Ashmansworth

Ashmansworth is a village and civil parish in the Basingstoke and Deane district of the English county of Hampshire.

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 Hampshire. 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 is served by the local public house, The Plough, which has won awards for its real ale.Fact|date=January 2008

Notable residents

*The composer, Gerald Finzi, lived in Ashmansworth.

Village Overview

This secluded village in the county of Hampshire is very tight nit 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) on which the village is situated and the views over Berkshire are outstanding. In the summer families are often out walking and enjoying the views and amazing landscapes right on their doorsteps.

The village has a central core, concentrated around the main thoroughfare where the Plough Inn, Village Hall, Village Green, War Memorial, 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 idilic surrondings whilst enjoying their locally brewed pint from the Plough Pub.

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 chcolate 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.