Some time ago I went to
the Hampshire Records Office in Winchester to find
out something about the history of Marchwood, and more
particularly about that of Byams House for the Army.
Somehow most of the information gathered then has disappeared
and a fresh visit was made recently. Really, the history
of Marchwood does need to become a dedicated project,
but that is beyond my remit.
However, my visit did turn up a most unexpected find,
at least to me. The helpful lady at the desk suggested
that I look up the manorial records and if I found a
reference to Marchwood, then she would arrange for it
to be taken out of the safe for me.
After about half an hour, document number 81M74/108 arrived
bound in cloth. It turned out to be a beautifully drawn
coloured map, dated 1755 and was titled:
THE MANNOR OF MARCHWOOD IN THE PARISH OF ELING COUNTY
OF SOUTHTON
BELONGING TO PETER SERLE ESQ.
(The scale was in perches).
The map showed the boundaries of 45 plots of land in
table form. The plots were as to in ‘Statue, ‘Wood’, ‘Quitt’ and ‘Reids’.
It would need someone far more experienced in such
matters than me to attempt to decipher what these mean.
However, what is really interesting is the names of
the lanes in existence at the time and those of the
various parcels of land, by no means joined together.
The overriding impression is that almost none of them
survive today.
The only point of reference is Bury Farm and a short
length of coast line along the ‘Southton’ River.
Going from north west to south east:
The Gibbett Lane runs along approximately the line
of Jacobs Gutter Lane.
Mavers Lane runs just south of Bury Farm, leading to
Corks Lane.
South of Mavers Lane is a plot of land marked Currents
Mead – Winchester College.
South of this plot is Balma Lane, leading to Waters
Lane.
Running south of and parallel to Balma Lane is Marchwood
Street.
There does not seem to be a lane leading to Dibden,
at least if there is one, then it is not marked.
Of
the 45 plots of land:
The furthest north west (west of Bury Farm) is King
John’s Copse.
On the waterfront of ‘Southton’ River is
Hill Jnr Rie: Mill.
The south east - towards Dibden is: The Inward Margh,
The Outward Margh and the Dibden Margh.
One would have to look much more closely at the 45
parcels of land to examine if any, with the exception
of Bury Farm, have descendents today.
There is a big challenge here. I understand that attempts
are being made to collate the histories of the various
villages which comprise the Waterside.
Marchwood, it
seems, has still to produce its contribution. Let us
hope that someone will pick this up and give a lead.
It is a fascinating story, as this short note tries
to show.
Ross Mason |
Marchwood
History,
an unexpected find.
