MICHELDEVER
Mycendefer (ix cent.); Mycheldefer (x cent.);
Micheldeura (xii cent.); Mucheldever (xiii-xv cent.).
The parish of Micheldever, lying beyond the Worthies to the north-east of Winchester, contains nearly
7,819 acres, of which the greater part is arable land.
Generally speaking the land slopes down from north
and south towards the centre of the parish where the
village of Micheldever lies, and where the stream
called the North Brook, a tributary of the Test, rises
to flow westward across the parish towards Hunton.
The Roman road from Winchester to London
passing through Martyr Worthy enters Micheldever
near Lunway's Inn, which lies on the right-hand side
where a branch road turns off north-east towards
Northington. Rising steadily the main road skirts
the western edge of Micheldever Wood, with its well
authenticated remains of a Roman villa (fn. 1) —the wood
which Cobbett in his Rural Rides mentions as containing 1,000 acres, and as being 'one of the finest
oak woods in England' (fn. 2) —and passes on in a northeasterly direction to form the border line between
East Stratton and Micheldever. About half a mile
north of Lunway's Inn a lane branching west from
the main road leads between low hedges through
ploughed fields and pasture land to Micheldever village. A short steep descent marks the entrance to
the village past the Half Moon and Spread Eagle Inn
and a few low thatched cottages lying on either side
of the road. Here a turn to the north-west leads
into the main village street, on either side of which
are quaint thatched half-timbered houses, with only
here and there a less attractive modern cottage.
To the west stands the manor farm, while about half
way down the main street a low gate leads to the
church of St. Mary up a gravel path between grass
banks covered in the early spring with masses of
celandine and shaded by well-grown lime trees.
Opposite the church is the village school, south-east of
which is the vicarage. Immediately north of the
school is the thatched cottage which serves as a post
office. North of the village the road curves slightly
north-west, crossing the brook to Northbrook tithing,
and thence running north past Northbrook House,
and for some distance east of and parallel with the
railway line, branches north-west to the station on
the London and South Western Railway, near the
northern boundary of the parish. The tithing of
Northbrook, lying about a quarter of a mile from
the east bank of the railway line, consists of a
Primitive Methodist chapel (1867) and a few cottages
and outbuildings on either side of the road coming
from Micheldever. Northbrook Farm and Northbrook House, the residence of Mr. W. G. Wittingstall,
a large white house backing on the line, stand some
distance from the road behind a small park nearly
half a mile to the north of the cottages of Northbrook.
A road leads west from Northbrook under the railway
line to the tithing of Weston Colley, which consists
of several scattered groups of picturesque thatched cottages and one or two good-sized houses, including
Weston House, the residence of Miss Armstrong.
Near to the railway bank is the old mill house over
the Test tributary, probably standing on the site of
the mill mentioned in the Domesday Survey of
the manor. The mill at Weston with the suit of
customary tenants there was leased to John Prikehare
and his wife Orenge by the abbot of Hyde late in the
thirteenth century. (fn. 3)
Norsbury House near Norsbury Ring is in the
south-west of the parish, and is surrounded by a small
park. The soil of the whole parish is loam with a
subsoil of chalk, and ordinary green crops are grown
on the 4,493½ acres of arable land. Only 1,936¾
acres are given up to permanent grass, and 1,056 to
woodland. (fn. 4) The woodland is mostly comprised in
Micheldever Wood, formerly part of Pamber Forest.
Of the smaller woods Blackwood and Upper Blackwood lying in the north-east on the borders of Popham were granted to Hyde Abbey in 1258 by
Audoenus Black (le Noir) in return for maintenance
of himself and his wife Alice as long as they should
live; (fn. 5) while Bazeley Copse is probably identical with
'Bablysley' Copse leased to Sir Thomas Wriothesley
with the rectory in 1537. (fn. 6) A cottage called The
Forge was occupied by Thomas Wickham and Peter
Leffe at the time of the surrender of Hyde Abbey. (fn. 7)
There is now no market or fair held in the parish,
but both were appurtenant to the manor in 1685, (fn. 8)
and probably originated with the liberties granted to
Henry earl of Southampton in 1607. Some field
names of interest are Wlfladescroft, Alwoldeslynche in
Southbrook, and Smokakre. (fn. 9) There is no inclosure
award.
MANORS
In Saxon times MICHELDEVER was
a royal vill. (fn. 10) It was included in the
100 cassati at Micheldever granted according to the will of King Alfred to the New
Minster at Winchester c. 900 by his son Edward the
Elder. (fn. 11) In 904 Edward added ten more mansae,
with a fishery at Micheldever on the borders of
Worthy, which were intended for the support of the
refectory of the abbey. (fn. 12) Ethelred the Unready granted
a confirmatory charter to the abbey c. 984, mentioning
ten hides at Micheldever and fifty more at Walthamand
Micheldever. (fn. 13) These were not all of the abbey's
possessions there, for under Edward the Confessor
Micheldever was assessed at 106 hides. (fn. 14)
Micheldever manor was the 'caput' of the abbot's
barony, the undertenants owing suit of court there for
their holdings.
In 1226 there appear the first signs of a contest
between the abbot and the monks as to the tenure
of the manor. Abbot Selid, looking upon it as
parcel of the abbot's temporalities, had granted a
virgate of land there to Ralph le Clauer without the
consent of the convent, and in this year an assize was
held as to whether Ralph's son Walter should hold
the land of the abbot and his church or of the abbot
in demesne; (fn. 15) it was finally decided late in the fourteenth century that Micheldever with its members
pertained to the office of abbot, (fn. 16) and the manor was
therefore seized into the king's hands on the voidance
of the abbey. (fn. 17) The manorial lands were split up
into numerous small holdings held of the abbot by
free service. (fn. 18) Among the profits of the manor the
underwood cut in Micheldever Wood was of some
importance. In 1300 the king granted licence to
Hyde Abbey to inclose 60 acres of the wood, for
though it lay within the bounds of Pamber Forest
wild beasts did not repair there much, (fn. 19) and in
1328 the abbey was granted free warren in its demesne
lands at Micheldever. (fn. 20) A few years later Richard
Edmund of Micheldever was fined £20 for having
entered the abbey's warren and caught and carried
away hares and rabbits to the value of 100s. (fn. 21) In
1421 the crown attempted to claim certain services
from the abbey, stating that Henry I gave the monks
Micheldever manor on condition that they should
sing for his soul and those of his successors, and furnish a 'meete of kenettes or racches' to hunt wolves,
wild cats, and other harmful animals. The abbot in
reply asserted that the abbey had held the manor in
frankalmoign from time immemorial. (fn. 22) Some years
before the surrender of the abbey, which took place in
1538, the site of the manor with a dove-cote and a
rabbit warren called Godwynesdowne was leased to
John Smyth, his wife Joan and their son John for thirtyfive years on condition that they should provide the
abbot's steward and clerk with meat and drink and
fodder for their horses twice yearly when they held
courts there, and should give the steward and bailiff
breakfast when they held the hundred court. (fn. 23) In
1538 the manor was taken into the king's hands on
the dissolution of Hyde Abbey, and was purchased
from the crown in 1544 by Thomas Wriothesley,
afterwards earl of Southampton, soon after his appointment as Lord Chancellor. (fn. 24) Wriothesley already held
the site of the rectory under a lease from the abbey,
and also had some land called Butlers in the parish.
He held the manor jointly with his wife Jane, and
died seised of it in July, 1550, when his son and
heir Henry was only three years old. (fn. 25) This
Henry died in 1581, leaving a young son and heir of
the same name, (fn. 26) who was attainted in 1601 for his
share in the insurrection of the earl of Essex, but was
restored to his honours in 1603. (fn. 27) His lands, including Micheldever, which had been forfeit to the crown,
were restored at the same time, and in 1607 the king
granted him return of writs, waifs and strays, and
goods of felons, treasure-trove, assize of bread and ale,
court leet, freedom from juries and assizes, and also
that his tenants on the lands which had belonged to
Hyde Abbey should be quit from pleas, tallage, aids,
geld and scot, and should be exempt from shires,
ward, and hundred-penny. (fn. 28) In 1624 he died at
Bergen-op-Zoom of the pestilence, and was succeeded
by his second son Thomas, (fn. 29)
who was an ardent Royalist,
and was rewarded with the
office of Lord High Treasurer
at the Restoration. After his
death in 1667 his estates were
divided among his three daughters, Micheldever being assigned to the second, Rachel
Vaughan, (fn. 30) who afterwards
married William Lord Russell,
executed in 1683 as being
concerned in the Rye House
Plot. Micheldever manor descended to her grandson, Wriothesley, who inherited
the title of duke of Bedford. (fn. 31) He was succeeded by
his son John, (fn. 32) whose widow Gertrude held courts
there during the minority of the heir Francis, (fn. 33) eighth
duke of Bedford, who in February, 1801, sold
Micheldever to Sir Francis Baring. (fn. 34) He was succeeded by Sir Thomas Baring,
in whose name courts were
held at Micheldever in November, 1811. (fn. 35) His son and
heir Sir Thomas Baring was
created Baron Northbrook in
1866, the title being taken
from the tithing of that name
in this parish. His son Thomas George Baring was viceroy
of India from 1872–6, at the
end of which period he was
created earl of Northbrook.
The estate has remained with
his direct descendants, the
present earl of Northbrook being lord of the manor.
Russell. Argent a lion gules and a chief sable with three scallops argent therein.
Baring. Azure a fesse or and a bear's head in the chief with a golden muzzle and ring.
The tithing of WEST STRATTON, consisting of
some picturesque cottages and farm-buildings, lies west
of the main Winchester to London road, and of the
parish of East Stratton, and north-east of Micheldever village. It is approached by a narrow lane
which branches west from the main road, and passing
through West Stratton, goes north towards Parkhill
Farm. West Stratton was granted to Hyde Abbey
with Micheldever manor, (fn. 36) and was among the lands
occupied by a freeman before the Conquest, and afterwards held of the abbey by Hugh de Port and his
successors. (fn. 37) By the thirteenth century they had enfeoffed the Braiboeufs of Candover of this manor, (fn. 38)
while the actual tenant under the Braiboeufs in
1167 was Richard de Stratton. (fn. 39) In 1199 Richard
son of Robert obtained quitclaim of a virgate of land
in Stratton from Lavinia Perchehaie, (fn. 40) and four years
later a Richard de Stratton was pardoned six marks for
scutage which he owed for a fee held of the barony
of the abbot of Hyde. (fn. 41) In 1226–7 Stephen de
Stratton witnessed a charter to the abbot of Hyde, (fn. 42)
and later in the same century Walter de Stratton
held of the abbot half a knight's fee in Stratton. (fn. 43)
William de Stratton was holding a whole fee, probably the manor of West Stratton, in 1284. (fn. 44) He
had a son Richard, (fn. 45) who had succeeded his father as
lord of the manor before 1315. (fn. 46) He was knighted
before 1325, and in that year conveyed the manor of
West Stratton with a messuage and land there to
Stephen de Stratton, parson of Worthy, for life, with
remainder to William Wayte for life, and final remainder to the latter's son, Thomas Wayte. (fn. 47) William
Wayte was in possession by 1346, (fn. 48) and his grandson
John Wayte presented to West Stratton chapel in
1398, (fn. 49) and was succeeded by his son Thomas before
1403. (fn. 50) In 1428 he was said to hold one fee there. (fn. 51)
Thomas Wayte was still lord of the manor in 1431. (fn. 52)
His grandson William was living in 1487, (fn. 53) and in
February, 1527–8, John Wayte, brother and heir of
John Wayte (sic), sold all his Hampshire estates, including West Stratton, to his kinsman Arthur Plantagenet
Viscount Lisle, for £2,000, on condition that he
should have food and lodging within the viscount's
house whenever he willed; (fn. 54) and again in 1530
John Wayte conveyed the same lands to Viscount
Lisle, Sir Richard Lister, chief baron of the Exchequer,
and many others, and the heirs of Sir Richard
Lister; (fn. 55) hence it appears that Viscount Lisle's rights
in West Stratton were transferred to Sir Richard
Lister, (fn. 56) to whom a certain Robert Fawkenor and his
wife Joan quitclaimed their rights in the manor eight
years later. (fn. 57) Sir Richard evidently parted with West
Stratton before his death, which occurred in March,
1553–4, (fn. 58) to his father-in-law, Thomas Wriothesley,
earl of Southampton, who died seised of it in 1550. (fn. 59)
Both West and East Stratton were among those of
the earl's lands which were seized by the crown for
payment of a debt; they were regranted to his widow
in 1554, in consideration of £400 to be paid to the
queen yearly until the debt should be satisfied. (fn. 60) The
subsequent history of the manor is identical with that
of Micheldever.
Among the holdings under Hyde Abbey was one
known later as the manor of MOTTISFONT or
Micheldever. It apparently consisted of half a hide. (fn. 61)
William of Micheldever seems to have been the
tenant in the thirteenth century, for a charter dated
February, 1248–9, recording an exchange of land
between him and the abbot makes mention of his
demesne lands, while two of the crofts which he
acquired of the abbey were adjacent to his 'court'
in Micheldever. (fn. 62) His son Geoffrey joined with him
in witnessing several grants to the abbey. (fn. 63) Geoffrey's
son Philip was evidently a minor at the time of his
father's death, for in 1280 John de Fraxino, called
le Hyne, released all claim to the custody of Philip and
his father's lands. (fn. 64) In 1304 a Robert de Micheldever was acquiring lands in the neighbouring parish
of Laverstoke. (fn. 65) Simon de Micheldever witnessed a
grant of land in Micheldever in 1328, (fn. 66) and in 1331
he and his wife Agnes were enfeoffed of a messuage,
10 virgates of land, 10 acres of meadow, 10 acres of
wood, and £13 0s. 10d. rent in Micheldever, Southbrook, Weston, and East and West Stratton, with remainder to their son Philip. (fn. 67) The latter's son
Richard had a sister and heir Thomasine, whose
grandson John, son of John Mottisfont, came to
Hyde on Wednesday before Easter, 1440, and in the
large room of the abbot did homage for half a hide,
which he held of the abbot in Micheldever, at the
same time paying 14s. 8d. relief for his lands. (fn. 68) It
must have been from this family of Mottisfont that
the tenement gained its later name of Mottisfont. It
was evidently identical with the 'manor of Micheldever' of the reversion of which William Stanesby
died seised on 21 October, 1574. It was then held
in dower by his mother Elizabeth, widow of Robert
Stanesby. (fn. 69) William Stanesby had a brother and heir
John aged twenty-two at the time of William's death;
he was possibly the same John Stanesby who was in
possession of a manor in Micheldever in 1622. (fn. 70) His
son Robert joined with him in 1625 in a settlement
of the manor of Micheldever otherwise Mottisfont,
together with 16 messuages and 912 acres of land
in Micheldever, Southbrook, Northbrook, Weston,
and East and West Stratton. (fn. 71) Robert had succeeded
to the estate before 1647, when he conveyed it by
fine to William Colnett the elder. (fn. 72) This, however,
was not a direct sale, for in 1684 certain lands in
Northbrook, Southbrook, Ridgefield, and other places
in Micheldever, lately in the tenure of Richard
Stanesby the elder and Richard Stanesby the younger
were settled on Katherine daughter of Robert Woolley
on her marriage with Robert Bristow the younger. (fn. 73)
In 1743 Katherine Bristow, then a widow, entailed
her Hampshire lands on her son Robert Bristow. (fn. 74) It
has not been found possible to identify these lands or
to ascertain their later descent.
The hospital of St. John at Winchester held 2 acres
of land in Weston Colley by purchase from Hugh le
Bere of Weston, made in June, 1270, (fn. 75) one in
'Brocfurlong' and the other east of 'la Stapele' and
abutting on 'Mitcheiles Farm.' (fn. 76) They also had
lands and a grange at Southbrook, of which the modern
Southbrook House, the residence of Mr. A. Stewart,
probably marks the site. This grange was purchased
early in the fourteenth century and was transferred to
Micheldever from Worthy in 1314–15. (fn. 77)
CHURCH
The church of OUR LADY has a
chancel, an octagonal nave with a western
bay flanked on north and south by vestries,
and a west tower. The nave and chancel are of
brick, built in 1806 after a fire, and the only ancient
parts of the building are the west bay of the nave,
which has some late thirteenth-century work, and the
tower, which belongs to the first half of the sixteenth
century.
The east window of the chancel is of fourteenth-century style, replacing an early nineteenth-century
window. On the chancel walls are several monuments of the Baring family; a large white marble
monument on the north wall, with kneeling figures
of angels, commemorates the first earl of Northbrook,
1904, Lady Northbrook, 1884, and Thomas Baring,
1873. The flag of H.M.S. Captain, lost at sea in
1870, is hung up here.
The octagonal nave, though poor in design, is
effective and well lighted; its western arch, the jambs
of which have been heightened to range with the
octagon, is of late thirteenth-century character, with
half-octagonal moulded capitals, and the arches on
either side of the west bay of the nave (17 ft. 2 in.
wide), between the octagon and the tower, are of the
same detail.
The tower, which measures 14 ft. 3 in. by 14 ft. 9 in.
within the walls, is a fine massive building, plain in
treatment, but giving a very good effect. It may be
compared with the contemporary, though rather
more elaborate, tower of Soberton church. It has
a stair in the south-west angle, and a west doorway,
the four-centred head of which is modern. Over it
is a square-headed window of three uncusped lights
with a transom, and the belfry windows are of the
same character, but with four lights filled with pierced
stonework, and having in the heads panels with various
devices in incised circles. On the west side there are
IHS . IS . IOP . and w over a tun (a rebus); on the
south side are no letters, but a grotesque face, a threeleaved flower, &c. The north and east sides have
blank circles.
The east arch of the tower is of a single chamfered
order on half-octagonal responds, into which the arch
dies without a capital. The thirteenth-century
arches in the west bay of the nave die into the wall
on either side of the tower arch above their springing,
their width being about two-thirds of their full span.
The font, which stands on the north side in the west
bay, is modern, with panelling of fifteenth-century
style on the bowl. Two fragments of Purbeck marble
from an older rectangular font with arcaded sides are
also preserved under the tower.
There are six bells, of which two are dated 1703,
forming part of a ring of that date of five bells. Three
of these were recast and a new bell added in 1903.
The plate consists of a set given by Lady Northbrook in 1866, a chalice, paten, flagon, and two
plates, and there is also a curious silver cup given by
Rachel Lady Russell, 1703.
The first four books of the registers, which overlap
one another considerably, contain all entries between
1538 and 1576, 1538–1683, 1540–1721, and 1684–
1765. Another book contains the baptisms and
burials, 1766–1812, and the marriages, 1754–1812,
take up two more volumes.
ADVOWSON
Micheldever church was included
in Edward the Elder's grant of the
vill to the New Minster, (fn. 78) but no
mention is made of it in the Domesday Survey.
In the Taxatio of 1291 the church was assessed at
£66 13s. 4d., and the vicarage at £10 13s. 4d.,
while attached to the church there was a pension
of £3 6s. 8d. besides 6 lb. of wax yearly. (fn. 79) Again
in 1297 protection was granted to the vicar of
Micheldever, (fn. 80) but it was not till 1302 that the
abbey had formal licence from the crown to appropriate the great tithes of the church, (fn. 81) and in April,
1309, the abbot and convent obtained from the pope
confirmation of the appropriation of Micheldever
church made by John of Pontoise in 1293 for the use
of guests and of poor and infirm people coming to the
monastery. (fn. 82) The vicar's portion was regulated by
Bishop Woodlock, c. 1308, the conditions being that
the vicar should cause the church with its chapels of
East and West Stratton, Northington, and Popham to
be served by chaplains and provide the necessary
books, ornaments, and vestments besides seven boys'
surplices. (fn. 83) A dispute having arisen later in the
century as to whether the fruits of the chapels appendant to Micheldever belonged to the office of abbot
or to the convent generally, Bishop Wykeham wrote
to the abbot in February, 1386–7, advising a compromise. (fn. 84) Under Hyde Abbey, Chancellor Wriothesley held a lease of the parsonage, (fn. 85) which he sublet to
Edmund Clerk of Micheldever on condition that the
lessee should give 20d. weekly in alms to ten of the
poorest householders there, and should keep any of
Wriothesley's children at the parsonage for 12d. a
week if he wished to send them. (fn. 86) After the surrender of Hyde Abbey the advowson of the vicarage was
purchased by Wriothesley with the manor. (fn. 87) Among
the property exchanged by Edward VI with the
bishop of Winchester for the manor of Twyford and
other lands were the rectory and parsonage of Micheldever. (fn. 88) They were already leased to Jane countess
of Southampton, and widow of Wriothesley, and in
1585 a fresh lease was made out in favour of Henry,
earl of Southampton, Wriothesley's grandson. (fn. 89) His
father's executors bought the reversion of the lease in
1599, (fn. 90) since which date both the rectory and the
advowson of the vicarage have remained the property
of the successive lords of Micheldever manor.
There was formerly a chantry chapel at West
Stratton, founded in honour of St. John the Baptist. (fn. 91)
In the bishop's ordination of Micheldever vicarage in
1308, it was arranged that the vicar should cause
West Stratton chapel to be served by a chaplain, (fn. 92) but
in 1325 the advowson of the chapel belonged to
Richard de Stratton, who conveyed it to Stephen de
Stratton with the manor of West Stratton. (fn. 93) Some
years later, during the rule of Bishop Stratford
(1323–33), William Wayte, then lord of the manor,
presented to the chantry chapel of West Stratton, (fn. 94)
and it was still in his gift between 1333 and 1345. (fn. 95)
A few years later the bishop collated, (fn. 96) and in 1367 a
commission was issued for an inquiry concerning the
vacancy of the perpetual chantry of West Stratton in
Micheldever parish, and the right of patronage to it. (fn. 97)
Thomas Wayte presented to the chapel or chantry
in 1402, and again in 1403. (fn. 98) There is now no
trace of a chapel at West Stratton.
At Northbrook a Primitive Methodist chapel was
built in 1867, near the cross road leading to Weston
Farm. Another Methodist chapel lies due west of
the station.
CHARITIES
In 1642 John Pink by will directed
his executors to provide for the payment of £4 a year for the poor. The
trust fund is now represented by £97 0s. 4d. consols,
with the official trustees, the dividends upon which,
amounting to £2 5s. 4d., are, together with 15s. a
year received from the next-mentioned charity, applied
in the distribution of coal. In 1905, 2 tons 12 cwt.
were given to twenty-eight recipients.
The donors of the following charities are unknown:—An annuity of 15s. formerly paid by the
owner of a small farm, called Garrett's Bargain. In
1894 the rent-charge was redeemed by the transfer to
the official trustees of £30, £2 10s. per cent. annuities. An annual payment of [?] formerly received in
respect of a charge on land in Upton Grey does not
appear to have been recently claimed.
In 1823 Dame Susannah Boothby, by a codicil to
her will, proved in the P.C.C., bequeathed certain
moneys for the poor of this parish, and of Ashbourne,
Derbyshire. In the result of proceedings in Chancery
the sum of £464 4s. 9d. consols was assigned to this
parish. By a scheme made in 1871 under the Endowed Schools Acts, a sum of £268 1s. 11d. consols
was sold out to provide £250, which was expended
in the erection of school buildings. The dividends
upon the balance of the stock, which, with accumulations, now amounts to £365 1s. 6d. consols with the
official trustees, are applicable under the scheme in
procuring further education for some deserving boy or
girl in the schools by payment of tuition fees, exhibitions, prizes or rewards.
Southbrook House for aged and infirm persons.
The Charles Pain Memorial Fund. Miss Mary
Elizabeth Pain, by deed dated 29 September, 1906,
gave £300 India 3 per-cent. stock (with the official
trustees), dividends to be applied in sums of 2s. 6d.
cash, and 2s. 6d in coals on 1 January yearly to each
of the twelve inmates of this almshouse; failing the
number of twelve almspersons, poor aged persons of
the parish to be selected.