NORTH BADDESLEY, a small scattered village, chiefly of small thatched houses, on an open heath, three miles E by S of Romsey, and two miles W of Chandlersford Station; its parish which is in Hursley Union, King's Somborne Hundred, Romsey Division and Winchester County Court district, had 318 inhabitants in 1871, and comprises 2582 acres of land, of which about 1000 acres are cultivated, 580 woods and plantations, and 790 open heaths and commons, but the latter have now been enclosed by Act of Parliament, and are called Baddesley Common, Ash Shade, Castle Hill and Rownhams Common.
THOMAS CHAMBERLAYNE, Esq, owns most of the soil, and is lord of the manor, which was held, at the Domesday Survey by RALPH DE MORTIMER, and it remained with the descendants of that powerful baron several centuries. It afterwards passed to the FORSTER, BARROWE, FLEMING, MORE, DUNCH AND DUMMER families.
The Parish Church is a small Norman structure, with a tower and two bells. It has a tiled roof, and contains many memorials of the DUNCH, MORE, and other families. The tower and part of the body were rebuilt in 1674. The benefice, a perpetual curacy, valued at £112, is in the gift of THOMAS CHAMBERLAYNE, Esq, and incumbency of the Rev NINIAN BARR, BA, who is also vicar of Chilworth and resides at Romsey. Rownhams church district (which see below) comprises part of this parish.
Letters via Romsey, which is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office. There is a Wall Letter Box, cleared at 6.15p.m. weekdays and 5.30pm Sundays.
| Surname | Forename or Title | Occupation | Abode |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN | Walter | farmer | Zion Hill |
| BULL | Geo Henry | farmer | Castle Hill |
| HOSKINS | David | farmer | - |
| PADDINGTON | James | farmer | - |
| RASHLEY | Henry | farmer | - |
| REED | Gen Sir Thomas GCB | - | Baddesley Manor |
| RIDER | Mr George | - | - |
| ROSE | Andrew | farmer and overseer | - |
| SMITH | William | grocer | - |
| TAYLOR | Miss Ann | - | Green Hill |
| WATRIDGE | Mrs Jane | farmer | Baddesley farm |
Rownhams became a separate church parish in 1856 and a separate civil parish in 1877, incorporating parts of Baddesley, Nursling and Romsey Extra.
© Sandra J Smith MBE 2003