Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (69)Kingsclere
Saxons
Sydmonton
Kingsmill Family
Freemantle Park
Burghclere
hillfort
Burghclere hillfort
Burghclere Beacon
Woodhay
Corn Hill hillfort
Kingsclear, famous for having been anciently the Seat of the Saxon Kings, as the Name may imply. It is now a well frequented Market Town, and gives Name to the Hundred in which it is. The Market is on Tuesday weekly, and the Fair on [ ] yearly. The Parish next to it on the South Side is
Sidmanton, where the Family of the Kingsmills, of which several were Knights, had their Seat. Near it is Tremantle Park, where King John much hunted. By it is
Burgh clear, a Village lying at the Bottom of an Hill, on the Top of which is a military Camp (such as our Ancestors called a Burgh) surrounded with a large Trench, and there being a large Prospect from hence all the Country round, a Beacon is here set up, which by Fire gives Notice to all the neighbouring Parts, of the Approach of an Enemy. They were made of Piles of Wood, or Barrels filled with Pitch and set on a Pole. They were of use in the Saxon Heptarchy, when most of the petty Kingdoms had several Enemies, sometimes within a Day's March, but now they are no great Use, unless in foreign Wars. North West of this Place is
Woodhay, on the Edge of Berkshire, five Miles from Newbury, where, upon Corn Hill, is a Camp, four square, supposed to be a Roman or British Work.
Having thus taken Notice of the Towns of greatest Repute in the County we shall proceed to the Isle of Wight because it is reckoned a part of Hampshire, and Mr. Camden's Method agrees with us.
[Isle of Wight not transcribed]
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