The Estate History

Availability of fresh water is an undoubted reason for the long and rich history of this small corner of Hampshire countryside. A small tributary of the River Hamble runs through the valley and the Estate is notable for plentiful fresh water springs, notably the poind by the entrance to the Marriott Meon Valley hotel and country club.   Five archeological excavations, many casual finds and detailed study of manorial rolls suggest that there has probably been continual habitation of this gently rolling countryside since Mesolithic times over 10,000 years ago. Water, along with other natural resources, such as wood for fuel and shelter, sandy soil for good drainage, later clay for pottery, good pastures for sheep and cattle, are all factors in this long well documented history of human habitation and settlement.

The more recent history of the estate over the last 800 years, draws particularly on the manorial records held at the Hampshire Archives in Winchester. The estate was part of the great land holdings of the Bishops of Winchester and so every yeoman farmer and owner from the 12th century to the 19th century was recorded in ecclesiastical rolls. This extensive research was carried out in the 1970s by Grahame Soffe, a well-known archaeologist and current Chairman of the Society of Roman Archaeology, together with Sue Livingston. Grahame has written a short history of Shedfield House Estate and an annotated version is available for download.

Since the 1860s, the estate has been in the ownership of the Phillimore family, continuing a tradition which the estate has enjoyed of long term stewardship of land and buildings. Over the centuries, this approach has left its special mark on this corner of Hampshire.

Links to pdfs downloads:

• The Lane >>
  (A poem by Jack Phillimore, who lived at one end of Sandy Lane and grew up at Shedfield House)
• History of Shedfield House Estate >>
• Descent of Shedfield House Estate >>

Website links:

• Family Album >>
• Clewers Hill >>