Francis Mylles, M.P. for
Winchester from 1588 to 1593, built
Peartree House in the late 16th century, using stone from Bitterne Manor which had previously been used by the
Romans at their settlement at
Clausentum. Captain Richard Smith, former governor of
Calshot Castle, lived at Peartree House from around 1617. It was dedicated in 1620. Although it was not part of Southampton at that time, Jesus Chapel served the parish of St Mary's Extra, which was used as an overflow for the parish of St Mary's in Southampton. Construction of Jesus Chapel saved parishioners from a rough crossing over the Itchen to Southampton or a long journey to the neighbouring churches at
Hound,
Botley or
South Stoneham. and
Old St Leonard's Church, Langho, which was built in 1557; however, when consecrated in September 1620, the service, conducted by the Bishop of Winchester, formed the basis for future Church of England consecrations, so the church can lay claim to be the first to use the revised Church of England consecration service.
Peartree House was built by 1617, then altered in the late 18th century. By the late 19th century, the area contained many impressive houses and villas which were home to Southampton's wealthy traders. Cast adrift without provisions, his companions killed and ate him in order to survive. It is one of the few recorded cases of
human cannibalism in modern times. The subsequent murder trial
R v Dudley and Stephens changed English law by establishing the precedent that necessity is no defence to the charge of murder. Peartree Green was incorporated into the borough of
Southampton in 1920. The area has subsequently experienced significant suburban development. The schools became an annex to
Woolston School; they have since been converted into residential homes. Between 1954 and 1971 Woolston Tip operated as a landfill site between the southern end of Sea Road and the railway. In 2018 the green was designated a
local nature reserve. In July the same year, two hectares of it were damaged by fire after becoming dry due to the
heat wave. ==References==