HAMBLEDON
Ambledune (xi cent.). Hamuldon (xiv cent.).
Hambledon is eight miles north of Cosham station,
and twelve miles north of Portsmouth. The parish
is about six miles in length, and three and a half miles
in breadth at the widest part. The area is 9,446
acres, including the tithings of Denmead or Barn
Green, Chidden, Glidden, Rushmere, and Ervill's
Exton.
The village of Hambledon lies in the west of the
parish, and is thus described by Cobbett in his Rural
Rides (1853):—'Hambledon is a long straggling
village lying in a little valley formed by some very
pretty but not lofty hills. The environs are much
prettier than the village itself, which is not far from
the north side of Portsdown Hill. This must have
once been a considerable place, for here is a church
pretty nearly as large as that at Farnham in Surrey,
which is quite sufficient for a large town.' The
entrance to the village from the south by the road
from Portsmouth is extremely picturesque. Bury
Lodge, the residence of Captain Butler, is situated to
the east of the road, while to the west a little nearer
the village are green meadows sloping upwards from
the road to one or two houses, which stand well back
with a back-ground of trees. Cams Cottage, one of
these, is the residence of Captain Francis H. Harvey.
The church of St. Peter and St. Paul stands on high
ground to the north of the village street, and is
approached from it by a short and steep road bordered
by old-fashioned timber cottages. There are several
large houses in the village, the most important being
Hambledon House, the residence of Captain Bernhard Liebert; Fairfield House, at present occupied
by Captain Edward Adderley, J.P.; and Whitedale
House, at the outskirts of the village on the north, the
residence of Mrs. Charnock. The main street, after
leaving the village, runs north-east, entering the down
country near Park House, and gradually ascending till
it enters the parish of Catherington by the Bat and
Ball Inn, the home of the famous Hambledon Cricket
Club, which occupies a lonely position, some 400 ft.
above the level of the sea. In the north of the parish
are the tithings of Glidden and Chidden, the former
of which lies two miles east of the village on the
southern slopes of Broadhalfpenny Down, (fn. 1) and the
latter some two miles north-east.
Hambledon Village
Opposite Hambledon church a steep shady lane
leads southwards to Hambledon windmill, which has
now fallen into picturesque decay, and thence past
Rushmere Farm, with its large sheet of water, to Denmead, which is an ecclesiastical parish formed in 1881
from Denmead tithing, a part of Ervill's Exton tithing,
the East or Creech Walk of the Forest of Bere, until
then extra-parochial, which is now inclosed and
planted chiefly with Scotch and other firs, and a part
of the parish of Catherington. The village of Denmead, or Barn Green as it is usually called from its
small triangular green, lies to the north-east of the
Creech Walk, and its church, dedicated in honour of
All Saints, was built in 1880 at a cost of £2,000.
Ashling House in the village is the residence of
Mr. George Chadwick Booth, who is a large landowner in the parish. The window-arches and general
appearance of one of the farm-houses near the village
suggest that it contains the structure of a chapel which
was dependent upon the parish church of Hambledon
until the Reformation, but tradition also points to a
spot on the downs near Denmead Mill as the site of
this chapel, and it is stated that in the last century a
number of graves were found there. Other places in
this parish are Anmore, (fn. 2) half a mile east, once in
Catherington parish; Apless, 1½ miles west; Broadway, 1½ miles east; Bunker's Hill, ½ a mile south-west; Bunn's Lane, 2½ miles west; Crabbick, 1 mile
west; Eastland Gate, 2 miles east; Ervill's, 1½ miles
west; Furze Hill, 1 mile south-east; Piper's Hill,
1½ miles south-east; Soake, 1 mile east; and World's
End, 1½ miles west.
The soil of the parish varies from a light clay in
the north and north-east to a stiff clay in the south.
The chief crops are wheat, barley, and oats.
The land is divided as follows: 4,392 acres of
arable land, 2,993 of permanent grass, and 1,101 of
woods and plantations. (fn. 3) The following place-names
occur in Hambledon parish: Bullpyrke Meadow; (fn. 4)
in 1452, 'Scutescroft'; (fn. 5) in 1556, 'Appullons' in
Denmead; (fn. 6) in 1702, 'Furze Field' and 'Brithlands' in the tithing of Chidden; (fn. 7) in 1712,
'Westhookes' near Anthill Heath, 'Keepmore' and
'Inholmes' in the tithing of Denmead. (fn. 8)
West End Down in Hambledon parish was inclosed
on 24 January, 1861; (fn. 9) Anthill Common on 7 September, 1870, (fn. 10) and Chidden Down 14 December,
1871. (fn. 11)
John Nyren (1764–1837), a writer on cricket, was
born at Hambledon. He was the son of Richard
Nyren, founder of the famous Hambledon Cricket
Club.
Charles II on his way from Somerset to Shoreham,
whence he escaped to Fécamp, passed the night of
13 October, 1651, at Hambledon, at the house of a
brother-in-law of Colonel Gunter (at that time the
king's guide). 'The master of the house, who had
been all day long playing the good fellow at an alehouse in the town, came in at supper, and declared
that the king looked like "some round-headed rogue's
son," but was soon appeased. Afterwards, in the
time of entertaining his guests, he did by chance let
fall an oath; for which Mr. Jackson (the name by
which the king went) took occasion modestly to
reprove him.' (fn. 12) The house at that time belonged
to one of the Symonds family; it is now used as
a gardener's cottage.
MANORS
The main manor of HAMBLEDON,
which must have escheated to the crown
under Henry I, was granted to the bishop
of Winchester by King John in 1199 (fn. 13) ; and remained
in his hands until 1650, at which date the manor,
together with the manor farm, view of frankpledge,
court leet and court baron, was sold to George Wither
for £3,796 18s. 11d. (fn. 14) Hambledon was restored to
the bishopric at the Restoration, and remained in its
possession until 1869, when the lands of the see of
Winchester were taken over by the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners, who are lords or the manor of
Hambledon at the present time.
At the time of the Domesday Survey there was a
mill in Hambledon, (fn. 15) and in
the reign of Edward I there
was a mill in the bishop's
manor. (fn. 16)
Camoys. Argent a chief gules with three bezants.
In 1612 a market was
granted to Thomas bishop of
Winchester, to be held on
Tuesday in each week; and
two fairs, one at the feast of
the Purification of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, and the other at
the feast of St. Matthew. (fn. 17)
There is no trace of these,
however, at the present day.
Besides the bishop's manor of Hambledon there
were evidently some lands in the parish which were
held under the overlordship of the De Ports and
St. Johns successively. At the
time of the Domesday Survey
William de Perci was holding
this land in right of his wife, (fn. 18)
Emma de Port, (fn. 19) who probably
obtained it by grant of Hugh
de Port. (fn. 20)
St. Philibert. Bendy argent and azure.
His heir, Alan de Perci, held
a knight's fee in Hambledon of
John de Port in 1166, and
William de Perci held the same
of Robert de St. John under
Henry III. (fn. 21) Ralph de Punda
was holding this knight's fee in Hambledon of William
de Perci under Robert de St. John in the thirteenth
century. (fn. 22) In 1259 Ralph de Camoys was holding
half a knight's fee in Hambledon as the under-tenant
of Robert de St. John (fn. 23) ; and
in 1329 Ralph de Camoys,
his grandson, was holding a
whole fee there worth 40s. of
John de St. John. (fn. 24) In 1349
an order was issued that the
knight's fee in Hambledon
which Ralph de Camoys was
holding should be delivered
up to John de St. Philibert
and Margaret his wife, eldest
sister and heir of Edmund de
St. John, tenant in chief, who had died a minor in the
king's wardship. (fn. 25)
St. John. Argent a chief gules with two molets or.
Maurice de Brun, Aymer de Valence, and John de
Boarhunt were also holding lands in Hambledon in
1347 from Edmund de St. John, (fn. 26) and in 1349 an
order was issued to deliver this land to Elizabeth
late the wife of Edmund de St. John as her dower,
with reversion to Luke de Poynings and his wife
Isabel, sister and heir of Edmund de St. John. (fn. 27)
After this date there is apparently no further
mention of these lands in Hambledon. The only
explanation of this seems to be that they may have
become amalgamated with some other manor in the
hands of the St. Johns, possibly Warnford.
DENMEAD
DENMEAD in Hambledon was in the hands of
the bishop of Winchester in 1316, (fn. 28) and it is always
mentioned under Hambledon on the Ecclesiastical
Commission Court Rolls as paying suit at the bishop's
court of Hambledon. It was evidently leased by
the bishops to various tenants during the thirteenth
century. (fn. 29)
It is first called a manor in 1449 when William
Wayte (fn. 30) died seised of it, and held it of the bishop of
Winchester, leaving a son and
heir Edward, then aged five. (fn. 31)
From Edward it passed to his
son Simon, who died in 1518,
leaving a brother and heir
William. (fn. 32)
Wayte. Argent a cheveron gules between three hunting horns sable.
On the death of the latter
in 1561 his extensive lands in
Hampshire and the Isle of
Wight were divided among
his six daughters, Eleanor the
wife of Richard Bruning, Mary
the wife of William Cresweller,
Honor who had married her
cousin William Wayte, Margaret the wife of Henry
Perkins, Elizabeth who had married Richard Norton,
and Susan who had married William Wollascot. (fn. 33)
Eleanor Bruning died in 1593, leaving one-sixth
of the manor to her son and heir Francis, charged
with an annuity to her son, William Bruning, and
with a jointure settled on
Ellen wife of her son Richard,
the daughter and heiress of
Anthony Uvedale. (fn. 34)
Bruning. Gules two bends wavy the upper argent the lower or.
Christine Bruning, most
probably the widow of Francis
Bruning, gave this sixth part
to Humphrey Sandford and
Thomas Wollascot in 1604. (fn. 35)
In 1610 their share of the
manor came back into the possession of the Brunings, (fn. 36) and
though presumably only a sixth
part it is subsequently described
as the manor of Denmead; and in 1612 Richard
Bruning died seised of it, leaving it to his son Anthony
with a jointure settled on Mary, Anthony's wife. (fn. 37)
Anthony was still holding the manor in 1652, and
conveyed it in that year to Richard Love and John
Bold, probably trustees. (fn. 38) Richard Bruning was in
possession of the manor in 1718 and settled it at that
date on George Parker. (fn. 39)
The Wollascots were still holding their share of
the manor of Denmead in 1613, for in that year
William Wollascot junior and his wife Anne and their
son William conveyed property described as the manor
to Otho Gayer and George Parker, (fn. 40) evidently as a
settlement, for in 1618 William Wollascot senior died
seised of lands and tenements in Denmead in right
of his wife Susan, daughter and co-heiress of William
Wayte, and the lands descended to his son and heir
William Wollascot junior. (fn. 41) William Wollascot and
Anne settled their share of the manor of Denmead
and the so-called manor of Glidden on their son
Edward in 1621, (fn. 42) his brother William apparently
having died; (fn. 43) and in 1656 Edward Wollascot and
his wife Anne conveyed them to Thomas Battlesworth. (fn. 44) The parts of Denmead and Glidden which
passed into the hands of the Perkins family with the
marriage of Margaret Wayte and Henry Perkins
evidently remained to them for some time; for in
1671 Richard Perkins and Francis Perkins made a
settlement of the so-called manors of Denmead and
Glidden. (fn. 45)
In 1703 Anne Perkins (one of the Perkins of Beenham, Berkshire, who had married her cousin, Francis
Perkins of Ufton, the greatgrandson of Henry Perkins and
Margaret) (fn. 46) together with
Frances and Margaret, her
sisters-in-law, granted her share
in the manors to her cousin
Thomas Perkins. (fn. 47) A few
months later Thomas Perkins
and his wife Sarah conveyed
the manors to George Norris
and Richard Heverden, probably as a settlement. (fn. 48)
Perkins. Or a fesse dancetty between six billets sable ermined argent.
William du Gard and his
wife Elizabeth, possibly a
daughter of Thomas Perkins, and Sarah were holding
Denmead and Glidden in right of Elizabeth in 1713,
and conveyed them in that year to Robert Heart. (fn. 49)
William Smith and his wife Jane were holding the
manor of Denmead (fn. 50) in right of Jane in 1744 (fn. 51) and
conveyed it in that year to Thomas d'Oyley, probably
as a settlement. (fn. 52) Twenty-five years later William
and Jane sold the manor to Thomas Bernard, (fn. 53) who
in his turn conveyed it to Thomas Martin and
William Hatch. (fn. 54)
In 1831 Henry Kennett and his wife Fanny were
holding the manors of Denmead and Glidden with
courts leet, courts baron, and view of frankpledge,
and settled them in that year on William Higgins. (fn. 55)
After this date there seems to be no further mention
of the manors. Denmead is now a tithing in the
parish of Hambledon, the whole of which is in the
hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are
apparently lords of the manor. The tithing is now
called Barn Green.
Besides the manor of Denmead there seems to
have been a holding in the parish known by the name
of DENMEAD MOLYNS, from the family who
held it in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
In 1272 Richard de Lys and Florence his wife
granted a third part of a messuage and a carucate of
land in Denmead to Philip de Molyns and Joan his
wife. (fn. 56) Again in 1299 William de Raunville granted
a messuage and carucate of land in Hambledon to
Simon de Fareham; (fn. 57) which may possibly have been
Denmead Molyns, as in 1346 John de Molyns of Fareham was holding 5 messuages and 50 acres of land in
demesne at Denmead from the bishop of Winchester. (fn. 58)
At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries
Denmead Molyns was held by the prior and convent
of Southwick, (fn. 59) though how and when it came into
their possession is unknown. In 1543 the so-called
manor was granted with all its appurtenances to
Thomas Wriothesley. (fn. 60) Lord Chancellor Wriothesley granted this manor to Anthony Cope and his heirs
in June, 1544, (fn. 61) and in 1593 licence was granted to
John Cope and Jane his wife, Anne Cope, widow,
and others to alienate the manor of Denmead Molyns,
held of the queen in chief, to John Knight and his
heirs. (fn. 62) There seem to be no later records concerning Denmead Molyns.
The earliest mention of the manor of ERVILL'S
EXTON (Ernelles, xiv cent.; Ervelys, Ervills Exton, xv cent.) seems to be in the year 1397, when
William Audeley and his wife Julia conveyed the
reversion to Sir William Lescrope, Henry Maupas,
and others, evidently for a settlement. (fn. 63) From this
fine it appears that the manor was held by William
Haket Julia in right of Julia, who was apparently
the daughter of William and Julia Audeley. (fn. 64) In
1417 the manor was in the hands of John Kyngesmill in right of his wife Cecily, who may possibly have
been the daughter of Julia Haket. (fn. 65) Eight years
later William Heverfield and his wife Cecily, probably
the above Cecily or her daughter, were holding lands
in Exton near Hambledon and conveyed them to
Henry Merston and others as trustees. (fn. 66) Thomas
Radford and his wife Matilda in 1448 conveyed the
manor of Ervill's Exton in Matilda's right to William
Warburton and Robert Dynelly and the heirs of
Robert. (fn. 67) Robert Dynelly married a daughter of
William Ludlow of co. Wilts.; (fn. 68) who, together with
John Ludlow, was seised in 1473 of the manor of
Ervill's Exton held of the bishop of Winchester.
They conveyed it to Thomas Jurdew and William
Coltyng, who settled it on 20 October, 1473, on
William Kirkeby and his wife Margery. The former
died in 1476, his heir being his son John. (fn. 69) Ervill's
Exton remained in the possession of the Kirkeby
family until 1597, when Thomas Kirkeby and his
wife Sarah sold it to William Stockman for £500. (fn. 70)
Five years later William Stockman in his turn sold it
for the same amount to Christopher Perrin, (fn. 71) who
died seised of the manor in 1612. (fn. 72) He was followed
by his son Henry who in 1662, conveyed the capital
messuage, farm, and demesnes of Ervill's Exton, called
Ervill's Farm, to Bartholomew Smith of the Soak, near
Winchester. (fn. 73)
The Perrins were still holding the manor in 1705,
for in that year Christopher Perrin and his wife Sarah
conveyed it to Elizabeth Perrin. (fn. 74) Thomas Futcher
and William Pistell were holding the manor in 1767
in right of their wives Mary and Sarah, possibly the
granddaughters of Sarah Perrin, and conveyed it in
that year to Henry Whitear. (fn. 75) Nine years later
William Pistell and Sarah and others quitclaimed the
manor to Edward Bradley. (fn. 76) After this date there
seems to be no further mention of Ervill's Exton.
Ervill's Exton is now a tithing in the parish of
Hambledon, the whole of which is in the hands of
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are apparently
lords of the manor.
The tithing of BURWELL in Hambledon, part of
which seems to have developed later into the manor of
BUTVILLENS (Botevyleyns, xv cent.; Butvillens,
xvi cent.; Bittles, xix cent.), is first mentioned in
1316, when it was held by Ralph de Camoys. (fn. 77) But
before this date it must have been held by William
Butvillens, who gave his name to the manor, for in
1346 Ralph de Camoys and Robert de Popham were
holding one fee in Burwell which had formerly been
held by William Butvillens or his assignees. (fn. 78)
In 1428 New College, Winchester, was holding half
the fee in Burwell, which had been granted to it by
the crown, and the college still holds lands in the
parish. (fn. 79) The other half-fee which formerly belonged to
William Butvillens was in the possession of Elizabeth
Wayte in 1428, (fn. 80) and evidently continued as the
so-called manor of Butvillens, which followed the
descent of the manor of Wymering (q.v.) until 1561.
At William Wayte's death in 1561 his lands were
divided among his six daughters and co-heiresses. (fn. 81)
Butvillens evidently fell to the share of Mary Wayte
who had married William Cresweller, for in 1597
William Cresweller conveyed it to John Kent. (fn. 82)
After this there seems to be no record of Butvillens
until the year 1733, when Thomas Lintott and his
wife Mary and John Angell conveyed it to Benjamin
Martin. (fn. 83) The manor was then evidently divided
among four co-heiresses, for in 1771 William Slader
and his wife Frances conveyed a fourth part of the
manor of Butvillens which was held in right of Frances
to Thomas Cooke. (fn. 84) In 1790 John Richards and his
wife Maria and William Haverkam and his wife Anna
Catherine sold the whole manor to Hugh Seymour
Conway for £400; (fn. 85) but whether they held it by
right of inheritance or by purchase has not been
ascertained. Hugh Seymour Conway was the fifth
son of Francis second Lord Conway and earl of Hertford and the Lady Isabella Fitzroy, daughter of the
duke of Grafton; (fn. 86) and in 1801 Hugh Seymour and
Ann Horatia his wife conveyed the manor to George
Henry earl of Euston, his cousin and George Seymour
his brother, evidently as a settlement.
After this date there seems to be no further record
concerning Butvillens, which probably became merged
in the main manor of Hambledon. Butvillens or
Bittles is now a tithing in Hambledon parish.
GLIDDEN
GLIDDEN (Gluddon, xv cent.) is a tithing in
Hambledon parish lying about two miles east of the
village. It is mentioned with Hambledon as paying
suit at the bishop's court. (fn. 87) A messuage, land, and
tenements in Glidden were granted to Thomas
Wriothesley earl of Southampton in 1543, (fn. 88) and from
this date the descent of Glidden becomes the same as
that of the manor of Denmead in the parish of
Hambledon (q.v.). The whole of Hambledon parish,
inclusive of the tithing of Glidden, is in the possession
of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners at the present
day.
The tithing of CHIDDEN lies about two miles
north-east of Hambledon; it owed suit at the bishop's
court of Hambledon.
As early as 956 King Eadwig granted land in
Chidden in the parish of Hambledon to Ethelgeard a
thegn. (fn. 89) After this date there is no mention of
Chidden until the year 1284, when William de Colriche and Eleanor his wife granted 20 acres of land
and 12s. 6d. rent in Chidden to Thomas de Colemore. (fn. 90)
Henry VIII granted lands, tenements, and rent in
Chidden in 1543 to Thomas Wriothesley, earl of
Southampton, (fn. 91) together with numerous lands and
manors in Hampshire.
RUSHMERE
RUSHMERE is a tithing in the parish. The
earliest mention of it seems to be in 1510, when Sir
John Pounde died seised of the so-called manor of
Rushmere held of the bishop of Winchester; (fn. 92) his
widow Elizabeth died soon afterwards and the manor
passed to their son and heir William. (fn. 93) Anthony
Pound, William's son, (fn. 94) died in possession of Rushmere in 1547, when it was entailed on his son
Richard and his wife Elizabeth daughter of William
Wayte of Wymering and their heirs. (fn. 95) It then
passed to Honor, Richard Pounde's sister and the wife
of Henry earl of Sussex, (fn. 96) who died seised of it
in 1593, (fn. 97) leaving a son and heir Robert. This
Robert, earl of Sussex, sold it to Jonas Latelays in
1601, (fn. 98) who in 1609 sold it to Nicholas Foster. (fn. 99)
After this there seems to be no further mention of
Rushmere until the year 1765, when it was in the
hands of Thomas Godwin. (fn. 100)
At the present day Rushmere as a tithing in Hambledon is in the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
The manor of PUTTE, which is possibly represented at the present day by the tithing of Pithills
in Hambledon, follows the descent of Wymering
manor (q.v.) from 1448 until 1561; after which
date it is lost sight of.
CHURCHES
The church of ST. PETER AND
ST. PAUL, HAMBLEDON, is a fine
and very interesting building, which
has developed its rather complicated plan from a
small pre-Conquest nave and chancel, of which a
good part still remains. The nave measured 37 ft.
by 18 ft. 6 in. internally, and the chancel was 14 ft.
3 in. wide, and probably about 16 ft. long, the walls
being 2 ft. 7 in. thick. In the latter part of the
twelfth century north and south aisles were added to
the nave, and in the thirteenth century the church
was greatly enlarged eastwards, out of all proportion
to the old nave, the plan of which, however, was
retained, so that it has now become little more than a
vestibule to the present nave, which occupies the site
of the old chancel. The thirteenth-century enlargements are evidently of several dates, and their development is rather difficult to follow, obscured as they are
by later work. The pre-Conquest chancel was apparently not altered in the twelfth century, but the
first part of the thirteenth-century enlargements continued its lines eastwards as far as the west end of the
present chancel, a total length of 41 ft. from the old
chancel arch. Later in the century an entirely new
chancel was built to the east, 38 ft. by 19 ft., and
transept chapels flanking the east bays of the prolongation of the old chancel seem to have formed
part of this scheme. Whether the first enlargement
of the chancel included aisles or not, it probably
developed them before the building of the second
chancel and transept chapels, and the difference in
the arcades suggests that the work was not continuous.
The arches at the east end of the old nave and aisles
are also of late thirteenth-century date, and show that
the aisles must have attained their present width by
that time, unless the arches have been widened at a
later time, a fact difficult to verify. A twelfth-century light at the west end of the south aisle appears
to be in its original position, and suggests a width
some 2 ft. 6 in. less than at present for the twelfth-century aisle; that in the north aisle is central with
the present width, but may have been moved outwards
when the tower stair was built, to escape blocking.
A west tower was added to the nave in the thirteenth
century, as a window in the south wall on the ground
stage shows; its upper part was rebuilt in 1794, and
the axis of the tower is to the south of that of the
nave and of the thirteenth-century arch which opens
from nave to tower, so that its present plan seems to
be the result of a rebuilding. The south wall of the
south aisle of the old nave seems to have been
entirely rebuilt, on the old lines, in the fifteenth
century, and a south porch and south-west chamber,
both of two stories, added. The chancel has an east
window of three lancet lights under a pointed arch,
the tracery being modern, and there are three pairs
of lancet lights in the north and south walls, of the
same character, with a plain south doorway between
the second and third on the south side. The western
pair of windows are at a lower level than the rest.
At the south-east of the chancel is a trefoiled piscina
with a projecting drain, but all other fittings are
modern, and the walls have been heightened and a
new roof put on. The chancel arch is of two
chamfered orders, with a small half-octagonal shaft
and capital to the inner order, and on either side of
it are squints from the aisles.
The eastern division of the nave has arcades of
three bays, the two east bays of that on the north
having round columns with moulded capitals and
bases of clunch, except the capital of the western
respond, which is in green sandstone, while the third
bay is of later date, a plain pointed opening with
Binstead stone strings at the springing and green sandstone dressings in its east respond; it dies into the wall
on the west, and is cut through the pre-Conquest
masonry, the stone eaves course of which shows above
it, running eastward as far as the centre of the middle
bay of the arcade. The south arcade is continuous,
and has octagonal columns and capitals, the two
eastern capitals being modern; its western arch dies
into the east wall of the pre-Conquest nave without
a respond.
The north aisle has an east window of three lancets
with a foiled circle above and engaged jamb-shafts;
in its north wall are two small lancet lights, and
between them a three-light fifteenth-century window.
The south aisle has an east window of the same date
and description as that in the north aisle, but the
central lancet is higher than the others, its head taking
the place of the foiled circle. Its three south windows
are: a pair of lancets with a trefoil over, a threelight fifteenth-century window with uncusped tracery,
and a pair of lancets. The first of these three windows is set in a thicker piece of wall than the others,
and at the junction of the thicker and thinner walls a
change in direction is noticeable; the latter is clearly
later than the former, and points to a widening of
this part of the aisle as already suggested. At the
south-east of the aisle is a locker. The roofs over
this part of the church are old, but have no details
from which a precise date might be assigned to them;
they have tie-beams with arched collars, and the trusses
of the middle span probably had king-posts at one
time.
The western division of the nave has arcades of
two bays, c. 1180, with round pillars and pointed
arches of different detail, those in the north arcade
having one square order and chamfered labels with
hatched ornament on the vertical face and rosettes
alternating with dogtooth on the chamfer, while in
the south arcade the arches are of two chamfered
orders, with dogtooth on the labels. The capitals
are scalloped in both instances, but the bases of the
north arcade are square, with angle spurs, and those
of the south arcade round. Above the arches on the
outer faces of the walls the upper parts of pre-Conquest
pilaster strips remain, two on each side, in Binstead
stone, and the walls are characteristically high. In
the south wall near the west angle is a wide roundheaded opening, splayed inwards, apparently a window
opening of the pre-Conquest church, which was
probably filled with pierced wooden boarding, but its
width makes it an altogether unusual feature. The
arch which takes the place of the original chancel
arch is a fine piece of thirteenth-century detail, of
two-moulded orders, more elaborate on the west face
than on the east, with three shafts in each respond
and moulded capitals; it is abutted by arches of late
thirteenth-century date at the east ends of the old
aisles, that on the north having three engaged
octagonal shafts in the jambs, while the southern arch
is plainer, with half-octagonal responds. In the
north aisle is an early fourteenth-century doorway
between two three-light windows, one of the fifteenth
century and the other an ornamental modern copy of
it, and at the west end a twelfth-century roundheaded light, which, as already noted, may have been
further to the south at first. The south doorway of
the nave is of good fifteenth-century detail, and opens
to a contemporary porch which formerly had an
upper floor, reached by a short passage or gallery from
the upper floor of the south-west vestry. There are
fifteenth-century windows in the aisle wall, on either
side of the porch, both square-headed, that to the
east having arched tracery under the square head,
with pierced spandrels. In the west wall of the aisle
is an original twelfth-century light, and to the north
of it a fifteenth-century door to the vestry, while at
the first-floor level, near the south-west angle, is a
doorway which formerly led by a gallery to the parvise
over the porch. The vestry, which is now of one
story only, was probably used as a living room in
former times, and has a south window in the upper
stage with a stone shoot through the wall below it.
The upper part of the tower is of flint with redbrick dressings, dating from 1794, and the west door
and window are modern. In the south wall is a
blocked thirteenth-century light, already referred to,
and the tower arch, whose north jamb is overlapped
by the north wall of the tower, is also of the thirteenth century, with half-octagonal responds, moulded
capitals and bases, and a pointed arch of two
chamfered orders. The tower stair is at the northeast. In the south wall is a recess used as a cupboard, and on either side of the west window is hung
a regimental colour.
The roof of the western part of the nave is good
fifteenth-century work in four bays, with moulded
tie-beams, collars, and braces, but the fittings of the
church generally are modern. The altar table is of
the seventeenth century with baluster legs, and the
font, at the west end of the south aisle, is octagonal
and modern.
There are six bells, the treble by Taylor of Loughborough, 1882, and the others by Robert Catlin of
London, 1749, the fifth recording that the old bells
were cast into a ring of six in that year.
The plate is modern, a fine set consisting of two
chalices, three patens, a flagon, two alms dishes, and
two candlesticks, made in 1876 and weighing in all
200 oz. There are also two patens, a cup, and
flagon of pewter.
The first book of registers runs from 1601 to
1662, but one leaf of the paper register for 1596 is
preserved. The succeeding books date from 1662–1706, 1708–1778, and 1778–1812, and there is a
printed marriage register for 1754–1798.
Near the south door of the church is a fine yew
tree.
The church of ALL SAINTS, DENMEAD, built
in 1880, is of flint in the thirteenth-century style,
and consists of chancel, nave, south porch, and bellturret. The register dates from 1881.
ADVOWSON
The earliest mention of a church
at Hambledon seems to be about the
year 1155, when Hambledon church
and Meonstoke manor were granted to St. Swithun's
Priory. (fn. 101) In 1327, on the petition of John bishop
of Winchester, the king ordered that the keeper of
the temporalities of the see was not to interfere
with the church of Hambledon, which was a parish
church and annexed to the bishopric as a spirituality,
by accounting for the fruits at the exchequer among
the temporalities of the see. (fn. 102) Four years later the
bishop obtained letters patent ordering that in any
future vacancy of the see the custody of the church
of Hambledon was to belong to the prior and convent
of St. Swithun at Winchester. (fn. 103)
The advowson of Hambledon was in the hands of
the bishop of Winchester until 1870; (fn. 104) the bishop
of Lichfield then held it for about fifteen years, at
the end of which it passed to the Lord Chancellor, in
whose gift the living still remains. (fn. 105)
The living of Denmead is a vicarage in the gift of
the Lord Chancellor.
In the thirteenth century Hambledon vicarage was
assessed at only £13 6s. 8d.; (fn. 106) but in the sixteenth
century the value had increased to £27 8s. 9d. (fn. 107)
The living is now a vicarage, net yearly value
£378, with 101 acres of glebe.
Tradition points to the fact that there must originally have been a chapel in Denmead attached to
Hambledon church (vide ante), but no record of the
existence of such a chapel can now be found.
There is a Methodist chapel in Denmead.
CHARITIES
In 1626 Thomas Bettsworth, in
consideration of £80 received from
the executors of Richard Binsted, conveyed to trustees 16 acres of land in Rogate, Sussex,
upon trust to employ the rents for the relief of four poor,
needy, and impotent single or sole persons of Hambledon. The land has been sold and proceeds invested
with the official trustees of charitable funds, who now
hold £999 2s. 2d. consols in trust for the charity.
In 1895 a scheme was established limiting the
number of future pensioners to two, who are to be
residents of Hambledon.
This parish was formerly possessed of 3½ acres
known as the Church Lands. In 1874 the land was
sold, and net proceeds invested in £377 15s. 11d.
consols with the official trustees, the dividends of
which are applied for church purposes.
The poor's allotments, consisting of 7 acres, bring
in a rental of about £10 a year, which is applied for
the benefit of the poor of the parish.
In 1878 John Foster bequeathed £200 in aid of a
blanket fund for the poor. The legacy—less duty—
was invested in £183 18s. 9d. consols, transferred to
the official trustees.
In 1892 Mrs. Arabella Louisa Moody by deed of
trust (enrolled with the Charity Commissioners)
settled a sum of £100 for keeping the paths, &c.,
of the churchyard in good order, represented by
£102 16s. 7d. India 3 per cent. stock, with the
official trustees.
In 1894 John Boulderson Barkworth by will left
£500 to the rector and churchwardens, income to be
applied for benefit of sick and infirm poor of the
parish at their discretion. The legacy was invested
in the purchase of £523 10s. 2d. Metropolitan Consolidated 2½ per cent. stock, with the official trustees.
In 1834 John Ring by will gave a fund, income
to be applied for educational purposes, and also a
fund for the distribution of wood and fuel; the former
fund is represented by £619 1s. 4d. consols, and the
latter by £183 15s. 8d. like stock, both held by the
official trustees. By scheme of 4 February, 1896,
the dividends are applied respectively in prizes, &c.,
and in the distribution of fuel to the poor, or in
subscription to provident societies, &c.