The large village of Milford on Sea is located on the south coast of England in the county of Hampshire. With a population of approximately 4,000, Milford has a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs in its high street, which borders the village green. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Hampshire, sometimes historically Southamptonshire or Hamptonshire, (abbr. ...

The village is scenic in location, protected from development by a surrounding "green-belt" of land. From the beach in Milford – affectionately called so by its residents – The Needles of the Isle of Wight are clearly visible on a fine day. The Needles from the cliffs inshore The Needles is a row of distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. ... The Isle of Wight is an English island and county, off the southern English coast, to the south of the county of Hampshire. ...

Slightly further east is Keyhaven, with its boatyard and bird sanctuary. Protruding southwards from Keyhaven is Hurst Spit, approximately two miles of shingle, from the end of which the inhabitants of Hurst Castle used to watch over the Solent. The castle was built by Henry VIII, and is now visitor oriented, with a museum and café. A seasonal ferry makes the trip across the marshes as an alternative to the blustery walk. Hurst Castle is one of Henry VIIIs Device Forts built at the end of a long shingle spit at the west end of the Solent to guard the approaches to Portsmouth, and given extensive new wing batteries after the 1859 Royal Commission report. ... Satellite image showing the Solent, separating the Isle of Wight from mainland Britain The Solent is a stretch of sea separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of Great Britain. ... Caernarfon Castle, Wales. ... For the play, see Henry VIII (play). ...

Perhaps the most awe-inspiring views from Milford are along the coast to the west on a clear night, when the conurbation of Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole can clearly be seen, together with the stars reflecting on the – usually – gentle ocean. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the third largest city in the country. ... Bournemouth is a large resort town on the south coast of England. ... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. ...

Coastal walk along the cliff-top; looking east.

ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1656x1242, 396 KB) Summary author: Daphne Grant © submitted to picturesofengland. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1656x1242, 396 KB) Summary author: Daphne Grant © submitted to picturesofengland. ...

History and Development

Milford began as a Saxon settlement and 500 years later (Domesday Book, 1086 CE) comprised a small manor with a church, a mill and about 50 inhabitants. It belonged to Christchurch Priory from about 1107 to 1539 and then passed into the hands of various courtiers and city merchants, mainly as a distant investment. The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to King Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... Doomesday Book (also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester), was the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William the Conqueror, that was similar to a census by a government of today. ... Generic plan of a mediaeval manor; open-field strip farming, some enclosures, triennial crop rotation, demesne and manse, common woodland, pasturage and meadow Manorialism or Seigneurialism describes the organization of rural economy and society in medieval western and parts of central Europe. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Christchurch Priory (Grid reference SZ160925) is a ruined priory in Christchurch, Dorset (formerly in Hampshire), England. ...

Milford's resources were its agriculture and the seasonal production of sea-salt, later supplemented, in fair degree, by smuggling. Development progressed slowly in accordance with the times until, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, wealthy newcomers moved in to buy up farms and build fine houses. Their advent materially changed the character, outlook and social structure of the village. Their Georgian houses serve today as a reminder of that turning point. A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ...

The salterns were less fortunate. After much expansion in mid-century, they declined rapidly in the 1780s and only a small remnant survived to fade slowly away after 1800. Their reclaimed land is today an area of great natural beauty. Contemporary salt pans on the island of Lanzarote. ...

Little further development took place until the 1880s, when the local landowner planned to convert Milford into a premier seaside resort, adding "on-Sea" to the village name. The scheme failed in its major objectives, but gave Milford a layout and an ordered development that lasted well into the present century.

Despite much new building in recent years, Milford still retains its character and unity as a village.

Events and Festivals

Every year, Milford has the May Day festival on the village green with the traditional Maypole dancing. In late June through to early July there is also the Music and Arts festival with local bands a drama from local schools, as well as stalls and craft workshops. In August, there is the Milford Carnival with a voluntary parade with floats and the precession of the Carnival Queen. May Day is May 1, and refers to any of several holidays celebrated on this day. ... Dancing around the maypole, in Ã…mmeberg, Sweden The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of hawthorn or birch), sometimes erected with several long colored ribbons suspended from the top, festooned with flowers, draped in greenery and strapped with large circular wreaths, depending on local and regional variances. ...

External links

• THE Lymington & New Forest Resource - Magazine, Directory, Webcams etc.
• Milford-on-Sea Online
• Milford on Sea Parish Council