Idsworth Explained

Country:England
Static Image:Countryside Express passing St Huberts.jpg
Static Image Caption:A Train passing St Hubert's church
Coordinates:50.9224°N -0.947°W
Official Name:Idsworth
Civil Parish:Rowlands Castle
Shire District:East Hampshire
Shire County:Hampshire
Region:South East England
Post Town:Waterlooville
Postcode District:PO8
Postcode Area:PO
Os Grid Reference:SU741142

Idsworth is an isolated hamlet, with mediaeval Saxon origins, in the civil parish of Rowlands Castle,[1] in the East Hampshire district and South Downs National Park in Hampshire, England. It was formerly the centre of a Norman manor.

Idsworth remains an ecclesiastical parish in the Church of England, the only place of worship of which is the tenth-century St Huberts Chapel. It has mediaeval paintings on the north wall and surrounding the altar window on the east wall. It is promoted by the Diocese as an arranged retreat, for seasonal walkers by public footpath, as "the little church in the field".[2] The place occupies a cross-section of a small valley, centred 1 mile (1.5 km) north of its daughter hamlet and former main manor, much more populous than Idsworth  - today considered a village  - Finchdean, and 2.3 miles (3.6 km) east of Horndean. It has a long border with West Sussex border. The area is also home to Idsworth house which was built around 1850 to a design by William Burn. It was converted into apartments in 1977.[3]

Idsworth was formerly a chapelry in the parish of Chalton,[4] in 1866 Idsworth became a separate civil parish, on 1 April 1932 the parish was abolished to form Rowlands Castle.[5] In 1931 the parish had a population of 538.[6]

The nearest railway station is 2.1 miles (3.3 km) south of the village, at Rowlands Castle.

Notes and References

  1. 2011 Census. The Office for National Statistics
  2. https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16729/ St Hubert's church
  3. Book: O’Brien . Charles. Bailey . Bruce. Pevsner . Nikolaus . Lloyd . David W. . 2018 . The Buildings of England Hampshire: South . Yale University Press . 358-359. 9780300225037.
  4. Web site: History of Idsworth in East Hampshire. A Vision of Britain through Time. 20 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Relationships and changes Idsworth CP/Ch through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 20 May 2024.
  6. Web site: Population statistics Idsworth CP/Ch through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 20 May 2024.