The History of Longparish, by G. Timmins

Longparish

The parish of Longparish is situated 24.4 kilometres southwest of Basingstoke and 9.2 kilometres east of Andover. The highest point in the north of the parish where it reaches 300ft above the ordnance datum and is at its lowest point in the south part at 200ft.

The parish consists of the manor’s Longparish, East Aston, West Aston. Middleton and Forton. It was not until the middle of the 16^th century that the name “Longparish” was used, it was known earlier as Middleton . The earliest record of Middleton was in the Domesday Survey of 1086, when it was known as “Middletune”, however in a postscript from a Saxon charter of King Edgar dated 968 there is a mention in connection with the boundaries of “Midletone”, unfortunately it is not specific where this particular “Midletone” is situated.

There is a local legend that Edgar the Peaceable in 963, sent his favourite and most trusted Earl Athelwold to meet Edgar’s intended bride Elfrida, the daughter of Ordgar the Earl of Devonshire. On meeting Elfrida, Athelwold was smitten with her beauty, and married her, on hearing of this betrayal Edgar was full of anger, and vowed his revenged.

Edgar sent for Athelwold on the pretence of a hunt in the Harewood Forest, and whilst in the forest Edgar slew Athelwold by his own hand. Edgar then married Elfrida, she became Queen and the mother of King Etheldred II.

After Edgar’s death, so it is said, Elfrida, murdered Edgar’s eldest son Edward in revenge, and to put her own son Etheldred on the throne. Edward would be later known as Edward the Martyr.

Elfrida, later found the Abbey at Wherewell

The place where Athelwold was murdered is now marked by a plaque.

At the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086 Middletune (Longparish) was held by Wherewell Abbey, and had held it before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It consisted of 20 hides ( 2,400 acres), but by 1086 only 10 hides (1,200 acres). It had fourteen villagers with ten small holders, 5 slaves and two mills which cost 40 shillings. It had a fishery for the hall. The value was Ł12.