Worldhams
East Worldham and West Worldham lie about two and a half miles south east of Alton.
East Worldham church goes back to the twelfth century, though it was restored in 1865. Inside there is an effigy which is thought to represent Phillipa, wife of Geoffrey Chaucer, whose son Thomas was Lord of the Manor from 1418 to 1434. King John’s Hill is to the south east, named because King John had one of his hunting lodges there.
The small church at West Worldham also dates back to Norman times. It was disused from 1840 to 1888 when its owner Winchester College restored it.
Also included in the parish is the lost village of Hartley Mauditt. St Leonard’s Church was essentially a manor church, built between 1100 and 1125 by one of William the Conqueror’s knights, William de Mauditt, in a clearing in the forest. In 1798 the owner demolished the manor house to live in London, which meant loss of employment, and the village was abandoned. The church was restored in 1854 and 1904.
Worldhams website (opens in a new window)
