Situated in the District of East Hampshire, the parish of Headley today has a population of about 5,700. The parish comprises a number of hamlets as well as the village of Headley itself: Standford, Arford, Headley Down, Barford, Wishanger, Sleaford, Trottsford and part of Hollywater. Current area = 4,862 acres = 1,968 hectares = 7.60 sq miles The original parish also included Grayshott (until 1902), Lindford and a considerable portion of Bordon (until 1929). The Ecclesiastical parish of All Saints served Lindford and Bordon (but not Grayshott) until March 2002 – since when Bordon became a separate ecclesiastical parish. This map shows the current Civil parish boundary and also the greatest extent of the parish (marked red) outside these borders. Click here or on the map to enlarge it.

References for further information on Headley

Some of these books are now out of print – contact me for current details.

• To the Ar and Back, by Joyce Stevens – an historical stroll round the centre of the village – also available on Kindle
• A Parcel of Gold for Edith, by Joyce Stevens – who found letters from her gt-gt aunt in Australia written to her gt-grandfather, a papermaker in Headley, over the period 1853–1875
• The River Running By, by John Warren – a history of Standford hamlet
• Headley 1066–1966, by JS Tudor Jones – the Story of a Hampshire Parish – original book is out of print, but has been serialised in Headley Miscellany magazines, and now republished in A Headley Compendium
• Headley's Past in Pictures, compiled by John Owen Smith – now compare the past with the present
• Characters of Headley's Past, compiled by John Owen Smith, contains over 200 photographs plus historical notes.
• A Headley Compendium – a collection of historical material relating to Headley parish from previously published sources – includes contents of all 6 Headley Miscellanies (see below) in one cover
• Headley Miscellany – a series of 6 booklets relating to the history of Headley
• Gladys Laverty's Recipe Book, compiled by John Owen Smith, contains 158 pages of handwritten recipes by a daughter of the Rector of Headley.
• I'Anson's Chalet on Headley Hill, by Judith Kinghorn – Hidden among the pine trees on Headley Hill there is a Swiss-style chalet. Who built it and why? (now out of print)
• Some Ancient Churches in North East Hampshire, by the Woolmer Forest Archaeological and Historical Society – an illustrated guide to twelve old local churches, including All Saints', Headley
• Grayshott, the story of a Hampshire village, by JH Smith – includes some of the history of Headley before 1902, when Grayshott was still part of this parish – the original book had been out of print for several years, but is now republished
• Headley Grange: from Paupers to Pop, by Arford Women's Institute – the history of Headley Workhouse, now Headley Grange – from labourers' riots to Led Zeppelin's most famous recording Stairway to Heaven
• Follow the Legend – Led Zeppelin, Volume 1, by Shannon MacBay & Karol Rhys-Gruffydd [ISBN 0-9700439-1-0 published Nov 2000 by ADRI Publishers] – pp.217–228 include information related to Headley
• One Monday in November … and Beyond, by John Owen Smith – the story of the 1830 Selborne and Headley Workhouse Riots – revised and republished in 2002
• All Tanked Up, by John Owen Smith – stories of the Canadian Tank Regiments in Headley during WW2
• On the Trail of Flora Thompson, by John Owen Smith – the author of 'Lark Rise to Candleford' worked in Grayshott (then part of Headley parish) 1898-1900
• Heatherley, by Flora Thompson – the book she herself wrote about her time in Grayshott – her sequel to 'Lark Rise to Candleford'
• Flora Thompson: Before Candleford, by John Owen Smith – Two local plays telling of Flora Thompson's years in Grayshott and Liphook
• Walks around Headley … and over the borders, by John Owen Smith – describes a dozen circular walks starting and ending in Headley
• Walks through History … at the West of the Weald, by John Owen Smith – describes a dozen circular walks in the area surrounding Headley
• Footpaths in Headley, by Headley Parish Council – footpaths and bridleways in Headley parish — see index and map
• The Southern Wey, a guide, by The River Wey Trust – illustrated guide to our local river
• Hampshire Treasures, by Hampshire County Council – list and commentary on old buildings, etc, in this and other Hampshire parishes — see Headley entries on-line
• A Cup for Cricket, by L.T. Pope – Fifty years of the I'Anson Competition (1951) – original book is out of print, but now included in A Century Not Out published in 2002 by Graham Collyer
• Echoes of Erie Camp, by the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust – a comprehensive 56-page booklet which tells the history of the piece of land now known as Heatherlands. Beginning with the construction of a WW2 Canadian Detention Centre there in 1941, it takes us graphically, in pictures and text, through its history to the present day. Copies are available from the Trust.

In addition, there are several excellent booklets published by the Bramshott & Liphook Preservation Society relating to the history of neighbouring Bramshott parish. Contact Tel: 01428 722162.

• Liphook Souvenir (photos)
• Walks Around Liphook
• Liphook, Bramshott & the Canadians
• Liphook Remembers
• A Liphook Calendar
• Liphook Shops Remembered
• Liphook and the Headley Road
• Liphook Lives
• One Hundred Years of Liphook Bonfire & Carnival
• Flora Thompson's 1925 Guide to Liphook
• Chiltley Place and Goldenfields
• Growing Up in Griggs Green, by Joe Leggett (next-door neighbour to Flora Thompson 1926–28)
• No Toys for the Boys – more stories of life at Griggs Green, by Joe Leggett

— plus The Peverel Papers, the nature notes written by Flora Thompson 1921–27 when she lived in Liphook

The following books also relate to areas which are neighbours of Headley:—

• Churt: an Oasis through Time — Contains historical information of interest to the Headley area generally, as well as details relating to the neighbouring parish of Churt. Olivia Cotton 1998, republished 2005, paperback, 134pp, illustrated — £6.50
• Churt Remembered — Photographic memories of Churt. Olivia Cotton 2002, paperback, 106pp, illustrated — £5.99
• Further Reflections on Churt — More photographic memories of Churt. Olivia Cotton 2004, paperback, 158pp, illustrated — £6.50
• A Time of Change — A short history of Churt: the period between 1840 and 1880. Gillian Devine 2005, paperback, 74pp, illustrated — £6.00
• Churt: a Medieval Landscape — Commentary on local medieval documents and other information from the perspective of a practising farmer — quotes examples from Headley as well as details relating to the neighbouring parish of Churt. Philip Brooks 2000, republished 2006, paperback, 118pp, illustrated — £7.95
• Frensham Then and Now — an informal history by Harry J Baker & HC Minchen — originally published in 1938, revised 1948, but out of print now for many years
• Around Haslemere and Hindhead: in old photographs. Authors: Graham Collyer & Tim Winter
• Haslemere, in old picture postcards. Publisher: European Library, The Netherlands. Author: Annette Booth. ISBN 90-288-6140-8
• Around Haslemere – illustrated history of the Haslemere area from mid-Victorian times. Publisher: Tempus (2002), Author: Tim Winter — £10.99
• St Bartholomew's Parish Church Haslemere – a short History, 1180 to the present day. Publisher: The Friends of the Parish of Haslemere (2007), Author: Katherine Jessel — £5.00
• Bordon & Whitehill, in old picture postcards. Publisher: European Library, The Netherlands. ISBN: 90-288-6043-6
• Bordon & Whitehill, images of England. Publisher: Tempus. Authors: Basil Smith & Chris Wain. ISBN: 0-7524-1194-2 — £9.99
• The Hilltop Writers, a Victorian Colony among the Surrey Hills. Author: W.R. (Bob) Trotter
• A Balance of Trust, The story of Fifty Years in the history of Haslemere and Hindhead, during which The National Trust is founded. Author: John Owen Smith
• 'Hindhead is Saved'. Author: John Owen Smith
• An Edwardian Childhood, the making of a naturalist. Author: Margaret Hutchinson, who lived in and near Haslemere
• Shottermill, where three counties meet – its Farms, Families and Mills – 2 volumes. Author: Greta Turner
• A History of the Eade Family of Surrey, Sussex & Hampshire 1250–1990. Authors: Robyn Lane and Andrew Eade

Ordnance Survey maps: Landranger 186 (scale 2cm to 1km), Explorer 133 or OL33 (scale 4cm to 1km) and Pathfinder 1245 (scale 4cm to 1km) for the Headley and Bramshott area

Local newspapers:—

• Bordon or Haslemere Herald (01252 725224) website
• Bordon Post (01730 264811) website

Water Mills

CONTACTS IN HEADLEY - News - History index

Headley Parish Council
Clerk to the Council - (01428) 713132
website

All Saints' Church, Headley
Rector's secretary - (01428) 717207
website

The Headley Society — "Respects the past, but also cares about the present and looks to the future"
Not just an Historical Society - but keen to promote and encourage forward-looking plans within the parish of Headley which will be of lasting benefit to present and future generations.
website

Headley Theatre Club — your local amateur dramatic society
website

Headley Village Hall — welcomes you for your social functions
website

Other contacts
For a full list of current contacts for groups and organisations, see www.headley-village.com

NEWS - Contacts - History index

• The first Minute Book of Headley Parish Council, 1894-1920, has been transcribed
• Echoes of Erie Camp, published in June 2019 by the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust – a comprehensive 56-page booklet which tells the history of the piece of land now known as Heatherlands. Beginning with the construction of a WW2 Canadian Detention Centre there in 1941, it takes us graphically, in pictures and text, through its history to the present day. Copies are available from the Trust.
• Ken Sharman's memories of Headley are on the headley-village.com website
• Gladys Laverty's Recipe Book published in July 2017, contains 158 pages of handwritten recipes by a daughter of the Rector of Headley.
• Characters of Headley's Past published in April 2017. It contains over 200 photographs plus historical notes .
• Poor Rate book for 1848 discovered.
• The Headley Society has bought a DVD showing the Headley Tithe Map of 1846. This can be used in conjunction with the Award text which we have already transcribed.
• A medieval lead seal matrix of pointed oval form found by a footpath at the rear of Applegarth in 2012 – The inscription reads: +SIGILL' IVONIS D HE(T)LEG which can be read as 'The Seal of Hugh of Headley' – now recorded in National Finds database
• A copy of the Laverty Notebooks has been made available to us on microfilm. Members of The Headley Society and others have now transcribed these for access on the website.
• Tuesday 23rd November 2010: exactly 180 years after the Selborne rioters marched to Headley on this day in 1830, twenty-one brave souls and a dog did the same – see details of the walk – one of the walkers found a flint arrowhead on a field between Standford and Headley
• Tithe Apportionment of 1846 now transcribed
• Enclosure Award of 1859 now transcribed
• Joanna Jackson (alias Joan Hunter Dunn of the poem 'A Subaltern's Love Song' by John Betjeman) died in London 11th April 2008 aged 92 (see Times obituary) – she lived in Lynton Dene, Liphook Road, Headley until the late 1990s
• We were sad to report the death on 12th August 2007 of Joyce Stevens, long-time benefactor of her native Headley, at the age of 93 years
• Index of Parish Magazine contents 1872-1954 on-line
• Sunday 27th May 2007 a blue plaque was unveiled to Flora Thompson at The Ferns in Grayshott, Hampshire.
• Baptisms 1540-1901, Burials 1539—1901 and Marriages 1539-1851 now all on-line.
• Walks through History … at the West of the Weald published January 2007 – a dozen circular walks in areas around Headley.
• Transcription of the Ludshott Manor Court Rolls 1400–1833 now on-line .
• Partial Index of Parish Scrapbooks on-line
• Leaflet 'Exploring Headley' has been printed by Hampshire County Council, available free of charge from the Parish Office
• Walks around Headley … and over the borders published July 2005 – a dozen circular walks starting and ending in Headley.
• Be aware that the book 'History of Headley' edited by JC Stuttard (and shown in the Bordon Post in 2005) is nothing to do with our village – it relates to Headley in Surrey!
• See the 'Headley's Past in Pictures' theme on Hantsphere – and also compare past with present photos of the village
• The old George V post box in the High Street was removed from the wall of Churchgate House on 23rd July 2003, and was installed in the foyer of Headley Village Hall on 2nd January 2005 – on dismantling it in February 2004 we found the corner of a postcard with a penny red George V stamp still wedged in the workings.
• Headley Miscellany, Volume 6 published in December 2004, price £3.00, is the sixth (and currently final) volume in a set of occasional publications containing historical information about Headley parish, and contains an index to the other 5 volumes. Note that all six volumes of Headley Miscellany are now available under one cover as A Headley Compendium.
• Index of Headley Wills 1571 to 1857 on-line.
• May 2004: Headley Fine Foods delicatessen opens in Headley High Street in place of the Craft shop [which had previously been an estate agent and before that a greengrocer]
• All the Headley Censuses of 1841 , 1851 , 1861 , 1871 , 1881 , 1891 , 1901 and 1911 are now on-line – this completes our census information on the website for all the decades 1841 to 1911.
• Entries in the Winchester Pipe Rolls for Headley (1210-1670) now on the website
• Valuation of Headley in 1822 now on the website
• Fuller's Vale pond: Work started on clearing 30-years' worth of accumulated silt from the bed of the pond on 22nd September 2003; a weir was constructed, and the old outflow was sealed off on 16th October – amazingly the pond filled within 10 days. At 9pm on 24th October 2003 we had a full pond again! Since then the water level has fallen and risen, just as historical records tell us it always did.
• Members of the Lickfold family visited Headley on the 12th May 2003 to check up on their ancestral roots. [See their ancestor John Lickfold's eye-witness account of the 1830 riot]
• Prints of Engravings showing views of the village in the 1960s engraved by the late Norman Wilson are on sale from The Headley Society.
• The Electoral Register for qualifying date of October 1957 is available in the Archives
• The National Trust used heavy horses to clear timber from Gentles Copse in February 2003.
• One Monday in November re-published – the story of the 1830 Selborne and Headley Workhouse Riots.
• Headley Theatre Club (established in 1952) celebrated its own Golden Jubilee by holding a party in the Village Hall on Saturday 8th June 2002, which was attended by many current and former members.
• Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations — an excellent weekend, with the Village Green packed on the Monday afternoon (3rd June 2002) despite indifferent weather, see programme – reports
• A Century Not Out by Graham Collyer published in 2002. One hundred years of the I'Anson Cup, including A Cup for Cricket by L.T. Pope.
• The Gateway Butery, aka. Churchgate Stores, closed for business on 30th March 2002 — and for a while at least there is no Post Office in the centre of Headley. Alternative Post Offices remain at Headley Down (Whittles) and at Lindford. The church key is now held at Tina's Hairdressers in the High Street.
• Grayshott, the story of a Hampshire village by JH Smith republished. Includes some of the early history of Headley.
• As from 1st March 2002, the new ecclesiastical parish of Bordon came into existence. The ecclesiastical parish of Headley 'lost' that part which is in the area of Whitehill Town Council — but we still 'keep' Lindford.
• A list of all the people who bought letters to raise money for the George Holme Memorial Plaque has been framed and displayed in the Church Centre.
• A Parcel of Gold for Edith by Joyce Stevens was published in November 2001, telling of letters discovered from her gt-gt aunt in Australia written to her gt-grandfather, a papermaker in Headley, over the period 1853–1875
• Pictures of the Banner of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Court "Forget Me Not", founded in 1882
• Article on the History of Papermaking in Headley & Bramshott by Alan Crocker is on-line.
• An exhibition on 'Headley by the Wey' was held at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford from Mar-May 2001 – it was disassembled, and the material stored in the Headley Archives room – displayed again in Headley Village Hall during the Golden Jubilee weekend, 1 & 2 June 2002.
• War Diaries of the Canadian Fort Garry Horse and Calgary Regiments - The Headley Archives has a copy (as a computer file) of the diary, covering the two periods the Fort Garry Horse regiment (from Winnipeg) was based in Headley/Lindford during WW2 (Apr-Aug 1942 and Feb-Jun 1943). Our thanks for this to Gordon Crossley, the Regiment's Archivist, who visited the village in June 2000 and has also given us a Regimental Badge to display. We also have the War Diary of the Calgary Regiment during its stay in Headley during Oct-Dec 1941.
• The parish has honoured the memory of Dr George Holme, benefactor and rector of Headley 1718–1765, by placing a memorial tablet in the church. The Patronal Service and Dedication of the plaque took place on Sunday 29th October 2000. Money was raised by public subscription, by donations and by various fund-raising events – the surplus went to the George Holme Charitable Trust.
• The village celebrated the millennium over the weekend of 10th/11th June 2000. On Saturday 10th there was a fete on the Village Green followed by a Historical Pageant. On Sunday 11th the Church held an open-air service on the Village Green, followed by a barbecue and games.
• A video tape showing extracts from three Headley pageants (1935, 1951 and 2000) was shown at the Village Hall on the evening of Friday 13th October 2000.
• A party of Canadian servicemen from the Prince Edward Island Regiment visited the village on 26th March 2000 on a tour of the places where their regiment had been in WW2. Picture of the party outside the Holly Bush.
• Headley's Past in Pictures was published in 1999 (updated and republished in 2003). It contains about 120 old photographs and maps of the parish from the first half of the 20th century.
• The project to record all the 'monumental inscriptions' (ie. gravestones and monuments) in All Saints' churchyard was completed in 1999. Work proceeds on recording on the computer all known burial locations in the churchyard.
• The historical information held in the Village Archives continues to grow. (Contact for further information).
• Postcards showing views of the village painted in watercolour by Wendy Bennett are on sale from The Headley Society.

HISTORY - Contacts - News - References - Headley 1066-1966 - Headley Timeline - Glossary - Useful dates - Population & Censuses - Archives/Maps

'Headley, The Story of a Hampshire Parish, 1066-1966' by JS Tudor Jones (1966):—

This book, now out of print, has been republished in A Headley Compendium

Headley is a parish with a long history but, as in the case of very many isolated settlements of Saxon and later times, very little is known of its earliest days. The first known reference is in the famous Domesday Book, which William the Conqueror, who came to England exactly 900 years ago, caused to be compiled. Says Sir Winston Churchill, "The history of many an English village begins with an entry in Domesday Book".

The paragraph in Domesday relating to Headley (where it is called Hallege) in translation is as follows: "Earl Eustace holds five hides in Hallege which were assessed in the time of King Edward as three hides. They were held by Earl Godwin, and are reckoned as part of Sutton" (Sutton refers to Bishop's Sutton, in which Manor Headley was then situate).
Earl (or Count) Eustace III of Boulogne, had a son, Count Eustace IV. He married Mary of Scotland, and their daughter Matilda married King Stephen, and so the Manor became Crown property in 1136. Subsequently the King exchanged this Manor with his brother, Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, for Merton Manor, and the Priors of Merton became the first known patrons of the living. [There is some doubt about the sequence of events given here – see Timeline]
The curtain now closes on the parish for more than 100 years [but see entries in Winchester Pipe Rolls from 1210] and it is not till 1314 that the name of the first recorded Rector appears. He was GEOFFREY DE HOVILE, and he was succeeded in that year by WALTER DE BROLNESBOURNE. Presumably Geoffrey was a Prior of Merton: at any rate his successor was presented to the living by the Priory, who remained patrons till the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538.
Walter de Brolnesbourne was succeeded by ROBERT (surname unknown), for it is recorded that in 1368 JOHN PODISDONE was instituted priest of the Church of Hethleghe in succession to Robert on the presentation of the Prior and canons of Merton. In 1377 THOMAS DRAPERE, a sub-dean and penitentiary of Exeter Cathedral exchanged livings with John Podisdone and in 1380 THOMAS AUMENET rector of Beaumond exchanged with Drapere.

It may be convenient at this stage to enumerate a list of Rectors –

• before 1314 Geoffrey de Hoville
• 1314 Walter de Brolnesbourne - presented by Priory of Merton
• Robert (surname unknown)
• 1368 John Podisdone 'was instituted priest of the Church of Hethleghe in succession to Robert on the presentation of the Prior and canons of Merton'
• 1377 Thomas Drapere 'a sub-dean and penitentiary of Exeter Cathedral exchanged livings with John Podisdone'
• 1380 Thomas Aumenet 'rector of Beaumond exchanged with Thomas Drapere'
• c. 1414 Sir John Massey
• 1443 James Blakedon of the Order of Friars Preachers, "subpenitentiary of the English nation in the Roman court: on his petition showing that by Apostolic Dispensation he is beneficed a parson of the Church of Headley in the Diocese of Winton, and that the Pope provided him to the Cathedral Church of Achonry in Ireland of which Bishopric a great part is of no value because it is inhabited by rebels; and that he may occupy the premises any papal grace, statute etc. notwithstanding" (Patent Rolls 21 Henry VI). This seems to mean that Blakedon enjoyed the emoluments of Headley though living in Rome.
• Robert Thornetone
• 1460 John Hamond
• 1472 Robert Gest
• 1474 William Cole
• 1479 John Macy
• 1494 John Fyshe
• 1524 John Unthanke (He was probably the last pre-Reformation Rector)
• 1538 Dissolution of Monastries - On the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 the patronage passed into the hands of the King who granted it to Sir John Gate in 1551. Gate however does not seem to have made any appointments and in 1558 Queen Mary restored the patronage to Winchester. Subsequently the advowson again passed to the Crown and Queen Elizabeth appointed ...
• 1575 Thomas Drake - described as 'Minister'
• 1586 William Daniell, parson of Hedley, was buried 4 November 1586
• 1586 Francis Coxe [list in church]
• 1597 William Coxe [list in church; a note in the burial register says "1597 Oct 2(?) Mr William Cox, 'parson of the parish of Hedlye', read the …" - son Francis buried 1602, Leonard 1604, wife Agnice 1606]
• 1631 Averie Thompson - King Charles I presented in 1631 Averie Thompson to the living but that Cromwell's ministers dispossessed him in 1644. However, at the Restoration he was reinstated, but soon afterwards Charles II presented six livings, of which Headley was one, to the Queen's College, Oxford, "in consideration of their help to him in his troubles" by a gift of all their plate. Records show that Averie Thompson was (re) appointed by the Provost and Scholars in 1660
  1644 Dispossessed by Cromwell; Restored at the Restoration; Living given by Charles II to Queen's College, Oxford
  1660 Reappointed by Queen's College - Like all his successors at Hedleigh, up to and including Mr. Laverty, Thompson was a Fellow of the College
• 1670 (Dec 4) John Beeby - He was a Londoner, irregularly elected a Fellow in 1654 during the Commonwealth. He died 'of a malignant fever' and was buried in Queen's College Chapel. Previously Vicar of Culham, Oxon
• 1673 (Feb 7) William Sympson - He married Mary Bayley at Headley in 1675 and she died in 1686. There is a stone let into the wall over the Rectory stable door marked 'S. 1680 W. M.' which may stand for Sympson 1680 William Mary. William Sympson was buried in 1695 "in Woolen only"
• 1695 (Aug 17) William Rook B.D. - "A Fellow of Queen's College with a mathematical reputation". He was, like many other Queensmen, a Cumbrian, having been born at Workington
• 1717 (Jul 3) Robert Railton - He died the following year, his widow surviving him by 14 years. He gave £300 for the marble work at the east end of the Queen's College Chapel. He was a native of Carlisle, and previously Vicar of Marston, Oxon
• 1718 (Dec 24) George Holme - Dr. Holme appears to have been inducted in the same month as that in which Robert Railton died. He built and endowed the original Holme School. Died 3 July 1765 age 90
• 1765 (Oct 19) William Sewell - The monument to him in the Church describes him as 'a man of extensive learning and undoubted charity'. In contrast to some of his predecessors and certainly his immediate successor, Wm. Sewell for 35 years "spent the whole of this time in the bosom of his parishioners"
• 1801 (Jan) Henry Smith D.D. - Dr. Smith was for the greater part of his incumbency non-resident, and held the curacy of Bromley in Kent. He was also from the north having been born at St. Bees. He was described as a square, very burly man of great physical strength. He and his Clerk, it is said, could consume more alcohol without showing any effect than any two men in the parish. He kept a pack of harriers and was famed as a rider to hounds. Stricter views of clerical decorum came in about that time, and a hint from the Bishop caused him to give up sport and sober down
• 1818 (Oct 2) Robert Dickinson - He too was a great deal non-resident, but suffered from ill-health, though he was described as "a jolly big old farmer". Though he lived till 1847 his name appears for the last time in the registers in 1834
  1830 (Nov) Mobbed by rioters
  1834 Last entry under his name in registers
  1836 (May 12) There is an entry in the Baptism Register of 1813-1852 to this effect: 'On Ascension Day, May 12 1836, the Porch of the Church was injured, the spire and interior of the Tower destroyed by fire. Divine Providence was pleased to arrest the further progress of the flames. Praise ye the Lord.'
• 1848 (April) Joseph Ballantine Dykes - He too was a Cumbrian from near Cockermouth, and a chair made for him by the village carpenter there was given by his daughter to the Church and is now the Rector's chair in the Vestry. Mr. Dykes largely altered the Church after the fire of 1836, which had damaged part of the building. He built a new Porch, rebuilt the walls, and raised the floor nearly 3 feet (as can be seen in the Tower) and added the Chancel and a Vestry. Previously there was a gallery which would hold 100 persons, the music being provided by bassoon, clarinet and bass viol, and a story is told that no one was allowed to sing except those invited into the gallery
• 1872 (July) Wallis Hay Laverty
• 1901 (January) Grayshott ecclesiastical parish created
• 1929 (Sept) Michael Ridley - In his short ministry he reorganised the Church finances, made the parish conscious of its place in the family of the diocese, and the Churchwardens and Church Council of their responsibilities in the government of the affairs of the church. He left after four and a quarter years to become Vicar of St Gabriel's, Warwick Square, and later Rector of Finchley and Deputy Priest-in-Ordinary to the King
• 1934 (June) James Spencer Tudor Jones - Yet another Cumbrian!
• 1966 (April) David Edward Bentley - He was appointed by the Queen's College but was the first Rector since 1660 who was not a member of the College
• 1974 (Nov) Derek Leonard Hamilton Head
• 1981 A team ministry was created
• 1984 William Michael Powell
• 1990 Richard (Dick) William Woodger - first to live in the new Rectory
• 1999 (March) Dr Michael Semple
• 2002 (March) Bordon parish created
• 2010 (Nov) Interregnum
• 2011 (Sept) Donna Mistlin
• 2013 (June) Interregnum
• 2014 (Nov) Andrew Barton
• 2021 (Apr) Interregnum
• 2022 (Apr) Yann Dubreuil

"This brilliant young mathematical Fellow of Queen's wanted to get married when it was not permitted, and therefore decided to be ordained. He had no vocation in the ordinary sense, but he was intensely conscientious. The village could set their clocks by him, setting out to visit on his bicycle at 2pm, or maybe 2.30, and he visited every house in the parish twice a year. The visits were brief ones and he often left tracts about such things as sleeping with open windows etc. He could not face sick visits, and used to send the daughters to visit the sick with baskets of eggs and more tracts.
"No Bishop was allowed in the church and no churchwarden in the vestry! The Rector pocketed the collections and paid all the bills, and such was the esteem in which he was held that no one had any doubt but that he was out of pocket."

A photograph in one of the parish registers shows him as a small man who normally wore a knickerbocker suit and a black or speckled straw hat, and, at any rate in his later years, a grey beard.
In eleven volumes of notebooks (now transcribed) which Mr. Laverty left containing short biographies of his parishioners, there are many instances of the practical help which he gave to those who had met with misfortune.
These notebooks are now in the Surrey History Centre, Woking (Headley being in the Diocese of Guildford, Surrey) and are available for inspection there - Ref: PSH/HED/24/1-11.

See the notebook he kept from 1872 in which he tried to understand the documents relating to the foundation of the Holme School, organised the expansion of the school to include an Infants Room, and started an Education Council in the parish.

The Registers - List of Registers and Indexes

The Headley Registers are among the oldest in the land. Fearon and Williams in their Hampshire Registers quote Headley's earliest entry first of the illustrations they give, from "delightful little paper books". In 1538 Thomas Cromwell issued his famous Injunctions of which the twelfth reads: Item, that you and every parson, vicar or curate within the Diocese, shall for every Church keep one book or register, wherein ye shall write the day and year of every wedding, christening and burying made in your parish for your time, and so every man succeeding you likewise, and also there insert every person's name that shall be so wedded, christened or buried.
In those days it would take some time before these Injunctions were circulated and observed, especially in such a backwater as Headley, so it is interesting to note that the first entries, below, are at such an early date.

• Ao. Di. 1540. De Baptizatis. The xixth daye off Marche was chrystened Agnes Phylpe the daughter off John and Johane Phylpe.
• Ao. Di. 1539. De Maritatis. The 1st daye off July was marryed Robert Hardyng and Kateryn Woolffe.
• Ao. Di. 1539. De Sepultis. The xxvith daye off Marche was burryed Wyllyam Rawlyne off the age of iiii years; the ffathers name Rychard Rawlyne, the mothers Johane Rawlyne.

Note appended to Register No.4 – Marriages in Headley under the Commonwealth.
There are no marriages entered in our registers between June the 1st 1648 and 1654. In 1654 there are entries such as:
Page 4 – The Bands of Matrymony between John Boxall and Catherine Corff both of Heathly were published three Lord's Daies (the twelvth, the nynteenth, and six and twentyeth daies of November, 1654) in the Church according to the Act.
This particular notice is followed by:
Page 5 – John Boxall of the parish of Heathly in the County of Hants, yeoman, was maryed unto Catherine Corffe of the same place, singlewoman, aged 20 years, by Edward Heighes, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace of this County in the presence of divers wittneses as appeared by Certificat under the said justice's hand and seale upon the 4th of December, 1654.
Otherwise there are no entries but of Banns (of which there are 4 or 5 a year) until in 1658, when the marriage is "by the minister of Heathly." The last of the 'Bands' is in 1660 (page 17).
During the same period, 1648 to 1662, Births and Deaths are recorded instead of Baptisms and Burials – first Baptism page 20, first Burial page 22.

A brother of the late Lady O'Brien conferred a great boon on the parish by transcribing all the entries up to the year 1927, and, in addition, the Registers are indexed (the Marriages for 420 years, the Baptisms and Burials for 270 years). These are available for inspection in All Saints Office, Church Centre, Headley during opening hours - (01428) 717207 for information.
Note that microfiche copies of the original parish registers (65 fiche in all) have been purchased from Hampshire Record Office, and are held in the Headley Archives. Contact for further information .
See List of Registers and Indexes held in the Church Office.

The following places are mentioned in the early registers, the figures showing the earliest date at which each is found: Almshouse 1612; Alton 1614; Erverd (now Arford) 1620 and Erford 1623; Barvarde 1562 and Barford Mill 1614; Bevells 1603; Binsted 1618; Brydge 1568 and Bridge 1591; Bordon Lodge in the Forest 1567; Broxed 1585; Chirte 1613; Evelye 1576 and Eveley 1593 [note also Ivele and Ineley]; Farnahm 1572 and ffarnam 1574; ffrensam 1551 and Frensham 1579; Grashott 1564 and Grayshott 1584; Hasellmere 1597; Hatch 1594; Heath House 1555; Hedley Hill 1587; Hedley Wood 1599; Herne 1582 and Hearne 1618; Hilland 1596; Huntingford Bridge 1562; Lindford 1632; Linsted 1576; The Lodge 1591; Mathewes 1606; Moorhouse 1563; Sanders Green 1567; Seamans (now Simmondstones) 1584 and Symons Green 1564; Slaford Bridge 1563 and Slaforth Bridge 1568; Stanford 1583; Streame 1619; Tratsworth 1627; Trotsford 1563 and Trotsforthe 1566; Wyshanger 1563.

Spelling of Headley
The name Headley derives from the Old English Haedleah meaning 'heath clearing' [Source: The Place-Names of Hampshire] and over the centuries has been found written in various ways [see also Pipe Roll entries]:

• 11th Hallege [Domesday Book]
• c.1190 Hetliga
• 13th Hertelegh
• 1242 Hetle
• 1248 Hedlegh
• 1269 Hethleghe
• 14th Hedle
• 14th Hertlegh
• 15th Hedley
• 16th Hethelie
• 17th Hedleigh
• 18th Heathley

Population of Headley
(from various sources) – see also Burial Statistics and Inhabited Houses

Burials in Headley through the centuries

1841 Census

This was the first census in the country for which the name of every person in the parish was required. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information.

The second census for which the name of every person was required, and extra information was added compared with that of 1841, eg. place of birth and relationship with head of household. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information.

The third national census. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information. We also have a photocopy of the original sheets in the Archives.

The fourth national census. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information. We also have a photocopy of the original sheets in the Archives.

The fifth national census - this is available nationwide in computer-readable form, thanks to the LDS project, but some of the information there is of dubious quality. We have put corrected Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information. We also have a photocopy of the original sheets in the Archives.

The sixth national census. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence (along with some entries from across the Surrey border) - please contact for further information.

1901 Census

The seventh national census. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information. We also have a photocopy of the original sheets in the Archives.

1911 Census

The eighth national census. We have put Headley entries on-line sorted by surname, but we also have it on computer in original sequence - please contact for further information.

Population = 5,607
- age 0-4 = 374 (6.67%)
- age 5-15 = 909 (16.21%)
- age 16-64 = 3,478 (62.03%)
- age 65+ = 846 (15.09%)

Total dwellings = 2,046
- Owner occupied = 78.25%
- Council/Housing Assoc = 15.05%
- Privately rented = 6.70%
- Detached = 65.29%
- Semi-detached = 11.73%
- Terraced = 16.85%
- Flats (purpose-built) = 5.77%
Average household size = 2.70 people

Car ownership (households): with no car 11.63%, with 2+ cars 52.15%

Trades in Headley, 1851 - History index

Aside from the pervasive Ag Lab, the main wage-earning occupations of the parish in the 1851 census were as follows (showing number of entries, and adding together Apprentices, Journeymen and Masters of the same trade). Note in particular the significance of papermaking in the parish at the time:

• Paper manufacture = 35
• Farmer = 30
• Bricklayer = 19
• Cordwainer/ Shoemaker = 13
• Carpenter = 12
• Blacksmith = 8
• Broom Maker = 7
• Wheelwright = 7
• Miller = 6
• Butcher = 5
• Mason's Labourer (but no Mason!) = 5
• Grocer = 4
• Schoolteacher/ Governess = 4
• Dressmaker = 3
• Victualler/ Innkeeper = 3 (though there were 8 pubs!)
• Millwright = 3
• Shepherd = 3
• Tailor = 3
• Baker = 2
• Farrier = 2
• Mealsman = 2
• Police Officer = 2
• Sawyer = 2
• and one each of: Basket Maker, Builder, Carrier, Chimney Sweep, Draper, Gamekeeper, Gardener, Groom, Land Surveyor, Parish Clerk, Rector, Tea Dealer, and Turner.

Inhabited Houses in Headley - History index
Taken from Mr Laverty's publications of 1922 and 1926 et al:—

Pubs in Headley - History index
In the area of the original parish of Headley, there were at least eight pubs:—

New Inn (Sleaford); Royal Exchange (Lindford); Robin Hood (Standford); Royal Oak (Hollywater); Holly Bush (High Street); Crown (Arford); Wheatsheaf (Arford); White Horse (which became the Frensham Pond Hotel). Of these, the Wheatsheaf closed in 2000, the New Inn in 2001, the Robin Hood became Whiteley's in 2009 and this closed in 2014.

There was also once a pub called the Bank of England which, we think, was at the fire station cross-roads in Bordon, but seems not to have lasted for very long (did the Army close it down?); and there was a Red Lion at Standford. There may have been others in the past.

Surnames in Headley, 1851 - History index - Surnames in Burial Register

Top ten surnames in 1851 Census:

Fullick 71 (5%), Shrubb 49, Burrow 42, Coombes 39, Marshall 36, Belton 35, Chandler 35, Barnett 27, Harris 27, Knight 27. [Note: the top 6 were also the most common in the 1841 census] — but note also that the top ten most common names over the years 1539-1851, according to burial records, were: Baker 116 (3.2%), Morar (and variants such as Moorer, Atmore) 90 (2.5%), Valler/Voller 88 (2.4%), Harding 73 (2.0%), Knight 55 (1.5%), Shrubb 54 (1.5%), Boxall 50 (1.4%), Matthew(s) 50 (1.4%), Marshal(l) 46 (1.3%), Newman/Numan 46 (1.3%)

Top ten surnames in 1891 Census:

Fullick 68 (4%), Chandler 59, Burrows 48, Harris 46, Coombes 45, Glaysher 43, Cane 38, Marshall 36, Shrubb 35, Smith 33.

All surnames in alphabetic order showing number of occurrences in the 1851 census
- 196 different surnames - total population 1,424

Aldred 5, Attfield 4, Ayling 2, Aylwin 5, Baker 12, Balchin 2, Ballantine Dykes 1, Barker 1, Barnett 27, Bartholomew 2, Batchelor 1, Bayley 3, Beldham 2, Belton 35, Benham 6, Bennett 2, Berry 2, Bettesworth 9, Blackman 6, Blanchard 4, Bone 1, Borough 3, Bowden 4, Boxall 19, Bridger 14, Brown 8, Budd 1, Burchett 2, Burrow 42, Cade 2, Cane 17, Canning 3, Carpenter 9, Chalcraft 5, Challen 1, Chandler 35, Channell 2, Chase 6, Chiverton 2, Clear 4, Collins 13, Coombes/Combes/Combs 39, Cooper 6, Court 1, Courtnage 17, Couthard 1, Cover 12, Cox 1, Craft 1, Crawt 8, Curtis 8, Davies 1, Dawes 5, Daws 1, Deadman 8, Denyer 2, Eade 3, Ealand 1, Edgell 4, Eggar 5, Elstone 6, Etherington 7, Ewsters 1, Faithfull 1, Farr 1, Fast 3, Fisher 5, Flip 1, Flipp 1, Foot 1, Ford 5, Frogley 1, Frost 5, Fullick 71, Furness 1, Fyfield/Fifield 26, Gale 7, Gamblen 4, Gardner 10, Gates 6, Gauntlett 13, Glaysher 15, Goddard 1, Gregory 3, Grover 3, Hack 7, Hale 1, Hampton 8, Hapeley 4, Harding 15, Harris 27, Hayden 10, Haynes 1, Heather 9, Hernaman 1, Hill 5, Hipkin 1, Hoare 1, Hockley 2, Holden 1, Hunt 11, Huntingford 7, Inwood 1, James 6, Jeffery 6, Jetton 4, Keeling 5, Keen 2, Kiddle 1, Kinshott 1, Knight 27, Knott 2, Lambert 4, Langford 3, Langrish 5, Larby 1, Lasham 2, Lawes 3, Lawrence 6, Lemmon 9, Lickfold 8, Loe 15, Lynch 7, Mansell 4, Mant 2, Marden 9, Marshall 36, Martin 4, Matthews 13, Meadman 4, Meador 5, Meeres 2, Messingham 13, Mills 12, Milton 1, Moore 8, Newell 8, Norris 1, North 13, Older 1, Over 5, Page 1, Parfect 18, Parker 2, Pennicott 2, Petar 6, Petworth 1, Phillips 2, Philps 7, Pickett 10, Piggott 6, Pink 7, Pook 5, Powell 8, Puttick 3, Randall 3, Restall 1, Richardson 9, Robinson 19, Roe 2, Rogers 4, Rooke 23, Shrubb 49, Slade 6, Small 1, Smith 26, Spier 2, Stacey 2, Stapley 10, Steel 1, Strugnal 7, Styning 1, Suter 2, Sutton 6, Swan 3, Symonds 2, Taylor 15, Tilbury 12, Triggs 13, Trusler 1, Tuckey 8, Upperton 2, Voller 6, Wakeford 11, Walker 1, Walls 3, Warner 5, Warren 16, Weeks 5, Wells 1, West 9, Wheeler 6, White 5, Whiteley 8, Woodbourne 6, Woods 18.

Hearth Tax, Michaelmas (29th Sept) 1665 - History index

Hearths chargeable in Headley:
Tompson Mister Albery (Rectory) 6, Martin Widow 3, Stillwell John 4, Boxall Richard 1, Martin John 3, Baker John 4, Matthews Henry & Mills John 4, Barden Roger 3, Norris William 3, Albery William 2a, Moorer William 3, Morten Nicholas 3, Vallor John senior 5, Swanne Nicholas 5, Gill William 3, Heath Thomas 1, Crich John 4, Vallor Robert 4, Vallor Robert junior 1, Vallor Henry 4, Lock Henry 1, Gates John 1, Gill Abraham 3, Baker Henry 2, Fish Widow 3, Bettesworth William 3, Huntingford John 1, Bucknell John 1, Baker John 3b, Lee Richard 3, Randoll John 2, Baker Nicholas 1, Baker Nicholas 1, Jennings Nicholas 3, Harding Abraham junior 3a, Caplen Widow 2, Frost John 1, Baker William 1, Hounsome John 4, Hardinge Robert 3, Matthew Thomas 1, Channell William 3, Page George & Williamson 4, Brooter William 3, Varndell Robert 3, Harding Abraham senior 3, Bellinghurst John 1, Moore John 1, House John 1, Valor Widow 1c
Notes: (a) = down; (b) = taken down; (c) = overcharged
Entries = 52, Hearths chargeable = 129

Hearths not chargeable in Headley: Larbee William 1, Mill Thomas 1, Hunsom Widow 1, Robinson John 1, Newman John 1, Robinson Edward 1, Dutton George 1, Robinson Widow 1, Banister Thomas 1, Holt John 1, Baker Thomas 1, Figg Robert 1, Hunt Peter 3, Moorer John 1, Shrubb Richard 1, Shrubb Edmund 1, Shrubb Anthony 1, Shrubb William 1, Perryne Widow 1, Combes Peter 1, Farr Abraham 1, Norris Daniel 1, Kitch Thomas 1, Hunt Joan 1, Page Thomas 1, Turner Edward 1, Smither Isaac 1, Giles Old 1, Baker Christopher 1, Denier John 1, Fuller William 1, Albery Robert 1, Smither William 1, Hedger Nicholas 1, Mahew John 1, Grice John 1, King Christopher 2, Barden Roger 1, Lock Henry 1, North Farm 2
Entries = 40, Hearths not chargeable = 44
Total entries in Headley = 92, Total hearths in Headley = 173

Hearths chargeable in Broxhead:
Fauteleroy Mister Moory 10, Lee William 3, Kellzill John 4, Ayley Thomas 1, Locksum Francis 2, Greensell Francis 1, Channell William 1, Hebb John 3, Albery John 2, Newman Edward 1, Corfe Richard 2
Entries = 11, Hearths chargeable = 30

Hearths not chargeable in Broxhead:
Childs Lawrence 2, Stillman William 1, Viccary Thomas 1, Nichollson John 1, Albery Thomas 1, Farly Henry 1
Entries = 6, Hearths not chargeable = 7
Total entries in Broxhead = 17, Total hearths in Broxhead = 37

Total entries in Headley + Broxhead = 109, Total hearths in Headley + Broxhead = 210

Lay Subsidy Rolls, 1586 - History index

Headlye
Lands: Edmond Fishe £4, Wm Norris £4, John Scutt 40s, Robert Martine 40s, Wm Vicarye 40s, John Newman 20s, John Balden 20s, John Somer 20s
Goods: Wm Hardinge £6, John Warner £10, Richard Dickenson £8, John Baker £6, John Figg £6, William Gill £3, Elizabeth Valler widow £3, John Page £3, John Whitley £3

Broxhead Manor records (+HRO catalogue No.) – History index

• 1894 - Headley civil parish created using the ancient parish boundaries, including Grayshott, Lindford, Bordon & part of Whitehill.
• 1901 - Grayshott ecclesiastical parish of St Luke created, including all of Grayshott and extending into parts of Hindhead (Surrey).
• 1902, Sep 30 - Grayshott civil parish created, separating Grayshott entirely from Headley.
• 1921 - Grayshott civil parish boundary with Headley adjusted
• 1927 - Anglican Diocese of Guildford and Portsmouth were created out of parts of the old Diocese of Winchester - Headley and Grayshott ecclesiastical parishes were both transferred to Guildford, and hence their church records to Surrey - at the same time, church boundary changes took Trottsford and Sleaford out of Headley ecclesastical parish and into that of Kingsley (still in Winchester Diocese), but they remained in Headley civil parish.
• 1929 - Whitehill civil parish created, including Bordon and Lindford taken from Headley civil parish.
• 1982 - Bramshott civil boundary with Headley adjusted.
  (Note: 1982 - Lindford civil parish created, separated from Whitehill civil parish.)
• 1991 - Boundary change took Frensham Pond Hotel out of Headley civil parish (and into that of Frensham, Surrey), but it still remained in Headley ecclesiatical parish.
• 2002 - New ecclesiastical parish of Bordon created, taking from the ecclesiastical parish of Headley that part which was in the area of Whitehill Town Council. But we still 'kept' Lindford

Note that the ecclesiastical parish of Headley still includes Lindford but not Grayshott. The boundaries of the civil and ecclesiastical parishes have coincided more closely since March 2002 than they had during the 1929–2002 period, but there are still several points at which they diverge significantly. See map and notes on this.

PS. If you feel confused about the difference between civil and ecclesiastical parishes, you are not alone! As a tailpiece, it is interesting to note that the Ordnance Survey now has records only of civil parish boundaries, not ecclesiastical ones - it seems that the Church Commissioners are the only people who have records of the latter. Even incumbent clergymen can be confused as to who precisely lives within and without their domain!!

Neighbouring Parishes at the time of the 1851 Census:

Lists of the parishes bordering on Headley, and on Headley's neighbouring parishes
— from due North, clockwise
— in Hampshire unless otherwise stated

Headley: Dockenfield (tithing of Frensham, Surrey, but in Hampshire until 1895); Frensham (Surrey); Bramshott; Selborne; Kingsley.

Bramshott: Headley; Frensham (Surrey); Linchmere (Sussex); Fernhurst (Sussex); Woolbeeding (Sussex); Linch (Sussex); Stedham (Sussex); Iping (Sussex); Trotton (Sussex); Rogate? (Sussex); Selborne. [Note that its common border with some of the Sussex parishes was only a few yards long!]

Selborne: Kingsley; Headley; Bramshott; Trotton? (Sussex); Rogate? (Sussex); Liss; Greatham; Empshott; East Tisted; Newton Valence; Hartley Mauditt.

Kingsley: Binsted; Dockenfield (see above); Headley; Selborne; Hartley Mauditt; East Worldham.

Frensham (Surrey): Farnham (Surrey); Elstead (Surrey); Thursley (Surrey); Haslemere (Surrey); Linchmere (Sussex); Bramshott; Headley; Dockenfield (see above); Binsted.

Registration District for Headley:

1837-1846 Farnham
1847-1869 Farnborough
1869-1974 Alton

- This web site maintained by John Owen Smith -

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