Also see our new feature "Memories" and "1872 map of the Area"

What's in a name?

The village was perhaps first referred to back in 1759 as 'Bransgoer Common'. There are reports that by 1817 it was being referred to as 'Bransgrove' and that not until 1850 was the name 'Bransgore' in common use. This is however disputed by other property deed evidence which shows the name 'Bransgore' being used in 1820. Perhaps even both were used to refer to different districts within the area and 'Bransgrove' was at some point dropped?

One thought about how the village name came about was that the 'gore' suffix means a triangle of land and is thought to refer to the area at the bottom of Burnt House Lane. The origin of 'Brans' is not known, unless by you? , but in this context was most likely the name, or abbreviated name, of the person who originally owned some land here or was at least renown for living here. 

Another common tale is that the naming of Bransgore came from the Danes and King Alfred. It was perhaps named after the battles around Derritt lane across to the Lamb Inn between Alfred and the Danes. 'Brans' from "Brains," and 'gore' from "blood," ...nice! 

The story of how Burnt House Lane got its name is also up for grabs but that is perhaps another story!

Village Notoriety

The village was thought to be a stopping off point for sheep herders who would take their flock from Milton to market at Ringwood.

In 1840, the then Canon of Winchester, a Samuel Wilberforce referred to the then 'Bransgrove' as a "neglected common with a group of mud cottages" . . ."the refuge, for the most part, of those who have been chased from more civilised places". Well, nothing much has changed there then! 

Parish of Bransgore

There was a time when the now parish of Bransgore was not recognised by the church or state as a region of note.  An award of 24 February 1869 enclosed Bransgore along with Shirley, Upper Shirley and Little Common within the parish of Sopley, north of Christchurch. The ecclesiastical parish of Bransgore was then formed in 1874, from the now neighbouring parishes of Sopley and Christchurch and remains as such to the present day.

Church of St Mary the Virgin

St Mary's Chapel, on the eastern outskirts of the village on the Ringwood road was completed in 1823 at expense of £2800 by parliamentary commissioners. The registers date from 1822 indicating that the church was active prior to the completion of the building.  It had three stained glass windows given by J Henry Dart Esq. once of Beech House.  

It is constructed of brick with stone dressings and has a tower at the western end with a spire, which contains a single bell. It has an apsidal chancel with small vestry recesses to the north and south and an organ chamber & nave. The font, which is said to have come from nearby Christchurch, dates from the 16th century. It is octagonal in shape and bares the monogram J.D. that perhaps refers to John Draper who was an early Prior of Christchurch.

Henry Wilberforce was once the vicar. He was son of William Wilberforce, who successfully campaigned for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire in 1833.  Henry married Mary Sargent on July 24th 1834. She was the 4th daughter of Henry's former tutor, John Sargent. They had 9 children, 4 of whom died between 1841-1853.

Significant restoration and enlargement followed in 1893, costing a total of £1200.  The grounds were encircled with a wall and new seating within to take 350 soles was added before a re-consecration service was conducted. New brass hanging lamps were presented in memory of Percy Jesson.  

In 1989 a new annex called the Resource Centre was opened by .... This is effectively a very flexible but cosy church hall, which is used for numerous church and general village activities.

The first Bransgore 'National' School was founded 1841. One of its founders was Henry Wilberforce (1807-1873) the vicar of the time.  It was supported by various voluntary contributions.

It was situated in Ringwood Road, sited opposite the Church of St. Mary-the-Virgin on land donated by Lord Viscount Fitzharris. The roof was thatched and the window had leaded lights. The infants room had a slate roof and had one very big window with fanlights.  A schoolmaster's house, made from Bransgore bricks of course, was built in the same year.

Each child had to pay a penny (1d) each Monday morning for their education. This continued until a law was passed in 1891 which reduced, or in some cases abolished the school fees. At this time children were leaving school to work for just 8d or 9d a day.

Once the current school building was developed in 1894, church rooms were soon built on the site of the old school. At that time the attendance of the new school was approximately 115. It is now more like 315.

For more information see : "100 years of Bransgore Primary School 1895-1995". A booklet produced to commemorate the centenary of the school by Ann Thornley and Janet Burn, who were both special needs assistants at the school. 

Brick making was, for some time, the major employment in the area.  Many of Bournemouth's major buildings were built using Bransgore bricks.  Apart from the local demand the clay of the Bransgore area was a suitable raw material and the necessary sands were also readily available from areas up near the forest.  The hollows and mounds of clay pits and spoil tips are still evident around the village today. In 1857, six of the 19 trades-people of the village were 'brickmakers', a trade which I doubt exists here today.

Now huddled within thick woodland just east of the main Burley road lies Bransgore House. This fine 36-room mansion was built in Edwardian times to a design created by a distinguished Bournemouth architect. The house remained as a single dwelling into the 1950s but became very run down by the end of the decade and was vacated.  Although this building is now divided into 9 leasehold flats it still exhibits some period features such as an entrance of Portland Stone and a fine Oriel Window. The external walls are finished in pebbles sourced from Chesil Beach and each window is adorned with a curved stone lintel.

In its heyday Bransgore House lay within it's own 57-acre estate. This estate included three thatched cottages, a coach house and a stable with further accommodation on the first floor. Specifically, a coachman, a chauffeur and finally a caretaker occupied this 'lofty' accommodation. The very titles give rise to the eras concerned. The grounds contained gardens, woodland and pasture. There was a pond, orchards and a walled kitchen garden as well as a number of greenhouses. The latter were used to propagate peaches, nectarines, grapes carnations and orchids and alpines. Outside there were ornamental sunchen rose gardens and a geometric 'dutch' garden with low box hedges, herbaceous borders and neat lawns. The grass tennis court and other lawns were regularly mown using a horse pulled mower, the animal wearing leather shoes so as not to damage the turf. At one time it took a head gardener and up to 8 under-gardeners to tend this lot to a stately condition.

Over the years the house became less stately and by the end of the Second World War much of the land and outbuildings had fallen into neglect. For a period a few acres were cultivated by a market gardener that lived in one of the cottages.  This led to most of the land being sold off for development allowing the village to expand. All that remains now is the remains of the kitchen and Dutch gardens and the terraces. 12 new houses were built within the remaining area of the garden. The market garden area is now covered with 5 houses and 10 bungalows. 13 more houses were built on the old greenhouse area, however most of the original cottages remain.

To be compiled.

Who knows about its history...?

Clare Lodge House

I'm personally very interested to find out more about this house and who lived there. It once stood at the northern tip of Clare Lodge Copse, the now small triangle of woods which lie between Clare Lodge Close and Brookside Road (fondly known to the kids of the area as 'knobbley').  It was just about the only property in the area when the Clare Lodge, Brookside Road/Close etc, estate was planned and was subsequently demolished to make space for it. It was not very old at the time, perhaps only being built between the wars. To my knowledge, the only sign today of its existence is the start of it's gravel drive, which can be quite clearly seen at the northern end of Chapel Lane. 

Sited one and a half miles from the center of Bransgore.  Built during the reign of Charles II, this building was said to be the rendezvous for aristocrats that had been brought back to England by smugglers during the French Revolution. 

Beech House was used as the headquarters for the Holmsley South Airbase during the war.  Unfortunately fell into neglect after the war as you see it pictured here.

The main notable activity in the Bransgore during WW2 was in connection with the nearby air bases of Wincton and Holmsley South.

John Leversley has compiled an interesting site which tells much of the history of the nearby Wincton airbase. One of several near to the village which were used extensively during the second world war. See his web site : Winkton Advanced Landing Ground : Memories

Leslie R White has written a book entitled "The Holmley Story" which chronicles the history of this Airfield in War & Peace. ISBN 0-9527581-0-5 Published by S&L Publishers, 39 Glenville Road, Walkford, Christchurch.

I'm sure there are loads of other stories about what happened locally during the war. Don't let them be lost. Contact me at webmaster@Bransgore.org.uk

Other History Pages :

See the     Also see School Headmasters

Could you add to this compilation of historical items?   If so please get in contact......

Last modified: 25/11/05

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