70-537: Romsey ( / ˈ r ɒ m z i / ROM -zee ) is a town in the Test Valley district of Hampshire , England. The town is situated 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Southampton , 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Winchester and 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Salisbury . It sits on the outskirts of the New Forest , just over 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of its eastern edge. The population of Romsey
140-606: A bishop would be such a prolific builder of fortification. Much of Henry's work was undone in 1155, when the new king, Henry II, ordered that his castles be thrown down . Henry was also enamoured of books and their distribution. He wrote or sponsored several books including On the Antiquity of the Glastonbury Church by William of Malmesbury , a close personal friend. He sponsored the Winchester Bible ,
210-431: A book of the same name was published in 1974 as a comprehensive guide to the town's drinking establishments. The Willis Fleming family of North Stoneham Park were major landowners at Romsey from the 17th until early 20th centuries, and were lords of the manors of Romsey Infra and Romsey Extra. Broadlands later became the home of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma , known locally as 'Lord Louis'. In 1947 he
280-526: A four-day fair at the Feast of St Æthelflæd the Virgin. This was confirmed by Henry II in 1268 and extended to the Feast of St Philip and St James by Henry III in 1272. Given these charters, it can be assumed that Romsey was flourishing in the 13th century, perhaps supported by a lucrative woollen industry whereby wool was woven and then fulled or pounded before being dyed and exported from nearby Southampton. It
350-633: A great work of art or music". Stockbridge is home of the Houghton Fishing Club, an exclusive fishing club founded in 1822, which meets in the Grosvenor Hotel. In December 2006, Sport England published a survey which revealed that residents of Test Valley were the 8th most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 26.9% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. In March 2012 Test Valley
420-472: A large cedar tree on the grounds. While a manor in Embley belonged to Romsey Abbey as early as the 10th century, the current building is of 18th- and 19th-century origin. The site is now home to Embley , an independent school. It is a Grade II listed building. The White Horse Hotel is a Grade II listed, 18th-century coaching inn whose timber frames date back to the 1450s. Its medieval stone cellars indicate that
490-425: A plain stone crypt in the choir, but there is a controversy because some sources claim he was buried at Cluny. Recent research indicates he was also entombed for a time in a small church ( St Mary the Virgin ) at Ivinghoe , Buckinghamshire. One explanation describes his heart enshrined at Cluny while his corpse and other artifacts were moved from Ivinghoe to Winchester in the 17th century. For many years his sarcophagus
560-418: A shrouded figure during their investigations between 2002 and 2008. The house is a Grade I listed building . Embley Park, a country estate located on the outskirts of Romsey, was the home of Florence Nightingale from 1825 to her death in 1910. Known as the founder of modern nursing and for her work in sanitary reform , Nightingale is said to have received her calling from God in 1837 whilst sitting beneath
630-465: A type of collapsible lifeboat invented by Edward Lyon Berthon in 1851. In 1873, having been the vicar of Romsey Abbey since 1860, Berthon erected a shed outside the nearby vicarage to meet the increasing demand for collapsible boats in the 1870s. In 1877 he appointed his son as manager and moved the enterprise to Lortemore Place. The boatyard continued to make boats until 1917, when it became Berthon Boat Co. and relocated to Lymington . The abbey installed
700-416: A window commemorating Berthon in 1902. With Romsey's expansion as a brewing town in the mid-19th century, it became known for its extraordinary number of pubs and, more generally, its fashionable drinking culture. By 1911 it boasted more than 80 public houses, twice the national average and effectively one pub for every 151.5 residents. Based on the old Hampshire saying so drunk he must have been to Romsey ,
770-591: A younger brother of Stephen, King of England , and a grandson of William the Conqueror. Henry was also a major patron of the arts, funding the Winchester Bible and the font in Winchester Cathedral . He founded the Hospital of St Cross and built much of Wolvesey Castle . Henry was one of five sons of Stephen II, Count of Blois , by Adela of Normandy (daughter of William the Conqueror ) and
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#1732772350117840-621: Is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire , England, named after the valley of the River Test . The council is based in the borough's largest town of Andover . The borough also contains the town of Romsey and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. A small part of the borough at its southern end lies within the New Forest National Park , and part of the borough north of Andover lies within
910-478: Is a 12th-century abbey built in the Norman style, probably by Henry of Blois , upon an earlier Saxon church dating back to the 10th century. Elements of the old Saxon church remain, including an exposed north transept and a 10th-century rood . The current abbey is the largest parish church in Hampshire and is generally regarded as cathedral-like by architects and observers. It is open daily to visitors. Broadlands
980-469: Is a Grade I listed building and the surrounding gardens are Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . Both are open to visitors on weekday afternoons in summer. King John's House is a 13th-century building that allegedly served as a hunting lodge for King John when he hunted in the nearby New Forest . This is unlikely, however, since it was built in 1256 and therefore 40 years after
1050-575: Is a Grade II listed building. The Plaza, in Winchester Road, is a fully equipped 230-seat art deco style theatre, originally built as a cinema in the 1930s. It became a bingo hall until the 1980s. It was converted in 1984 and is now home to local amateur dramatics group, Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS), who stage between ten and fourteen productions each year and hire the venue out for other local productions, concerts, and functions. The town's memorial park, which plays host to
1120-551: Is an 18th-century country house located just outside the town centre. It was designed in the Palladian style by the famous architect Capability Brown before being completed by Henry Holland in 1788. It has had a number of illustrious occupants, including Lord Palmerston and Louis Mountbatten . Broadlands has been the setting of two royal honeymoons, namely those of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947 and then Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. The house itself
1190-464: Is first recorded in the 16th century, when it functioned as a corn and grist mill. It was at one time owned by Lord Palmerston and later the Broadlands estate before passing to various private owners. Milling ceased in 1932 and the building was left derelict for many years until its restoration in 2005. Carbon dating during this restoration placed the earlier structure in the mid-17th century. It
1260-452: Is now a working museum. The Mayor's Picnic takes place in early-mid summer and is held in Romsey's Memorial Park. There is music performed by local schools, a variety of stalls, and the popular Duck Race, in which numbered plastic ducks 'race' each other along the river Test, to be scrupulously retrieved before awarding a prize to whoever chose the winning duck. The Beggars Fair is held in
1330-618: Is part of the Romsey and Southampton North parliamentary constituency. Its current MP is Caroline Nokes of the Conservative Party . Elected in the general election on 6 May 2010 , after boundary changes, she defeated the Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley with a 4.5% swing to Conservative from Liberal Democrat and a majority of 4,156 votes. Gidley had held the seat since a by-election in 2000 in
1400-458: Is suggested that towns like Romsey and New Alresford prospered as a result of their location, which allowed them to exploit the downland sheep economy while retaining access to a major port to the south. Romsey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348–9, killing up to half its population of roughly 1,000 individuals. It is recorded that 90 nuns voted in
1470-551: The North Wessex Downs , a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The neighbouring districts are Basingstoke and Deane , Winchester , Eastleigh , Southampton , New Forest , Wiltshire and West Berkshire . The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the area of four former districts which were all abolished at the same time: The new district
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#17327723501171540-518: The arrival of the railway in 1847 , the town's expansion slowed in the mid-19th century. Whilst its population had grown to 5,654 in 1851, it stagnated in subsequent decades and—by the time of the 1901 census—the population was just 5,597. The town also enjoyed a significant trade in corn: the Corn Exchange , which is a Grade II* listed building, was completed in 1864. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Romsey became known for making Berthon Boats ,
1610-637: The 1333 abbatial election but never more than 25 in elections held from 1350 onwards. Plague arrived again in 1526, with Henry VIII abandoning his plans to spend the eve of the Assumption in Romsey and instead heading to Winchester. Prosperity never returned to the abbey. Romsey Abbey was finally suppressed by Henry VIII upon the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, during which time many religious buildings were destroyed. The abbey itself
1680-540: The 18th century, with competition from the North effectively halving the wages of woollen workers in the southern and eastern parts of the country by the 1770s. As the townspeople looked for more stable work in burgeoning industries like brewing , papermaking and sackmaking , Romsey continued to grow as a modern market town. In 1794 a canal was dug from Redbridge to Andover , passing through Romsey and thus improving its access to nearby trade centres. The town's population
1750-505: The 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston , whose statue has stood in the town centre since 1857. The town was also home to the 20th-century naval officer and statesman Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma , who lived at Broadlands . Romsey Abbey , the largest parish church in Hampshire, dominates the centre of the town. Other notable buildings include a 13th-century hunting lodge, an 18th-century coaching inn and
1820-544: The 19th-century corn exchange. Romsey's name is believed to originate from the Old English Rūm's eg , meaning "Rūm's island". Rūm is probably an abbreviation of a personal name like Rūmwald (meaning "glorious leader"), and eg (meaning " island") may have denoted a monastic retreat in the Early Middle Ages , since it is common among religious place names. The first church in Romsey was founded by Edward
1890-469: The Duke of Edinburgh. The cost of the visit created some local controversy, with particular attention being paid to the £5,000 spent on a new toilet for Her Majesty's use, though in the event she did not make use of it. The town centre has had a large Waitrose supermarket since 1969, along with an independent department store named Bradbeers and a range of other independent shops and high street chains. Romsey
1960-595: The Elder in 907 AD for his daughter, Ælflæd, a nun who became the first abbess of Romsey. Edgar the Peaceful re-founded the abbey under the Rule of Benedict in 967 AD, appointing as abbess a noblewoman named Merewenna in 974 AD. Merewenna was given charge of Edgar's stepdaughter, Æthelflæd , who later served as abbess herself. Both Merewenna and Æthelflæd are revered as saints. The surrounding village prospered alongside
2030-536: The annual Mayor's Picnic, contains a Japanese Type 96 15 cm howitzer , one of two captured by the British and brought back to Romsey by Louis Mountbatten . One was donated to the town and the other retained on the grounds of his country estate, Broadlands . Built in 1865, the signal box controlled the freight and passenger trains running on the railway lines passing through Romsey until 1982. Rescued from demolition by Romsey and District Buildings Preservation Trust, it
2100-414: The area are: 51°08′22″N 1°29′28″W / 51.1394°N 1.491°W / 51.1394; -1.491 Henry of Blois Henry of Blois ( c. 1096 – 8 August 1171), often known as Henry of Winchester , was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death. He was the son of Stephen II, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy ,
2170-534: The commission were unsuccessful, but he made a personal visit to Rome and secured several favours for Glastonbury and the Benedictine order in general. Shortly after his brother's death and the accession of Henry II , the bishop retired to Cluny, where he had sent much treasure, for at least two years and mourned there his mentor Peter the Venerable , who died on Christmas Day , 1156. In his later years, he
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2240-587: The construction of the Hospital of St Cross at Winchester . In London he built Winchester Palace as a residence for the bishops of Winchester. In Rome, John of Salisbury reported, he acquired an impressive number of ancient Roman sculptures, defending his purchases as preventing the Romans of his day from worshipping these " idols ". Henry was responsible for building six castles in 1138, namely those at Bishop's Waltham , Downton , Farnham , Merdon , Taunton , and Wolvesey . Contemporaries were surprised that
2310-666: The council as an overflow for council schools and as a centre for school dinners at some point. It was demolished in the 1960s and new buildings erected on the site. Osborne House School stood on the site of present-day Abbey Walk. During the 1920s, secondary school boys continued to wear shorts. Gilbert Percy Whitley , later an ichthyologist and curator of fishes at the Australian Museum in Sydney for about 40 years, attended Osborne House School. Present-day schools include: State primary: Test Valley Test Valley
2380-472: The destructive fire of 1184. Like most great bishops of his age, Henry had a passion for architecture. He built the final additions to Winchester Cathedral and Wolvesey Castle in Winchester, including a tourist tunnel under the cathedral to make it easier for pilgrims to view relics. He also designed and built additions to many palaces and large houses including the castle of Farnham, Surrey and began
2450-470: The earliest records of the watermills that would later establish it as an industrial town. Relative to other Domesday settlements, Romsey had a large population and paid a considerable amount of tax. Along with Wilton Abbey nearby, Romsey Abbey became known as a place of learning in the High Middle Ages . In 1086, Matilda of Scotland was sent there to be educated by her aunt, Cristina , who
2520-643: The first of whom was the Earl of Southampton . Romsey changed hands several times during the English Civil War , with both Royalist and Parliamentary troops occupying and plundering the town. Most significant were the events of 1643 in which William Waller , having captured Winchester, marched southwest to Romsey where his soldiers defaced the abbey and destroyed its organ. A skirmish on Middle Bridge, downstream of Sadler's Mill , may have preceded these events. The town's woollen industry struggled through
2590-414: The first part of their own honeymoon at Broadlands in 1981. In 2011, William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge broke tradition by spending their first night as a married couple at Buckingham Palace . In 2007 Romsey celebrated the 400th anniversary of James I's charter with a programme of events hosted from March through to September, including a visit on 8 June from Elizabeth II and
2660-502: The former Romsey seat. The town is part of the Test Valley district council which is controlled by the Conservative Party. Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma , grandson of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma , is the current High Steward , a position which dates from the 17th century (see above). Romsey Town Council holds its meetings and has its offices at Romsey Town Hall . Romsey Abbey
2730-466: The help of Queen Matilda and an army commanded by William of Ypres , his successful defence of Winchester against the Empress was the turning point of the civil war. As Abbot of Glastonbury, Henry remained in contact with Peter the Venerable at Cluny and was made aware of most of the controversies on the continent, specifically the persecution of Peter Abelard (whom Peter the Venerable defended) and
2800-480: The king's death, though there is evidence that the beams were reused from an earlier structure. The original building and adjoining Tudor cottage have a number of unusual historical features, including 14th-century wall decorations and graffiti, a floor made from cattle metapodials , and a traditional monastic garden . Locals claim the house is haunted, with the Hampshire Ghost Society encountering
2870-707: The largest illustrated Bible ever produced. It is a huge folio edition standing nearly three feet in height. This Bible is still on display at Winchester, although it was never fully finished. His production of the Winchester Psalter , also known as the Blois Psalter , is preserved in the British Library and is considered a British National Treasure. The expiration of Henry's legatine commission when Pope Innocent II died on 23 September 1143 deprived him of much of his power. His efforts to renew
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2940-532: The last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 20 wards , with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The council has its main offices at Beech Hurst in Andover. The site had previously been a large house built in the 1850s, which had been purchased in 1947 by the old Andover Borough Council to use as its headquarters. The house continued to serve as offices for Test Valley after
3010-611: The local area. Romsey Beer Festival is organised by the local Round Table, and takes place in October or November each year, at Crosfield Hall. Romsey has two Rotary Clubs which are active, working with local business partners and schools to raise charitable funds for the community. The Rotary Clubs organise the annual Walk The Test Way which has become popular with several hundred walkers raising money for charities. In around 1850, Osborne House School, located in Church Street,
3080-643: The most powerful figure in the English Church during the troubled times of The Anarchy . Thus, when his brother was unavailable, Henry of Blois was the most powerful and wealthiest man in England. Stephen of Blois was crowned King of England in 1135, but the relations between the two brothers were not always peaceful. After the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, Henry found it more advantageous to support Empress Matilda ; but later found her arrogant and greedy. Later that year, Henry rejoined his brother's side and, with
3150-550: The new council's creation in 1974 until 1990 when it was demolished and replaced by a modern building on the same site, retaining the Beech Hurst name. The council also maintains a smaller office at the former Magistrates' Court on Church Street in Romsey. Full council meetings are held alternately at Andover Guildhall and at Crosfield Hall in Romsey. Test Valley covers some 250 square miles (650 km ) of western Hampshire , stretching from boundaries with Southampton in
3220-472: The outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control since 1974 has been as follows: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Test Valley. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1980 have been: Following the 2023 election , the composition of the council was: The next election is due in 2027. Since
3290-590: The part of the borough within the New Forest National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the New Forest National Park Authority . The borough council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 22-person National Park Authority. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999. The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside
3360-666: The religious community. In 1003 the Danes sacked Romsey and destroyed the Anglo-Saxon church in retaliation for the St Brice's Day Massacre . While there is no record of the abbey's restoration, it is written that in 1012 Emma of Normandy gave lands to the abbey and that there were a total of 54 nuns in Romsey during the reign of Cnut the Great . The Domesday Book of 1086 refers to a population of 127 households in Romsey, along with
3430-550: The second Saturday of September every year at Broadlands. The show is one of the oldest in England, held annually since 1842. In addition, Broadlands has twice hosted the CLA Game Fair, the largest countryside show in the world, most recently in July 2006. The Winter Carnival takes places each year when Romsey's Christmas lights are switched on. The Romsey Arts Festival occurs every 3 years, showcasing talent from in and around
3500-445: The see of Winchester, Henry came to resent his subservience to Canterbury. He therefore set about building a powerbase to persuade the king to create a third, West Country archdiocese with himself at the head. This scheme was unsuccessful. However, on 1 March 1139, during the reign of his brother Stephen, Henry obtained a commission as papal legate , which gave him higher rank than Theobald of Bec , Archbishop of Canterbury, making him
3570-403: The site may have hosted guests to Romsey Abbey as early as the 12th century. The existing assembly rooms are said to be where Lord Palmerston first engaged in political debate in the early 1800s. The building housed a hotel and brasserie, which until 2019, was owned and operated by Silks Hotels. The existence of Sadler's Mill , the only mill to be developed on the main course of the River Test ,
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#17327723501173640-578: The south to near Newbury in the north. Test Valley is a predominantly rural area. It includes part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The River Test is the centrepiece of the Test Valley; the river is a chalk stream of particular beauty known for its fishing , salmon and trout , which Lord Crickhowell (onetime chairman of the National Rivers Authority ) said "should be treated as
3710-411: The streets and pubs of Romsey on the second Saturday in July. It is a free festival featuring all types of music, together with dance and other street entertainment. Romsey Carnival takes place during a week in July with the highlight being the procession through the streets of Romsey on the final Sunday afternoon. The Romsey Agricultural & Horse Show is a large agricultural show that takes place on
3780-443: The style "town council". Whilst Stockbridge is a post town it has a parish council rather than a town council. Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The parishes of Frenchmoor and West Tytherley share a grouped parish council. The area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian with television signals received from either Rowridge or Hannington TV transmitters. Radio stations for
3850-423: The title of Lord Brabourne in 2005, and then the earldom in 2017. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was Mountbatten's nephew and, when he married Elizabeth II on 20 November 1947, the pair departed London by train and spent their honeymoon at Broadlands. They attended the service at Romsey Abbey the following Sunday. Like his parents, Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales spent
3920-473: The town a charter and made it a borough . This gave official status to an informal local government that had been running the town's affairs since the Dissolution in 1539. Romsey could now have a corporation comprising a mayor, six aldermen, twelve chief burgesses and a town clerk. There was also to be a local law court under a Court Recorder assisted by two sergeants-at-mace and, over all, a High Steward ,
3990-470: The translation of the Koran from Arabic to Latin (which Peter the Venerable commissioned). Before and after his elevation to Bishop, Henry of Blois was an advisor to his brother Stephen and survived him. Henry of Blois engineered hundreds of projects, including villages and canals, abbeys and smaller churches. He was most proud of his contributions to the greatest developments at Glastonbury Abbey, long before
4060-577: The younger brother of King Stephen . His birth date is uncertain, along with his siblings but he was the 4th or youngest son and he was most likely born at Blois c.1096, before his father left on the first crusade, or possibly c.1100, soon after his father's return. Henry's father died in 1102 while on crusade during the Second Battle of Ramla , leaving an estate with more than 350 castles and large properties in France including Chartres . Henry
4130-499: Was 14,768 at the 2011 census. Romsey is one of the principal towns in the Test Valley Borough and lies on the River Test , which is known for fly fishing , predominantly trout . In 2019, the town centre underwent substantial remodelling, removing the roundabout around the statue of Lord Palmerston, and creating a pedestrianised area. Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and
4200-638: Was 4,274 in the first census of 1801. Lord Palmerston, the 19th-century British prime minister, lived at Broadlands in his autumn years. In the 1850s he delivered a number of political and religious lectures about the town, including one to the Labourers' Encouragement Society in 1859. Though he had hoped to be buried at Romsey Abbey, he was in 1865 given a state funeral and subsequently buried at Westminster Abbey . His statue, sculpted by Matthew Noble , has stood in Market Place since 1868. Despite
4270-695: Was among the bishops forced to agree to the Constitutions of Clarendon in January 1164, which paved the way for the Becket Controversy . He was also appointed to preside over the trial of Thomas Becket and secretly supported Becket's family before and after his assassination. Henry died on 8 August 1171. Among his gifts to Cluny, was a pyx set with gems in the choir. Henry of Blois is now buried in Winchester Cathedral in
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#17327723501174340-453: Was described by The Guardian as 'resoundingly, timelessly English' in 2014, with the newspaper remarking on the town's representation of bourgeois provincial life. It is popular among retirees. Three industrial and trading estates focus mainly on service industries and small-scale manufacturing. Three scientific and high technology employers— Roke Manor Research , Southampton Science Park and IBM —have establishments nearby. Romsey
4410-581: Was educated at Cluny and adhered to the principles of Cluniac reform, which included a sense of intellectual freedom and humanism, as well as a high standard of devotion and discipline. Henry was brought to England by King Henry I , to be Abbot of Glastonbury . On 4 October 1129, he was given the bishopric of Winchester and allowed to keep his beloved Glastonbury Abbey. He was consecrated bishop on 17 November 1129. He had ambitions to become Archbishop of Canterbury but refused to abandon his work and obligations to Glastonbury. Soon after his appointment to
4480-603: Was established by John Frederick Osborne, who was a councillor as well as headmaster. In 1877, he was mayor of Romsey. It closed for a few years after his death, reopening in 1904 under the same name, owned by William Summers, who was the headmaster. It was a boarding school and offered "Special attention... to backward pupils and to those requiring preparation for business or professional life", including preparation for entrance to London University (Summers' alma mater), Oxford, and Cambridge", as well as other examinations. Summers died during World War II , and it started to be used by
4550-588: Was given his earldom and the lesser title of Baron Romsey, of Romsey in the County of Southampton. Mountbatten was buried in Romsey Abbey after being killed in an IRA bomb explosion in Ireland on 27 August 1979. After his death his titles passed to his elder daughter, Lady Brabourne , who thus became Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Her eldest son was styled by the courtesy title 'Lord Romsey' until he inherited
4620-413: Was likely designed by Henry of Blois , the brother of King Stephen and builder of the Hospital of St Cross in Winchester. The final three arches were added between 1230 and 1240, at which time more than 100 nuns belonged to the foundation. The north transept of the original Saxon church is still visible today. Henry I granted Romsey its first charter, allowing it to hold a full market each Sunday and
4690-496: Was named Test Valley after the River Test which flows through the area. The district was awarded borough status on 22 October 1976, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Test Valley Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council . The whole district is also covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government. In
4760-545: Was ranked 14th best rural area to live out of 119 local authority areas in Great Britain by the Halifax . This was based on factors including employment and income levels, the weather, health and life expectancy, education, crime, broadband access and other things. The whole borough is covered by civil parishes . The parish councils for Andover and Romsey have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take
4830-577: Was saved from demolition, ostensibly due to a section dedicated to St Lawrence that was used as the parish church. In 1544, the townspeople were allowed to purchase the abbey from the Crown for a sum of £100. The section that saved it was subsequently demolished, however, with the remainder being used as the parish church that exists today. By the mid-16th century Romsey's population was about 1,500, its woollen and tanning industries having fuelled growth. After his visit to Broadlands in 1607, James I granted
4900-429: Was then the abbess. A number of hopeful suitors visited the princess in Romsey, including the later king William Rufus , whose advances were hindered by her aunt. William was killed in 1100 while hunting in the New Forest , after which his body was carried through Bell Street in Romsey on its way to Winchester Cathedral . The existing abbey was built in the Norman style between 1120 and 1140 using Chilmark stone . It
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