The Black Death of 1348–49 resulted in the transfer of the Hospitallers Hampshire headquarters from Godsfield near New Alresford to North Baddesley.

The Knights Hospitaller were a medieval order dedicated to the care and protection of pilgrims, and tending the sick and infirm, including the crusaders in their quest to return the Holy Land to the Christian world.

The school opened to serve both Baddesley and Chilworth, with Mr Dibble the headmaster living in the adjoining schoolhouse.

The modern village (south of Botley Road), was built on open farmland and common-land belonging formerly to the Willis Fleming family of North Stoneham Park, who were major local landowners.

The arrival of the 20th century was to change Baddesley forever, propelling it from a small hamlet with a population of 393 in 1901 to that of the largest village in the Test Valley.

Its proximity to Southampton and Eastleigh gave rise to considerable pressure for development after the war and large estates of modern houses were built.

The old village lies to the north, and the manor house incorporates part of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller, which was the Hampshire headquarters of the order after 1365.

The parish church is also of medieval foundation and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Knights Hospitaller.

White admiral and purple emperor butterflies glide through the woods and dragonflies chase over the bog and ponds.

North Baddesley was home to Keith Harris and Orville the Duck, as well as former Southampton FC player Matthew Le Tissier.