Alverstoke
Encyclopedia
Alverstoke is a parish
in the borough of Gosport
, Hampshire
, England
, that encompasses land stretching from Haslar
to Stokes Bay
. Alverstoke lies within half a mile of the shore of Stokes Bay
and near the head of a creek which extends a mile westward from Portsmouth
Harbour. One of Palmerston
's Follies, Fort Gilkicker
, a 19th century coastal battery fort, is located just to the south of Alverstoke, at the eastern end of Stokes Bay
.
The name 'Alverstoke' is a most likely to be derived from a corruption of the name Alwara, a former Lady of the Manor, and Stoke, a settlement on the area of Alverstoke known as the Marsh Ground. Alverstoke is mentioned in the Domesday Book
as Alwarestock.
The Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) is located here.
Residents of Alverstoke are sometimes called "The Alverstocracy" by Gosportonians in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, due to the perceived higher social status of the area.
of Alverstoke was about 4.5 miles from north to south, and 2.5 miles from east to west, thus covering much of the area we know today as Gosport. The parish stretched to the east as far as Portsmouth
Harbour, on the south by the Solent and on the west mainly by the parish
of Rowner
. On the north it adjoined Fareham
and Titchfield
parishes.
Large parts of the north and east of the parish
were split into separate parishes between 1840 and 1913. In the late 19th century Alverstoke became completely built up and the fields separating it from Gosport disappeared. Thus the parish
, which was once a large agricultural one containing the villages of Alverstoke and Gosport
now comprises a smaller and mainly residential area within the Borough of Gosport
.
The timeline of the transformation of the village name is:
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the borough of Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, that encompasses land stretching from Haslar
Haslar
Haslar is place in England, at the southern tip of Alverstoke, on the Gosport peninsula, Hampshire. It takes its name from Anglo-Saxon hæsel-ōra = "hazel - landing place"...
to Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay is an area of the Solent that lies just south of Gosport, between Portsmouth and Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire. There is a shingle beach that has a great view of Ryde and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight to the south and also Fawley in the south west. The village of Alverstoke is close by...
. Alverstoke lies within half a mile of the shore of Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay is an area of the Solent that lies just south of Gosport, between Portsmouth and Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire. There is a shingle beach that has a great view of Ryde and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight to the south and also Fawley in the south west. The village of Alverstoke is close by...
and near the head of a creek which extends a mile westward from Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
Harbour. One of Palmerston
Palmerston
-People:* Several prominent people have borne the title of Viscount Palmerston, and most or all the below places are named for one of them - especially for the third, most prominent of them. They include:** Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston -People:* Several prominent people have borne the...
's Follies, Fort Gilkicker
Fort Gilkicker
Fort Gilkicker is a historic Palmerston fort built at the eastern end of Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire to dominate the key anchorage of Spithead. It was erected between 1863 and 1871 as a semi-circular arc with 22 casemates, to be armed with 5 12" guns, 17 10" guns and 5 9" guns. The actual...
, a 19th century coastal battery fort, is located just to the south of Alverstoke, at the eastern end of Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay is an area of the Solent that lies just south of Gosport, between Portsmouth and Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire. There is a shingle beach that has a great view of Ryde and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight to the south and also Fawley in the south west. The village of Alverstoke is close by...
.
The name 'Alverstoke' is a most likely to be derived from a corruption of the name Alwara, a former Lady of the Manor, and Stoke, a settlement on the area of Alverstoke known as the Marsh Ground. Alverstoke is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Alwarestock.
The Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) is located here.
Residents of Alverstoke are sometimes called "The Alverstocracy" by Gosportonians in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, due to the perceived higher social status of the area.
History
Up to the early 19th Century the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Alverstoke was about 4.5 miles from north to south, and 2.5 miles from east to west, thus covering much of the area we know today as Gosport. The parish stretched to the east as far as Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
Harbour, on the south by the Solent and on the west mainly by the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Rowner
Rowner
Rowner is a part of Gosport, Hampshire, mostly famous for the high rise flats which dominate the area, known as 'The Concrete Jungle'. Rowner was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, during the 11th century. In the area is a field , accessible for walkers, and a dirt track for BMX and Mountain...
. On the north it adjoined Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
and Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
parishes.
Large parts of the north and east of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
were split into separate parishes between 1840 and 1913. In the late 19th century Alverstoke became completely built up and the fields separating it from Gosport disappeared. Thus the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, which was once a large agricultural one containing the villages of Alverstoke and Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
now comprises a smaller and mainly residential area within the Borough of Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
.
The timeline of the transformation of the village name is:
- Alwarestoch/Halwarestoke, XI to XIII century
- Alvardestoke, XIV century
- Aillewardstoke, XV century
- Alverstoke, XVI century
Notable connections
- John Wickham LeggJohn Wickham LeggJohn Wickham Legg was the third son of the printer and bookseller George Legg, and was born at Alverstoke near Portsmouth in Hampshire, England, on 28 December 1843...
, physicianPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, was born here on 28 December 1843 - Samuel WilberforceSamuel WilberforceSamuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
, bishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, accepted the rectoryRectoryA rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
of Alverstoke in October 1840 - Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal, estranged wife of the Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne, died in the rectory in 1834 whilst awaiting for her property in the Crescent to be completed.