PORTSDOWN HUNDRED 



Portsea, Eastney, and Milton, with Buckland, Copnor, and Fratton, 

 comprised practically the whole of modern Portsmouth, which was therefore 

 in all probability included in Portsdown. 



The part of Portsea called Portsea gildable was still included in Ports- 

 down Hundred in 1637, for in that year the inhabitants of Portsea, under the 

 command of the governor of Portsmouth, petitioned against the commands of 

 the constables of Portsdown Hundred ; but the suit terminated in favour of 

 the constables. 8 



A small portion of Brockhampton parish was originally part of the parish 

 of Bedhampton, and consequently formed part of this hundred ; the remainder 

 being in Havant parish and Bosmere Hundred. 3 



Walesworth must have been included in Portsdown Hundred by the 

 reign of Edward I, for in this reign the abbot of Titchfield was forced to 

 allow the villeins of Walesworth to pay suit ' at the hundred of the lord king 

 at Portsdown.' * 



Owing evidently to the small extent of Bosmere Hundred, which is so 

 often mentioned with that of Portsdown, the sheriffheld only one tourn for the 

 two hundreds. Thus in 1465 the tithing men of Farlington made present- 

 ment at the sheriffs tourn for the two hundreds at Grenefeld, at which place 

 the sheriff's tourn seems usually to have been held. 6 On the other hand the 

 sheriff's returns were sometimes made separately for the two hundreds 6 ; and 

 it is remarkable that the profits of Bosmere Hundred at this time were 59-r. %d. 

 and those of Portsdown, which was a far larger hundred, .were only 30^. ^d? 



In 1549 a levy of a tenth produced 74 9-f- from the hundreds of 

 Bosmere and Portsdown. 8 A similar tax in 1570 produced 123 igs. %d. 

 from the two hundreds. 9 



By 1605 there was a change in the arrangement of the hundred; 

 Portchester, which in 1316 had been a liberty by itself, was included, though 

 it was still assessed separately ; Portsmouth, on the other hand, which had 

 formerly been included in the general assessment, was rated separately. 10 



Probably about this time, though the exact date is not certain, Wales- 

 worth was removed from Portsdown Hundred and included in that of Finch- 

 dean. In 1835 the borough boundaries of Portsmouth include Portsea. 11 

 The hundred of Portsdown therefore assumed its modern proportions, consisting 

 of seven parishes with numerous tithings, the most important of which are 

 Waterloo, Drayton, Hilsea and Cosham. 



The hundred of Portsdown has always been in the hands of the king. 

 In an inquisition taken in 1267 the jurors said that it would be no damage 

 to the king if he farmed the hundred of Portsdown. 18 In 1 1 60 40^. was 

 returned fora murder fine, 13 and in 1168 2OJ. for false judgement. 1 * The 

 liberty of Portchester in 1316 was also 'of the lord king but in the hands 

 of Margaret the Queen.' 16 



I Cal. ofS.P. Dom. 1637-8, p. 566. ' Feud. Aids, ii, 319-20. 

 4 Plac. de Quo Warr. (Rec. Com.), Edw. I, rot. 36. 



* Anct.D. (P.R.O.), A. 6568. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries courts leet for the hundred 

 of Portsdown were held at an inn at Cosham (Parl. Surv. Hants, No. 9). 



6 Mem. R. Exch. L.T.R. Mich. 47 Edw. Ill, Recorda. m. 16. ' Ibid. 



8 Lay Subs. R. 2-3 Edw. VI, Hants, . 9 Ibid. 1 3 Eliz. $|$ (a). 10 Ibid. 3 Jas. I, Hants, Jf 



II Municipal Corp. Act, 1835, 5 & 6 wil1 - IV ca P- 7 6 Sched. A. 



11 Pipe R. 7 Hen. II, rot. 8, m. 2. '' Inq. a.q.d. 51 Hen. Ill, file 2, No. 31. 



14 Pipe R. 14 Hen. II, rot. 12, m. I. u Parl. Writs, vol. ii, div. iii, 345. 



141 



