Laverstoke

Laverstoke ( ) is a village in north-west Hampshire, England. On the other side of the River Test there is the settlement at Freefolk which is included in the Laverstock census return.

In the early 18th century, Laverstoke Mill was purchased by the Portals, a family of Huguenot immigrants from Languedoc who were establishing a successful paper-making business. Henry de Portal was naturalised in 1711 and had the mill rebuilt in 1719. In 1724 he won the contract to make Bank of England notes, and pioneered the use of the watermark in paper currency.