Highways and Byways of Hampshire by The Revd. Sebastian Spilshaw

Thanks to Visit-Hampshire.co.uk 

Title: Highways and Byways of Hampshire 

Author: The Revd. Sebastian Spilshaw

 Publisher: not known but printed in 1873

Source book: A Crowded Coffin by Nicola Slade

Much of the plot of A Crowded Coffin takes place in Hampshire, a lot of it at Locksley Farm Place, otherwise known as The Angel House, which is the home of the Attlin family.

Highways and Byways of Hampshire gives The Angel House quite a write up: ‘[T]he property known as Locksley Farm Place has been indiscriminately altered by succeeding owners so that now very little remains of the original apart from the small but interesting Great Hall with its handsome crack-built timber roof. One aspect of interest to the antiquarian is that it is said to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited residences in England. The Attlin family claims descent from the original Roman who built a villa, long since vanished, although a curiously shaped stone, said to resemble an angel, remains in what is whimsically referred to as the Burial Field. 

‘The family claim that in Saxon times a house was built on the current site is unlikely to have any foundation in reality, as no evidence of this building is available. What is not open to question is that an application was made to the king, Edward I*, in the late thirteenth century, requesting a licence to “crenellate” a building on this spot. Such a licence was duly granted but the fortifications were on a modest scale and were never needed under siege. 

‘The mediaeval Great Hall (so called, although it is, in fact, of merely domestic proportions) now lies to the rear of a Tudor residence, originally of brick and stone, built in 1506. However, this modest edifice was criminally altered, in 1804. At that time Simon Attlin Esq. knocked down internal walls and enlarged the rooms, thus destroying all traces of the antique panelling. He also had the exterior of the Tudor building rendered and the windows replaced so that, in appearance, it now resembles any other undistinguished late Georgian farmhouse and is of no interest at all to the antiquarian.

‘Unfortunately, the present owner’s father made an extensive visit to the Scottish Highlands some twenty years ago and succumbed to Balmoral fever, in the erroneous belief that the addition of a would-be antique turret might enhance his house’s appearance.

‘Despite early pretentions to nobility - witness the application to crenellate (which, in hindsight, must be deemed over-ambitious) - the Attlin family soon sank into yeoman obscurity, where they remain to this day, although, as previously mentioned, they have not been above claiming descent, on occasion, from a Roman soldier who dwelt in the area during the latter years of the occupation of Britain. The notion that said soldier received a blessing on his land and house by the good offices of an angel is laughable.’

Edith and Rory, both Attlins, think this is pretty patronising stuff, and Edith says she rather likes the turret.

* Edward I 1239 - 1307.

Thanks to Visit-Hampshire