Ashdon in Essex....

... my 8 x great grandmother Jane Hymus was baptised in Ashdon in 1658.  Her parents were married there and her father and grandfather were baptised there too.  Her father, grandparents and great grandparents were buried in the churchyard.

 

Ashdon is on an ancient road from Bartlow to Saffron Walden and archaeologists have described it as being the most impressive village site in Essex. What is left of the old village is represented by a few cottages and the Guildhall grouped around a small green south of the churchyard. The much larger settlement down in the valley was not established until the 13th or 14th century, and the move down the hill may have been prompted by an attempt to escape the Black Death.  (Source www.stmaryssaffronwalden.org)

 

 

 

Norman font bowl .....

 

 

 

Five hundred year old stained glass...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rumour has it that the altar rails were used as a fence for chooks until 'reclaimed' and reinstalled....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Gilde Aule de Asshendon’ circa 1500.....

 

 

 

 

 

This field is said to be the deserted village of Ashdon ..... It may be the mystery field has some connection with the significant Battle of Assendun of 18 October 1016, even that the victorious Danish army of Cnut might have camped here. After all it was Holinshed, no less, in his sixteenth century Chronicle who stated that King Edmund ‘hasted foorth to succour his people, and at Ashdone in Essex three miles from Saffron Walden, gave battell to Cnute...’ (Source www.recordinguttlesfordhistory.org.uk)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They smiled for the camera .....