The History of Totton
A settlement has been here for many centuries, and some Palaeolithic
implements have been discovered and the nearby Tatchbury Mount Iron Age
fort suggests occupation of the area from pre Roman times.
This would have been an ideal spot for setting up a community as it has
a natural outlet to the sea, with its salt-producing marshes. The area
was divided into manors after the arrival of the Normans and these eventually
became hamlets that eventually joined together to make Totton which was
once regarded as the 'largest village in England' and is now combined
with Eling. Totton got its name from Totinctone in 1985 Totyngton in 1174
- 1199. Old English Tot(r)ingtun ' farm of Tot(t)a'. A tide mill has existed
here for centuries, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book, it was built
for milling the local flour, and is still producing today, one of a few
such mills in Europe and is a favourite tourist attraction.
Next to the mill can be seen wharfs where once ship building thrived but
is now owned by timber merchants and light industry, while Eling Creek
is a polular place for the mooring of private boats. The Anchor Inn, which
stands on the wharf, is a popular stop off for those sailing in Southampton
Waters.
At the end of the tide mill is a toll booth and a charge is made for
crossing, exceptions are for those living by the church of visitors to
the cemetery or church. The church of St Mary is set on a hill facing
the mill and was built during Saxon times and its registers date back
to 1537. The church is a goldmine of history and is well visited by historians,
and it is famed for its picture of 'The Last Supper' which hangs above
the altar. This was painted by the Venetian, Marziale, who was an artist
who may have known Michaelangelo and maybe copied his famous painting
which hangs in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
The church has an arch that was built long before William the Conqueror
landed and nearby there is a splendid helmet that has a crest of a castle
with red flames pouring from its battlements. Either side of the altar
are a pair of old carved chairs. The chancel arch is from the 13th century
and a delightful 17th century candelabra with a dove carrying an olive
branch in its mouth can be found here. This has a rather odd story relating
to it, as according to the vicar who noticed that it was around 300 years
old saved it from a passing tinker's melting pot.
The tower is 15th century and the blessing of one of its bells Peace and
good neighbourhood was once the salutation of neighbours passing in Worcestershire.
There are many handsome headstones in the old churchyard and some have
ships and cherubs carved on them, while others have heads. And to save
them from erosion, the church overlooks Southampton Water and the salt
spray often blows across here, some of these headstones have been taken
indoors. There is one graveyard though that is important as it is to William
Mansbridge of Cadnam and has an epitaph of the fate which befell him in
1703.
The only surviving medieval toll in Hampshire has to be paid by owners
of vehicles that cross the Bartley Water at Eling tide-mill. The causeway
replaced a succession of bridges; the toll has been paid since at least
1418, the date of the earliest known lease. The mill and toll were owned
by Winchester College until 1975/ when they were given to the local Council,
and the tenancy of the mill has always included the right to charge a
toll. The toll charge in 1418 is not known but in 1800 it was six pence
for a four-wheeled carriage and in 1967 it was still only six pence. In
1988 it was 30 pence, an increase of over twelvefold in 21 years! Now
in 2003 it is over a pound!!
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