Hampshire
Hampshire (or Hants) is an agricultural county, with low chalk hills which run into the North Downs, - a plain in the middle, which is a continuation of Salisbury Plain, and in the south, another range of heights which runs into the South Downs. In the south-west is the New Forest. The largest town is Portsmouth; the county town is Winchester.
Hampshire is short for Southampton; the legal title is 'the County of Southampton.'
(i) Portsmouth (190) - really four strongly fortified towns joined into one (Portsea, Southsea, and Landport are the others) - is the greatest naval arsenal in the kingdom.
(ii) Southampton (105), at the head of the estuary called Southampton Water, is a large port for passenger steamers to all parts of the world. - Winchester (20) is an ancient cathedral city, with a great public school. It was the capital of Wessex, and, for a time, the capital of England.
(iii) The Isle of Wight forms part of Hampshire ...
(iv) The arm of the sea to the east of the Island is called Spithead; to the west, The Solent. ...
Shown on an old map by Perrot 1823
Period - 19th century, early
a county of England, bounded on the N by Berkshire, E by Surry and Sussex, S by the English channel, and W by Dorsetshire and Wiltshire. It extends, exclusive of the isle of Wight, 42m from N to S, and 38 from E to W. Including the island it contains 981,120 acres; is divided into 10 hundreds, and 311 parishes; has one city and 20 market towns; and sends 26 members to parliament. The number of inhabitants was 219,656 in 1801, and 245,080 in 1811. This county has a great variety of soils, but the principal part is chalk. The Dorsetshire border has large tracts of heath; and toward the sea are great quantities of marsh land, but very fertile; and all the remainder is excellent land. It is one of the most fertile and populous counties in England. On the downs, of which a ridge runs almosts across the county, are fed plenty of sheep: but the stock is considerably decreased, owing to enclosures. Besides wheat, barley, and hops, it is famous for bacon, honey, and timber; the last in particular, on account of its great woods, of which the principal are the New Forest and the forest of Bere. The principal rivers are the Avon, Test, Itchen, and Stour. Southampton is the county-town, but the assizes are held at Winchester.
- county - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
Shown on an old map by Badeslade 1742
- county
Period - 1740s
contains 1. City, 11 Boroughs, 12 other Market Towns, 253 Parishes, & sends 26 Members to Parliament.
otherwise: Hamptunscyre; Hamptonshire; Hamteschire; Hamteshire; Hantescyr; Hantunscyre; Hamtunshire
The place is described in text Cox 1738
HAMPSHIRE, or the County of Southampton, is a maritime County, bordering on the South upon the British Chanel, on the East upon Surrey and Sussex, upon the West on Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, and on the North on Berkshire. It is in the Diocese of Winchester, and being about 50 Miles in length, 30 in breadth, and about 170 Miles in Compass, contains in it one City, 20 Market-Towns, 253 Parishes, 39 Hundreds, 1312500 Acres of Land, 9 Forests, 29 Parks, and 162350 Inhabitants. It sends 20 Members to Parliament, for the County and 9 Corporations.
(the description continues with a historical summary)
After the Saxons had been settled some Time in these Parts, they divided the Country of the Belgae into three Shires, viz. That of Somerset, Wilts, and Hampton, and so called this County Hamptunscyre, i. e. Hamptonshire; and later Writers have melted it into Hamteschire, Hamteshire, and Hampshire: Mr. Camden says, the Saxons called it Hantescyr, but without Ground, and Florence of Worcester , terms it Hantunscyre, but by some Mistake, for the Saxon Annals call it Hamtunshire, and he transcribed from them.
- county - Hampshire
Period - 1690s-1720s
Period - 17th century
HANTSHIRE, / Or the COUNTY of / SOUTHAMPTON: / BEING / Part of the BELGAE, and ancient / KINGDOM of the / West-Saxons.
HANTSHIRE, a County of no large extent, being in length from Christ-church in the South-west, to Silchester in the North, about 46 miles; and in breadth from Petersfield in the East, to Tidworth in the West, about 30, which makes its circumference to be about 154 miles; besides the Isle of Wight, which is part of this County, which alone is 60 miles in circuit.
It is bounded on the East with Sussex and Surrey; on the South with the British Seas; on the West with the Counties of Dorset and Wilts; and on the North with Berkshire.
It is of a fertile soil for corn, hath rich Pastures which feed store of Cattle; enjoyeth temperate Air, and is well clothed with wood; it affordeth plenty of Iron, which is here wrought from the Mines; also wool, of which they make abundance of Cloths for Kersies, likewise excellent honcy; and for all Commodities of the Sea it is well accommodated, having several good Ports or Havens.
It is well watered with Rivers, the chief amongst which are the Avon and the Test.
For Religious worship this County had several Houses; as at Southampton, Winchester, Christ-church, Titchfield, Beaulieu, Whorwell, Hyde, Redbridge, and Rumsey.
The ancient Inhabitants before the Romans on the North, were the Segontians, which submitted to Julius Caesar; and on the South the Belgae and the Regni, who were subdued by Plausius and Vespatian the Romans.
And for the further security of this Country, here were along the Shoar several castles, as Hurst, Southampton, Porchester, Calshot, Worth, St. Andrews, and the South-castle, besides some Block-houses, or Bulwarks. And within land those of Malwood, Winchester, and Odiam, a place so strong, that in the reign of King John, thirteen English men defended the Fort for fifteen dayes against the powerful assault of Lewis of France.
...
It is severed into forty Hundreds, whose names are set down in the Mapp, in which are numbered 253 Parish Churches; and is traded unto by 18 Market-towns, ...
otherwise: Hantonia; Southantoniensis
Shown on an old map by Blaeu 1645
- Hantshire
Shown on an old map by Simmons 1643
Period - 1630s-40s
- Hantshire
The place is described in text Camden 1610
Period - 1600s
NExt to Wilshire is that country which sometimes the Saxons called Hanteschyr, and is now commonly named Hantshire: of which, one part that beareth farther within the land, belonged, no doubt, to the Belgae, the other which lieth upon the sea appertained, without question, to the Regni, and ancient people of Britaine. On the West it hath Dorsetshire and Wilshire, on the South the Ocean to bound it: on the East it joineth to Sussex and Surrie, and on the North it bordereth upon Berkshire. A small province it is, fruitfull in corne, furnished in some places with pleasant woods thicke and well growen; rich in plenteous pasture, and for all commodities of sea most wealthy and happie.
There be found in this shire Parishes 253. and mercate townes 18.
- county - Hamshire
Period - 1590s-1600s
Shown on an old map by Keer 1620
The place is described in text Keer 1620
HANT-SHIRE, lying upon the West of England, is borderered upon the North by Barkshire, upon the East with Surrey and Sussex, upon the South with the British Seas, and Ile of Wight, and upon the West with Dorset and Wilt-shire.
2 The length thereof from Blackwater in the North upon Surrey, unto Bascomb in the South upon the Sea, extended in a right line, is fiftie foure English miles: and the breadth drawne from Peters-field in the East, unto Tidworth in the West, and confines of Wilt-shire, is little lesse than thirtie miles, the whole Circumference about one hundred fiftie and five miles.
3 The Aire is temperate, though somewhat thick by reason of the Seas, and the many Rivers that through the Shire do fall, whose plentie of fish and fruitfull increase, doe manifoldly redeeme the harmes which they make.
4 The Soile is rich for Corne and Cattel, pleasant for pasturage, and plenteous for woods; in a word, in all commodities either for Sea or Land, blessed and happy.
5 Havens it hath, and those commodious both to let in, and to loose out Ships of great burden in trade of Merchandise, or any other imployments: ... besides many other creeks that open their bosomes into those Seas, and the Coast strengthened with many strong Castles, ... and further in the Land, ...
the text continues on another sheet
Shown on an old map by Saxton 1575
- county
there are no hundreds on Saxton's map
... The soile in sum part betwixt meately good and mouch dry feren ground, apter for brede of catelle then to bere corne.
Minns says:- 'Meatly,' suitable. 'A knight meatly to be leder of men at arms' - Friossart:: Chronicles
Period - 14th century (about 1360)
The county can be seen on the Gough map but is not identified by name; 14th century.
Listed in Domesday Book
- county - Hantscire
Period - 11th century
HMCMS:FA1998.49.12
blazon - per fess gules and or, in chief a royal crown proper and in base a rose gules barbed and seeded
The emblems are long associated with the county; the supporters are a lion and a stag - the lion and the swords on its collar representing Winchester's long status as capital of England and as a martial beast an association with the Army, the stag with a naval coronet and anchor represent both the royal hunting grounds of the New Forest and connections with the Navy; the crest is a saxon crown and a castle represnting the county's role in the defence of the realm.
population: 562429 -- 1891
population: 650796 -- 1901
population: 775302 -- 1911
population: 808677 -- 1921
population: 885252 -- 1931
population: 1030108 -- 1951
population: 1151249 -- 1961
population: 1373713 -- 1971
population: 1459000 -- 1981
population: 1523742 -- 1991
