It was formerly known as How Park, possibly through the early connexion of William de Ow with the parish, and had its origin in the charter of 1200 granting William Briwere the elder chase of hare, fox, cat and wolf through all the king's land (per totam terram nostram) and warren of hares, pheasants and partridges throughout all his own lands, as also licence to inclose two coppices, one of which was situated between King's Somborne and Stockbridge and the other was called How Wood.