Place:Hampshire, England

redirected from Place:Hampshire
NameHampshire
Alt namesHAMsource: Curious Fox: UK Counties and Shires [online] (2002). accessed 16 Dec 2002
Hantssource: Wikipedia
Southamptonshiresource: Wikipedia
Hamptonshiresource: Wikipedia
Southamptonsource: Family History Library Catalog
TypeHistoric county, Administrative county, Modern county
Coordinates51.06°N 1.31°W
Located inEngland
See alsoIsle of Wight, Englandpart of Hampshire until 1890
Contained Places
Ancient parish
Christchurch ( - 1974 )
Hampreston ( 1860 - )
Titchfield
Borough (county)
Bournemouth ( - 1974 )
Portsmouth ( 900 - )
Southampton ( 1000 - )
Borough (municipal)
Andover
Basingstoke
Christchurch ( - 1974 )
Eastleigh
Gosport
Lymington
Newport ( - 1890 )
Romsey ( 500 - )
Ryde ( - 1890 )
Winchester ( 500 - )
Chapelry
Aldershot
Appleshaw
Basingstoke
Beauworth
Bembridge ( - 1890 )
Bentley
Bossington
Bramshill
Bransgore
Brockenhurst
Bullington
Bursledon
Crofton
Crookham ( - 1932 )
Curdridge
Durley
East Dean
East Stratton
Emsworth
Exbury
Fair Oak
Fleet
Foxcott
Froxfield ( - 1932 )
Greywell
Hawkley
Hordle
Hunton
Ibsley
Idsworth
Kilmeston
Little Somborne
Lockerley
Long Sutton
Lymington
Lyndhurst
Mapledurwell ( - 1932 )
Marchwood
Martin ( 1895 - )
Mattingley
Milton
New Alresford
Newport ( - 1890 )
Northington
Otterbourne
Pennington
Petersfield
Plaitford ( 1895 - )
Popham
Portswood ( - 1912 )
Privett
Ropley
Rotherwick
Rownhams
Sarisbury
Shanklin ( - 1890 )
Smannell
Soberton
St. Mary Extra
Steep
Stockbridge
Sydmonton
Tadley
Tangley
Tichborne
Up Nately
Vernham Dean
Weeke
West End
Weston Patrick
Wroxall ( - 1890 )
Yateley
Civil parish
Abbots Ann
Abbots Barton
Aldershot
Alverstoke
Ampfield ( 1894 - )
Amport
Andover
Andwell
Appleshaw
Arreton ( 1890 - )
Ashe
Ashey ( - 1890 )
Ashley Walk
Ashley
Ashmansworth
Avington
Barton Stacey
Basing
Basingstoke
Baughurst
Beaulieu
Beauworth
Bedhampton
Bembridge ( - 1890 )
Bentley
Bentworth
Bighton
Binstead (IOW) ( 1890 - )
Binsted (near Alton)
Bishops Sutton
Bishops Waltham
Bishopstoke
Bitterne ( - 1925 )
Blendworth
Boarhunt
Boldre
Bonchurch ( - 1890 )
Bossington
Botley
Brading ( - 1890 )
Bradley
Bramdean
Bramley
Bramshaw
Bramshill
Bramshott
Bransgore
Breamore
Brighstone ( - 1890 )
Brightstone ( - 1890 )
Brockenhurst
Brook ( 1890 - )
Broomy
Broughton
Brown Candover ( - 1932 )
Buckholt
Bullington
Burghclere
Buriton
Burley
Bursledon
Calbourne ( - 1890 )
Candovers ( 1932 - )
Carisbrooke ( - 1890 )
Catherington
Chale ( - 1890 )
Chalton
Chandlers Ford
Chawton
Cheriton
Chilbolton
Chilcomb
Chilton Candover ( - 1932 )
Chilworth
Christchurch East
Christchurch ( - 1974 )
Clanfield
Cliddesden
Colbury
Colden Common ( 1932 - )
Coldrey
Colemore and Priors Dean ( 1932 - )
Colemore
Combe ( - 1895 )
Compton
Copythorne
Corhampton and Meonstoke ( 1932 - )
Corhampton
Cove
Cowes ( - 1890 )
Crawley
Crofton
Crondall
Crookham Village ( 1952 - )
Crookham ( - 1932 )
Crown Farm
Crux Easton
Curbridge ( 1932 - 1952 )
Curdridge
Damerham ( 1895 - )
Deane
Denny Lodge
Dibden
Dockenfield ( - 1894 )
Dogmersfield
Droxford
Dummer
Dunwood
Durley
East Boldre
East Cowes ( - 1890 )
East Dean
East Meon
East Stratton
East Tisted
East Tytherley
East Wellow
East Woodhay
East Worldham
Easton
Eastrop
Ecchinswell and Sydmonton ( 1932 - )
Ecchinswell
Eling
Ellingham
Ellisfield
Elvetham
Empshott
Eversley
Ewhurst
Exbury
Exton
Faccombe
Fair Oak
Fareham
Farleigh Wallop
Farley Chamberlayne
Farlington ( - 1932 )
Farnborough
Farringdon
Fawley
Fleet
Fordingbridge
Four Marks
Foxcott
Freefolk
Frenchmoor
Freshwater ( - 1890 )
Froxfield ( - 1932 )
Froyle
Fyfield
Gatcombe ( - 1890 )
Godsfield
Godshill (Fordingbridge)
Godshill (IOW) ( - 1890 )
Goodworth Clatford
Grateley
Grayshott
Greatham
Greywell
Hale
Hamble le Rice
Hambledon
Hampreston ( 1860 - )
Hannington
Harbridge and Ibsley ( 1932 - )
Harbridge
Hartley Mauditt
Hartley Wespall
Hartley Wintney
Havant ( 500 - )
Hawkley
Hawley with Minley ( - 1932 )
Hawley ( 1932 - )
Hayling
Headbourne Worthy
Headley
Heckfield
Hedge End
Herriard
Highclere
Highcliffe ( - 1974 )
Hinton Ampner
Holdenhurst ( - 1974 )
Holybourne
Hook near Fareham
Hook near Hartley Wintney ( 1932 - )
Hordle
Horndean
Houghton
Hound
Hunton
Hurn ( - 1974 )
Hursley
Hurstbourne Priors
Hurstbourne Tarrant
Ibsley
Idsworth
Itchen Abbas
Itchen Stoke and Ovington ( 1932 - )
Itchen Stoke
Itchen Valley ( 1932 - )
Kilmeston
Kimpton
Kings Somborne
Kings Worthy
Kingsclere
Kingsley
Kingston (IOW) ( - 1890 )
Kinson ( 1931 - 1974 )
Knights Enham
Lainston
Langrish
Lasham
Laverstoke
Leckford
Linkenholt
Liss
Litchfield and Woodcott ( 1932 - )
Litchfield
Little Somborne
Littleton
Lockerley
Long Sutton
Longparish
Longstock
Lymington
Lyndhurst
Mapledurwell and Up Nately ( 1932 - )
Mapledurwell ( - 1932 )
Marchwood
Martin ( 1895 - )
Martyr Worthy
Mattingley
Medstead
Melchet Park and Plaitford ( 1932 - )
Melchet Park ( 1895 - )
Meonstoke
Micheldever
Michelmersh
Milford
Milland
Millbrook
Milton
Minstead
Monk Sherborne
Monxton
Morestead
Mortimer West End ( 1879 - )
Mottisfont
Mottistone ( - 1890 )
Nately Scures
Neatham
Nether Wallop
Netley Marsh
New Alresford
Newchurch ( - 1890 )
Newnham
Newport ( - 1890 )
Newton Valence
Newtown near Newbury
Niton ( - 1890 )
North Baddesley
North Charford
North Havant ( 1902 - 1932 )
North Stoneham
North Waltham
Northington
Northwood ( - 1890 )
Nursling and Rownhams ( 1932 - )
Nursling
Nutley
Oakley
Odiham
Old Alresford
Olivers Battery ( 1956 - )
Otterbourne
Over Wallop
Overton
Ovington
Owslebury
Pamber
Pennington
Penton Grafton
Penton Mewsey
Petersfield
Plaitford ( 1895 - )
Popham
Portchester
Portsea
Portswood ( - 1912 )
Preston Candover ( - 1932 )
Priors Dean
Privett
Quarley
Rhinefield
Ringwood
Rockbourne
Romsey Infra
Romsey ( 500 - )
Ropley
Rotherwick
Rowlands Castle ( 1932 - )
Rowner
Rownhams
Ryde ( - 1890 )
Sandown ( - 1890 )
Sarisbury
Selborne
Shalden
Shalfleet ( - 1890 )
Shanklin ( - 1890 )
Sheet
Sherborne St. John
Sherfield English
Sherfield on Loddon
Shipton Bellinger
Shirley (near Southampton) ( - 1912 )
Sholing ( 1894 - 1903 )
Shorwell ( - 1890 )
Silchester
Smannell
Soberton
Sopley
South Charford
South Stoneham
South Tidworth
South Warnborough
Southampton All Saints ( - 1912 )
Southampton Holy Rood ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Laurence with St. John ( 1708 - 1912 )
Southampton St. Mary ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Michael ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Nicholas
Southwick
Sparsholt
St. Helens ( 1890 - )
St. Lawrence (IOW) ( 1890 - )
St. Leonards and St. Ives ( 1932 - 1974 )
St. Mary Bourne
St. Mary Extra
Steep
Steventon
Stockbridge
Stoke Charity
Stoke Park
Stratfield Saye
Stratfield Turgis
Swarraton
Sway
Swaythling ( 1932 - )
Sydmonton
Tadley
Tangley
Thorley ( - 1890 )
Thruxton
Tichborne
Timsbury
Titchfield
Totland ( - 1890 )
Totton and Eling
Toyd Farm with Allenford ( 1895 - )
Tufton
Tunworth
Twyford
Up Nately
Upham
Upper Clatford
Upper Eldon
Upton Gray
Ventnor ( - 1890 )
Vernham Dean
Warblington ( 1894 - 1932 )
Warnford
Waterlooville
Weeke
Wellow ( 1932 - )
West End
West Meon
West Tisted
West Tytherley
West Wellow ( 1895 - 1932 )
West Worldham
Weston Corbett
Weston Patrick
Wherwell
Whippingham ( - 1890 )
Whitchurch
Whitehill ( 1929 - )
Whitsbury ( 1895 - )
Whitwell ( - 1890 )
Wickham
Widley
Wield
Winchester St. Bartholomew Hyde
Winchester St. Cross with St. Faith
Winchester St. John
Winchester St. Michael
Winchester St. Peter Cheesehill
Winchester St. Swithin
Winchester St. Thomas
Winchfield
Winnall
Winslade
Wolverton
Wonston
Woodcott
Woodgreen
Woodmancott
Wootton (IOW) ( 1890 - )
Wootton St. Lawrence
Worldham ( 1932 - )
Worting
Wroxall ( - 1890 )
Wymering
Yarmouth ( - 1890 )
Yateley
Yaverland ( - 1890 )
District municipality
Basingstoke and Deane District ( 1974 - )
Christchurch District ( - 1974 )
East Hampshire District ( 1974 - )
Eastleigh District ( 1974 - )
Fareham District ( 1974 - )
Gosport District ( 1974 - )
Gosport
Hart District ( 1974 - )
Havant District ( 1974 - )
New Forest District ( 1974 - )
Portsmouth ( 900 - )
Rushmoor District ( 1974 - )
Southampton ( 1000 - )
Test Valley District ( 1974 - )
Winchester District ( 1974 - )
Extra parochial area
Andwell
Broomy
Buckholt
Crown Farm
Dunwood
Frenchmoor
Godsfield
Lainston
Melchet Park ( 1895 - )
Toyd Farm with Allenford ( 1895 - )
Waterlooville
Weston Corbett
Woodgreen
Former administrative division
Alresford Liberty
Alverstoke Liberty
Beaulieu Liberty
Bentley Liberty
Breamore Liberty
Dibden Liberty
East Medina Liberty ( - 1890 )
Havant Liberty
Portsmouth and Portsea Island Liberty
West Medina Liberty ( - 1890 )
Westover Liberty
Winchester Soke
Former parish
Lee on the Solent ( - 1932 )
Hamlet
Blackwater
Chillerton ( - 1890 )
Hale Common
Hundred
Alton Hundred
Andover Hundred
Barton Stacey Hundred
Basingstoke Hundred
Bermondspit Hundred
Bishops Sutton Hundred
Bishops Waltham Hundred
Bosmere Hundred
Bountisborough Hundred
Buddlesgate Hundred
Christchurch Hundred
Chuteley Hundred
Crondall Hundred
East Meon Hundred
Evingar Hundred
Fareham Hundred
Fawley Hundred
Finchdean Hundred
Fordingbridge Hundred
Hambledon Hundred
Holdshot Hundred
Kings Somborne Hundred
Kingsclere Hundred
Mainsbridge Hundred
Mainsbrough Hundred
Meonstoke Hundred
Micheldever Hundred
New Forest Hundred
Odiham Hundred
Overton Hundred
Pastrow Hundred
Portsdown Hundred
Redbridge Hundred
Ringwood Hundred
Selborne Hundred
Thorngate Hundred
Titchfield Hundred
Wherwell Hundred
Inhabited place
Alton
Bordon
Emsworth
Winchester ( 500 - )
Island
Hayling
Portsea Island
Locality
Winchester St. Cross Hospital Precincts
Military base
Aldershot
Bordon
Parish
Rogate ( - 1844 )
Southampton Holy Trinity ( 1848 - 1954 )
Southampton St. Laurence with St. John ( 1708 - 1912 )
Parish (ancient)
Abbots Ann
Abbotstone
Alverstoke
Amport
Andover
Arreton ( 1890 - )
Ashe
Ashley
Avington
Barton Stacey
Basing
Basingstoke
Baughurst
Beaulieu
Bedhampton
Bentworth
Bighton
Binstead (IOW) ( 1890 - )
Bishops Sutton
Bishops Waltham
Bishopstoke
Blendworth
Boarhunt
Boldre
Bonchurch ( - 1890 )
Botley
Brading ( - 1890 )
Bradley
Bramdean
Bramley
Bramshaw
Bramshott
Breamore
Brighstone ( - 1890 )
Brightstone ( - 1890 )
Brook ( 1890 - )
Broughton
Brown Candover ( - 1932 )
Burghclere
Buriton
Calbourne ( - 1890 )
Carisbrooke ( - 1890 )
Catherington
Chale ( - 1890 )
Chalton
Chawton
Cheriton
Chilbolton
Chilcomb
Chilton Candover ( - 1932 )
Chilworth
Chineham
Clanfield
Cliddesden
Colemore
Combe ( - 1895 )
Compton
Corhampton
Crawley
Crondall
Crux Easton
Damerham ( 1895 - )
Deane
Dibden
Dogmersfield
Droxford
Dummer
East Meon
East Tisted
East Tytherley
East Wellow
East Woodhay
East Worldham
Easton
Eastrop
Eling
Ellingham
Ellisfield
Elvetham
Empshott
Eversley
Ewhurst
Exton
Faccombe
Fareham
Farleigh Wallop
Farley Chamberlayne
Farlington ( - 1932 )
Farnborough
Farringdon
Fawley
Fordingbridge
Freshwater ( - 1890 )
Froyle
Fyfield
Gatcombe ( - 1890 )
Godshill (IOW) ( - 1890 )
Goodworth Clatford
Grateley
Greatham
Hale
Hamble le Rice
Hambledon
Hannington
Harbridge
Hartley Mauditt
Hartley Wespall
Hartley Wintney
Havant ( 500 - )
Headbourne Worthy
Headley
Heckfield
Herriard
Highclere
Hinton Ampner
Holybourne
Houghton
Hound
Hursley
Hurstbourne Priors
Hurstbourne Tarrant
Itchen Abbas
Itchen Stoke
Kimpton
Kings Somborne
Kings Worthy
Kingsclere
Kingston (IOW) ( - 1890 )
Knights Enham
Lainston
Lasham
Laverstoke
Leckford
Linkenholt
Liss
Litchfield
Littleton
Longparish
Longstock
Martyr Worthy
Medstead
Meonstoke
Micheldever
Michelmersh
Milford
Millbrook
Minstead
Monk Sherborne
Monxton
Morestead
Mottisfont
Mottistone ( - 1890 )
Nately Scures
Nether Wallop
Newchurch ( - 1890 )
Newnham
Newton Valence
Niton ( - 1890 )
North Baddesley
North Charford
North Stoneham
North Waltham
Northwood ( - 1890 )
Nursling
Nutley
Oakley
Odiham
Old Alresford
Over Wallop
Overton
Ovington
Owslebury
Penton Grafton
Penton Mewsey
Petersfield
Portchester
Portsea
Portsmouth ( 900 - )
Preston Candover ( - 1932 )
Quarley
Ringwood
Rockbourne
Romsey ( 500 - )
Rowner
Ryde ( - 1890 )
Sandown ( - 1890 )
Selborne
Shalden
Shalfleet ( - 1890 )
Sheet
Sherborne St. John
Sherfield English
Sherfield on Loddon
Shipton Bellinger
Shirley (near Southampton) ( - 1912 )
Shorwell ( - 1890 )
Silchester
Sopley
South Charford
South Stoneham
South Tidworth
South Warnborough
Southampton All Saints ( - 1912 )
Southampton Holy Rood ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Mary ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Michael ( - 1912 )
Southampton St. Nicholas
Southwick
Sparsholt
St. Helens ( 1890 - )
St. Lawrence (IOW) ( 1890 - )
Steventon
Stoke Charity
Stratfield Saye
Stratfield Turgis
Swarraton
Thorley ( - 1890 )
Thruxton
Timsbury
Tunworth
Twyford
Upham
Upper Clatford
Upper Eldon
Upton Gray
Warblington ( 1894 - 1932 )
Warnford
Weeke
West Meon
West Tisted
West Tytherley
West Wellow ( 1895 - 1932 )
West Worldham
Weston Corbett
Wherwell
Whippingham ( - 1890 )
Whipstrode
Whitchurch
Whitsbury ( 1895 - )
Whitwell ( - 1890 )
Wickham
Widley
Wield
Winchester St. Bartholomew Hyde
Winchester St. Cross with St. Faith
Winchester St. John
Winchester St. Michael
Winchester St. Peter Cheesehill
Winchester St. Swithin
Winchfield
Winnall
Winslade
Wolverton
Wonston
Woodcott
Wootton (IOW) ( 1890 - )
Wootton St. Lawrence
Worting
Wymering
Yarmouth ( - 1890 )
Yateley
Yaverland ( - 1890 )
Region
New Forest
Registration district
Aldershot Registration District ( 1932 - 1974 )
Alresford Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Alton Registration District ( 1837 - 2008 )
Alverstoke Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Andover Registration District ( 1837 - 2008 )
Basingstoke Registration District ( 1837 - 2000 )
Bournemouth Registration District ( 1932 - 1974 )
Bournemouth and Christchurch Registration District ( 1925 - 1932 )
Bradfield Registration District ( 1837 - 1879 )
Catherington Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Christchurch Registration District (early) ( 1837 - 1925 )
Christchurch Registration District (late) ( 1932 - 1974 )
Droxford Registration District ( 1837 - 2008 )
Eastleigh Registration District ( 1927 - 1932 )
Fareham Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Farnborough Registration District
Farnham Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Fordingbridge Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Gosport Registration District ( 1932 - 1974 )
Hampshire North Registration District ( 2001 - 2008 )
Hampshire Registration District ( 2008 - )
Hartley Wintney Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Havant Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Hursley Registration District ( 1837 - 1838 )
Isle of Wight (Hampshire) Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Isle of Wight Registration District
Kingsclere Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Kingsclere and Whitchurch Registration District ( 1932 - 2000 )
Lymington Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
New Forest Registration District ( 1837 - 2008 )
North East Hampshire Registration District ( 1974 - 2008 )
Petersfield Registration District ( 1837 - )
Portsea Island Registration District ( 1837 - 1900 )
Portsmouth Registration District ( 1900 - )
Ringwood Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Ringwood and Fordingbridge Registration District ( 1974 - 1999 )
Romsey Registration District (early) ( 1837 - 1932 )
Romsey Registration District (late) ( 1974 - 2008 )
Romsey Registration District ( 1837 - 1895 )
Romsey and Stockbridge Registration District ( 1932 - 1974 )
South East Hampshire Registration District ( 1974 - 2008 )
South Stoneham Registration District ( 1837 - 1927 )
Southampton Registration District ( 1837 - )
Stockbridge Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Whitchurch Registration District ( 1837 - 1932 )
Winchester Registration District ( 1837 - 2008 )
Rural district
Alresford Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Alton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Andover Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Basingstoke Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Bramshaw Rural ( 1895 - )
Catherington Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Christchurch Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Droxford Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Fareham Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Fordingbridge Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Hartley Wintney Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Havant Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Hursley Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Kingsclere Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural ( 1932 - 1974 )
Lymington Rural ( 1894 - 1926 )
New Forest Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Petersfield Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Portsea Island Rural ( 1894 - 1895 )
Ringwood Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural ( 1932 - 1974 )
Romsey Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Romsey and Stockbridge Rural ( 1932 - 1974 )
South Stoneham Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Stockbridge Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Whitchurch Rural ( 1894 - 1932 )
Winchester Rural ( 1898 - 1974 )
Winton Rural ( 1898 - 1901 )
Settlement
Fullerton
Langstone
Stubbington
Swanwick
Totton
Warsash
Whiteley
Suburb
Bar End
Boscombe ( - 1974 )
Eastrop
Hayling
Highcliffe ( - 1974 )
Holdenhurst ( - 1974 )
Pokesdown ( - 1974 )
Redbridge
Southbourne ( - 1974 )
Swaythling ( 1932 - )
Winnall
Winton ( - 1974 )
Tything
Ambersham ( 1844 - )
Kinson ( 1931 - 1974 )
Unitary authority
Portsmouth ( 900 - )
Southampton ( 1000 - )
Winchester District ( 1974 - )
Urban district
Aldershot
Alton
Cowes ( - 1890 )
Eastleigh
Fareham
Farnborough
Fleet
Havant ( 500 - )
Itchen ( 1898 - 1920 )
Milton
Petersfield
Pokesdown ( - 1974 )
Sandown ( - 1890 )
Shanklin ( - 1890 )
Ventnor ( - 1890 )
Warblington ( 1894 - 1932 )
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog
the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Hampshire (abbreviated Hants., formerly known as the County of Southampton) is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester which was the capital city of England until the 14th century, vying with London for the title since the Norman Conquest. Hampshire is the most populous "ceremonial county" in the United Kingdom (excluding the metropolitan counties) with almost half of the county's population living within the conurbation known as South Hampshire which includes the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth. The county population was estimated at 1,322,300 in 2015.

Hampshire is notable for housing the birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. It is bordered by Dorset to the west, Wiltshire to the northwest, Berkshire to the north, Surrey to the northeast, and West Sussex to the east. The southern boundary is the coastline of the English Channel and the Solent which faces the Isle of Wight.

Contents

History

the text in this section is a condensation of an article in Wikipedia

[A sub-section entitled "Prehistory until the Norman Conquest" has been omitted.]

Middle Ages Onwards

By the Norman conquest, London had overtaken Winchester as the largest city in England, thanks in part to Alfred the Great's investments in infrastructure, and after the Norman Conquest William the Conqueror made it his capital. The centre of political power moved away from Hampshire, although Winchester remained a city of importance: it was the proximity of the area known as the "New Forest" to Winchester that made it such a prized royal hunting forest; indeed King William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror) was famously killed in suspicious circumstances while hunting there. The county was recorded in the Domesday Book as divided into 44 hundreds. From the 12th century the ports grew in importance, fuelled by trade with the continent, wool and cloth manufacture in the county, and the fishing industry. A shipbuilding industry was established. By 1523 at the latest, the population of Southampton had outstripped that of Winchester.

Over several centuries a series of castles and forts were constructed along the coast of the Solent to defend the harbours at Southampton and Portsmouth. These include the Roman Portchester Castle which overlooks Portsmouth Harbour, and a series of forts built by Henry VIII including Hurst Castle, situated on a sand spit at the mouth of the Solent, Calshot Castle on another spit at the mouth of Southampton Water, and Netley Castle. Southampton and Portsmouth remained important harbours when rivals, such as Poole and Bristol declined, as they are amongst the few locations that combine shelter with deep water. Southampton has been host to many famous ships, including the Mayflower.

In the 17th century Hampshire was the departure point of some of those later to settle on the east coast of what is now the United States. It gave its name to the state of New Hampshire. The counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton in Virginia reflect the origins of some of the earliest Jamestown settlers.

World War II

Hampshire played a crucial role in the Second World War due to the large Royal Navy harbour at Portsmouth, the army camp at Aldershot and the military Netley Hospital on Southampton Water, as well as its proximity to the army training ranges on Salisbury Plain and the Isle of Purbeck. Supermarine, the designers of the Spitfire and other military aircraft, were based in Southampton, which led to severe bombing of the city. Aldershot remains one of the British Army's main permanent camps. Farnborough is a major centre for the aviation industry.

Isle of Wight

Although the Isle of Wight has at times been part of Hampshire, it has been administratively independent for over a century, obtaining a county council of its own in 1890. The Isle of Wight became a full ceremonial county in 1974. Apart from a shared police force there are now no formal administrative links between the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, though many organisations still combine Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Bournemouth and Christchurch

The towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch also fall within the traditional county of Hampshire, but were transferred to Dorset in the local government reorganisation of 1974. The boundary was changed again in 1992, when South Tidworth was transferred to Wiltshire.

Research Tips

  • GENUKI has a list of archive holders in Hampshire including the Hampshire Record Office, various museums in Portsmouth and Southhampton, the Isle of Wight Record Office and Archives.
  • The Hampshire Online Parish Clerk project has a large collection of transcriptions from Parish Registers across Hampshire.
  • A listing of all the Registration Districts in England and Wales since their introduction in 1837 together with tables listing the parishes that were part of each district and the time period covered, along with detailed notes on changes of parish name, mergers, etc. Do respect the copyright on this material.
  • The three-storey City Museum in Winchester covers the Iron Age and Roman periods, the Middle Ages, and the Victorian period.
  • Volumes in The Victoria County History Series are available for Hampshire through British History Online. There are three volumes and the county is covered by parishes within the old divisions of "hundreds".
A collection of maps on the A Vision of Britain through Time website illustrating the English county of Hampshire over the period 1832-1932 (the last two are expandible):
  • A group of maps of the post-1974 municipal districts or boroughs of Hampshire on Wikipedia Commons
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Hampshire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.