South Gorley Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:50.8865°N -1.772°W
Official Name:South Gorley
Static Image Name:The Old School House, South Gorley - geograph.org.uk - 1057187.jpg
Static Image Caption:Old school house at South Gorley
Civil Parish:Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley
Shire County:Hampshire
Region:South East England
Constituency Westminster:New Forest West
Post Town:RINGWOOD
Postcode District:BH24
Postcode Area:BH
Dial Code:01590
Os Grid Reference:SU161097

South Gorley is a hamlet in the New Forest National Park of Hampshire, England. It is in the civil parish of Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley. Its nearest town is Ringwood, which lies approximately south-west of the hamlet.

The hamlet sits on the western boundary of the New Forest National Park, about south of North Gorley. The River Avon lies just to the west.

History

The name Gorley means "triangular wood/clearing".[1] In 1086 Osbern the Falconer held the manor of Gorley from the King.[2] The part which became South Gorley was for most of its history included in and followed the descent of Ibsley, in particular that part of Ibsley which John atte Bere had owned in the 14th century.[3] South Gorley was, unlike North Gorley, in the parish of Ibsley,[3] and it is now part of the civil parish of Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley. The old village school of Ibsley, built in 1874 by the Earl of Normanton, was at South Gorley.[3]

In 1902 the artist Heywood Sumner acquired a plot land at Cuckoo Hill near South Gorley. He designed and built a house there where he lived from 1904 until his death in 1940 at the age of 87. The house is now a care home.[4]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsgaz/hantsgaz/S0001142.HTM Burgate, Old Hampshire Gazetteer
  2. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=56883 Victoria County History of Hampshire: Fordingbridge
  3. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=56885 Victoria County History of Hampshire: Ibsley
  4. http://www.carehome.co.uk/carehome.cfm/searchazref/10001035CUCA Heywood Sumner House