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| In the Domesday Book 'Rochesburna' is a
stony stream which runs through Rockbourne and paints a picture along
with the thatch cottages. And it was this stream which gave its name to
both the village and parish and today is known as Sweatfords Water, and
joins up with the River Avon to the north of Fordingbridge. West park which is to the south of the village is the site of a Roman Villa which was discovered in 1894. The village is in the downs between Dorset and Wiltshire and nearby is a farm and it is the barns here that still have 13th century doors and windows, that were once a part of a manor house during mediaeval times. Here lived Sir John Cooper whose son became the first Earl of Shaftesbury
The church sits high up on a grassy mound the vestry is Norman and a nave arcade from the 13th century. The font is from the 15th century had there is a cover that was made two hundred years later. The Manorial chapel is now a barn and there are many memorials to the Goote family, one of which Sir Eyre Goote was an Irish soldier, whose judgement it was that Clive yielded as he attacked Plassey which was a battle which gave the English command at Bengal. With 3000 men Clive faced 55,000 and he held a meeting with some 16 of his officers and it was eight of them that had the majority vote and decided the best thing was to wait. After a bit further discussion he agreed and the attack went ahead and despite the huge odds they won. He died while in India but it was his wish that he be buried home in his estate and thre is a pillar there that the East India Company erected in his honour. NOSTALGIC PICTURES OF ROCKBOURNE IMAGES OR ROCKBOURNE
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