The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!

Mansbridge Family
Information provided by Jill Whitear from her records, including early information from her cousin Jackie Dunn. Note – references to ‘The Plan’ have not yet been traced to which one.
Thomas Mansbridge of Micheldever is mentioned as an executor of a Will, and was possibly a descendant of a William M of Arnewood. Thomas married Alice Parr, bapt 1596, of West Stratton. Thomas and Alice were around in the late 1640s and 50s at the time of the Civil War.
Their grandchild? Robert M born 1654, bapt Micheldever. ‘Poor of the parish’ 1725. William b. 1680s, moved to Old Basing and set up the Mansbridge family there. In 1730, William applied to the Manorial Court to transfer the cottage in Southbrook, following the death of his wife Frances, into his name.
Robert b 1685/90 m. Sarah Blunden on 8 1 1718 at Brown Candover. He started as a labourer, and then when he inherited some of his father-in-law’s land, he became a Yeoman.
Their son Robert b April 1722, d 1771 m. Sarah Merry in Winchester 5 5 1750. He or his father lived at Cross Thatch, Micheldever in (B)rook Lane. Various bills were found in the beams in the cottage. Also, army belongings of a George Elliott (Napoleonic Wars Army blanket?). Lived at Southbrook pre 1730; Northbrook in 1760 (cottage thatched by John Hobbs). Bought ‘botels’ (sic) of wine.
In 1736/7 Robert M bound himself and paid £100 for a share in the breaking up of the Micheldever Downs. Described as a Yeoman. In July 1739, there is an Agreement between him and the Duke of Bedford (The Lord of the Micheldever Manor) for a House, Garden containing 15 perches, being near the river….
In 1740 there is an Agreement between him of Weston Farm, Farmer, and the Duke of Bedford to let to him all that land in Micheldever, Southbrook, consisting of a house, barn, stable, orchard meadow and common field, land containing 50 acres and 22 perches for 3 years by 4 equal payments on the 4 feast days, signed with his mark x.
1741 ….. break up and cultivate the Downs, with William Fifield, gentleman:
Northbrook Ancient Plowed Land NO LAND
Tithe of Downs broke up in 1737 (7 acres)
Weston Ancient Plowed Land (71 acres)
Weston Down broke up in1741 (64 acres)
1775 Manorial Records Robert - cottage and garden near the Brook (part 491 on the Plan), can hold this for 1 life Copyhold, shown as Southbrook .22 acre
Widow Mansbridge – Cottage & Garden in Cow Down Lane (part 484) for 2 lives lease, shown at Southbrook .21 acre
Sons
Thomas - cottage and garden (part 425) Let at Will, Southbrook .16 acre; and in tenants at will New Down Farm.
Robert Jr – House Barn Garden (parts 460 – 466 for 1 life leasehold and 7 acres. House and garden at Northbrook (Part 271) freehold 12 acres.
Matthew– home let by Robert Bristow who holds the freehold of House in 2 tenements (Parts 605, 680).
Richard
- 1762 m. Mary Pink.
- 1775 New Down Farm tenants at will – Richard M - .16 acre and William Pink .14 acre.
Their sons may have moved to Itchen Stoke.
1818 Matthew’s son Richard, born in 1800 at Itchen Stoke, Labourer & Thatcher m. Olive Oliver born in 1800 at Medstead 1800-57.
1852 Richard and Olive. back living in Micheldever. Both Richard and William were agricultural labourers.
Youngest son John born in Micheldever in 1830 died 1891. Siblings, William, Martha and Eliza (m Thomas Ball), all born in Micheldever in 1820, 1825 and 1827 respectively -
1841 census living at Southbrook with his parents, 24 Southbrook/St Cross Cottage
1851 census, Richard, Olive and Eliza (dressmaker) were living at Micheldever.
1852 John m. Henrietta Few 26.6.1852. She b1825 d 1883.
1861 census, living at Southbrook. He was a labourer.
1871 census, lived at Southbrook. John was now a gamekeeper. Charles, Arthur and Alfred were ploughboys.
1881 census, lived at St Cross Cottage, Duck Street. John was now a woodman, Arthur was a bricklayer, and Alfred was a bootmaker.
John and Henrietta children -
Mary Ann - bapt 1 9 1852, m. aged 18 - 17 9 1870 to William Baverstock of West Stratton.
Susan - bapt 23 4 1853; m. aged 17 John Baverstock 1847- 87.
(Baverstock - see War Memorial IWW – Walter, Herbert, Percy, Ernest). Then 1888 m Arthur Charles Clarke 1864 - ?
Charles bapt 1885 and his family lived at Crown Terrace, Twyford. 1877 m Priscilla 1856-1932. D 1926.
6 children: Ada 1880, William John 1891, Daisy May 1892, Alfred 1893 Anne 1898, and Maud 1900
Arthur bapt 1855 died aged 8 months.
Arthur bapt 1859 Methodist Chapel Micheldever. 1887 m. Mary Haynes born in Brown Candover 1887 -1911. Arthur D 1940.
1891 and 1911 census, Arthur, still a bricklayer, owned and lived in 108 Duke Street – now Bluebell Cottage; and still there in 1911 census, (now a general builder). Buried 3 4 1940 aged 80. Master Mason. Mary died. 3 10 1911 aged 47 -
3 children.
Elsie, born in Micheldever in 1890.
Hilda Winifred, born 1892 and known as Lizzie
Margaret Ellen (an Elementary school monitor) b1901
Arthur then m. on 4 12 1912 Agnes Mary Smith widow, a Nurse and midwife age 33; lived at Bluebell Cottage 108 Duke St. 2 children:
Arthur Kerr b 13 12 1913; bapt Micheldever 13 12 1913
(father Arthur listed as Painter) - see War Memorial
Betty Irene born 2 12 16, baptised 18 03 1917.
Adopted twins Will E Trickey 1923- 1997 and
George Trickey 1923 m 1950 Elsie A L Newman
Alfred - bapt 1863 (Jill Whitear's grandfather and brother of Arthur). D. 1943.
1891 census, Alfred, now a photographer as well as a bootmaker, also brought up in St Cross Duke Street.
1885 m. Alice Mundy 1864-1935, born at Stoke Charity. Lived (eg 1901 and 1911 census) in The Cottage, Church St.
Click on the scrolling photos below for full details

1912-Probably posed and taken by Alfred Mansbridge who was a photographer and took many of the existing early photographs of Micheldever. Top of haycart - L – R. Possibly Evelyn later Mrs Hitchings, Herbert M, Stella M later Viney- Jill’s mother Sitting on ground - Jack Brazier lived 69 Church Street. Railway signalman. Church bellringer,

Alice 1927

Village Shop 1961

1912-Probably posed and taken by Alfred Mansbridge who was a photographer and took many of the existing early photographs of Micheldever. Top of haycart - L – R. Possibly Evelyn later Mrs Hitchings, Herbert M, Stella M later Viney- Jill’s mother Sitting on ground - Jack Brazier lived 69 Church Street. Railway signalman. Church bellringer,