Burghclere, Hampshire
Historical Description
Burghclere, a parish in North Hants, 61 miles from London, intersected by the Didcot, Newbury, and Southampton railway (worked by the G.W.R.), having two stations-Highclere and Burghclere-situated respectively in the northern and southern parts of the parish. The houses are scattered over a large area, there being no village properly so called. The country is pleasantly diversified and undulating, the general level being about 400 feet above the sea. The hill fortress for the defence of the district appears to have been preserved for defensive purposes from the Celtic period to the early Anglo-Saxon time; and the name Burghclere is thought by some to derive its name from one or both of the old British camps on high hills on either side of the valley, which forms the only natural pass for many miles from the Berkshire country into Hampshire, and which was a place where toll was taken as late as the date of the Domesday Survey. The termination clere possibly denotes a clearing of the forest-land. Burghclere has a post office under Newbury; money order office, Woolton Hill; telegraph office, Newtown. Acreage, 5270; population, 779. The parish of Newtown, which has always been held with Burghclere, has a population of 221, and an area of 480 acres. Near the Burghclere station are two conspicuous chalk hills-Beacon Hill, with a well-marked ancient camp with a deep trench, just outside Highclere Park, the Hampshire seat of the Earl of Carnarvon; and Sidown (or Sidon) Hill, covered with wood, just within the park. Extensive views are obtained from both these hills. Adbury Park, the seat of Mr Fox, is a handsome house, surrounded by extensive and picturesque grounds, ornamented by a good collection of pines and other Coniferse. The living of Burghclere, with Newtown, is a rectory in the diocese of Winchester, the tithe rent charge being commuted at gross sum of £1100 (present gross value, £778) and 188 acres of glebe; net value of living, about £400 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Carnarvon. The parish church, near the Highclere station, was built about 50 years ago, but a new chancel and spire were added lately. The old church, near the Burghclere station, which had fallen into decay, was restored about 30 years ago, and contains some interesting features. The church at Newtown was built in 1865, and is a picturesque specimen of a small modern village church. There is a small Primitive Methodist chapel near Highclere station. A large parish room, with coffee room attached, situated near the parish, forms a picturesque and important feature in the parish. It was built by his friends in memory of the late rector, the Rev. Canon Portal.
Administration
The following is a list of the administrative units in which this place was either wholly or partly included.
| Ancient County | Hampshire | |
| Ecclesiastical parish | Burghclere All Saints | |
| Hundred | Evingar | |
| Poor Law union | Kingsclere |
Any dates in this table should be used as a guide only.
Directories & Gazetteers
We have transcribed the entry for Burghclere from the following:
- Samuel Lewis' A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858. (Burghclere (All Saints))
Land and Property
The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Hampshire (County Southampton) is available to browse.
Maps
Online maps of Burghclere are available from a number of sites:
- Bing (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
- Google Streetview.
- National Library of Scotland. (Old maps)
- OpenStreetMap.
- old-maps.co.uk (Old Ordnance Survey maps to buy).
- Streetmap.co.uk (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
- A Vision of Britain through Time. (Old maps)
Newspapers and Periodicals
The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following Hampshire newspapers online:
- Portsmouth Evening News
- Hampshire Telegraph
- Hampshire Advertiser
- Hampshire Chronicle
- Aldershot Military Gazette
Visitations Heraldic
The Visitations of Hampshire, 1530, 1575, & 1622-34 is available to view on the Heraldry page.