Burley

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The History of Burley

The earliest records are of the bronze age. Definite proof has been found at Castle Hill, covering about 5 acres is a Bronze or Iron age camp which stands on a rounded hill 308 feet above sea level. Among many times discovered in 1926, was a very fine hoard of twelve palstave axes - these were found in a small gravel pit only 18" below the surface. these are now in the British Museum dated 1200B.C.
There is also evidence of Saxon occupation as the very name Burley is composed of two Saxon words 'burgh' which means fortified palace, connected with the verb 'boergan' which means to protect, and then 'leah' which means an open meadow or clearing in a wood. Burley is also mentioned in the Doomsday book.

Burley Manor A.D 1251 - 1936
Records show that by the beginning of the 13th Century the family of de Burley was firmly established here. Richard de Burley we know held the estate of King Edward 1 who gave the village of Burley and Manor of Lyndhurst as Dowry to his second wife Margaret, sister of Philip of France. There were many more occupants. then in 1852 the Manor passed in to the possession of Colonel Esdaile who pulled down the old house and built the one standing at present. Considerable enlargements have been made since that date and various pieces of land sold. The Manor is now an attractive 3-star hotel.

Burley Chapel
This calvanistic chapel was erected in 1789 for a total of £4. No pews were to be allowed inside the chapel nor at any time was it to be used as a school. As far as we know, there was no place of worship in the village previous to this date. Thomas Eyre was the instigator of the idea and donations for the costs came from other small villages in the area.

Burley Church
The Church of St. John the Baptist was built in 1839 and Burley was constituted an ecclesiastical Parish, so no longer was it necessary to tramp the long miles to Bransgore or Ringwood to be christened or buried.

Burley has a long connection with witches and during the late 1950's, Sybil Leek, a self-confessed white witch, lived in this village .White witches spread goodwill, live close to nature, practice healing and astrology. Many of the gift shops now sell witch-related gifts and ornaments.

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