Ossemsley

Coordinates: 50°46′45″N 1°40′09″W / 50.7792°N 1.6693°W / 50.7792; -1.6693

Ossemsley
Ossemsley
Ossemsley  Ossemsley shown within Hampshire
OS grid reference	SZ234978
Parish	New Milton
District	New Forest
Shire county	Hampshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEW MILTON
Postcode district	BH25 5
Dialling code	01425
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Hampshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	New Forest West
List of places: UK • England • Hampshire

Ossemsley is an extended hamlet in the New Forest National Park of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is New Milton, which lies approximately 1.7 miles (2.4 km) to the south-east.

The name Ossemsley probably means "Osmund's wood/clearing".^[1] An estate called "Oselei" appears twice in the Domesday Book, but it is listed with places in the Boldre area, so it is thought unlikely to refer to Ossemsley.^[1][2] In 1670 Thomas Stevens is known to have been in possession of "Osmondsley".^[3]

Ossemsley has never developed into a village, and today it is a scatter of houses in a mix of farmland and woodland. The most notable building is Ossemsley Manor House, although the current building only dates from 1908.^[4] Ossemsley Manor was one the houses in which Siegfried Sassoon's wife, Hester Gatty, spent her childhood.^[5] Sassoon himself is known to have visited Ossemsley Manor in the 1930s.^[6] In the lead up to the D-Day invasion of 1944, the batallion of the 2nd Glosters were stationed (in tents) at Ossemsley manor.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} A. T. Lloyd, J. E. S. Brooks, (1996), The History of New Milton and its Surrounding Area, Centenary Edition, page 14
2. ^ H. C. Darby, Eila M. J. Campbell, (2008), The Domesday Geography of South-East England, page 327. Cambridge University Press
3. ^ A. T. Lloyd, J. E. S. Brooks, (1996), The History of New Milton and its Surrounding Area, Centenary Edition, page 28
4. ^ Ossemsley Manor House, English Heritage
5. ^ Max Egremont, (2006), Siegfried Sassoon, page 384. Pan Macmillan
6. ^ Max Egremont, (2006), Siegfried Sassoon, page 385. Pan Macmillan
7. ^ Andrew Holborn, (2010), 56th Infantry Brigade and D-Day: An Independent Infantry Brigade and the Campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945., Page 57. Continuum International