Botley (All Saints)

BOTLEY (All Saints), a parish, in the union of South Stoneham, hundred of Mansbridge, Southampton and S. divisions of the county of Southampton, 6 miles (S.) from Southampton; containing 904 inhabitants, of whom 436 are in the North portion, and 468 in the South. This parish, originally called Botleigh, comprises 1790a. 1r. 2p., of which 982 acres are arable, 198 pasture, 84 common, and 474 woodland and coppice; it is situated on the river Hamble, which is navigable for boats up to the village and turns several corn-mills in the parish. The Botley station of the Gosport branch of the South-Western railway is 10½ miles from Gosport, and 5½ from the main line at Bishop's-Stoke. A considerable trade in flour, timber, hoops, and coal, is carried on; and a paper-mill affords employment to about forty persons. A market for corn is held on Wednesday, and a cattle-market every alternate Monday: fairs, chiefly for toys and pedlery, are held on Shrove-Tuesday, Whit-Tuesday, and the Tuesday before St. Bartholomew's day; for cheese, on Feb. 20th, and May 28th; and for cattle, on July 23rd, Aug. 20th, and Nov. 13th. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £5. 10. 2½., and in the patronage of the Duke of Rutland: the tithes have been commuted for £391. 17. 8., and there are about 21 acres of glebe. The present church, erected at an expense of £2400, was consecrated in August, 1836; it contains 550 sittings, of which half are free, and has a handsome steeple. A strong chalybeate spring here was formerly in great repute, but is now disused.