The soil in the parish of Hursley, as may be supposed in so extensive
a tract of land, is of several different sorts; in some parts it is
light and shallow, and of a chalky nature; in others, particularly on
the east and west sides of the parish, it is what is called STRONG
land, having clay for its basis; and in others, especially that of
the commons and fields adjoining, it consists principally of sand or
gravel. Towards the west, it is entirely covered with wood, not in
general bearing trees of large size, but some beautiful beech-trees;
and breaking into peaty, boggy ground on the southern side. The
northern side is of good rich loam, favourable to the growth of fine
trees, and likewise forms excellent arable land. This continues
along the valley of Otterbourne, along a little brook which falls
into the Itchen. It is for the most part of thick clay, fit for
brick-making, with occasional veins of sand, and where Otterbourne
hill rises, beds of gravel begin and extend to the borders of the
Itchen, through a wooded slope known as Otterbourne Park.

The boundaries of estates fixed those of parishes, and Otterbourne
was curiously long and narrow, touching on Compton and Twyford to the
north and north-west, on Stoneham to the south, and Hursley to the
west, lying along the bank of the Itchen.

The churches of both parishes were probably built in the twelfth
century, for though Hursley Church has been twice, if not three
times, rebuilt, remains of early Norman mouldings have been found
built into the stone-work of the tower. And on the wall of the old
Otterbourne Church a very rude fresco came partially to light.
Traced in red was a quatrefoil within a square, the corners filled up
with what had evidently been the four Cherubic figures, though only