Stockbridge (St. Peter)

STOCKBRIDGE (St. Peter), a market-town and parish, having separate jurisdiction, the head of a union, and formerly a representative borough, locally in the hundred of King's Sombourn, Andover and N. divisions of the county of Southampton, 18 miles (N. by w.) from Southampton, and 66 (W. S. W.) from London; containing 937 inhabitants. The town is situated on the great road from London to Exeter, and consists of one long street, intersected at the west end by the river Test, and at the east by the Andover and Redbridge canal, over each of which is a bridge; that across the former was rebuilt in 1799, and is a handsome structure. Five smaller streams cross the street in the intermediate space, over which were formerly bridges of one arch, but these have all been taken down, except one, and the streams have been arched over. The inhabitants are supplied with excellent water. Races are held in June, and for some years past, a plate has been given by the Grosvenor family. The old course was on Houghton Down, about two miles west of the town; the new one has been formed immediately adjoining it, in the parishes of Wallop and Longstock, under Danebury Hill, from the area and intreuchments of which the whole of it may be seen. A stand has been erected, which is also used by the members of the Bibury Racing Club, lately removed hither from Gloucestershire. The streams are particularly favourable for trout-fishing; and some of the principal nobility and gentry of this and the adjoining counties meet here three or four times a year, and spend several weeks in this favourite recreation. The preparation of parchment and glue affords employment to a few persons. The market, on Thursday, is well attended: a large and handsome market-room, adjoining the Grosvenor Arms, was built at the expense of the late Marquess of Westminster. There were formerly three fairs, of which two only are now held, one on July 10th, and the other on the last Thursday in October; the latter is among the largest in the county for lambs, several thousands being sold. A fortnight cattle-market has been lately established.

Stockbridge is a borough by prescription, under a bailiff and constable who are elected by a jury at the court leet of the manor, held by the steward on Easter-Wednesday. It sent representatives to parliament from the first of Elizabeth, but was disfranchised by the act of the 2nd of William IV., cap. 45. Petty-sessions are held monthly. The town-hall, a neat edifice near the centre of the town, was built in 1810, on the site of a previous structure, at an expense of £1500, defrayed by the inhabitants. The parish comprises 1077 acres, of which 241 are common or waste land. The living is a perpetual curacy: a rent-charge of £40 in commutation of tithes is paid to certain impropriators, and of £3 to the vicar of Barlow. There is a place of worship for Independents. The poor-law union of Stockbridge comprises 15 parishes or places, 14 of which are in the county of Hants, and one in that of Wilts; and contains a population of 7096. About two miles and a half from the town is Danebury Hill, a circular intrenchment in good preservation, inclosing an extensive area, with very high ramparts. On the north and west are several barrows, one of which is named Canute's Barrow; and on the east, at a distance of about a mile and a half, is another circular intrenchment with a high rampart, inclosing an area of about twenty acres, called Woolberry, on the east side of which is the representation of a white horse, cut many years since, at the expense of W. P. Powlett, Esq., of Sombourn House. Robert, Earl of Gloucester, natural brother of the Empress Matilda, was made prisoner in this town on his flight from Winchester; according to tradition, he took refuge in the church, after effecting the escape of the empress, who, feigning death, was conveyed hence in funeral procession through the besieging army, and having arrived at a certain distance, mounted a horse and reached Gloucester in safety.