Martin, Hampshire

Coordinates: 50°58′33″N 1°54′15″W / 50.9759°N 1.9041°W / 50.9759; -1.9041

Martin
Martin
Martin  Martin shown within Hampshire
Population	398 [1]
OS grid reference	SU068196
Parish	Martin
District	New Forest
Shire county	Hampshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FORDINGBRIDGE
Postcode district	SP6
Dialling code	01725
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Hampshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	New Forest West
List of places: UK • England • Hampshire

Martin is a village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire. The nearest town Fordingbridge is 7 miles (11 km) to the southeast, and the cathedral city of Salisbury is 12 miles (19 km) to the northeast.^[2]

Overview

Martin is situated on the Allen River (a tributary of the Avon) in Hampshire. The village street runs north-west to south-east through the parish.^[3] The hamlets of East Martin and Tidpit are close by.^[2] Martin is the most westerly parish in Hampshire, although it was part of Wiltshire until 1895.^[4] The main Dorchester - Salisbury road passes about half a mile to the west of the village (A354).

The church at Martin dates from Norman times although much of its fabric is fourteenth century.^[4] The village green still has the village pump, consisting of an iron frame with a cranked spindle through it.^[5] The base of the 15th century village cross can also be seen here.^[6]

The chalk grasslands of Martin Down are a National Nature Reserve.^[7]

History

Martin is surrounded by prehistoric sites, including Bokerley Dyke,^[8] and the very long Grim's Ditch which extends into Dorset and Wiltshire.^[8] Knap Barrow is 95 metres long and is the longest barrow in Hampshire.^[7]

The name Martin probably derives from "Maeretun" meaning "boundary farm."^[9] Martin is first documented around 945 when land at Martin formed part of a grant by King Edmund to Æthelflæd.^[3] At the time of the Domesday Book of 1086 it was included in the manor of Damerham, and subsequently descended with that manor.^[3] In 1266 Henry III granted to Glastonbury Abbey a weekly Wednesday market in their manor of Martin, and a fair on the eve, day and morrow of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and in 1332, Edward III granted a market on Fridays.^[3] In 1483 part of the Abbot of Glastonbury's manor of East Martin was granted to the King for the enlargement of his park of Blagdon, Dorset.^[3]

There was a manor of West Martin which may have originated as a grant of land from Damerham manor granted by Henry de Sully Abbot of Glastonbury in the 12th century.^[3] It was annexed before 1400 by Robert Petevyn, and afterwards belonged to the estate of Little Damerham.^[3] The nearby manor of Tidpit was also held of Glastonbury Abbey in the 13th century, and subsequently became merged with that of Damerham.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ "2001 Census Neighbourhood Statistics - Civil Parishes in the New Forest". www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do;jsessionid=ac1f930c30d592f3f49c79b64fa1b9b4aa5a4f597a47?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=4&containerAreaId=790410. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
2. ^ ^{a b} About Martin, Martin Parish Council
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Victoria County History of Hampshire: Martin
4. ^ ^{a b} Hampshire Treasures Volume 5 (New Forest) Page 219
5. ^ Hampshire Treasures Volume 5 (New Forest) Page 227
6. ^ Hampshire Treasures Volume 5 (New Forest) Page 225
7. ^ ^{a b} Hampshire Treasures Volume 5 (New Forest) Page 221
8. ^ ^{a b} Hampshire Treasures Volume 5 (New Forest) Page 224
9. ^ Martin, Old Hampshire Gazetteer

External links

• Martin Parish Website
• Martin Down National Nature Reserve