BINSTEAD, a parish in the liberty of EAST-MEDINA,
Isle of Wight division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON,
5 miles (E. N. E.) from Newport, containing
225 inhabitants. The living is a discharged rectory,
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in
the king's books at £1.7. 1., and in the patronage of
the Bishop of Winchester. The church, dedicated to
the Holy Cross, exhibits marks of considerable antiquity,
particularly in the arch which separates the nave
from the chancel, and another in the north wall, now
filled up. In the vicinity are the ancient quarries from
which part of the stone used in the erection of Winchester
cathedral was obtained. At Quarr, in this,
parish, there are remains of an abbey of Cistercian
monks, which was founded, in 1132, by Baldwin de
Redveriis, afterwards Earl of Devonshire; its revenue,
at the dissolution, was £184. 1. 10. Their sitxtation is
very fine, having the sea on the north, and thick woods
to the south and east. Most of the boundary wall,
including above thirty acres, is yet standing, together
with the remains of two gates, which formed the north
and south entrances. The refectory, the only entire
part of the buildings, is now a barn, and another part
of the site is occupied by a farm-house erected out
the ruins. It was the burial-place of several distinguished
persons, amongst whom were Earl Baldwin, its
founder, and his countess Adeliza.