Empshott
Empshott can found in the hangers of East Hampshire close to Greatham and Hawkley. The modern Parish of Hawkley has included the small Parish of Empshott since 1932. The B3006 road to Alton runs through the village, which is centred around the Holy Rood church next to “The Grange” and “The Hut” – the 1920′s built wooden village hall that is the venue for most of the village activities.
In 1428 it was one of the Hampshire Parishes in which there were fewer than ten inhabitants holding houses, in 1931 the population had risen to 171. The manor of Empshott belonged to Edward the Confessor but was leased to Bundi and Saxi; at the time of the Domesday Survey it was held by Geoffrey de Venuz, a marshall to William the Conqueror. The manor remained in the Venuz family during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries but by the reign of Edward II it had passed to Aymer de Valence.
Grange Farm was originally the manor house, and the manor courts were always held there. Today there is a thriving farm shop there.
Empshott and Hawkley village website (opens in a new window)
