Ashmansworth is a village and civil parish in the Basingstoke and Deane district of the English county of Hampshire.
Contents |
Location
According to the 2001 census it had a population of 215. It is about 7 miles south of Newbury in Berkshire, and nine miles from Andover in Hampshire. The village has the distinction of being not only the highest village in Hampshire, but also the highest medieval village on chalk in England. It lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and at weekends is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike.
Amenities
The village church is dedicated to Saint James the Great and dates from the 12th century. The village was until recently served by the local public house, The Plough, which had won awards for its real ale.[citation needed] This has now ceased trading however.
Notable residents
- The composer Gerald Finzi lived in Ashmansworth.
Village Overview
This secluded village in the county of Hampshire, has a tight knit community holding many village events such as ploughman’s lunch, flower shows, summer BBQ’s and shooting events. The village follows the ridge-line (for almost 2 kilometers) and the views over Berkshire and Hampshire are outstanding. In the summer, families are often out walking and enjoying the views and amazing landscapes.
Blacks Guide, published in 1871, described the village as being “among the least trodden districts and most secluded angles of the country, noteworthy only for its early English church”.
In 1901 a spokesman for the Archaeological Society described Ashmansworth as “a long scattered village, neglected and deserted in its aspect, with a rapidly decreasing population”. At this time the church had fallen into disrepair, probably as a result of it being subordinate to the East Woodhay parish.
An independent Parish Council for Ashmansworth was founded in 1894. One of the first issues it addressed was the water supply. Throughout its history Ashmansworth experienced difficulties in maintaining an adequate supply of drinking water. Prior to the installation of piped water in the late 1930s, the only sources of drinking water for many villagers were Mere Pool and the 100 metres deep well at Church Farm.
Over the course of the 20th century the character of Ashmansworth changed rapidly, largely as a result of the intensive farming practices adopted after the Second World War. These changes were no more apparent than at Lower Manor Farm, where Wilfred Cooper established some of the most technologically advanced agricultural methods in the area.
The modern village has a central core, concentrated around the main thoroughfare where the Village Hall, Village Green, War Memorial, former Plough Inn, former Chapel and Old School House are all located. This hub is where village socialising takes place, it is also used by ramblers passing through who just want to rest and admire the idyllic surroundings.
There are many key buildings in the village including eight listed buildings, some dating from the 18th century such as Plough cottage and Pheasant cottage. There are also newer additions such as the Manor Farmhouse and Flint House which combine to make Ashmansworth a distinctively rural settlement, with many obvious signs of its agricultural heritage reflected in its development pattern.
It is a chocolate box village, with so much history behind it. The village itself boasts amazing landscapes and views but also has a perfect village feel with the local residents rallying together to create a real community feeling.
External links
- Ashmansworth Parish Council. Parish website containing information on the Parish Council and other aspects of the village.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
