Botleyis a historic village inHampshire,England,[1]approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east ofSouthampton.It was developed as a natural crossing point for theRiver Hamble,and received its first market charter fromHenry IIIin 1267. The village grew on the success of its mills, its coaching inns, and more recently strawberries, and was described as "the most delightful village in the world" by 18th century journalist and radical politicianWilliam Cobbett.
| Botley | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Botley High Street | |
  Botley Location withinHampshire | |
| Population | 5,100(2011 Census including Long Common) |
| OS grid reference | SU520128 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | SO30 |
| Dialling code | 01489 |
| Police | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Fire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | http://www.botley.com/ |
History
editWhen the Romans built a road fromNoviomagus Reginorum(Chichester) toClausentum(Southampton), it crossed the River Hamble at a natural crossing point located to the south of present-day Botley. The crossing later became the site of Botley's first settlement, which existed at least as far back as the 10th century. Known in Saxon times as "Bottaleah" ( "Botta" was probably a person, while "Leah" was the Saxon word for a woodland clearing). Some time prior to theNorman conquest,a gradual rise in sea level meant that travellers found the river easier to ford further north of the original Roman crossing, this new crossing place provided a new focal point for the village, which in 1086 was listed in theDomesday bookas "Botelie" and included two water-powered mills and had a population of less than 100.[2][3]
At that time, the mills were owned by the family of Ralph de Mortimer, a French nobleman who fought at theBattle of Hastingsin 1066, and remained in the family's possession until 1304 when the manor, including the mills, passed to the order ofSt Elizabeth of HungaryinWinchester.[4]During thedissolution of the monasteries(1536-1539), the manor and mills were given toThomas Wriothesly,a commissioner ofHenry VIIIand later Earl of Southampton. After the third Earl died without a male heir, the manor and mills passed to theDukes of Portland.[4]From 1838 to 1921, the site was owned by W and J Clarke. As well as grinding and trading cereals, the company traded in coal and, for a short time, manufactured paper.[4]The Botley Flour Milling Company was formed in 1921, and in 1928 it was sold to the current owners, the Appleby family.[4]
In 1267 John of Botley, Lord of the Manor, obtained a royal charter fromHenry IIIfor holding an annual fair and weekly market in the town. The village did not, however, grow significantly and in 1665 the village still had a population of only 350.[5]
During the 18th century, Botley functioned as a small inland port with barges transporting coal, grain, timber and flour along the river. The first bridge over the tidal part of the river was built in 1797 and by the time of the 1801 census 614 people were residing in the village.
During the early 19th century, the radical journalist and political reformerWilliam Cobbettlived in Botley and called it "the most delightful village in the world". From 1805,[6]Cobbett lived initially at Botley House near Botley Mills, and then, from 1812, in a smaller house at Botley Hill.[6][7]
A corn market was opened in 1829 and a cattle market in 1836, while Botley Market Hall – today aGrade II listed building– was built in 1848. A new church,All Saints,was built nearer the village centre in 1836. The National School opened in 1855 and the Recreation Ground was purchased in 1888. In the mid-nineteenth century the climate made south Hampshire ideal for growingstrawberriesand Botley became the centre for a thriving trade in strawberries. In 1841Botley railway stationwas opened by theLondon and Southampton RailwayCompany. It became a major loading point for the seasonal strawberry traffic, as Botley formed the start of what is now known as theStrawberry Trail.[8]
Places of worship
editBotley has had a place of worship since at least the 11th century.
The early church, commonly called St Bartholomew's, adjacent to the old village of Boteleigh, was mentioned in theDomesday Bookof 1086. This church, 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the current village, was largely destroyed after a large poplar tree fell onto the nave in the early 1830s. This reduced the original capacity of 500 to what had been the chancel. The existing structure is 13th-century with an older doorway retrieved from the ruins and reset in the west wall. The east window isPerpendicular Gothicin style and dates from the 15th century. The church was formally declaredredundantin May 1982.[9][10][11][12][13]
A 'Dissenters Church' was built in Winchester Street in 1800, attracting a growing congregation.
All Saints
editFollowing the partial destruction of St Bartholomew's, a replacement church, dedicated to All Saints, was constructed between 1835 and 1836. The new church was closer to the centre of the village; parishioners were finding it increasingly troublesome to take the path across the fields to the old church. The yellow-brickGothic Revivalchurch, designed byJames William Wild,[14]was consecrated on 22 August 1836. The church's font dates to around the 12th century;[9]possibly from St Bartholomew's, it was recovered from a field in 1740.[9]
The church was expanded in 1859,[14]and architectThomas Graham Jacksondesigned further expansions in 1892 and 1895.[9][10][14]A church room was built in 1967, and a two-storey extension was completed in 2008.[9]
Twin towns
editBotley istwinnedwith:
References
edit- ^"Visit Hampshire | Discover the City, Coast and Country".
- ^http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/PDF/04AreaProfiles-ParishesInEastleighBorough-Botley-20120530.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^"A HISTORY OF BOTLEY - Local Histories".14 March 2021.
- ^abcd"Our Heritage".Botley Mills.Retrieved11 July2024.
- ^"Things to see and do in Botley - Places - Hampshire".Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved6 June2015.
- ^abAlmroth-Wright, Indy (2 March 2009)."William Cobbett".BBC Hamphire & Isle of Wight.BBC.Retrieved15 July2024.
- ^"Botley House".Hampshire Gardens Trust.Retrieved15 July2024.
- ^"Botley - The Strawberry Trail".
- ^abcdeO’Brien, Charles; Bailey, Bruce; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Lloyd, David W. (2018).The Buildings of England Hampshire: South.Yale University Press. pp. 120–122.ISBN9780300225037.
- ^abPage, William(1908)."A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3. Parishes: Botley".Victoria County Historyof Hampshire.British History Online.pp. 465–467.Retrieved5 August2019.
- ^Historic England."(Old) Church of St Bartholomew, Church Lane, Botley, Borough of Eastleigh (Grade II) (1322638)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved5 August2019.
- ^Lloyd, David W. (1974).Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: A survey of the dockyard, defences, homes, churches, commercial, civic and public buildings.Portsmouth:City of Portsmouth.ISBN0-901559-53-9.,pp.19, 31, 125, 132.
- ^"The Church of England Statistics & Information: Lists (by diocese) of closed church buildings as at February 2011. Diocese of Portsmouth"(PDF).Church of England.21 February 2011. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 May 2012.Retrieved1 June2020.
- ^abcHistoric England."Church of All Saints, High Street (south side), Botley, Borough of Eastleigh (Grade II*) (1322707)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved5 August2019.
- ^abc"British towns twinned with French towns".Archant Community Media Ltd.Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2013.Retrieved11 July2013.
External links
edit