Antiquarian and Topographical.
SKETCHES OF HAMPSHIRE.
No. XLVI. BY HENRY MOODY.
[WRITTEN FOR THE "HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER."]
...
Hampshire has ever formed a portion of the Diocese of Winchester, which extends over the county of Surrey and the Channel Islands. The Bishop takes precedence of all his right reverend brethren, with the exception of the archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the bishops of London and Durham, and is, ex officio, Prelate of the Order of the Garter. The county also forms the Archdeaconry of Winchester, which is subdivided into the Rural Deaneries of Alton, Andover S.W., Andover E., Basingstoke S.W., Basingstoke N.E., Droxford N.W., Droxford S.E., Droxford S.W., Fordingbridge W., Fordingbridge E., Mitcheldever, Somborne, Southampton, Westmeon and Petersfield, Winchester and Wonston, besides East Medina and West Medina, in the Isle of Wight.
For civil purposes the county has 13 divisions, independently of the Isle of Wight, namely, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Droxford, Fareham, Kingsclere, Lymington, Odiham, Petersfield, Ringwood, Romsey, Southampton and Winchester; and also 25 poor law unions, namely, Alresford, containing 18 parishes, Alton 20, Andover 32, Basingstoke 37, Catherington 5, Christchurch 3, Droxford 11, Fareham 9, Fordingbridge 9, Hartley Wintney 13, Havant 6, Hursley 4, Kingsclere 15, Lymington 6, New Forest 9, Petersfield 13, Portsea 2, Ringwood 5, Romsey 12, South Stoneham 9, Stockbridge 15, Whitchurch 7, Winchester 33, Alverstoke 1, and Southampton 6. By the returns, recently published by the order of quarter sessions, it appears that the county, including the Isle of Wight, consists of 1,018,550 English statute acres, and contains a population of 355,004; and that's of the total assessment to a county rate, to which the boroughs of Andover, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Leamington, Ramsay, Southampton and Newport are not liable, amounts to £1,077,254 19s. 0½d.
See also other 'Sketches of Hampshire'
3-May-1845
23-Nov-1844