts of New Milton and is two miles inland from the Solent.- History :The history of Bashley can be traced to the Anglo-Saxon period...
, and Wootton
Wootton, West Hampshire
Wootton is a hamlet in the civil parish of New Milton in Hampshire, England. It is in the south of the New Forest.-Overview:Wootton is just north of the village of Bashley in the civil parish of New Milton, although the farmland and woodland to the north of Wootton is in the parish of Brockenhurst....
. It is recorded as having a population of approximately 23,000 in 2001.
Milton
The manor of Milton ("Mildeltune") is listed in the Domesday BookDomesday 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 and literally means "Middle farm." It was part of the lands belonging to Hugh de Port, and the estate was held from him by William Chernet. The Chernet family maintained possession of Milton into the 13th century, although lesser families were managing the estate on their behalf. The most important of these were the Chaucombe (or Chalcombe) family, who were probably the first people to build a church in Milton in the mid 13th century. In 1303 Thomas de Chaucombe was given permission to hold a weekly market
Street market
A street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week...
on Tuesdays at Milton, as well as an annual fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
on the feast day of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
, but this attempt to create a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
seems to have failed. From 1365 to 1565, the manor was in the possession of the Tyrrell family. The manor passed through various hands in subsequent centuries. The last significant owners were the Bursey family in the 19th century, and in the 1890s the remaining lands of the estate were subdivided and sold. In close proximity to Milton was the manor of Fernhill. In the Domesday book, it was held by Nigel from Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Roger de Montgomerie , also known as Roger the Great de Montgomery, was the first Earl of Shrewsbury. His father was also Roger de Montgomerie, and was a relative, probably a grandnephew, of the Duchess Gunnor, wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy...
. In the 15th century, John Fromond, the owner of this scattered estate, willed
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
the lands to Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, in whose hands the estate remained down to the 19th century. Another estate called "Gore" appeared by the 15th century, and still survives (partially) as a farm to the west of the town.
The traditional village centre of Milton was just south of the church. Up to the 1960s, moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
ed earthworks were still visible next to the road known as Moat Lane. Excavations of these earthworks in 1956 revealed a series of peasant enclosures and hut remains dating from the 9th to the 12th century, but no evidence of a manorial farmstead was found. The parish church of Milton is dedicated to Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
and consists of a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
with vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and a western tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
. The medieval church was pulled down and replaced around 1830, although the tower is of an earlier 17th century date. In 1835 a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
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 founded on an island of land near the village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
, where children were taught until just after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1881, the population of the entire Milton parish was only 1489 people, and Milton was still a small village. The location of the village on the main 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...
to Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
road (now the A337) meant that there were two coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
s - The Wheatsheaf and The George - the former of which is still operating.
New Milton
In March 1888 New Milton railway stationNew Milton railway station
New Milton railway station is a railway station serving the town of New Milton in Hampshire, England. The station also serves nearby places including Milford on Sea, Bashley, Ashley, Hordle and Barton on Sea.-History:...
was opened, which is still in operation today. A new town developed, which expanded rapidly with the coming of the railway and the name New Milton was used for the first time and can originally be traced back to the Post Office that stood opposite the train station. In 1895, the owner of the Post Office, Emma Newhook, commissioned a sign, which read - "New Milton Sub Post Office" to differentiate it from the post office in Old Milton. This was officially accepted in 1896, and so the name New Milton caught on. Much of the local farmland has been developed, first in the 1960s for commuter housing and again in the 1970s for small industrial/trade units. There is a mix of housing from cottages on the outskirts to more modern, urban housing in the central area. Milton village subsequently became known as Old Milton, and lies between New Milton and Barton on Sea.
There are a few notable architectural points of interest in the local area. However, a distinctive row of Coast Guard Cottages are to be found in Barton Lane, Barton on Sea, which were built at the end of the nineteen century by the Government of the day to house armed guards to try and stop the smuggling that was rife at the time. The Barton on Sea and Mudeford coastline was renowned for smuggling with many of the offshore seaways and routes to shore being named after well known local smuggling families. It was in this context that Frederick Marryat
Frederick Marryat
Captain Frederick Marryat was an English Royal Navy officer, novelist, and a contemporary and acquaintance of Charles Dickens, noted today as an early pioneer of the sea story...
, author of The Children of the New Forest
The Children of the New Forest
The Children of the New Forest is a children's novel published in 1847 by Frederick Marryat. It is set in the time of the English Civil War and the Commonwealth.-Plot summary:...
, was sent on patrol here as a young naval lieutenant in 1821, to watch over the Christchurch Bay area. Britain's first reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
bridge was built in 1901 just outside New Milton at Chewton. There was an earlier experiment in building with this material in its unreinforced form at Sway (Sway Tower). Also built in 1900 was the Tudor style water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
, which can be found in Osborne Road. It has a staircase and is constructed with a turret, slit windows and battlements. It is a striking orange-red colour, was built from locally manufactured bricks.
The Memorial Centre in Whitefield Road commemorates those who died in the raids, as well as townspeople who have died more recently. Bricks can be purchased for inscription and insertion into the wall of the Memorial Room, which stands to the left of the front door and contains mementos saved from the original building, which was destroyed by fire in the 1970s.
Barton-on-Sea
The coastal village of Barton-on-Sea is nowadays included as a suburb of New Milton. In the First World War Barton was the site of a convalescent home for Indian service men and this is commemorated by an obelisk in the village.While Barton is a common English place-name, the etymology of Barton-on-Sea is unique. It means "Beorma
Beorma
Beorma is the name most commonly given to the 7th century Anglo-Saxon founder of the settlement now known as the English city of Birmingham. This assumption is based on the belief that the original settlement was known as Beorma's ham or Beorma -inga -ham .It is also the name of an Anglo-Saxon...
’s Farm", and appears twice 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...
, as Bermintune and as Burmintune.
The coast at Barton on Sea is particularly well-known for its geological content, being home to many fossils in the Barton geological beds
Barton Beds
Barton Beds is the name given to a series of grey and brown clays, with layers of sand, of Upper Eocene age , which are found in the Hampshire Basin of southern England. They are particularly well exposed in the cliffs at Barton-on-Sea, which is the world type locality for the Barton Beds, and...
. The cliff tops are home to a scenic golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
. A cliff-top path runs between Barton and the village 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...
. From there, the Solent Way
Solent Way
The Solent Way is a 60 mile long-distance footpath in Hampshire, southern England. With the exception of a few inland diversions, the path follows the coast of the Solent, the sea strait that separates the mainland England from the Isle of Wight...
stretches all the way to Emsworth
Emsworth
Emsworth is a large village the south coast of England, situated on the Hampshire side of the border between Hampshire and West Sussex. The village lies at the north end of an arm of Chichester Harbour, a large but shallow inlet of the English Channel....
, on the West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
border. It is also well known for the fact that it was the first place in England to try out rock groynes.
Ashley
To the east of New Milton is the village of Ashley, which also has a history dating back to the Domesday Book. Today Ashley is effectively a suburb of New Milton, albeit with its own shops, churches, and primary schools. In the late 15th century the manor of Ashley was joined with part of another manor northeast of the parish called Arnewood, and the combined estate became known as Ashley Arnewood. The estate of Ashley Arnewood has long since disappeared, but the name Arnewood still lives on in the name of New Milton's secondary school, and the name of one of the health centres.Activities
Tourist attractions include the Sammy Miller Motorcycle museumSammy Miller Motorcycle museum
The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum was set up in 1964, after the former championship winning trials rider Sammy Miller set up a parts business in New Milton, Hampshire, England....
, situated on the corner of Stem Lane, which is regarded as the leading collection of motorcycles and accompanying memorabilia in the country.
The Forest Arts Centre (formerly known as the New Milton Drama Centre) is situated at the end of Old Milton Road. It comprises several exhibition/activity rooms, a bar area and the main 150 seat studio theatre. It hosts a wide range of performances, including multi genre music, theatre, comedy, dance, films, literature - as well as putting on an array of activities and workshops for people in the community of all ages. Although having a reputation of catering mainly for the town's more elderly population, Forest Arts is slowly building up the quality of the acts it puts on, and has done especially well in attracting big name comedians to perform warm-up shows at the venue. These have included Hugh Dennis
Hugh Dennis
Peter Hugh Dennis is an English actor, comedian, writer, impressionist and voice-over artist, best known for his work with comedy partner Steve Punt. He is also known for his position as a permanent panelist on the TV comedy show Mock The Week...
, Harry Hill
Harry Hill
Harry Hill , is a Perrier Award–winning English comedian, author and television presenter. A former medical doctor , Hill began his career in comedy with the popular radio show Harry Hill's Fruit Corner.-Personal life:Hill was born in Woking,...
, Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
, Russell Howard
Russell Howard
Russell Joseph Howard is an English comedian best known for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his appearances on the topical panel TV show Mock The Week...
, Simon Amstell
Simon Amstell
Simon Marc Amstell is a BAFTA nominated, award-winning English comedian, television presenter, screenwriter and actor, best known for his roles as former co-host of Popworld, former host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and co-writer and star of the sitcom Grandma's House.-Early life:Amstell was born...
, Phil Jupitus, John Hegley
John Hegley
John Richard Hegley is an English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter.-Early life:He was born in the Newington Green area of Islington, London, England, into a Roman Catholic household. He was brought up in Luton and Bristol...
and Alun Cochrane
Alun Cochrane
Alun "The Cockerel" Cochrane is a Scottish stand-up comedian. He was born in Glasgow and raised in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.-Stand-up comedy:...
.
The Memorial Centre also hosts various activities, including painting, dancing, indoor bowls, yoga, model car racing, and the Decorative and Fine Arts Society. It contains one of the largest function rooms in the local area, seating 350, with a raised stage. It also has two further rooms for hire upstairs, and there is a platform lift for disabled access. Like Forest Arts, its activities to date have centred mainly on the elderly population, but its position next to the 'Rec', skate park and youth café make it an ideal centre for younger people. The newly formed Friends group is promoting involvement of local schools and businesses, and is currently refurbishing the Centre to make it more attractive to hirers.
The town's leisure amenities include: a park with children's play area, a skate park and full size basketball court, Fawcett playing fields, a community centre, tennis courts, a bowls club, a library and a sports centre, including swimming pool, sauna, gym, squash courts and multi-activity sports hall. Being near the New Forest, the town is also a good location to be based for walking, cycling and riding. There are many holiday and caravan parks in the surrounding area.
The town also increasingly attracts shoppers from throughout the surrounding area. Although the high street is not long, it caters for the mixed local population of retirees and young families, and includes young children's clothes shops, toy shops, electrical stores, shoe shops, young adult clothing, ladies clothing, gentleman's outfitters, and a large traditional department store, Bradbeers
Bradbeers
Bradbeers is a family run department store with branches in New Milton and Romsey. It has been running in Hampshire for over 170 years. It originally began as a small drapery shop in Southampton run by R. S. Smith. The store traded under various names until 1892 when Mr Bradbeer entered the business...
, as well as the supermarkets, convenience stores and eateries.
Eating and drinking out
There is a variety of places to eat out in New Milton, including restaurants and pavement cafés, the number of which has increased in the last few years. There are also various takeaway shops around the town, including Indian, Chinese and Fish & Chips. There are a number of pubs around the town, such as The Plough, The Rydal Arms, The Old Barn and The Wheatsheaf.Along New Milton high street there are also supermarkets, a wine shop, bakers, butchers and art centres.
Education
The local state schools are- New Milton Infant School
- New Milton Junior School
- Ashley Infant School
- Ashley Junior School
- The Arnewood School
There are also a selection of independent schools.
(Local State & Independent Schools.)
The Arnewood School has approximately 1200 students, and has achieved second phase Technology College status. The school has a large sixth form, which is in the top ten percent in national statistics. The school achieved 72% A*-C in 2008 (60% including English and Mathematics).
Around New Milton, very popular colleges include Brockenhurst College
Brockenhurst College
Brockenhurst College, or colloquially known as Brock, is in the tertiary sector providing education in a wide range of courses for many different ages...
and Totton College
Totton College
Totton College is a sixth form college located in Totton and Eling, Hampshire, England.The college offers courses to students from the local area. The courses include NVQs, A Levels, BTECs. The college also has a provision of adult education, including offering Access courses to mature students...
.
Famous residents
- Sammy MillerSammy MillerSamuel Hamilton "Sammy" Miller, MBE is a championship winning motorcycle racer, in both road racing and trials. He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.-Career:...
, owner of Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum - Jamie RedknappJamie RedknappJamie Frank Redknapp is a retired English footballer who was active from 1989 until 2005. He is now a football pundit with Sky Sports, and an editorial columnist with the Daily Mail....
, footballer born in Barton on Sea - Neil MossNeil Moss (footballer)Neil Graham Moss is a retired footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Bournemouth.-Playing career:...
, the AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper born in the town. - Buster MerryfieldBuster MerryfieldHarry "Buster" Merryfield was an English actor best known for starring in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.-Early life:...
, lived in the town.