The village of Bursledon is situated on the eastern outskirts of Southampton. Early scribes were casual about spelling, and the place name was written variously as Brixenden, Burtlesden, Bristelden, Bussleton and Brixedone.

In 1154 Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, allocated land to the French monks at Hamble, instructing them to build a church at Brixedona, ‘to serve it well and maintain it’. By 1230 St Leonard’s was completed. When in 1888 Barney Sutton was digging foundations for a new vestry, he uncovered a mass grave which contained the bones of large men thought to have been killed in battle. These were considered to have been the crew of one of the Danish longboats from a fleet defeated by King Alfred in AD 871.

Through the centuries ships were built at Bursledon, the first important launching being that of the man o’war St George in 1338. Henry V’s Grace Dieu, whilst laid up, caught fire in 1439. Whether this was caused by accident or lightning is not known, but when a ‘son et lumiere’ was staged in the church in 1975 the producers took the opportunity to include a very realistic thunderstorm.

With bad roads, and no bridge until 1880, the river was the main highway, and sailing ships carrying cargo moored in the deep water off the Jolly Sailor. The railway came in 1888, blocking the top end of Badnam Creek which formerly gave access to Hungerford, where bolts were made for the wooden ships.

Mrs Shawe-Storey, who lived at ‘Greyladyes’ until her death in 1937, was responsible for the elaborate brickwork and chimneys around the estate. She also provided the richly decorated Roman Catholic chapel.

John Iremonger Eckless was a notable villager who lived at ‘Upcott’ from 1790 to 1869. He obtained pardons from William IV and George IV for agricultural labourers sentenced to transportation, and he was highly regarded by Lord Palmerston, who consulted him on such matters. He helped shipwrecked emigrants who were landed at Southampton, destitute, and obituaries in Hampshire newspapers testified to his great generosity and kindness.

The village information above is taken from The Hampshire Village Book, written by members of Hampshire Federation of Women’s Institutes and published by Countryside Books.