Longparish

Longparish is second only to Nether Wallop in size and it is situated between two roads from Andover to Basingstoke, the parish contains a lot of Harewood Forest as well. The original name was Middleton and it seems the new name is more apt because it stretches for three miles along the Test Valley. The railway station has been converte to a private house named Smallwood Lodghe and it was here in 1927 the film Ghost Train was made, and two later versions were also filmed here. Gavelacre is a small hamlet on the Test and can be accessed via a track opposite the station.


St Nicholas church

Middleton still exists as a part of the village and on the corner by the church can be seen a Saxon cross dated 1867 and is inscribed 'Via Crucis Via Lucis' but the cross is an imitation. Just past Sugar Lane can be found and old grinding wheel which is still in good working order and a bit further on and old well which has carved surrounds and a couple of seats, and is known as Ash Burn Rest and was presented in 1868 (see pictures below)

There is a memorial to a Robert Burns in the churchyard he was a Bombardier in the Army who was  killed  'near this place by an Accident from a Road Wagon'' on 26th September 1796.

There is one more curiosity that is hidden away in Harewood Forest between Middleton to Andover Down Road and the A303 it is a monuments that was constructed by Lt Col William Iremonger and is known locally as Dead man's Pack and is a monument commemorating the murder of Earl Aetholwold, Earl of Hampshire, by King Edgar in 963.

"About the Year of our Lord DCCCCLXIII Upon this Spot beyond Time of Memory. Called Deadman's Place Tradition reports that Edgar (Surnamed the Peaceable) King of England in the ardour of Youth Love and Indignation Slew with his own hand his treacherous and ungrateful Favourite Earl Athelwold owner of this Forest of Harewood in resentment of the Earl's having basely betrayed his Royal confidence and perfidiously married his Intended Bride. The beauteous Elfrida Daughter of Ordgar Earl of Devonshire afterwards Wife to King Edgar and by him Mother of
King Etheldred the II which Queen Elfrida after Edgar's Death murdered his eldest Son King Edward the Martyr and founded The Nunnery of Wherwell."

Some people think that it was only a legend that was began by William of Malmesbury during the 12th century and taken from an old ballad

The 500 year old parish church is dedicated to St Nicholas and it has an hourglass in the pulpit and the font has a pinnacled cover that is around eight feet high!
The interior of St Nicholas church

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS

IMAGES OF LONGPARISH

 
The church of St Nicholas   A pretty little Longparish cottage
 
The Cricketers public house   The old village stocks
 
The Plough Inn   A Longparish street scene
 
Another view of Longparish   The old grindstone
The water well

The following three photos have been kindly contributed by
Diane and Dave Wills, Ontario, Canada

 
 
Longparish cottages
MORE HISTORY OF LONGPARISH