The two villages, lie side by side and Bramshaw is the one with the Post Office but both villages have seen a whole host of major changes over the centuries, the main one being the M27 motorway being constructed about a mile away thus the trade in the villages has dropped.

But the local watering holes still manage to get a good trade, the rather imposing Bell Inn on one side of the road  and the Green Dragon on the other.

There are two golf courses in the area, and several tournaments are played on one of them. The Bell is also a hotel and this is popular with the golfers.

The Bell Inn		The Green Drago

With a speed limit all over the forest drivers have to be careful of wandering livestock and there are always a number of ponies around the village, visitors are asked not to feed them, mainly to stop them from wandering out to cars etc on the lookout for more food, and also because they can bite it tormented. You may even find the occasional deer running across the road in front of you. SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF ANIMALS.

There is a forge in Bramshaw which is still in use and it has and adjoining cottage that dates back to 1793 and they both enjoy a long and interesting history. If you look closely you will find W.H. on the walls of the cottage which stand for William Henbest.

He once advertised in the local newspaper in 1794 saying 'that he has erected a Foundry to cast iron of every sort' and in 1813 he began to cast iron safes for the local churches and you can see on in Salisbury Cathedral that has his initial on. But for some reason he did not make one for his local church and it was in 1967 that one was actually given to the church!

Fetes and local shows are a favourite with the inhabitants and many travel from far and wide for a day out here. Just up the road is the famous Rufus Stone which  was erected to commemorate the spot where King William was slain by an arrow, that is reputed to have been fired by Sir Walter Tyrell while hunting in the neighbourhood. The stone also show that Purcas the charcoal burner carried the body of the king from this spot to Winchester Catherdral.  He rested overnight at Bartley near Cadnam and was given land there which became know as Bartley Regis. Descendants of him can be found still today living in the area with Minstead being the main focal point with a selection of graves in its churchyard. The Sir Walter Tyrell public house is about a hundred yards on up the road from the stone.

St Peters Church

On a hill overlooking the main road on the outskirts of Bramshaw can be found the Church of St Peter and a previous church is said to have occupied this site when the Normans arrived but there is no written evidence of it before 1158.

The earliest part of the church though has been dated to the 12th century.

Inside is a gallery that was constructed in 1829 'for the girls school and free seating for females only' .

John Wells was a self taught local artist and he left a copy of the Lord's Prayer with pictures from the Ten Commandments there. Wells did in 1858 aged 32
 

Below is a list of people who lived in the village, and may be useful to those researching family history

"Bramshaw"
Within Living Memory

Index to Names in the Book 
Surname, First Name, Page number

ABBS, Mr; 87
ADSHEAD, Frederick, 112
ALLEN, Frances, 73
ANDREWS, H; 80
ARMSTRONG, Mrs; 64, 82
ASTON, Group Captain, 62, Doreen, 62, 68, 72
AVERY, Michael, 104, 105
BABEY, Kathleen, 89, 90, 119, Henry, 98, Kathy, 119
BAILEY, John, 32, 42, 43, Bill, 73
BARNES, Kathleen, 29 Joy, 28, 30, 61, 78, 97
BASSET, Mr; 107
BATTEN, John, 63
BELL, Henry, 91
BIDDLECOMBE, Frank, 16, 43, 112, Walter, 21, Geoff, 33, 76, 77, 88, George photo, 65, Rob photo, 65, Alan photo, 65, A; 80, Tom, 86, Geoff, 93
BISHOP, Family, 50
BLAKE, George, 29, 30
BOLWELL, Kathleen, 89
BRADBOURNE, Miss, 32, Laura, 117 
BRAY, Mrs P; 68, Bill, 110, 111
BRIGHT, Peter, 18, 50, 83, 101, Edwina, 83
BROWNING, Tony & Joyce, 75
BUDD, Zola, 75
BUNDAY, Mary, 42, 64
BURGESS, Ern photo, 65 
CARTER, Gerald B, 45, 60, 61, 62, 70, 71
CLACEY, Rev. Derek; 70, 119
COOKE, Stuart, [Geordie], 17, Gwen, 68
COOPER, Family, 16, Selina, 16, 80, Eli, 54, 55, 78, 79, 80, 85
CRAVEN-ELLIS, William MP, 71
CRESPIGNY de, Phillip, 30, 73
CROSS, Mrs; 101
CROSTHWAITE, Jack & Dorothy [Dio], 24, 
CROSTHWAITE-EYRE, Sir Oliver MP, 24, 45, 60, 63, 67, 71, 74, Oliver, 26, Oliver & Marie, 32, Dorothy, 58, 90, 91, Lady, 62, 88, Family, 90, Jack, 91, Anthony, 114
CULL, 52
CUMMINGS, Sir Mansfield, 30
CURTIS, Rose, 26
DALRYMPLE, Hew, 30
DAVIES, Bros, 13, 14, Margery, 35, 46, Charles photo, 65, Geoff photo, 65, Mrs; 66, Arthur & Robert, 72, 97, Rev. James, 89, Ernest, 112
DAVEY, Audrey, 39, John & Elizabeth, 39, William & Adeline, 39, James, 39, 65 photo
DIBDEN, Harry, 20, Family, 21, Benny, 34, Nance, 64
DIBDIN, Stan, 34, 42, 44, 49, 62, 83, 97, 113, Charles, 45, 46, James, 80, Arthur, 80, Henry, 80, Harry, 80, Thomas, 80, Ed; 80
DOMONEY, Family, 76
DOYLE Sir Arthur Conan, 7, 71
EDEN, Henry, 62, Brigadier, 71
EGERTON, Nurse, 83
ELCOCK, Ken, 8
ELLIOTT, Ben [Vicar], 17, 114, Mrs N; 68, Jack, 91, 
ELLIS, William C. MP, 30
EYRE, Family, 7, 109, Mr; 16, 115, Dorothy [Dio], 17, 81, 107, George E. B; 24, 103, Briscoe, 28, 30, 44, 78, 94, 108, 109, 114, Mary, 54, 78, 119, 120, Mrs; 81, 82, 108, 109
FARMER, Charlie, 11
FIELDER, Samuel, 45, Eddie, 60, 61, 63, 112, Mrs, 68, 85, 87, Family, 75, 77, Polly, 77, John, 80. Ella, 87
FRY, Mrs. Archie, 91
GENTLE, Jim, 113
GILES, Monica, 11, 18, 20, 26, 28, 58, 77, 81, 90, 107, 109, 114
GOAMAN, Syvia & Michael, 68, 122, 123
GODDEN, Rev. John, [Vicar of Bramshaw 1896-1921] 109, 117, 120, 121 photo, Mrs; 120
GOULD, 20, John, 28, 33, 34, 55, 77, 87, 88, 103 
GRAY, Mary, 11, 13, 70,
GRAYERr, Mr; 101
HALL, William, 13, 51, 109, Charles, 16, 17, 24, 32, 35, 58, 72, 85, 86, 93, 94, 97, 98, 120, William, 16, Mrs, 20, 78, 81 Shop, 75, Family, 76, 94, Rebecca, 76, Gladys, 77, 81, 103, 109
HANSFORD, Bill, 94
HARRIS, John, 70
HARRISON, Arthur & Kitty, 21, Stanley, 32, Messrs, E F & E G; 71
HATCH, Tom, 8, Peter, 8, 33, 76, 110, Jack, 17, 65 photo, Bert, 20, Percy, 20, 21, 114, 117, 119, Ken, 20, Annie, 20, William, 62, 75, Will photo, 65, Billy photo, 65, Mr W; 68, 69, Mrs, 76, 77, 91, 117, B; 80, Bill, 85, Stella, 107
HEATHCOTE, Eustace, 30
HEATON, Nurse, 83
HENBEST, Willy, 17, 18, William, 80, Widow, 82, Mr; 91
HERBERT, 40
HICKMAN, Hilda, 60, 77, Edwin, 62
HILL, G. A; 73
HITCHENS, Miss; 107, 108
HOOD, H, 80, Harry, 85
HURSLEY, Family, 30
HUTCHiINGS, Micky, 2, 16, 17, 44, 66, 67, 103, 104, 110, Charles, 16, 55, Mrs; 66
INGS, Stephen, 111, 118
JACOB, Mr, 77
JEFFERYS, Peter, 62, Philippa, 66, 67, Brigadier, 70
JENNINGS, Margery, 92, Edward, 92
JEWELL, Edward, 3
JONES, Pat, 67
JUDD, Fred, 101
KEBBY, Family, 7
KEMISH, Arthur, 3, Family 45
KILFORD, Mrs E; 68
KITCHNER, Miss, 108
KING, Reg, 20, 92, Charles, 28, 46, 64, 77, 87, 102, 107, Harry, 40, Bill, 42, 101, Briscoe, 45, W; 60, Mary, 75, F; 80, Wm; 80, Eddie, 101, Mrs; 118
KNIGHT, T., 60, Mr; 87
KNOWLES, Family, 28
LANAGHAN, Elizabeth, 20
LIVENS, Rev. H L, 44
LOADER, Joe photo, 65
LOCK, David & Mary, 29, 30, 76
LOVELL, Fred, 85
MARSH, Fred, 61
MARSHALL, Wayne, 114
MATHER, Sir William, 26, 60, 61 62, 87, Lady, 86
MAYMAN, Mrs; 66
Mc All, Frances, 114, 119
MEECH, Rose, 26 
MERSON, Elizabeth, 30, 104, 107, 109
McALL, Drs. Kenneth & Frances, 7, 67, Frances, 118
MOODY, Reuben, 16, George, 77, Fred, 93
MOULD, Joy & Gordon, 49, Frank, 50, 61, R; 80, Family, 85
MULLINS, Gardener, 91
MURRAY, Sir Hugh, 28, 62, Lady, 64
MUSSELL, Ted, 21, Mr; 117
MUTCH, Helen, 50, 61, 79, 83, 87, 97
NEWMAN, 21
NOEL, Rev. George, 62, 89
OLDFIELD, Sir Maurice, 30
OSMAN, Win, 67
PAINTER, Fred, 35, 86, Marjory, 77, 89
PARMENTER, Marjory, 77, 89
PASMORE, Hugh, 24, 45
PAYNE, Cissie, 11
PEARSE, Charles, 54
PENNY, Rodger, 76
PETTY, Mr, 28, John, 71
PIERCEY, Family, 13, 75, Charles, 97, Thomas, 112
PINCHIN, Barbara, 67
PITFIELD, John, 73
POINTER, John, 112, Miss, 112
POLE, Mr E, 68
PRICE, Mr; 92
PRINCE, James, 80
PROWSE, Family, 28
RANTZEN, Esther, 21, 32, 72, 75
RAWLINGS, Mr photo; 65
RICHARDS, Pam Harvey, 10
RIDDETS, Baker, 77
ROBERTS, Derrick, 30, 75, 
ROBINSON, Stella, 29, 62, 75, 80, 107
ROBSON, Edie, 32, 66, 67, 76, Edith, 62
ROCKLEY, George, 70, 71, 72, 73, Anne, 73
ROUD, Charlie, 38,
RYAN, Miss; 82
SANDFORD, Mrs B; 68, Mr. & Mrs; 69
SAVILLE, Walt photo, 65
SILLENCE, Gwen, 101
STAINER, Baker, 77
STANLEY, Major Rodger S, 30
ST. LEGER Glyn, 82
STEELE, Family, 16, Edna, 16, George, 93
STREET, Rev; 89
STRIDE, Ruby, 13
STUBB, Nurse, 83
SPINKS, Bob, 29
TANNER, Sam, 85
TAYLOR, Tom, 34
THURSBY, Sir George, 16, 28, 34, Lady, 29, 34, 71
TILL, Mr, 77
TILBY, Mr, 51
TROWBRIDGE, Mabel, 28. Jim, 60, Family, 81
TUCKER, Sybil, 67
TUCKETT, Family, 114
VIDLER, George, 20, 95, Richard, 20, 33, 54, 77, 86, 87, 94, 107, 116, G.P; 60
WALK, Father Bernard, 117
WARREN, 91
WARRENS, 7
WATSON, Annie, 64
WAY, Bert, 8, 58, Geoff, 16, Mr; 98
WEEKES, Nellie, 76
WELLS, Mrs; 103
WHITE, PC, 103
WIER, Janet, 13, 67, Mrs J; 68
WILCOX, Desmond, 21, 72, 76
WILDE, Joy, 49
WILL, Mabel, 28, 81, 83, 87, 103, 107, 108, Mrs; 110
WILTSHIRE, Melville, 67, Wilf, 74, Adrian
WINTER, Marjorie, 68, William, 71, Baker, 77, Alfred, 80, Ashe, 80, William, 80, Norman, 84
WATERMAN, W.G; 112
WISE, Mr, 61
WITCHELL, Joan, 83
WITT, A; 60
WRIGHT, Mrs; 66, Tom, 91, 92, Cecily, 91
YOUNG, Family, 10, Charles, 13, 52, 53, 54, 57, Miss, 67

On page 116: In Bramshaw Church in Memory of those lost on the S.S. Titanic Percey DEACON, Wiliam DIBDEN, Charles Henry DAVIES, Ambrose HOOD, Stanley George HICKMAN, Leonard Mark HICKMAN & Lewis HICKMAN

Also on page 116: In Bramshaw Church a Memorial to those who gave there lives in the 1914-1918 War:
George WHITEHORN, GHE [Eric] VIDLER, Sidney HOLGATE, Harry YOUNG, Herbert PAGE, Sydney MUSSELL, Charles GULIVER, F.H. GIDDINGS, Lawson KNOWLTON, Allen WORT, Charles BIDDLECOMBE, Charles FRY, Alan JONES, Charles DIBDEN, Charles, ANDREWS, Sydney BOYCE, Richard LOADER, Frank, JUDD.

Index of Contributors

AVERY, Michael, born 1925
BABEY nee BOLWELL, Kathleen, born 1923
BAILEY, John
BARNES nee YOUNG, Kathleen born 1920
BIDDLECOMBE, Geoff, born 1931, Ron, born 1942
BRAY, Bill
BRIGHT nee BATTEN, Edwina, born 1935, Peter
BUNDAY nee KING, Mary, born 1928
COOKE nee GILHAM, Gwen, born 1928
CROSTHWAITE-EYRE nee PUTHON, Marie
CURTIS nee MEECH, Rose, born 1903
DAVEY, Audrey
DIBDEN nee BARTER, Annie, born 1917
DIBDIN, Stan born 1916
ELCOCK, Ken, born 1946
ELCOCK nee MILLS, Janet, born 1949
FIELDER, Eddie, born 1910
GILES nee CROSTHWAITE-EYRE, Monica, born 1923
GOULD, John born 1931
GRAY, Mary, born 1942
HALL, Charles, born 1908, Gladys, born 1998
HATCH, Peter, born 1930
HICKMAN nee BIDDLECOMBE, Hilda, born 1900s
HOLLAND nee HATCH, Grace, born 1915
HUTCHINGS, Micky, born 1918
KING, Charles, born 1912
Mc CALL, Frances
MERSON, Elizabeth, Author of 'Once there was a Village School'
MUTCH, Helen, born 1933
PARMENTER nee PAINTER, Marjory
RICHARDS, Pam Harvey, born 1925
ROBINSON nee HATCH, born 1913
ROCKLEY, Annie
VIDLER, Richard, born 1911
WILL nee TROWBRIDGE, Mable, born 1908
Source:The History of a New Forest Village 1900-2000
Published by Bramshaw Parish Council 2000
(The above was kindly submitted by Stephen Oddy, Australia)