There are details about Sopley and "The Christchurch Hundred" going back as far as 1086. The district known as The Christchurch Hundred consisted of the four hundreds of Shirley (Sirlei), Rodedic, Egheiete , and Bovre, or the New Forest. Shirley hundred consisted of Sopley, Ripely, Avon, and Winkton; corresponding fairly closely to the modern parish of Sopley.
By 1263, the three main hundreds all merged together with the hundred of Holdenhurst, and became known as "The Hundred of Christchurch with Westover liberty". In 1216, the whole district was called "The Christchurch Hundred".
On the 28th November 1539, King Henry VIII dissolved all monasteries, which left the Christchurch Priory empty for a year. The earliest copy of the Doomsday book, printed around the 12th century, names the village of Sirlei as a manor land which became affected by the forest.
The earliest reference to the land where the Woolpack currently stands is in an Indenture Tripartite (a type of legal document) made on the 30th July 1725, between Sir Henry Joseph Tickborne, John Willis, and Aaron Jefferies. Sir Henry and John Willis sold to Aaron Jefferies "the right to dig, cast up earth and clay out of Sopley Common to make bricks or tyles". The original building is the rear end of today’s pub, where the bar and kitchens now stand; with the front thatched extension being built some years later. Up until the 1880s, the stream that runs along the side of the Woolpack used to be quite a wide river, but due to constant flooding, this became channelled and gave the water a more direct route.
During the second World War, 1939-45, the Woolpack was frequently used as a meeting place for military persons of all ranks. If a soldier was unable to meet up with his sweetheart, he would chalk his message on the wooden beams, and she would reply in the same manner. More important officials, such as Sir General Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill are said to have had meetings in the Woolpack, before moving underground into what was the secret base camp about a mile up the road.
Greta Garbo has also stopped and had a drink at the Woolpack whilst she was staying with an artist friend in Ringwood.
George and Rose Gilbert were the first owners of the Woolpack at the beginning of the century. George Gilbert was known as "Uncle Gilbert" to many of the local children, as he used to throw pennies to them.
In 1936, Strong's Romsey Ales became the brewers, with Mr. and Mrs. Lane as the landlords. Strong's then sold to Whitbreads, who remained the brewers until 1995.
1990 - George and Rose Gilbert
1920 - Louisa Bains
1936 - Mr. and Mrs. Lane
1956 - Mr. and Mrs. Reginald
1970 - Lez and Helen Pine
1982 - Bernard Shorthouse
1990 - Dick and Erica Goemaat
1995 - Mr. Chris and Mrs. Christine Hankins
There is also a reference to a "T. Pierman, owner, and a W. Shane, occupier, in the Year of Our Lord, 1839"
© 1995 David Walker