Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Hampshire

two arms, which on the North part are conjoyned by a River, over which is a Bridge, which giveth entrance to the said Island; and being a place of such great concernment, it is exceedingly fortified, having two strong Castles, the one seated on the one side, and called South-castle; and the other on the other, and called North-castle; with other Fortifications and places of strength, the better to secure the ships in the Road or Haven. It is a Town Corporate, governed by several Magistrates, and sendeth Burgesses to Parliament. The Inhabitants of late have found out a Spring of fresh water, which is very serviceable to them; and since the new buildings and pavements to the streets, the Town is esteemed much more healthier. Here are weekly two Markets, on Thursdays and Saturdays, which are very considerable for provisions.

Haling Isle.
Thorney Isle.

Eastwards of Portsmouth are the Isles of Haling and Thorney, both which have their Towns so called.

Hanant

Hanant, seated near Haling Island, once a small Market-town, but now disused.

Petersfield.

Petersfield, scituate on the Road from London to Portsmouth, a pretty handsome Town, and hath a small Market on Saturdays.

Alreston

Alreston, couched betwixt Hills, and near the Great Pond so called, sufficiently stored with fish and wild-fowl. It is an old and ill built Town, but indifferent large, and hath a Market on Thursdays, which is very considerable, especially for sheep and provisions.

Alton.

Alton, a well wooded Town, seated on the Road, and on a small River. The Town is pretty large, but poor, and hath a Market on Saturdays, which is very great for provisions, where also are sold good store of living cattle.

Odiam.

Odiam, seated on the Road, a Borough Corporate, in former time belonging to the Bishops of Winchester; and of note for being the place where King David the second of Scotland was kept a prisoner; the Town is not large, but its Market, since it was changed from Fridays to Saturdays, is pretty well served with provisions.

An ancient Castle or Fortress.

Near unto Odiam stands the remains of an ancient and once strong Castle, where in the reign of King John, thirteen English men for fifteen dayes kept out the Dauphin of France and his Army, who sorely assaulted it.

And near adjoyning to this Town is a Park, through which runneth a fine River which driveth several Mills.

Basingstoke

Basingstoke, scituate on a small Brook well stored with Trouts, and on the Road, being a great thorough-fare Town for the Western parts. It is a Town Corporate, and governed by a major, seven Aldermen, as many Burgesses, a High Steward, a Recorder, &c. and the market is kept on Wednesdays, which is very good for corn, especially barley.

On the other side of the Brook, was solitary seated an ancient and fair Chappel, dedicated to the Holy Ghost, in the Roof of which was lively portraied the Prophets, Apostles, and Disciples of Jesus Christ, which said Chappel is now reduced to ruin.

Basing-house.

Not far distant is Basing-house, once a stately and beautiful Structure, but suffered much in the late unhappy wars.

Silchester.

Silchester, a place of great antiquity, said to be the ancient City of Vindonum, and built by Constantius son to Constantine the Great, whose monument was seen in the City; and also another Constantine did here put on the purple Robe against Honorius; and here the warlike Arthur was crowned. It was a place of large extent, conteining within its walls about 80 Acres of ground, and became dismantled by the Danish Rovers. [Kingsclear,]