| Priors Dean |
| Priors Dean is a 5 miles to the north of Petersfield
and along with Colemore were originally two separate parishes but have
held close ties with each other. It was in 1932 that they became
officially united into one parish, Colmore produced some famous men
during the 17th and 18th centuries. Rev. John Greaves who was the rector
of Colemore had three sons, John born 1602 became a well known
mathematician, Edward studied medicine and became a physician to Charles
I, and Thomas who followed oriental studies later followed a
distinguished career at Oxford, Another rector of the parish Rev Richard
Pococke, was the father of Richard Pocoke who was a renowned explorer. Priors dean is so called becanse the manor of Dean was included with Colmore in a charter of King John that was dated 1203 and this confirmed the holdingsof Southwick Priory and ever since the two manors have followed the same descent. The old manor house at Priors Dean was the seat of the Tichborne family and in the church can be found memorials to members of the Compton and Tichborne families
|
