Accommodation in Minstead

New Forest Accommodation - Minstead

ABOUT Minstead New Forest, Hampshire, UK.

Minstead is a small village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Lyndhurst. There is a shop and a pub, the Trusty Servant. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grave is under a large tree at the back of the 13th century All Saints' church.

Minstead is a small village and civil parish in the New Forest. The majority of the parish area is a complex of woodland, heathland, acid grassland, scrub and valley bog, supporting a great richness and diversity of wildlife. One mile north of the village at Lower Canterton lies the Rufus Stone. This stone is said to mark the place where in 1100 the then King of England, William Rufus, was killed by an arrow whilst out hunting.

Nearby Furzey Gardens contain 8 acres (3.2 ha) of landscaped gardens containing many interesting and rare plants. There is also a gallery, open to the public from March to October, as well as a tree house and play area for children.

The village pub is called The Trusty Servant and has an unusual sign of a man with a donkeys ears, a pig's snout and a stag's feet. The snout has padlocked lips to signify discretion. This implies some past link with Winchester College, where a similar wall-painting of this legendary creature (Hircocervus) hangs outside the kitchen of the College.

People have lived in the area of Minstead since prehistoric times. Paleolithic tools have been found here, and there are several Bronze Age barrows within the parish. There is an Iron Age hillfort at Malwood covering 1.8 hectares. It was on or near this hillfort that a medieval beacon was situated, receiving signals from Marchwood and from Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. There is a modern house in the middle of the hillfort which is privately owned.

Minstead is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Before the Norman Conquest, Minstead, assessed at three-and-a-half hides, was held by a Godric Malf, whose sons in 1086 were holding half a hide as the remaining 3 hides had been taken into the New Forest.

The name "Ivez" or "Ives" was an alternate name for Minstead in the 12th and early 13th centuries. The manor was closely associated with the manors of Bisterne and Totton. In 1186–7 tallage was due to the king from "Ivez, Budesthorn (Bisterne) and Todinton (Totton)" which had belonged to Hugh de Ivez and Robert son of Ulf. In 1248–9 Andrew de Ivez or Minstead (as he is alternately called) was said to hold jointly with John de Bettesthorne, then a minor, half a hide in Testwood, Eling and Bisterne by serjeanty. In 1255–6 John de Bettesthorne and William de Ivez were said to be holding their land conjointly by the above serjeanty, while in 1279–80 they were given as John de Bettesthorne and William de Minstead. After this time the name of "Ivez" disappears, but the Minsteads and the Bettesthornes continued to hold land side by side in Minstead and Totton.

In the 15th century these lands passed by inheritance to the Berkeley family of Bisterne. In 1460 Maurice Berkeley of Bisterne died in possession of the whole manor, leaving a son and heir also called Maurice. His son William apparently forfeited his estates because of his involvement in the rebellion of the Duke of Buckingham against Richard III, but by 1494 the estate must have been back in the hands of the family because William's wife Katherine died in possession of the manor. Her daughter Werburg, aged six years, inherited the estate, and later married Sir William Compton of Compton Wynyates (in Warwickshire), Groom of the Bedchamber and favourite courtier of Henry VIII.

From that time onwards, Minstead remained in the Compton family. In 1670 Richard Compton appeared before the court held at Lyndhurst, to assert formally his claim to the manor. The record of this court shows the special privileges attached to the manor of Minstead. He claimed for himself and the tenants of the manor common of pasture and common of mast "without paying anything therefor," free ingress and egress in the waste lands of the forest, to search for all his animals there straying, the right to hold view of frankpledge twice a year, the right to estrays found in the manor and honey found in the woods; also to have all his woods in the custody of his own woodward appointed at the court baron of the manor and his manor free of forest officials. He also claimed the right to the left shoulder of all deer found within the woods of the manor. Finally on the day of the holding of the view of frankpledge he claimed for himself and his steward the right to kill and carry away one deer.

Henry Compton was Sheriff of Hampshire in 1758 and was a noted racing man, being an original member of the Jockey Club founded in 1753. His son John, who inherited his father's properties, was Sheriff of Hampshire in 1797. His son Henry became Sheriff of Hampshire in 1819 and took a prominent part in suppressing the 1830 Swing Riots at Fordingbridge. His son Henry who succeeded him was Sheriff in 1871, and on his death in 1877 his son Henry Francis Compton became lord of "the manor of Minstead and Brook."

Minstead manor house, which was a brick building in a park of 400 acres, was a pre-18th century building enlarged at the end of the 18th century, but it was demolished in 1950.

The village church is the church of All Saints. The chancel and nave, which are of stone, date from the 13th century. The rest of the building, in red brick, is of 18th-century or later date, including the tower. The font is 12th century. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is buried in the churchyard. The church has two large galleries and a three-decker pulpit. The church also boasts an unusual "luxury" pew, complete with its own fireplace.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grave is under a large tree in the churchyard. Sir Arthur was originally buried in a vertical position in Crowborough and re-interred in Minstead by the family of his deceased first wife after the death of the second Lady Conan Doyle. Minstead figured prominently in Conan Doyle's historical novel The White Company. Alleyne Edricson, the main character is the second son of the late Franklin of Minstead and brother of the Simon, Socman of Minstead.

Minstead Hall was originally called the Hut and comprised two munition huts left over from the 1st World War and originally sited in Romsey. The Hall was given to the village of Minstead in 1920 by David Hanbury. However when he died in 1948 his will did not state that fact. The village therefore had to purchase it from his estate. Lady Congleton loaned the village the money and after much fund raising the loan was finally repaid in 1963. The Social Club, which uses a separate part of the building, was formed in that period. The Hall is run by a Management Committee and is a registered charity (No. 301892). An AGM is held in May every year.

The Hall is the largest of its kind in the New Forest and is used for auctions, dances, theatrical productions, an annual Flower Show, a bridge club, pre-school play group and many other events organised both from inside and outside the village. One of the main users of the hall is Junior Minstead a children's club. Each year they put on a pantomime which is locally famous.

Accommodation in the New Forest

List of New Forest Accommodation in Minstead

• Fleetwater Farm   Bed and breakfast - Fleetwater Farm  Telephone- 023 80812273
  1
  	This magnificent example of an early Victorian, Manorial farmhouse, was once owned by 'Jack Hargreaves' of television's 'Out of Town' fame. Set in four acres of informal gardens and paddocks. It is the ideal place for those wanting a quiet break away from the hustle and bustle of suburban life right in the heart of the New Forest. However should you want a little exercise, there is a tennis court which may be used. (by arrangement) View Accommodation: Click Here King size double or twin room with large en-suite bath/shower room and double aspect garden views. King size double or twin room with modern en-suite shower room and views overlooking the garden and paddocks. There is also a further Double room with garden outlook, a Single room and modern shower room adjacent.
  	Email: heather@fleetwater-farm.fsnet.co.uk Tel: 023 8081 2273
  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grave is under a large tree at the back of the 13th century village 'All Saints' church which boasts of two galleries and three pulpits on top of each other. A leaflet about Sir Arthurs Conan Doyle's grave is available in the church entrance. According to this leaflet, Sir Arthur was originally buried in a vertical position in Crowborough and re-interred in Minstead by the family of his deceased first wife after the death of the second Lady Conan Doyle. The church also boasts an unusual "luxury" pew, complete with its own fireplace. Furzey Gardens contain 8 acres of landscaped gardens containing many interesting and rare plants. There are remains of an Iron Age Fort, known as Malwood Castle. The village pub is called The Trusty Servant and has an unusual sign of a man with a donkeys head. The village is near the Rufus Stone Memorial, which commemorates the site where King William Rufus was slain by a huntsman's arrow.
  Bed and breakfast - Fleetwater Farm  Telephone- 023 80812273 Hungerford Cottage   Is situated in the pretty village of Minstead just north of Lyndhurst within New Forest National Park. The cottage is situated in a ancient woodland area and the proprietors keep their own horses, geese, turkeys and chickens and several friendly dogs. In the surrounding area there is variety of wildlife to be seen. If you would like to bring your own horses to go riding in the New Forest there is stabling available. Tel: 023 8081 2324 Mobile: 07905 272 715 Email: marion.ashby@talktalk.net The cottage B&B is located right in the New Forest surround by Oak trees and is part of the village of Minstead. The peaceful location is ideal for walking and cycling in the New Forest. The village shop, Trusty Servant pub (excellent food) and an interesting 12th century church (resting place of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) are within easy walking distance. Also within the village are the attractive Furzey Gardens with an ancient forest cottage and gallery of arts and crafts. We are also well positioned for trips to the south coast beaches and many other local attractions.
  4	Bed and breakfast Broad Oak Farm, School Lane, Minstead SO43 7GL
  5	Bed and breakfast Eugenie Cottage, Seamans Corner, Minstead SO43 7FW
  6	Bed and breakfast Holly Brae, Lyndhurst Road, Minstead SO43 7HA
  7	Bed and breakfast Grove House, , Minstead SO43 7GG
  8	Pubs and Inns The Trusty Servant, Minstead, Lyndhurst SO43 7FY
  9	Camp site Acres Down Farm Camping, Acres Down Farm, Minstead SO43 7GE

  
  

More accommodation in the new forest

QUICK NAV