National Gazetteer (1868) - Avington

"AVINGTON, a parish and pleasant village in the lower division of the hundred of Fawley, in the county of Southampton, 3 miles to the W. of New Alresford, and 4 N.E. from Winchester, its post town. It is situated in a pleasant country on the banks of the river Itchin. In the Saxon age the manor of Avington was a royal demesne, and was given by King Edgar to the priory of St. Swithin, Winchester, in whose possession it continued till the Dissolution. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Winchester, of the value of £265, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a neat red brick edifice, with ivy-mantled tower and peal of six bells. It was built by the late Marchioness of Carnarvon. The register dates from 1623.

The Rectory House was built by the present rector. There is an endowment of £20 a year for the benefit of the rector. Avington House, late the seat of the Dukes of Buckingham, stands in a large, beautiful, and well-wooded park, in a retired valley, through which flows a feeder of the Itchin. The stream is expanded into a broad sheet of water in front of the house. It was once the residence of Charles II., whilst the king's house, now the barracks, at Winchester, was being built. The site on which the conservatory now stands was then occupied by the banqueting-room. The property has lately been purchased by John Shelley, Esq., who is lord of the manor, and resides in the old brick-built mansion."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]