Update to Milford on Sea: Hyphens or no hyphens?

Following our recently published article, 'Milford on Sea: Hyphens or no hyphens?' we have an update:

A helpful reader has suggested that we check how the village is referred to the Domesday Book.

The Domesday Book is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of King William the Conqueror.

Sadly, we had done this previously, only to discover that the Domesday Book recorded our village in its old name of Melleford.

Bob Braid, a knowledgeable local historian, has bought to our attention to a map published in 1896 which tells another story.

In the late 1880s, Colonel William Cornwallis-West MP, owner of Newlands Manor, had an original intention to develop a high-class seaside resort in the village in order to exploit the property he owned with magnificent sea views on the top of Hordle Cliff. 

He wanted to emulate what his friend, the Duke of Westminster, had done at Eastbourne. Plans included houses, a grand hotel, gardens, a hydropathic establishment, and a pier. There were also ambitions to try to install a railway station. 

In preparation, new roads named after family and friends, e.g. Cornwallis Road, De la Warr Road, West Road, Whitby Road, Westminster Road and Pless Road were laid out on Hordle Cliff. 

He originally wanted to call his resort Melleford-on-Sea.

However, the Salisbury & Winchester Journal of 26 March 1887 said that: "Having ascertained the opinion of many of the older residents, they were in favour of retaining the spelling of Milford, Col. Cornwallis-West MP has agreed to their wishes, merely suggesting the addition of "on Sea" to distinguish it from other places of the same name..."

The name 'Milford-on-Sea' was therefore to apply to his new seaside resort development on the cliff top, with the village being known as simply 'Milford'.

However, the plan never attracted the finance it needed and his vision was never realised.

His only son, George Cornwallis-West was made bankrupt in 1916. Colonel William Cornwallis-West died in 1917 and the family estates in Milford on Sea, including Newlands Manor, and most of its heirlooms was sold off to pay debts.

Historical Map Changes

Historical local maps held in the Frith Collection show that in 1850 and 1907 the village was known simply as Milford. However, a map in 1919 shows the village name now as Milford-on-Sea, with hyphens. An Ordnance Survey Map from 1940 shows the village name as Milford on Sea, without hyphens.

So, as always, clear as mud. The quest goes on! 

To read the original article, please click here.