7/16/2002 file Peter Stay’s Place of Birth 

Peter Stay’s Place of Birth

An early description of the Parish of Hordle indicates that the parish did not actually have a village, but consisted of groupings of scattered farms and houses. However, if a very old Norman church existed and there was a grouping of cottages around that church, then one would likely label the location as Hordwell or Hordle after the name of the church. Secondly, if the salt pans and other early buildings have been overtaken by the sea due to erosion, then a village could well have existed in the immediate area in olden times. Peter Stay’s possible place of birth

The records showing Peter’s (Petter) christening, and then those showing the birth places of his children that were born indicate, Hordle, Ashley, Barton and Milford as explicit locations.Also the 1848 census indicates Hordle as his place of birth.From old maps, in the Hordle parish there were a number of small units (clusters of cottages) in the area immediately surrounding the old Hordwell church, (Taddyford, Rockcliff, Ashley Hill, Oakland, Barton, Royal Oak, Aubrey Ho.and Beckton Farm), all are within a radius of one mile from the so-called village of Hordwell.The first Ordinance Survey map of the area was made in 1799/1800. The map is very precise and shows the location of the old Parish Church surrounded by seven buildings (Perhaps squatters cottages).This appears to be the present Manor farm and adjacent to where the current boys school (i.e. Hordle House) exists.Just to the East along the lane is what is known as the Taddyford area that on an earlier map (1825/26) shows six cottages or residences.The later map about 1867, does not show any residences in this immediate area except for the Hordle Manor Farm and Hordle House and it also shows the “Taddiford” farm complex just to the East of the Hordle House and Manor Farm.

Our contact Mrs. West also found a Rentral list for the Manor of Hordle.She sent me a copy of the list dated 1702 which included a Richard Smythe a freeholder as holding land and paying rents to the Manor.

This is supposition however, because the Hordle Parish included a number of small cottages dispersed throughout the parish in both tithings, the Arnewood Tithing and the Hordle Tithing. The close proximity to Milford is the key, Peters birth is recorded in the Milford Parish records which is in very close proximity to the old Hordle church.Less than one mile! (Peter Stay bapt. 2 May 1779 Milford-on-Sea, son of Richard Stay of Hordle. See film GS #1595858) From the birth records of Peter’s children, it is clear that the family attend both chapels, the old Hordle chapel and the Milford chapel.

I would think, therefore, after this rather lengthy discourse that we may well assume that Peter originated from the immediate area in the vicinity the Old Hordle church.