Colbury

The name Colbury is derived from Middle English for "Cola's manor",[3] and near Colbury is an estate called Langley which was held by "Cola the Hunter" in the Domesday Book of 1086.[4] The manor of Colbury was given to the Abbot of Beaulieu by Robert de Punchardon sometime in the 13th century.[2] A grant of free warren in the manor was made in 1359–60 to the Abbot and convent of Beaulieu.[2] Successive abbots remained in possession of the manor until the dissolution of the abbey in April 1538, when it passed to the Crown.[2] It was purchased in 1544 by John Mill and his son John. The elder John died in 1551 and the younger John was succeeded by his son Lewknor.[2] He died in November 1587, and his son Lewknor died in the following month, leaving John his brother and heir.[2] John was created a baronet in 1619, and the manor descended with the Mill Baronets until the death of the last baronet in 1835.[2]

The site of the Colbury Manor House is about a mile to the northeast of Colbury village, close to the village of Eling.[5] The house which is now there is modern, and no trace of ancient buildings survive.[5]

Colbury was for centuries a tithing in Eling parish. Its population in 1870 was 341 people.[6] The church in Colbury, called Christ Church, was built in 1870 by Benjamin Ferrey.[7]

The civil parish of Colbury was one of the parishes created out of the ancient parish of Eling in 1894.[2] Colbury parish was abolished in 1934 when 4722 acres were transferred to the parish of Denny Lodge and 750 acres were transferred to Totton and Eling.[8] The modern parish of Ashurst and Colbury was created in 1985, but administers a much small area than the old Colbury parish.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colbury.

• Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council