Old Hampshire Mapped
Leland's Hampshire 1635-43
Transcription (14)Winchester to Southampton
Hursley Park
Merdon Castle
From Winchester to Southampton x. miles, that is 3. miles to Oterburn, and vij. forewarde.
The soile in sum part betwixt meately good and mouch dry feren ground, apter for brede of catelle then to bere corne.
Minns:- 'Meatly,' suitable. 'A knight meatly to be leder of men at arms' - Friossart:: Chronicles
The most part of the ground betwixt enclosid and reasonably woddyd.
Ther is a park a 3. miles out of Winchester, almost by south, caullyd Hursley, longging to the Bishop of Winchester.
And by this park was a castelle caullid Merden, whereof sum smaul ruines or tokens yet remayne.
Minns:- Merdon Castle in Hursely Park, built by Bishop Henry de Blois (c.1138) on one of the manors granted to the See by Cynegils. Little now remains beyond fragments of walls with an exterior fosse.
next
