Baddesley (or North Baddesley, or Badsley) is a village, situated on an open heath, on the road from Romsey to Portsmouth, 1 mile west from the Chandlersford station, 77 miles from London, 3 east from Romsey station, 6 north from Southampton, in the Northern Division of the county, Hursley union, Romsey petty sessional division, King's Somborne hundred, Winchester county court district, diocese and archdeaconry of Winchester, and rural deanery of Somborne, north-western division.
The village consists of a few small houses, principally with thatched roofs. The church of St John (rebuilt in 1608) is a small stone structure, covered with ivy, with tile roof and 2 bells; it has a nave and chancel, with gallery at the western end: the desk and chain to which the Bible was formerly attached still remain. The register dates from 1682. The living is a vicarage, value £110 per annum, in the gift of Thomas Chamberlayne, esq., and held by the Rev Ninean Hosier Barr, B.A. of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, who resides at Romsey.
Thomas Chamberlayne, esq., is lord of the manor and the principal landowner. The soil is sand and loam; subsoil, clay and gravel; there is much bogland in the parish. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 2582 acres; gross estimate rental, £2335; rateable value, £2996; the population in 1871 was 67 (sic).
Parish Clerk: George Munday
Letters through Romsey, which is the nearest money order office.
Talbot Capt. Edwd. Charles, Manor Ho
Taylor Miss, Green Hill
Bridport, William, farmer
Hoskins, David farmer
Rider George, farmer
Rose Andrew, farmer and overseer
Smith William, grocer
Watridge, Henry, farmer and overseer, Baddesley farm
© Sandra J Smith MBE 2003