1. The origins of the county are linked to the Anglo-Saxons and the formation of Wessex, as well as the centre of what became England; the first mention of Hampshire (although disputed) appears to be in 755, as "Hamtunscir"; apparently however, this is not to be confused with the "Hamtunscir" of Northamptonshire that appeared in 1011! (Grant 1989; p.67,p.103). The county takes it's name from the Saxon settlement of Hamwic, now the modern day Southampton (see my previous blog here). In addition to this, it is also known that there was Roman and prehistoric presence in the Southampton area too!
Image 1: John Speed's map of Hampshire (Mappa Mundi)
2. The New Forest is famous for being a Medieval royal forest, but it was also the centre of Roman pottery production and the beginning of the Saxon invasion of England! The heathland that you see today is partly the result of Iron Age woodland clearances (New Forest National Park 2013). More recently, excavations are showing the impact World War 2 had on the area as well (see here, Wessex Archaeology 2012).
3.Below is a map of all the known shipwrecks in the East Hampshire coastline! There are far too many to go over individually; but this website that allows you to look through wrecks in the area and beyond, including the aptly named HMS Hampshire, which sank in the North Sea (http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?10355).
.Image 2: Shipwrecks in the east Solent( channel. Note how they are facing mostly to the west
4. A Victorian who lived in Southampton, William Cantelo, invented a rapid-firing machine gun, but also learned to dissappear and make a name for himself under a new pseudonym of Hiram Maxim, who suspiciously also developed a rapid-firing machine gun! However, it wasn't the first machine gun- that honour goes to Gatling of the USA (Daily Echo 2012).
5. The modern Hampshire County Council was established in 1889, but only obtained it's "modern" coat of arms in 1992 from the College of Arms to celebrate it's centenary! The lion represents Winchester's former status as England's capital during the Middle Ages, while the Stag represents the New Forest, and the castle represents Hampshire's importance in the "defence of the realm" (possibly an inspiration for the World War One Act (D.O.R.A.)?). The rose is the county badge, like many other counties in England. However, this is not the actualy logo of the Council, but just to to maintain the tradition of having a coat of arms for any self-respecting individual or concern, since the council is strictly speaking in service to the royal family (because the government has every law approved by the queen, which is a formality these days)! (Hampshire County Council 2012)
Image 3: The Hampshire County Council coat of arms(Hampshire County Council 2012)
Daily Echo, last asccessed 26/10/2013, Mystery of the Disappearing Machine-gun inventor, http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/heritage/hampshireheritage/9883412.Mystery_of_the_disappearing_machine_gun_inventor/, last updated 20/08/2012
Grant, R., 1989, The Real Counties of Britain, Macdonald & Co, london, pp.67, 103.
Hampshire County Council, last accessed 26/10/2013, The Hampshire County Council Coat of Arms: History, http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hampshirenow/earlierissues/hnow-autumn2012/coat-of-arms.htm last updated 24/08/2013
New Forest National Park, last accessed 26/10/2013, Archaeological Heritage: Human Impact Through the Ages, http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/info/20089/rich_cultural_heritage/137/archaeological_heritage, last updated 2013
Wessex Archaeology, September 2012, Buckler's Hard, Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report, New Forest National Park Authority and Wessex Archaeology, Salisbury.
Image 1:Mappa Mundi, John Speed Hampshire Map, last accessed 26/10/2013, http://www.mappamundi.co.uk/product/john-speed-hampshire-map/, last updated 2013.
Image 2: http://www.romseysac.com/diving/wreckdatabase/hampshire.htm, last updated unknown.
Image 3: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hampshirenow/earlierissues/hnow-autumn2012/coat-of-arms.htm, last updated 24/09/2013
Link 1: http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/downloads/file/241/festival_of_british_archaeology_2012_excavation_report_for_buckler_s_hard