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Barton on Sea
Much of Barton on Sea would appear to the visitor to
be a pleasant seaside area with wonderful views of the Solent and
the Isle of Wight, surrounded by a pleasant residential area. It is
in addition an area of particular scientific interest.
The history of Barton can be traced back some 35 million years, to a
period when crocodile type creatures roamed the area. This is
confirmed by evidence unearthed by the constant erosion of the
cliffface and analysed by geological scientists.
Barton (Barton fossils) has given its name to fossil bearing clay
and the fossils it contains, wherever they are found throughout the
world. This is dates back to the first authoritative book of
fossils, ?Fossilia Hantoniensia? published in 1776 by Swedish
scientist Gustavus Brander which included work by D C Solander who
described the fossil molluscs. This book covers fossils found at
Barton and neighbouring Hordle.
Hunting, fishing and from time to time farming were the means of
livelihood of our Germanic ancestors. One of their leaders gave his
name to Beorma?s Farm at Barton. Barton appears twice in the
?Doomsday {Domesday} Book? as Bermintune and Burmintune and Barton
is derived from these old English names, therefore it is a unique
place name. There are many towns and villages in Britain called
partly or wholly Barton, but this means simply ?a farm linked to a
larger farm?.
The area around Barton is remarkable in that evidence has been found
of every period of pre history, with solitary exception of the
Beaker Folk. Over 200 Stone Age axes have been found, plus a number
of Celtic coins from Gaul (50 B.C.)
As Barton?s southern cliff edge was probably for thousands of years
part of the northern bank of the Solent River, early inhabitants
hunted and fished here.
Rodger de Montgomery, later Earl of Shrewsbury, a great friend of
William the Conqueror, (King William 1st of England} from his
boyhood days, held both Barton manors in1086.
By 1405 Winchester College owned much of the western areas of
Barton; so the college has some 25 documents in its collection
relating to Barton. In 1588 local men were ordered to keep watch for
the Spanish Armada of some 130 ships on its way to invade England,
as it rounded the Isle of Wight. On sighting the Armada they would
light beacons on the high ground. This would have signaled a call to
arms, taking men away from their families to go to sea to defend
their country. Others would have been among the men under Thomas
Coales sent to guard the south coast.
Barton on Sea and New Milton started to expand with the arrival of
the railway in 1847 and the opening of the Southampton-Dorchester
line. The nearest station was at Holmsley, which is some 10km from
Barton.
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Bed
and Breakfast = B&B |
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Self
Catering = S/C |
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| 1 |
Hotel
Gainsborough Hotel, Marine Drive East,
Barton-on-Sea. BH25 7DX
Phone: 01425 610541
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| 2 |
Hotel
Cliff House Hotel, Marine Drive West, Barton-on-Sea, New Milton
Phone: 01425 619333 |
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| 3 |
Hotel
Old Coastguard Hotel, 53 Marine Drive East, Barton-On-Sea, New Milton
Phone: 01425 612987 |
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