PARISH ANb CHURCH OF PIDDLETRENTHIDE. 



II 



of the i yth century, and it then changed hands several times 

 before coming into the possession of its present holders, the 

 Bridges, in 1812. To Mr. John Bridge, early in the last century, 

 Piddletrenthide is greatly indebted for its rich endowment of 

 forest trees and beautiful woods, whose many-tinted foliage gives 

 the place a special charm. Old surveys of the parish show an 

 almost entire absence of timber, King's Grove being the only 

 ancient wood. Even the present imposing avenue at Dole's Ash 

 did not exist 100 years ago. 



Under the ownership of Winchester College the old village 

 near the church died down, and a new one sprang up, straggling 

 southwards. The ancient two-mile strip of pasture was broken 

 up and a string of small holdings established all down the river. 

 Great building operations went on from the later years of 

 Henry VIII. down to the close of the Stuart period, as is shown 

 by the architecture of the houses and cottages, several of which 

 bear dates carved upon them. Flint, with bands of ashlar, is 

 the prevailing material, varied in later work with courses of 

 brick, and two or three houses of the Jacobean days are entirely 

 of red brick. One house (with a lower storey of Tudor date) 

 has a remarkable stone newel staircase, with massive oak treads. 



The Manor House, a solid Georgian mansion, built by Mr. 

 Wm. Cox during his tenure, stands upon the basement of the 

 old Tudor Court-house, some of the mullioned windows of 

 which are still to be seen. Its ancient fish-ponds (still available 

 for their original purpose) and stately culver, or pigeon-house, 

 are interesting links with the past. 



EARE 

 EBTRE 

 9YOFWILLIA 



A D'URBERVILLE TOMBSTONE IN THE CHURCHYARD. 



