- Astley Abbotts
Astley Abbotts is a village and
civil parish in the Bridgnorth district ofShropshire ,England . According to the2001 census the parish had a population of 396.It is famous for its
lavender fields in the centre of the village near the church.Astley Abbotts is a pleasant parish immediately north of
Bridgnorth , straddling the B4373 Bridgnorth toBroseley road. The church in the village of Astley Abbotts is dedicated toSt. Calixtus who was aBishop of Rome martyred in the 3rd century. Inside can be found the faded remains of a 'maiden's garland', a heart-shaped wooden frame decorated with gloves, cloth and ribbons. Such garlands were once the fashion to commemorate maidens who died before marriage. The one at Astley Abbotts has a ribbon-like piece of paper saying, in still legible handwriting, that it commemorates Hannah Phillips who drowned while crossing theRiver Severn on the eve of her wedding.Nearby is Stanley Hall, a magnificent, red brick, building with a gabled end and incorporating traces of a possibly earlier sandstone building. The grounds, which open occasionally under the
National Gardens Scheme , are extensive and well tended. Unfortunately, the house is not open to the public, especially as many believe it to be one of the finest homes in the county.
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