Milford on Sea

Milford on Sea, often hyphenated as Milford-on-Sea, is a large village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire. Its western coast is higher, on green cliffs. The beaches are of varying size shingle, with some inter-tidal sand. The parish has hotels, restaurants, cafés, tea rooms, small shops and scattered pubs. Most shops are close to its small high street, which fronts a village green. The western cliffs are accessed by flights of steps and have car parks with facilities, which, along with many flats and a few grand houses, have close views of The Needles, which are the main, large chalk rocks immediately next to the Isle of Wight. These are the most significant offshore rocks rising above the waterline, going anti-clockwise along the coast, until the far, northern county of Yorkshire. In summer the population is greatly increased by tourists, including in its landscaped holiday camping, lodge and caravan parks. The parish had a Spring population of 4,660 (as at the 2011 census).

Milford on Sea

Milford-on-Sea, village green
Milford on Sea
Location within Hampshire
Population4,660 (2011 Census including Downton)[1]
OS grid referenceSZ291919
Civil parish
  • Milford-on-Sea
District
  • New Forest
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLYMINGTON
Postcode districtSO41
Dialling code01590
PoliceHampshire
FireHampshire
AmbulanceSouth Central
UK Parliament
High Street
Shingle beach

Overview

Milford on Sea is a village on the shore of Poole Bay in Hampshire. Much of the land of the parish has been recognised and protected from dense habitation by a surrounding green belt buffer zone of land, recognising its heath soil associated with the New Forest and its relatively green coastal belt. From the beach, the Needles of the Isle of Wight are on most days clearly visible. From most of the coast on a clear night, the conurbation of Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole can clearly be seen and the brighter stars; in daytime the view extends in most weather conditions to the white cliffs and further part of the headland beyond of the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in Dorset. At the closer level Milford is on a broad sub-bay (Christchurch Bay), ended by the Bournemouth Bay headland and entrance to the harbour of Christchurch, which thus juts out little from this vantage point, Hengistbury Head, traversed by a regular foot ferry in most seasons.

To the east in the parish, less than a mile from the nucleated village centre, is Keyhaven which has a boatyard and wetland bird local nature reserve.

South of Keyhaven, or southeast of the town's lowest beachhuts and cliff defences is Hurst Spit, bounded by about two miles of shingle, from the point of which, people stationed at Hurst Castle watched over and could bombard the Solent's western access. The functional, but many round-keep endowed, castle was ordered under Henry VIII in the 16th century Kingdom of England, and is now visitor oriented, with a museum, lighthouse and café. A seasonal ferry makes the trip across the marshes roughly every 20–30 minutes. This shortens and eases the alternative, a walk along either side of the shingle projection of the coast.

Bathing, when seas are calm, is favorable as tides are relatively muted for the coast at this point and thin sandbanks are nearby at lower water. A lifeboat operation exists at Mudeford a few miles west.[2]

History

Milford began as a Saxon settlement, and the name simply means "mill ford".[3] At the time of the Domesday Book of 1086 there were two separate estates in Milford, one held by Aelfric Small, and the other land with no villeins or cottars noted held by Wulfgar.[4] At a later date three separate manors were evolved from these estates and were eventually known by the names of Milford Montagu, Milford Barnes, and Milford Baddesley.[5]

The manor of Milford Montagu, which was held of the lords of Christchurch, seems to have originated in an estate held by William Spileman at his death in 1291.[5] In the late 14th century it was part of the lands of William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury.[5] In 1428 Thomas, the 4th Earl, died possessed of the manor, and was succeeded by his daughter Alice.[5] By 1580 the manor had passed out of the hands of the Montagu family, and it was acquired in 1610 by Sir Thomas Gorges, who was succeeded by his son Sir Edward, Baron Gorges of Dundalk.[5] In 1638 he sold it to Edward Hopgood. At the end of the 18th century the manor was purchased by Admiral William Cornwallis.[5]

The manor of Milford Barnes originally belonged to Christchurch Priory.[5] After the Dissolution a twenty-one years' lease of "the site of the manor with the appurtenances and all land and fisheries belonging, together with 20 acres in Shorefield," was in 1557 granted to John Wavell, and in 1574 a similar lease was granted to John Rowe.[5] Sir Thomas Gorges owned the estate in 1611, and from that time its descent was the same as that of the manor of Milford Montagu.[5]

The manor of Milford Baddesley originated in an estate held in Milford by the Knights Templar.[5] In the time of King John, Hugh de Whitwell and his son William granted land at Milford to William Mackerel which he granted to the Templars, for their preceptory of Baddesley.[5] It was held of Christchurch manor.[5] On the suppression of the order of Knights Templar this estate was granted, about 1312 to the Knights Hospitaller, to whom it continued to belong until the Dissolution of 1540.[5] It was acquired by Robert Rickman around 1609, in whose family it remained into the 18th century.[5] In 1829 Mary Anna Theresa Whitby, who had inherited Admiral Cornwallis' estates purchased Milford Baddesley, thus uniting all three estates.[6]

Newlands

Around 1800 Admiral William Cornwallis leased and later purchased the small Newlands estate in Milford.[6] His purchases included the manors of Milford Montague and Milford Barnes.[6] He was joined at Newlands by his close friend and fellow naval officer Captain John Whitby and John's wife Mary Anna Theresa Whitby.[6] John Whitby died in 1806, but Mary and her infant daughter Theresa stayed on looking after Cornwallis into his old age.[6] On William Cornwallis' death in 1819, Mary Whitby and her daughter inherited his fortune.[6]

In 1829 Mary Whitby purchased Milford Baddesley, thus uniting all the estates in the area.[6] Her daughter Theresa, who inherited the estates, married Frederick Richard West, and they used Newlands as one of their residences.[6] Their son, born in 1835, bore the name of William Cornwallis-West.[6] He inherited Newlands in 1886, and attempted to convert Milford into a premier seaside resort, changing the name of the village to Milford-on-Sea.[7] His plans included the construction of a pier, railway station, public baths, health spa, and golf course.[8] The scheme failed primarily due to a lack of funds and market interest,[8] but it gave Milford a layout and ordered development that lasted well into the 20th century.[7] William's son George Cornwallis-West inherited Newlands in 1917 and sold it three years later.[6]

Modern times

As recently as 1800 the parish of Milford was entirely inland, being separated from the sea by a narrow strip of coast-line which was an extension eastwards of Hordle parish.[5] Coastal erosion, as well as the growth of the village to the south and west, meant that by 1900 Milford bordered the sea.[5] Milford was part of a combined Milford and Pennington Parish Council after 1894, and then became a separate Milford Parish Council when Pennington was separated from it in 1911.[9] However, in 1932 Milford was absorbed into an enlarged Lymington Borough, only re-emerging as a separate parish in 1974.

With the advent of increasing car ownership, especially after the Second World War, the village expanded rapidly as a resort and as a place in which to retire. Blocks of flats were constructed along the clifftop in the 1960s and '70s, and additional housing was built inland.[8]

All Saints' Church
All Saints' Church

The oldest building in Milford is All Saints' Church which is 12th/13th century in date. The earliest parts of the structure are probably Norman (early 12th century) work from a preceding church.[10] A south aisle was added around 1170.[10] In the 13th century the church was more than trebled in size and brought to its present plan. This work, which occurred in stages, included the north facade and tower, the chancel, and north and south chapels.[10] The tower has a later, short recessed spire.[10]

Governance

An electoral ward in the name of Milford exists. At the 2011 Census the population of this ward was 4,838.[11]

The district, for most hard communal infrastructure, education and social care (amongst other functions) is in Hampshire County Council's area.

Events and festivals

Every year, Milford has the May Day festival on the village green with the traditional Maypole dancing, this includes two young girls from the local school being crowned May Queen and May Attendant. In late June through to early July there is also the Music and Arts festival. It runs for about three days with local bands and drama from local schools, as well as stalls and craft workshops; It is perhaps, the most memorable event in Milford. In August, there is the Milford Carnival with a voluntary parade with floats and the procession of the Carnival Queen. In February 2009, the Milford on Sea Food Week was launched to take place from Easter Bank Holiday Monday until the following Sunday in 2010. Milford on Sea Food Week is a community event celebrating all that is great about food. During Food Week, the village will host dining events, celebrity shows, cookery experiences & demonstrations, educational events & talks, competitions & a local food market. There are events for every age group & are run by various local businesses, clubs & organisations. The Food Week is organised by local volunteers. Milford on Sea Food Week is now an annual event in the village calendar.

Parish Vision 2020

This plan is a wide-ranging statement of community ambitions, based on sound research and extensive public consultation. It aims to retain the best of Milford-on-Sea, to improve many of our facilities, and to ensure the vibrancy of the village. It builds on the 2002 Village Design Statement which dealt essentially with land use issues.[12]

Strategic objectives:

  • Improving housing and employment opportunities, particularly for young people
  • Improving the provision of social, cultural and recreational facilities.
  • Enhancing and protecting the natural environment.
  • Maintaining and developing parish facilities for tourism and business opportunities.
  • Improving transport links with hinterland communities.
  • Making the village centre safer for pedestrians whilst protecting its special character.

Notable residents

Notes
  1. "QS102EW Population density for Milford on Sea". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  2. https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/mudeford-lifeboat-station
  3. "Milford, Old Hampshire Gazetteer".
  4. "Domesday Map – Milford". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014.
  5. Victoria County History of Hampshire: Milford
  6. "Historical faces from Milford on Sea".
  7. "Hampshire Treasures, Volume 5 (New Forest), Page 229 – Milford on Sea". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  8. Milford-on-Sea Village Design Statement, (2002), page 3
  9. "Hampshire Treasures, Volume 5 (New Forest), Page 167 – Lymington and Pennington". Archived from the original on 18 September 2011.
  10. "Hampshire Treasures, Volume 5 (New Forest), Page 234 – Milford on Sea". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  11. "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Milford-on-Sea Action Plan. Parish Vision 2020
  13. s:Airay, Christopher (DNB00)
  14. "GENUKI – Westmorland – Clifton".
  15. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=34131
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