ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
The Parish Church St. John’s located in Flexford Road is also of mediaeval foundation, and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the
Knights Hospitallers. St John's Church is a delightful, mainly 17th century, building that sits on a hill- overlooking open fields and a view over miles of countryside.
Photograph of Baddesley Manor, Flexford Road which is opposite St. John’s Church. The Manor is an 18th century building as the successor of the medieval Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers. The village was a stronghold of the Knights of St John.
If you ever wondered if a South Baddesley exists, well it does and it can be found only about 20 miles from North Baddesley in the New Forest, very close to Lymington.
Its just a small hamlet by Norleywood, with a church (St. Mary The Virgin), school and a few houses. Tradition has it that the Knights Templars and later Knights of St. John owned a Preceptory here, but there appears to be no evidence for this. There is thought to be confusion with the one at North Baddesley.
Photograph of South Baddesley Church,
St. Mary The Virgin