From Kelly's Directory 1875

IBSLEY  is a parish on the east bank of the Avon, 3 miles north from Ringwood station, 109 from London, and 3 south from Fordingbridge, in the Southern division of the county, Ringwood union and petty sessional division, Fordingbridge hundred and county court district, diocese and archdeaconry of Winchester, and rural deanery of Fordingbridg-e western division.

The Old church of St Martin		The church doorway
The font		The interior of the church today
		"Here lyeth the body of Edwarde Passion Gent, which departed this life the Xiiij th Daye of Aprill in y yere of ovr Lord God 1599"
The church there is a curious monument of Sir John Constable and his lady kneeling under a canopy.		A brass tablet that lies in front of where the altar used to stand

The church of St. Martin was a small modern brick building, with two rows of seats to hold 214 persons—184 seats are free; has small turret containing 1 bell:  The register dates from 1654.

The living is a vicarage annexed to that of Fordingbridge, joint annual value £601, with residence, in the gift of the Provost and Fellows of King's College, Cambridge, and held by the Rev. Charles Hatch, M.A., late fellow of that college. A parish school has recently been built by the Earl of Normanton, supported by contributions and children's pence. The Independents have a place of worship here. Colthurst's charity of £10 yearly is for bread and blankets. The Earl of Normanton is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The population in 1871 was 301. 

NOTE:

Built in 1654, the early Post Reformation Church of St Martin was first restored in  1832 after partially being destroyed by fire.

It was deconsecrated in 1986 and fell derelict before being privately bought by its present owner who lovingly restored the ancient building in 1998, simultaneously converting it into a gallery for interior accessories whilst retaining the original altar, font and organ in the design. The font is gaily decorated with silk flowers and paintings and white smoke is emitted from the bowl giving it a ghostly appearance. Even though this is basically a shop with artificial flowers, vases and paintings by local artists there is still the feel of the old church inside. The tombstones in the churchyard are still in good condition and some of the older ones have retained their inscriptions as though they were only erected a few months ago. Opposite the church is the newer graveyard while a few yards on towards Fordingbridge is the Old Beams Restaurant which is a popular venue for the holidaymakers.

Ibsley was also the home to one of the wartime airfields that were set up in the New Forest and is quite near the airfield at Stoney Cross. Some of the old buildings still remain and are used for storage of industrial and agricultural machinery.

UNITS AND AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATED WITH IBSLEY   ROYAL AIR FORCE HURRICANE No.32       1941           SPITFIRE No 66..........................twice during..............................       1942-43 No118.........................twice during...............................       1941-43 No 124.............................................................       1943 No 129 (MYSORE)....................       1943 No 165 (CEYLON).....................       1943 No 234 (MADRAS PRESIDENCY).............       1941-42 No 302 (POZNAN POLISH).......................       1941 No 310 (CZECH).......................................       1943-44 No 312 (CZECH)........................................       1943-44 No 313 (CZECH).........................................       1943-44 No 4421(RED INDIAN CANADIAN)................       1942 No 453 (AUSTRALIAN).................................       1943 No 501........................................................       1941-42 No 503.........................................................       1942-43 No 616..........................................................       1943           HAWKER TYPHOON         No 257 (BURMA)...........................................1943                   WHIRLWIND AND TYPHOON No 263 (ARGENTINA).....................................1943-44                   OTHER UNITS         No 7 FLYING INSTRUCTORS SCHOOL         OXFORDS..................................1944-45         No1 GLIDER PICKUP TRAINING UNIT         DAKOTAS AND WACO/HADRIAN GLIDERS;.....1944                   UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE         P38 LIGHTNINGS 8th AIR FORCE, Ist FIGHTER GROUP.....1942 9th AIR FORCE, 367th FIGHTER GROUP....1944 P47 THUNDERBOLTS 48th AND 371st FIGHTER GROUPS.......1944           MUSTANG FBvi's         9th AIR FORCE, 67th TACTICAL RECCE UNIT....1944

RAF IBSLEY
RAF STATION SEARCH (Details of RAF Ibsley and more)
MORE IBSLEY HISTORY

SOUTH GORLEY is a parish in the north-east part of the  parish of Ibsley.
NEWTOWN and MOCKBEGGARE are a mile east;
FURZE HILL is a mile north-east

Baby donkey grazing in a hedgerow		Crosslanes chapel -Mockbeggar
Ponies are all over the road here		Gorley Green Cottage
Possibly the old village school ?		The Signpost on Gorley Green

 ST MARTINS ART AND CRAFT CENTRE