 |
|
Sopley is on the road
from Christchurch to Ringwood and whre the Ripley and Bransgore
roads meet, the name comes from 'sopelie'(which is Germanic and
means the Glade of Soppa who was possibly a Jute settler(, and the
village was around in the 11th century. The smaller villages of
Avon, Ripley and Shirley are all in the parish and the parish
church of St Michael and All Angels, which was built in the 12th
century sits on a mound that overlooks the River Avon.
About a mile from the village is a
tumulus which is said to mark a battle that was fought between the
Danes and Saxons and across the river in the village of Avon is
Tyrell's Ford which is where it is believed that Sir Walter
Tyrrell crossed the river en route to France after killing William
Rufus in Minstead in the New Forest.On an island to itself is the
Woolpack public house, (see picture left) and the only way that
you will know that the Bakers Arms was here is the name on the
wall of a private residence.
The majority of the villages have
had ties with the village for generations and their names are
found in the churchyard and on the war memorial, as it is a small
village, that has seen changes since the beginning of the 20th
century where once small houses were crammed together. One of the
villages most colourful characters was Mrs Barrow the laundress to
the local well to do and her donkey and cart would be seen going
around collecting the dirty washing from the larger houses,
and taken them back to her open air laundry which were tubs set up
in her garden. The ironing was always done indoors though and
afterwards the clean ironed washing was draped over the buses in
the garden to air. |
The Woolpack Inn is a 17th century Inn
situated between Ringwood and Christchurch in a village known as Sopley,
and over the years has had many interesting customers, it is said that
during the second world war The Woolpack was constantly used as a
meeting place for soldiers. Also more important officials such as Sir
Winston Churchill are said to have hadAlso other historically known
people such as Gretta Garbo has also stopped and had a drink at the
Woolpack.
| The parish church
built in 1137 was built on what probably was the site of an
earlier Saxon church and was endowed by Earl Godwin the father of
King Harold. The chucher served the manor which predates the
Norman Conquest and it is said it was the cause of disputes
between the priories of Braemore and Christchurch in to the
ownership.
During the English Civil War Thomas
Lake was the incumbent here and he was a proud supporter of the
Royalists and he allowed his congregation to celebrate when the
king had a victory, he left the church in 1642
A small stream cuts through the
village of Sopley, passing beside the Woolpack it joins the River
Avon south of the church. Whilst the Northern end of the village
has had some modern development the 19th century still shows in
the village centre where today there is a one way system to help
with the heavy traffic from Ringwood and Christchurch.
There has been a mill on the Avon
at Sopley since the days of the Domesday Survey when the sum of 10
shillings was paid annually and 875 Eels is recorded.
The mill that stands now was built
in 1878 and was operated by an undershot wheel and this was later
changed to a turbine and was working until 1946. Today it is a
popular restaurant and wedding venue and still manages to keep its
many features and charm from when it was a working mill.. |
|
 |
Sopley Camp was build during WWII and
local agricultural land was commandeered by the Ministry of Defence and
a radar station was erected here and until a few years ago the land was
still in the possession of the MoD. The camp was also used to house the
Vietnamese Boat People who remained here until more permanent housing
could be found for them.
Local legend says that the village was the centre of
the smuggling trade and the boats of the smugglers were dragged up to
where the Woolpack now stands and the contraband was then transferred to
pack horses for the rest of the journey. But the main occupation here
has been agriculture but rural industries and country crafts have always
been around.
The 1851 census shows the following occupations in
the village
| at home |
|
68 |
| at school |
|
44 |
| house servants |
|
18 |
| labourers |
|
9 |
| farm labourers |
|
7 |
| gardeners
|
|
4 |
| wheelwrights |
|
3 |
| labourer's
assistants |
|
3 |
| visitors |
|
3 |
| land proprietors |
|
3 |
| carpenters |
|
3 |
| dressmakers |
|
3 |
| apprentices |
|
2 |
| housekeepers |
|
2 |
| grocers |
|
2 |
| farmers |
|
2 |
| laundresses |
|
2 |
| schoolmistresses |
|
2 |
| smith and inn
keeper |
1 |
|
| veterinary
surgeon |
|
1 |
| cordwainer |
|
1 |
| cordwainer's mate |
|
1 |
| parish clerk &
school master |
|
1 |
| schoolmaster |
|
1 |
| housemistress |
|
1 |
| wagoner |
|
1 |
| carrier's boy |
|
1 |
| mill labourer |
|
1 |
| merchant's clerk |
|
1 |
| retired carpenter |
|
1 |
| accountant |
|
1 |
| policeman |
|
1 |
| nurse |
|
1 |
| glove maker |
|
1 |
| dairyman |
|
1 |
| farm holder |
|
1 |
| errand boy |
|
1 |
ST MICHAEL & ALL
SAINTS CHURCH
 |
