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Bournemouth The railway Highcliffe New Forest Christchurch Guestbook Home
New Milton
A brief look at New Milton New Milton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book as Milton (middle farm). It was made up of Manors -- Milton, Nash, Barton, Ashley, Fernhill, Bashley, and Wootton.
Barton cliffs are known world wide for the fossils and wealth of Palaeolithic remains. The cliff top is suffering from erosion and as much as six foot turfs are now crumbling to the beach below. Evidence of this can be seen all along the coastline, from Highcliffe to Milford - on - Sea. Most of the coastal area was corn and cereal crop fields a hundred and fifty years ago. There were a few scattered farmlands. The main village of Milton in the 1800's, was what we now know as 'Old Milton'. There are records of the 'Old George Inn' dating back to the 1700's and beside that stood the National School built in 1836 and a Poor House. There are also a few cottages here dating back to 1834.
Before the railway came to New Milton there were just a scattering of traders - a few pubs, a smithy, a boot-maker, a baker, a butcher and a policeman!! After the station was built in 1888, the area around it became a focal point for shops and traders. By 1910 there was a fire brigade, a silent movies cinema (The Scala) and by 1920 over a thousand new homes had been built. As the town developed, traders took advantage and new shops and businesses opened. In 1926 New Milton became an urban district and the roads were drained and tarred. The gas lighting was replaced with electricity soon after.
The turn of the twentieth century saw many old buildings being pulled down and new ones going up in their place. The hotels which once lined New Milton's roads are now residential homes for the elderly, office blocks and flats. Development is still going on, maybe not for the better! New Milton is now a busy town with very little character. Supermarkets and trading estates stretch out to Ashley, which was once pretty cottages, tree lined roads and farm land. Ashley has probably suffered the most through modernisation, while Bashley and Wootton have changed very little over the years.
Sunset across the fields at Ashley... How long before this is developed as well!! Old Milton Road and stretching Westwards became a huge caravan site for a number of years. The very last evidence of these caravans have been removed just a few years back. Most of this area now are residential retirement bungalows.
A few of the roads near the common have retained their character and there are still a few thatched cottages to be seen. The old large houses and Hotels which used to adorn Barton Cliff top are gradually being pulled down and sold to developers for residential flats. The very last Hotel to stand on the Cliff top is now also up for sale!
Naish farm used to be pronounced Nash and is now Holburn Holiday village, sitting on the cliff tops to the East of Chewton and the Walkford Brook. Once it was farmland owned by Mr. Burry and the holiday site there began when he let out two tin huts on his farm one summer. Holidays at the seaside became popular during the Victorian times and during the early 1900's many private houses in the area became guest houses. Naish is now part of the Holburn group.
Chalets at Naish Over the last couple of years wooden Swiss style chalets have replaced the typical holiday site homes. Sadly the area here has suffered from landslides and cliff erosion. East of 'the bunny' is owned by Hampshire County Council and they have have decided to allow the sea to take its course. West of the 'bunny' is owned by Dorset County Council, and they have been working for years on a sea defence system.
Bournemouth The railway Highcliffe New Forest Christchurch
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