THE SMALL TOWNS of NORTH HAMPSHIRE 1660 - C

Proc. Hampshire Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 62, 2007, 193-201 (Hampshire Studies 2007)

THE SMALL TOWNS OF NORTH HAMPSHIRE 1660 - c. 1800 PARTI: ECONOMY

By MOIRA GRANT

ABSTRACT Whitchurch, were parliamentary boroughs throughout the eighteenth century (VCH, iv, After the Restoration, there was a cultural, economic 131-2,301,350,351,484). and social revival that was led largely by London, but Although a relative backwater, north was soon evident in the larger towns. Peter Borsay 's Hampshire shared in the developments in study of this new xuave of prosperity in the provincial the economy and communications apparent towns of England between 1660 and 1770 explored nationally. All the towns experienced popula how this English 'urban renaissance' occurred. tion growth, residential expansion, and even The extent to which this revival was evident in the cultural refinement. Consideration here of the numerous smaller English towns has been inves economy relates to the agriculture and industry tigated for a few places, but little such research has of the area, and to the development of transport been undertaken on the smaller towns of southern and communications networks within it. England. This study, in three parts, of the small towns of north Hampshire (Alton, Andover, Basing stoke, Kingsclere, New Alresford, Odiham, Overton, AGRICULTURE Stockbridge and Whitchurch) from 1660 to c. 1800 goes some way to redress the balance. Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy This first paper will explore the economic back of north Hampshire. As befitted principally ground to the revival in the north Hampshire tmims. a chalk downland area, arable farming with Two further articles will treat, firstly, population corn production (particularly wheat and growth and urban development, and secondly, the case barley) predominated and was made possible for an 'urban renaissance' in the north Hampshire by intensive sheep-folding. Sheep were towns. pastured on the downs by day and close-folded at night on the lower arable land. Although kept mainly for their dung, sheep were also INTRODUCTION valued for their lambs, mutton and wool (Bettey 1986, 121-2). The late seventeenth The aim of this paper is to investigate the to early nineteenth centuries saw continuing economy of the north Hampshire towns of advances in farming methods and productiv Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Kingsclere, New ity, notably the enclosure of open arable fields Alresford, Odiham, Overton, Stockbridge and and conversion of former chalk downland to Whitchurch. Only Andover and Basingstoke arable. Early enclosures by private agreement were incorporated. Andover was granted a were followed in the eighteenth century by charter of incorporation in 1599, and Basing enclosure acts, particularly during the Napo stoke was granted its third such charter in 1641; leonic Wars (1793 to 1815) when corn prices both remained in force until the reorganisation were very high (Bettey 1986, 197-9). In 1767, of the borough system in 1835. Addition Arthur Young noted the considerable flocks ally Andover, together with Stockbridge and between Winchester and New Alresford and

193 194 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

the hops grown in very large quantities near of the west of England with hops produced in Farnham (Young 1768, 175, 181). Hampshire and Surrey, particularly at Alton, The 1795 History of Hampshire commented Farnham and nearby parishes (UBD, 48). that in Alton (and other parishes near the Surrey border), more hops were being planted than previously, due to the good reputation INDUSTRY and high prices of Farnham hops, and also that sheep stocks in Hampshire parishes had Cloth remained the most important industry in been reduced by a third, because of recent Wessex, but was of only minor importance on enclosure. However, most parishes still had the chalklands. Unlike pastoral farming, arable very large flocks and the county a total stock of farming on the north Hampshire chalk afforded about 350,000 sheep. A list of parish stockhold few opportunities for secondary employment. ings reveals that Kingsclere had the greatest by In the seventeenth century, new types of cloth far, 12,000 sheep, with Andover and Whitch were introduced, called 'medleys' or 'Spanish urch having 5,000 sheep, the second largest cloths', more lightweight than the traditional number each. Overton had 4,000 sheep, Alton, broadcloths. Older cloth centres like Andover, 1,500, Basingstoke, 1,400 and Stockbridge, Newbury and Reading did not adapt to the new 500. New Alresford and Odiham are not listed. manufacture and the old trade declined rapidly, Kingsclere also had 1,000 acres on which cattle in contrast with the West Country towns that were bred. Also near the border with Berkshire prospered on the new cloths (Bettey 1986, 189, considerable quantities of oak and elm were 190). Defoe noted that Alton and Basingstoke produced (Warner 1795, iii, 2, 4-5, 12-14, 19). manufactured druggets and shalloons, and Weekly markets were held during the late Andover shalloons, but otherwise Hampshire, eighteenth century at Alton, Andover, Basing Kent, Surrey and Sussex were 'not employ'd in stoke (for corn, especially barley), Kingsclere any considerable woollen manufacture' (Defoe (principally by sample, at the Swan and George 1974, 142, 180-1,288). inns), New Alresford (for corn and sheep), Cloth was still being produced in Andover Odiham, Stockbridge and Whitchurch (by and Basingstoke in the 1790s, when Alton sample only) (UBD, 23, 31, 48, 168, 199, 316, had an increasing manufacture of corded 488, 936; Warner 1795, i, 29, 48). Overton's druggets, figured barragons, and sergedenins, market had long since fallen into disuse (UBD, and barathees, barragons, serges and shalloons 184; Everitt 1976, 176). By 1810, sale of corn at were being made at Whitchurch (UBD, 31, 48, Alton market was by sample (Vancouver 1810, 316, 936). By 1810, however, the cloth industry 401). All nine towns held regular fairs during of Andover, Basingstoke and "Whitchurch had the year. In the 1790s these included: Basing declined due to the war, but that of Alton was stoke, two for sheep and two for cattle and a thriving, including a reviving manufacture of statute fair for servants; Overton, four for sheep silk and worsted tabbyreens, largely for the and lambs; Stockbridge, three principally American market. Built in 1769, Overton silk for sheep; and Whitchurch, one for toys and mill afforded constant employment for many one for pigs and sheep (UBD, 23, 31, 48, 168, women and children in 1810. Near Overton 184, 199, 316, 488, 936). However, the most there were two paper mills, one making paper important Hampshire fair was Weyhill Fair, for the Bank of England notes (Vancouver near Andover. Daniel Defoe, writing of the early 1810, 399-400,402-5; UBD, 185). 1720s, described it as the greatest sheep fair in Malting was of considerable importance in the country, supplying ewes for store sheep for north Hampshire throughout the period, par Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, ticularly in Andover, Basingstoke, Kingsclere Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, (mainly for the London market), Odiham and Surrey and Sussex (Defoe 1974, 289). In the Overton. In 1810, Basingstoke and Odiham had 1790s, Weyhill Fair was supplying the whole a leather manufacture, and Kingsclere slaugh- GRANT: THE SMALL TOWNS OF NORTH HAMPSHIRE 1660-c. 1800. PART 1: ECONOMY 195 tered fat calves weekly for the London market 28). However the maintenance of the roads (UBD, 48, 185, 488; Vancouver 1810, 396, 397, by parishes could not overcome the problems 402,405). caused by increasing traffic, which was exac Andover and Basingstoke also prospered by erbated in the 1690s by the serious disruption virtue of their position on the Great Western in coastal trade due to hostilities with France Road. Celia Fiennes described Basingstoke in (Albert 1972, 8, 21). 1691 as 'a large town for to entertaine travellers and commodious' (Morris 1982, 52) and later Road improvements as having 'a good trade being a Road' (Morris 1982, 75). In the 1792 Universal British Directory, Transport improvement was initiated at both Andover and Basingstoke were described a local level, whereby interested groups as great thoroughfares, and Stockbridge as a petitioned Parliament for the authority to noted thoroughfare {UBD, 47-8, 199, 315-6). undertake road improvements. Embodied in Most north Hampshire towns no doubt also the first Turnpike Authority of 1663 was the benefited to a degree from the increasing principle that road users should contribute volume of passenger and freight transport over to the costs of road repair; this remained the the period, as evidenced by investments made basis for most road improvements well into in improving facilities at existing inns and the nineteenth century (Albert 1972, 12, building new inns. For example at Overton, 14). Parishes' responsibilities for the main the New Inn was built in the mid eighteenth tenance of main routes lessened as more century, and the White Hart (dating from at turnpike trusts became operative (Albert least 1442) was refurbished in 1770 at a cost of 1972, 24), but repair of local roads remained £90 (Deveson 2000, 22-3). At Stockbridge, the their responsibility (Ransom 1984, 23). Early New Inn was substantially altered and extended turnpike activity concentrated mainly around in 1745 at a cost of £300'(HRO 77M87/59). London and the West Country cloth towns (goods were sent overland due to the shortage of river transport); the route from Bristol TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS and Bath to London was almost complete by 1728. By 1750, many of the principal In England in the late seventeenth century London routes were virtually all turnpiked, heavy goods were transported mainly by water together with several important inter-provin as this was relatively cheap. Road carriage was cial routes. The numbers of turnpike trusts generally limited to short hauls to and from established peaked between 1751 and 1772, markets and the nearest water transportation, the years of 'Turnpike Mania', with southern or the long distance carriage of more valuable England a principal area of activity. The many goods such as cloth (Albert 1972, 6). Stage factors underpinning this boom in invest waggons for transporting goods and passengers ment (including domestic market expansion were introduced in the mid sixteenth century; and export growth) resulted in larger traffic stagecoaches for carrying passengers followed volumes and demands for less costly, more a century later. Stagecoach travel became reliable communications all year round increasingly popular and by 1700 a network of (Albert 1972, 37-8, 44, 49, 51, 56). stagecoach services linking London with pro In north Hampshire the first Turnpike Act vincial and other centres was emerging. Early was that of 1718 on the road between Basing stagecoaches were primitive, but by the 1780s, stoke and Reading. This and earlier turnpike improvements in coach design enabled travel activity in the Reading area was stimulated by smooth enough to read a book. Journey times the overland transportation of huge quantities also improved after the practice of re-horsing of goods to Reading for shipment to London stagecoaches at intervals, introduced in the (Albert 1972, 38, 44, 202). From Reading, 1730s, became widespread (Ransom 1984, 20, on the Kennet and near the Thames, barges 196 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOCICAL SOCIETY

Miles

Fig. 1 North Hampshire turnpike road system by 1757 transported great quantities of malt, meal and (HRO 44M69/G1/128); and in 1757 between timber to London, and brought back coal, salt, Bagshot and Hartfordbridge Hill (HRO groceries and other goods that Reading traded 44M69/K4/11) (Fig. 1). into the countryside (Defoe 1974, 291). The alternative route between Basing In 1737 an Act was obtained for improving stoke and Lopcombe Corner via Stockbridge part of the Great Western Road from Hartford- obtained its Act in 1756 (HRO COPY 736/2). bridge Hill to Basingstoke and Odiham, in need The more southerly east-west route through of repair 'by reason of many heavy carriages Hampshire, from near Bagshot to Winchester passing' (HRO 44M69/G1/125). Other Acts via Alton and New Alresford obtained its Act in for improvements on this major route through 1753 (HRO 44M69/G1/127). Hampshire followed: in 1753 from Winterslow Turnpike Acts on more minor routes and to Harnham Bridge (Albert 1972, 206); in 1755 cross-routes in north Hampshire continued from Basingstoke to Winterslow (Lopcombe throughout the eighteenth century. For Corner) via Overton, Whitchurch and Andover example, the route from Oxdown Gate, GRANT: THE SMALL TOWNS OF NORTH HAMPSHIRE 16B0 - r. 1800. PARI" 1: ECONOMY 197

Popham Lane (near Basingstoke) to Winches 1993, 2, 5, 25). In contrast Kingsclere, on a ter and beyond obtained its Act in 1759 (HRO minor route, had no coach services listed in 44M69/G1/129) and that from Whitchurch 1792, and only two waggon services: weekly to to Aldermaston Great Bridge via Kingsclere Newbury (on Newbury's market day) returning in 1770 (HRO 5M52/TR6). However, an Act the same day, and weekly to and from London did not guarantee improvements would follow. (£/££>, 448). Improvements on the route from Bishops Waltham to Odiham via New Alresford (which Postal communications obtained its Act in 1758) (HRO 44M69/ Gl/130) were never completed and the scheme Originating during the Elizabethan period, a dropped, due to disputes over the siting of commercially viable postal service existed by toll-gates, and fears that the tolls would raise the 1630s (Brayshay 1992,121-134). Late in the insufficient revenues (HRO 45M83/PZ3). seventeenth century, post was dispatched three Contemporary views on the state of times a week on the Great Western Road from Hampshire roads were rarely documented. London to Plymouth. The principal Hampshire However, in 1810 Charles Vancouver (having post stages were Andover, Basingstoke and Hart- surveyed Hampshire for the Board of Agri fordbridge. By 1684, due to increased business, culture) found the roads '[i]n general, good; a branch ran from Hartfordbridge to Alton, some, the very best in the kingdom'(Vancouver and on to Petersfield and Portsmouth, also 1810,391). to Winchester, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. Each town received its own sealed mail Volume of road traffic bag from London and the post-boy carried a by- bag for post dispatched between stages along The volume of passenger and freight traffic the route. The same procedure applied on the on the road towards the end of the eighteenth return journey (Robinson 1953, 30-2). century was considerable. Contemporary trade For most of the eighteenth century mail was directories list the regular coach and waggon carried by post-boys on horseback (Ransom services available at each town (except King 1984, 29). Responses to the bishop of Win sclere and Overton, omitted from the 1784 chester's visitation inquiry of 1725 indicate HampshireDirectory, and Basingstoke and Whitch that most north Hampshire towns were post urch, with briefer descriptions of services in the towns in their own right, receiving their own 1792 Universal British Directory). If not entirely post bag. However, Kingsclere obtained its mail accurate, they do give an idea of the volume from Newbury, Overton from Basingstoke and of passing traffic. Towns on the Great Western Stockbridge from Winchester (Ward 1995, 4, 6, Road in north Hampshire probably experi 9, 16, 77, 78, 101, 103,104, 142). enced the most traffic, with Andover possibly Mail services were revolutionised in terms the busiest. In 1784 Andover had a variety of of speed and security from 1784, when the daily, thrice-weekly and weekly coach services first mail coach left Bristol for London, and between London and Bath, London and Exeter, was so successful that mail coach services London and Salisbury, London and Taunton were extended to fourteen other routes the and Oxford and Salisbury. Andover also had following year. By 1797 over twenty-two such waggon services between London and the south services operated out of London and over west, notably Exeter and Taunton, operating fourteen others carried mail between provincial several days a week, and a twice-weekly service centres. Mail coaches also carried passengers to between London and Frome {HD, 57-8). maximise profits (Ransom 1984, 29). In 1784, Russell's, the principal carrier between London most north Hampshire towns had a post service and the West Country from the late eighteenth three times a week to and from London; excep century, maintained a substantial loading from tionally New Alresford enjoyed an almost daily Andover into the nineteenth century (Gerhold service {HD, 47, 50, 57, 63, 98,159,161). By the 198 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

THAMES NAVIGATION

KENNET NAVIGATION 1723 Reading

Newbury Aldermaston

BASINGSTOKE CANAL 1794 WEY NAVIGATION Basingstoke Qdilham Guildford 1653 Andover 1763 ANDOVER God aiming CANAL 1794

Salisbury Winchester SALISBURY & ITCHEN SOUTHAMPTON >Romsey/ NAVIGATION CANAL (Salisbury 1 l 1710 branch) Redbri^ge 10 SALISBURY & J Northam SOUTHAMPTON CANAL Miles (Southampton branch)

Fig. 2 Inland navigation in southern England

1790s, access to post services had improved con or inland navigation. Hampshire itself was not siderably. Most towns had an almost daily mail well served by navigable rivers. To the north, coach service and Overton was receiving mail the Thames, always navigable, was subject to directly. However Kingsclere obtained its mail numerous improvements, and the Kennet three times a week from Newbury by postman was made navigable to Newbury by 1723. To and Stockbridge sent and received post to and the west, the Avon was made navigable from from London three times a week (UBD, 23, 31, Christchurch to Salisbury by 1684. To the 51, 185, 200, 316, 488, 936). Improved mail east, the Wey was canalised from the Thames services also meant improved access to London at Weybridge to Guildford by 1653, and the newspapers, as they were dispatched free by the navigation extended to Godalming by 1763 post office (Robinson 1953, 95-6, 121). (Hadfield 1969, 15, 22-3, 166-7, 188). Southampton had no navigable rivers to facil Waterways itate the inland distribution of goods that went overland instead. Efforts were made to improve Throughout the period (and up to the intro the Itchen, but the Test was more difficult to duction of the railways) the cheapest way to improve and remained unaltered until the later transport goods was by water, via coastal trading eighteenth century (Welch 1966, 3). The Itchen GRANT: THE SMALL TOWNS OF NORTH HAMPSHIRE ]

principally of wheat and barley production. of mail coach services after 1784. The area was Some cattle breeding took place at Kingsclere, also benefiting from the trade opportunities and in the Alton area hop-growing became provided by improved water transportation increasingly important. Industry was agricul following the completion of the Itchen and ture-based, and was characterised by a declining Rennet Navigations, and the opening of die cloth industry, except at Alton, and the increas Basingstoke, Andover, and Salisbury and South ing importance of malting. North Hampshire ampton canals. However, when the transport was producing not only for local markets, but infrastructure of late eighteenth- and early also for the London, South West and American nineteenth-century Hampshire is viewed as a markets. whole, it is not surprising that the canals were Also significant to the economy of towns not the commercial success that had been on major through-routes were the services anticipated. They were operating against a provided to support the growing volume of background of widespread coastal trading (in passenger and freight traffic on the roads. peacetime) and an above-average turnpike Considerable improvements were made to the road system (Hadfield 1969, 16, 19), on which transport and communications infrastructure a complex network of local and long distance of north Hampshire from the late seventeenth freight services was already firmly established. century, in response to increasing road traffic, and the demand for more reliable commu nications. By the 1750s turnpike activity had ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS concentrated on the major through-routes, but by the end of the century, many minor routes Particular thanks are extended to Professor were also turnpiked, so that north Hampshire Michael Hicks and Dr Colin Haydon, of the (and indeed the whole county) was well served University of Winchester, for their encourage by a comprehensive network of turnpike roads. ment and guidance. I am also indebted to the Postal communications also improved over the staff of the Hampshire Record Office, Winches period, particularly following the introduction ter and the Local Studies Library, Winchester.

REFERENCES

Primary Sources 44M69/G1/130 Turnpike Act: Bishop's Waltham through New Alresford to Odiham. Hampshire Record Office 44M69/K4/11 Turnpike Act: The Golden Farmer 5M52/TR3/26 Proposal for a canal from Andover to near Bagshot to Hartfordbridge Hill. Redbridge. 45M83/PZ3 An Account of New Alresford and its 5M52/TR6 Turnpike Act: Whitchurch to Aldermas- Environs. ton Great Bridge. 77M87/59 Agreement to build an extension to the 44M69/G1/125 Turnpike Act: Harrfordbridge Hill New Inn, Stockbridge, with plan. to Basingstoke and Hartfordbridge Hill COPY 736/2 Copy Turnpike Act: Basingstoke, Stock- to Odiham. bridge and Lopcombe Corner. 44M69/G1/127 Turnpike Act: Basingstone near Bagshot through Alton, New Alresford, Printed Primary Sources to Winchester. Defoe, D 1974 A Tour through the W)wle Island of Great 44M69/G1/128 Turnpike Act Basingstoke through Britain, i, London. Overton, Whitchurch, Andover, to HD Hampshire Directory 1784. Lopcombe Corner. Morris, C (ed.), 1982 Tlie Illustrated Journeys of Celia 44M69/G1/129 Turnpike Act: Oxdown Gate, Fiennes 1685- c. 1712, London. Popham Lane to Winchester. UBD Universal British Directory 1792. GRANT: THE SMALL TOWNS OF NORTH HAMPSHIRE 1660 - c. 1800. PART 1: ECONOMY 201

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Author. Mrs Moira Grant, 19 Manor Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 9JJ