Ropley
Ropley is about eight miles south west of Alton and is famous for supplying the honey for Wiliam the Conqueror’s mead, and for being very involved in smuggling in the 18th century.
The village at that time covered a large wooded area with quite isolated farmsteads, which made it a good place to distribute smuggled goods. Several houses have hidden cellars, including that of the then Squire of Ropley Grove, Major Lavender. He was a JP, a churchwarden and a member of the Hunt, but that didn’t stop him being a leading smuggler. His hidden cellar wasn’t discovered until 1928.
The first Church at St Peter’s was built in the 11th century, the only remaining features are the door to the present south transept, and part of the south and west walls. At the end of the 19th century it was in poor condition and it was thoroughly rebuilt.
The Vicar from 1818 to 1871 Samuel Maddock was sternly opposed to smuggling and to the drinking habits of the village. This led to a rift between him and his clergy, which culminated in a group of young man trying to kill him but being frightened off by a thunderstorm at the critical moment.
Ropley has a small railway station on the Mid Hants Watercress Railway running between Alton and New Alresford. It holds an annual Boxing Day walk and the infamous Ropley pram race on the last bank holiday in May.
