Big houses/estates around South Stoneham?

[Penninah]

Ok so I have collected quite a few Gardener's on my 'Heath' family's side!
I am trying to figure out why there are so many of them, My only conclusion is that there was a large estate nearby. Can anyone help?

I have 2 Edward's, 2 Benjamin's, 2 John's a Joseph a William, George, Henry and a Thomas so far that are all Gardeners on the 51 census. A lot of their Neighbours appear to be Gardeners too.
They live in these areas-

Highfield (Christchurch)
Botley Turnpike (St James)
Romsey Road, Shirley (St James)
Church Rd, (All Saints)
Millbrook

Many thanks 

[Little Nell]

Hi penninah

Have you looked at the description of the enumeration district?  It quite specifically mentions "James ....ebles garden" twice, but I can't make out the name at the moment.

Also the map shows a large area of what could be orchard or market gardens.  Perahps to supply the shops in Southampton itself?  Just a thought.

Nell

[Penninah]

Hmmmm thats interesting thanks, I shall try looking at the enumeration info.
On the 61 Henry Heath says he is a 'Nursery Gardener'. 

[Penninah]

I've had a look at the enumeration info and it looks like it says James Webb's garden - in that the enumerator is using this man's garden as a boundry for that particular area he doing, I don't think it is what I am after! I still think there must be a big house around, I've found some more gardeners this afternoon!

[bearkat]

The area around Hedge End and Botley was well know for its market gardens and particulary for the production of strawberries.  Botley Grange and Botley Hill were the large Houses of the area.

Highfield would have been near to South Stoneham House, now part of Southampton University..

[Penninah]

Thanks for that, I did see South Stoneham house and wonder... Not sure I'll ever know for sure!
 

[Little Nell]

I can see now that it could be Webb.

Whoever James Webb/Weble was, he (and his property) must have been quite well known for the enumerator to have used the boundary of his property (a garden, not a house & garden or a messuage  or anything else, but a garden) as the limit of the enumeration district.  I'd go with it being a market garden.

Some suggestions for you:

William James Webb - market gardener of Moor Green, died about 1869, slightly wrong area for Highfield, but......
James Weble - butcher and farmer, employing several others, in South Stoneham

Highfield is where most of the campus for Southampton University is now - in fact I was there yesterday.  No sign anymore of strawberry fields 

South Stoneham House is 18th century and had its grounds laid out by Capability Brown.  It was formerly the manor house and its grounds run down to the river.

Don't know if it will assist, but there is a wonderful tithe map (dated 1845) of West End here:

http://www.westendlhs.hampshire.org.uk/westend/index.html

Nell

[Penninah]

Thanks Nell!

Shame about the strawberry fields, and the hideous high rise behind south stoneham house! 

[lookingforold]

Any help?

http://www.gregg-school-trust.co.uk/garden/Background.asp