Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Hampshire

HANTSHIRE,
Or the COUNTY of
SOUTHAMPTON:
BEING
Part of the BELGAE, and ancient
KINGDOM of the
West-Saxons.
Its extent.

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.

Its Bounds.

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.

Its fertility.
Commodities

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.

Its Rivers.

It is well watered with Rivers, the chief amongst which are the Avon and the Test.

Religious Houses.

For Religious worship this County had several Houses; as at Southampton, Winchester, Christ-church, Titchfield, Beaulieu, Whorwell, Hyde, Redbridge, and Rumsey.

Ancient Inhabitants.

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]