Nursling

Nursling is a village in Hampshire, England, situated about 6 kilometres north-west of the city of Southampton. Formerly called Nhutscelle (in an 8th-century life of Saint Boniface), then Nutshalling until the mid-19th century, it has now been absorbed into the suburbs of Southampton, although it is not officially part of the city (remaining part of the Test Valley borough).

At Onna (Nursling) [1], the Romans erected a bridge (probably a wooden one as no trace of stone abutments remains) across the River Test, below which it widens into its estuary, and there are traces of the Roman road from Nursling to Stoney Cross. At Nhutscelle a Benedictine monastery was established in 686, the earliest Benedictine establishment in Wessex according to Bede. It became a major seat of learning, and at the end of the 7th century, Winfrith (subsequently Saint Boniface) studied here under the abbot Winberht, producing the first Latin grammar to be written in England. He left in 710 for Canterbury, returning briefly around 716 before going to Germany as a missionary. The Danes destroyed the monastery in 878 and it was never rebuilt; its exact site has not been reestablished, though the parish church is dedicated to St. Boniface.

Twenty-one people lived at Hnutscilling, according to the Domesday Survey, belonging to the Bishop of Winchester.

O. G. S. Crawford (archaeology) lived in Nursling during World War II, and kept much rare material from the Ordnance Survey office in Southampton in his garage. This foresight saved much important historical material from destruction when the offices were burnt out in an air raid.

The tidal mill for grinding flour has been set in working order once more.

Nursling Industrial Estate houses several important businesses, such as Tesco, Norbert Dentressangle and Meachers, and is ably served by transport links.

Nursling is also home to one of the two South Central Ambulance Service stations that serve the Southampton area.

External links

• "About Nursling" (page on personal website)