About the Village

The Parish

The Parish of St Mary Bourne with just over 500 houses includes the larger village of that name with a population of approximately 1000, the smaller village of Stoke, population of some 170, and the hamlets of Binley, Dunley, Egbury, Upper, Middle and Lower Wyke (pronounced "Wick" or "Week") and Wadwick.

Fourways Church Street

The old hamlet of Swampton has now been incorporated into St Mary Bourne, as has the area known as Link, which stretches from the main village south to the viaduct. According to Martin Coppen, our vicar, the area known as Swampton - despite being close to the Bourne Rivulet - does not get its name from wet or marshy ground but from its association with swine (pigs) in Anglo-Saxon times.

In the past, our parent church was Hurstbourne Priors, 21/4 miles south and mentioned in the Doomsday Book. St Peter's Church was built as its chapel of ease - for the convenience of inhabitants of St Mary Bourne. Now this parish is extended to include in the north Woodcott with its own church St James and to the south, since 1999, Hurstbourne Priors and Longparish.

There are rival theories why St Mary Bourne is so called: its main feature is the seasonal stream, the Bourne Rivulet, a tributary of the River Test, and under the old calendar it may well have risen on St Mary's Day (2nd February). Another theory is that the church was originally dedicated to St Mary - but why, then was it changed to St Peter? According to John Dixon St Peter's Church was originally St Mary's but parishioners changed the name after the English Civil War in the 1640's or 1650's when Oliver Cromwell's puritans were attacking anything associated with worship of the Virgin Mary.

The Village

Most of us who live in St Mary Bourne believe, we are sure, that we are most fortunate to be in a 'real' village where newcomers are made very welcome by those who have been living here for a long time, and perhaps for generations.

Curvilinear Elevations

Both St Peter's Church, and the local Primary School, play a leading part in encouraging a community spirit, giving a wide cross section of the village a sense of 'togetherness' - although it should not be suggested that we are without any of the problems which can make village life 'interesting'! But these are relatively minor.

The cricket, football and bowling clubs make full use of the excellent Recreation Ground. We would urge everyone to visit our new Village Centre hall to see what a village with 1200 adult inhabitants can fund, build and equip to a high standard in 4 years (1989-1993), and open without owing a penny. Visitors should also be impressed by the new bowling green which will enable the old green to be redeveloped for other sporting purposes.

The range of organisations and activities within the village give anyone who wishes an opportunity to participate or organise, or both. New activities such as the short mat bowls and badminton played in the Village Centre cater for all ages and are proving to be very popular.

We have a variety of public houses, five in all, which are very different but which between them will certainly cater for most tastes when it comes to drinking and dining out.

The year 2001 saw the construction of a new Village Community Shop and Post Office adjacent to the Village Centre car park.

The lake was the brainchild of Dr Evans, the local medical general practitioner for many years. He had the area excavated and water appeared, but in dry summers it can nearly disappear. The lake was gifted to the village, is looked after by the Parish Council and can be used for fishing, but only if you become a Club member. Model boats can be seen sailing the waters but they are not nearly as graceful as the birds.

For those who have not been here before, do walk up the hill from the rear of the Recreation Ground to look down on the village, or take a stroll along the village street or Bourne Rivulet, which this season started to flow in late February, and perhaps visit our lovely old church or one of the pubs. We are sure that you will be made very welcome by all the 'locals'.

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This page was last edited on 8 Jul 2007