The Littleton Local History Group has recently embarked on an ambitious project – code name Littleton Project. The intention is to list and detail how the tiny hamlet of Littleton expanded during the twentieth century to the current size which we now know.
We are anxious to cast our net as far as possible and trawl up any reminiscences, memories, and tales of youthful scrapes, as well as photographs and other memorabilia, which you or your family may have – (hidden away in the attic?). While anything will be welcome, we are especially keen for items from the early part of the last century. It is intended to have this volume in print in the autumn of 2007. You can bear this in mind when next year you come to consider your Christmas present list. It will solve the problem with limitless numbers of friends and relations.
Littleton, a small parish of 1300 acres, fits snugly into the rolling downland three miles from the centre of Winchester, and its long history has been influenced by its proximity to this ancient city and cathedral.
Littleton's earliest identifiable origins lie in its Bronze Age Barrows. From Neolithic times farming communities and a farming economy emerged in this part of Southern England. Forests were cleared and monuments of earth and stone constructed - such as Stonehenge. One such earth construction still in existence is Littleton's rare, well-preserved disc barrow. The aristocratic dead of that time were frequently buried in barrows, or tumuli, often on a hillside overlooking the ancient trackways which had developed over prehistoric years. One such trackway, joining the trade route near Andover, The Harroway, to the South Downs Ridgeway, passed through Littleton on the line of what is still Main Road. Littleton's disc barrow, described as 'the finest in Hampshire', and almost certainly a sepulchre, was built on a ridge in the south of the village circa 1800 - 1500 BC, possibly overlooking this trackway. It is recorded that a bracelet of the Middle Bronze Age was found many years ago but efforts to trace its present whereabouts have not as yet been successful.
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| Aerial View of Littleton Disc Barrow |
Aerial surveys have revealed marks showing a Celtic village and fields on the high ground at the northern end of the village and in the Roman period (circa 43 -410 AD) the Iron Age pattern of farming continued in use: there is nothing to indicate that farming in the village has not been continuous since that time.
Winchester was, of course, a Roman town - Venta Belgarum - and the Roman Road from Winchester to Cirencester runs just to the east of Littleton's eastern boundary. Coins of the reign of Emperor Nerva and of Titus have been found in the village and Romano - British pottery of the first and second centuries discovered during field walking.
It is most likely that the Saxons, building on the system of landholding they found in place, created the settlement which evolved into the present village. The name Littleton is Anglo - Saxon - 'ton' meaning hamlet - and they built their farmsteads in the shelter of the valley. It is believed that Littleton was part of the Manor of Chilcombe, gifted to the Minster at Winchester in 635 by the Saxon King Cynegils. Winchester had been chosen as a centre of Christian worship and a great Minster had been built on the site of the present Cathedral - this generous gift was to help with the upkeep of the new building.
The name 'Littletone' was recorded for the first time in 1171 when the Bishop of Winchester, Henri de Blois, ordered that the revenues from the church at Littleton should be paid to the Guestmaster at St. Swithuns' Priory to help with the provision of hospitality for pilgrims and visitors. This order was confirmed by Pope Innocent 111 in 1205 and again by Pope Innocent 1V in 1243. Supplies of grain, stock, poultry and dairy products were also delivered to the Priory and recorded in the accounts in the Manorial reeve. It appears that by this time, Littleton had become a manor in its own right.
There is evidence that there has been a church on the existing site for over a thousand years: however, although the present building could be said to resemble in size and shape the church built by the Saxons, restoration has been so extensive that the earliest work that can be found is Norman. The church is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, although there have been earlier references to St. Mary - and it is possible there was at one time a dual dedication. Reference has been made to 'the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, originally St. Katherine and today the church of St. Catherine, Littleton'. The legend linking the saint to the catherine wheel is both well known and unsubstantiated. The church contains a fine Purbeck marble Norman font similar in appearance to the black Tournai font in Winchester Cathedral. (An excellent guide book and history of the church is available).
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The Church of St Catherine |
By the 13th century a flourishing wool trade was established in Winchester and sheep farming was a major source of prosperity for the parish - yearly receipts for wool reaching £15.13.1d in 1334. Trade was ruined when the Black Death swept the country and in 1364 the plague reached Littleton. Although there is no record of deaths, in that year the parishioners were unable to pay their manorial dues 'causa pestilencia'. From 1373-9 the Priory Guestmaster had to take services in the church because the parish could not afford a chaplain.
Two 15th century brasses in the nave of the Church commemorate John Smythe, who died in 1505, and his wife Alicia, who died in 1493. Obviously a family of importance in the village, he had been a tenant farmer on the Priory estate, living at the Manor.
Littleton is remarkable among local villages for having four surviving Mediaeval hall houses all still occupied and including parts of the original buildings. The main feature of these mediaeval houses was a hall, open from the earth floor, with the smoke from the fire rising unhindered to escape through a louvre in the roof. Surviving hall houses can be dated from circa1300 - 1500: those in Littleton were built around 1500.
Large timber framed house with considerable later additions. Timbers dated by tree-ring dating - showed trees felled in 1485: this ties in with a lease to the first recorded farmer of Littleton, John Smythe, which gave him the right to fell trees in St Swithuns' Priory for certain building works.
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The Manor House |
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A particularly attractive smaller hall house. In 1501 the Prior of St. Swithuns' Priory leased to William Atkins 40 acres of land 'near the hospital or house of St. Mary Magdalene'. This is the dwelling now known as Monks Rest, traditionally attached to the church as a 'domus', or rest house, for monks from the Priory. Later a parsonage and, after an 1873 extension, the village school.
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| Monks Rest |
House of four bays, at least one of which open from the floor to roof so as to be the hall. Tithe map of 1839 shows the White House occupied by Robert Fyfield, whose ancestors had lived in, or owned, property in Littleton from 1509. The family continued to farm in the village until after 1891.
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White House |
The first accurate plan of the parish is an estate map made in 1735 for Sir William Heathcote of Hursley, the principal tenant. A modern copy of a similar map made for the Dean and Chapter in 1736 can be seen in the church room. These maps show the 231 acres were common downland and a further 117 acres were private downland but virtually all the remainder was arable. Except for a 10 acre coppice, no trees are shown. There are no houses or cottages anywhere in the parish except around the church and manor.
Two
events, in 1839 and 1843, give a snapshot of change in early Victorian Littleton
to improve agricultural efficiency. In 1839 the tithes were commuted from
payment in kind to payment in money. To achieve this, a survey of all the fields
and houses was made to determine the payments. The map supporting this survey of
the parish shows that the pattern of fields and tenancies had changed little
since 1735. In 1843, an Act was passed 'Inclosing' the common lands of
Flowerdown (179 acres) and Littleton Down (60 acres). The award and map
following this Act make it clear that a considerable exchange of land took place
among the minor tenants. The patchwork of small tenancies was changed to a few
major holdings. Further changes occurred later so that only three major farms
appear on the Ordnance Survey map for 1870.
The Censuses show the later development of Littleton towards a more urban area. The population in 1801 was 78; rising to 135 by 1841. It remained fairly constant until 1881, when some large houses were built along Harestock Road, and these families with their domestic servants, pushed the population up to 194. The population again remained fairly constant until 1911, when it reached 218. There was a steady increase in the general population over the next fifty years as a result of the development of land south of the old village. Fluctuations of total numbers occurred due to H.M.Forces stationed at Flowerdown. By 1971, the building of a large housing estate at Harestock resulted in the population rising to 3700, and this had changed little by 1991.
From the census returns we learn of the growth of horse-training in Littleton, a business which became very important to the village from the mid 1800s, when the Winchester Race Course on Worthy Down was fashionable. Training continued locally until 1980 whilst the Littleton Stud, started in 1913, continues into the 21st century.
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Littleton Stud |
One of the most valued features of Littleton is its well-maintained and much used Recreation Ground. The first recreation ground was created in 1844 under the Littleton Inclosure Act, when a two acre 'place of recreation for the inhabitants of the said Parish and Neighbourhood' was made over to the village and allocated to the Churchwardens and Overseers. As it contained the two Bronze Age Barrows, and the land was uneven, it was unsuitable for sport. In 1971, part of this ground was sold for housing and a new pavilion was built on the current recreation ground with some of the money arising from this sale. In 1972, all the remaining area, including the Barrows, was put in the guardianship of English Heritage. It was to this ground that a four ton Sarsen Stone was returned: originally from Littleton, it had been lodged in Winchester since 1906.
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| Current Cricket Pavilion |
The first section of the current Recreation Ground was purchased for use as a cricket pitch in 1920: as a matter of interest, the first pavilion was a very large First World War packing case, suitably adapted. The Parish Council purchased further areas over the years, increasing the ground to the present 23 acres, and now football, tennis, bowls and croquet, in addition to cricket, are played regularly. It also contains a children's play area, a conservation area and a dog walking field.
In pride of place in the Recreation Ground is the Millennium Memorial Hall. A few years after the end of the First World War, the decision was taken to build a village hall in Littleton. It was to be dedicated to the memory of the five men from the Parish who had died in the war: 61 men had served from a population of 250. Over the years the hall provided a focus for much of the social, cultural and political life of the village, but as the population grew , it became evident that it was no longer adequate for the needs of a community on the threshold of the 21st century. The Littleton and Harestock New Memorial Hall Trust was formed and after five years of community effort, £430,000 was raised. On 15th May 1999, the Millennium Memorial Hall was officially opened. This well appointed and attractive new hall is well used by the parishioners and many organisations.
Littleton Lodge |
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Early 19th century house of rendered brick with tripartite sashes and a slate roof. It has a flat Roofed porch with original door and fanlight. Also attached is a mid 19th century conservatory. The flint and brick walls and cast iron railings are also listed. |
Slade Cottage |
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A 16th century timberframed thatched cottage with an added 18th century bay |
Much of the summary of Littleton's history has been taken from the publications of the Littleton Local History Group. These cover a range of topics of local interest. Considerable gaps in the story remain to be filled, however, and if you have any information, documents or artefacts relating to Littleton or Harestock and the people who lived there, please contact the Secretary, Betty Allen (tel: 01962 880316) or the Chairman, Dennis Holman (tel: 01962 881665) or email us.
If you are interested in discovering more about Littleton, the booklets are available from the above (Price £1 each plus p&p 50 pence UK; £1 overseas).
This gives a brief outline of the history, design and development of the four existing dwellings which still include parts of the original hall houses, built c1500, and which are still occupied today
The story is traced from 18th century alehouse to the present day public house, including a list of the licensees. The illustration shows the current building as it was before World War 1. 'Other than a coat of paint, the appearance has changed very little'
This booklet records the vicissitudes of education from the mid-nineteenth century and includes the reminiscences of former pupils, who attended the school before it closed - for the second time - in 1923.The account is set in the context of the general history of education in England and shows the rudimentary standard which was designed to maintain the social structure of the day. Quotations from the Head Teachers' Log Books and Local Education Authority letters over the decades provide a rich source of interesting material.
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Girls of Littleton School in 1921 |
This is a detailed survey of the fine banks and ditches which, in many places, still mark the extent of Littleton's 1300 acres. The author has walked the 7.5 miles around the parish and shows the present state of the Saxon boundaries with many maps and pictures. He has built his study upon extensive research into original sources and produced an important booklet for the history of Littleton.
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The Roman road looking north from Heafod Stoccan |
