A Potted History of the Villages
8,000 years ago, close to the end of the Ice Age, one of the largest Middle Stone Age settlements in Great Britain flourished nearby on Broom Hill, Braishfield.
There is much evidence of habitation in Saxon times when kilns in Michelmersh produced cooking pots, pitchers [a famous example is the ‘Michelmersh Pot’ held at the Test Valley Archaeological Trust].
| 985 | The original parish of Michelmersh, which included Braishfield and the whole of Awbridge was granted by King Aethelred II (‘Ethelred the Unready’) to Aelferd as a gift for life. It does not appear in Doomsday as it remained Crown Property until ... |
| 1043 | King Ethelred died his wife Queen Emma gave the Michelmersh Estates to the Priory of St Swithun’s Winchester, possibly in gratitude for not overheating the nine (red-hot?) ploughshares, which she is reported to have walked over barefoot in the cathedral to prove her innocence of the charge of criminal familiarity with Bishop Alwyn. |
| 1200’s | Michelmersh Church was built, or rebuilt. Timsbury Church also dates from this period. |
| 1205 | The first mention of Michelmersh Manor Farm. Michelmersh Manor was a large grange with a fortified gate house, Great Hall, chambers for visiting monks and squires, an office for the bailiff, kitchen, Chapel, parts of which are still extant - a chamber, a gardrobe for the prior, etc. |
| 1327 | Prior Richard of St Swithun’s was certified ‘Lord of Michelmersh’ and a later prior received a grant to make a ‘Park’ here (Park Farm?). 30 taxpayers including Galfe de Kyngbrigg [who may also be the Geoffrey de Canterton buried in Michelmersh Church] were concerned in an attempt to preserve their rights to this park. |
| 1415 | 668 Knights & Archers assembled for two nights in the field to the left of Manor Farm Road known as ‘Agincourt Field’. The troops were reviewed by the Duke of Gloucester. |
| 1650’s | After the Restoration, Sir William Ogle moved from the Manor Farm to the Dower House (now the Old House). It is his carriage which can be heard moving along the lane from the Manor to the Dower house. But it is never seen. |
| 1662 | Monument set up to Sir William Ogle at the west end of the Church. |
| 1842 | Commercial brickmaking at Michelmersh. |
| 1846 | ‘Public Elementary School’ erected by the Michelmersh School Board. |
| 1850 | Act passed for purchase of Redbridge-Andover canal and turning it into a Railway. |
| 1855 | Braishfield becomes a separate parish |
| 1886 | Michelmersh Temperance Band founded with the help of Canon Gore-Brown. |
| 1887 | First appearance of the band. The Rectory was built to a London house design by Charles Butcher, a retired London Policeman. |
| 1877 | Awbridge becomes a separate parish |
| 1908 | The band suffers a shortage of members. The Rector is persuaded to allow them to drop the title ‘Temperance’ and membership picks up! |
| 1920 | Formation of Michelmersh W.I. |
| 1926 | The band enters the Contest World and competes at Crystal Palace. |
| 1938 | The Recreation Ground is opened. |
| 1940 | The hurdle makers, the Parsons from Braishfield, come and go in the copse beside the Recreation Ground (now known as Haycroft Copse - the ‘Pocket Park’). |
| 1944 | Canadian and American soldiers camped in the Agincourt Field prior to Normandy landings! |
| 1955 | Civic
Parish of Braishfield formed away from Michelmersh The Horticultural Society is formed under the Presidency of Lady Newton of Timsbury Manor. |
| 1963 | Michelmersh School closes. The Rector moves away |
| 1973 | Weather boarding on St Mary’s tower replaced at a cost of £2600 |
| 1975 | Dutch Elm disease hits the Parish and the trees bordering Haccups Lane and Bunny Lane are all destroyed. |
| 1980 | The Jubilee Hall replaces the old Church Hall in Manor Farm Lane and becomes a focus for village activities. |
| 1981 | The Rectory is saved from demolition by sale to Mr & Mrs Keith Bennett. Redland Tileworks closes down. The Rev. Bruce Kington, based at Braishfield Rectory, takes over the United Benefice. |
| 1985 | The village celebrates its millennium |
| 1987 | Michelmersh Country Fair held at Linhay Meads Farm |
| 1993 | The Milburns assisted housing opened |
| 1994 | Haycroft Copse ‘Pocket Park’ leased from TVBC |
| 1997 | 30mph Speed limit imposed on village lanes |
| 1998 | Village Appraisal published |
| 2000 | Millennium
Celebrations – Landmark Erected; ‘Trees for a Thousand Years’ Planted; Midsummer Celebrations; Flower Festival etc. |
| 2002 | Golden Jubilee Celebrations. |
| 2003 | Parish Renamed ‘Michelmersh & Timsbury’ |