Ashdon

ASHDON (in Domesday "Ascenduna," and "Essenduna," "Assenduna" and "Asshedon" in documents of the 13th and 14th centuries) is a scattered parish and village near the borders of Cambridgeshire, with a halt on and 2 miles south from Bartlow station on the Great Eastern railway, and 4 miles north-east from Saffron Walden, in the Northern division of the county, Freshwell hundred, Saffron Walden petty sessional division, union and county court district, Saffron Walden rural deanery, Colchester archdeaconry and Chelmsford diocese. The church of All Saints is an ancient building of rubble and stone in mixed styles, ranging from the 11th to the 15th century, and consists of chancel, nave of three bays, aisles, a chapel on the south side known as the "Maynard chapel," north and south porches and an embattled western tower containing 6 bells, one of which is of pre-Reformation date: on the north side of the chancel is a fine altar-tomb, over which are the arms of Richard Tyrrell, ob. 1566, and on the south side are sedilia and a piscina: the stairs formerly leading to the rood loft still remain in the south pier of the chancel arch: a round-headed stoup, belonging to an earlier church, may be seen near the south doorway, and part of the square basin of the font of the 11th century, with fluted carving, is still preserved; the font now in use is octagonal, and two or three centuries later: a carved oak pulpit was erected in 1882 in memory of the Rev. J. F. Walker, a former rector, by his widow: the arcades of the nave are of clunch on basements of squared Barnack stone: the interior of the church underwent partial restoration during the years 1883-9, and the flooring and seating have been renewed: the roofs were restored in 1895: there are 370 sittings. The register dates from the year 1553. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £620, with 129 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of the Rev. C. H. Brocklebank M.A. and held since 1890 by the Rev. Daniel Beales Redfarn Banham M.A. of Caius College, Cambridge. There is a Baptist chapel here with a schoolroom attached. The churchyard was closed by Order in Council in Aug. 1879. A cemetery of three roods, adjoining the churchyard, was formed in 1877 at a cost of £360. a portion is consecrated, and the whole is under the control of the Parish Council. The parochial charities, amounting to about £20, are under the management of trustees appointed under a scheme sanctioned by the Charity Commissioners, and are distributed yearly. The Boys' home is for twelve boys, who are supported by the Church of England Central Society for Waifs and Strays; matron, Miss Whitehead. J. A. Collins esq. of Ashdon Hall, is lord of the manor of Ashdon; Francis Fisher esq. of Watford, Herts, is lord of the Newnham Hall manor, and the rector is lord of the Rectory manor; the Rev. Hugh Raincock Fleming, Thomas J. Hagger esq. and the Rev. Charles Henry Brocklebank M.A., of Bartlow House, Cambridge, are the principal landowners. The soil is mixed clay, loam and chalk; subsoil, various. The crops are wheat, oats, beans and barley. The area is 3,950 acres; rateable value, £3,679; the population in 1911 was 594.

BARTLOW HAMLET, or Bartlow End including part of the village of Ashdon and Steventon End, called in Domesday "Stavintuna," is a civil parish in this county, but in Linton union and adjoins Great Bartlow (Cambridgeshire), to which parish the inhabitants pay tithe and rates. At Bartlow in Cambridgeshire is a station on the Great Eastern railway, 50 miles from London. Waltons, the residence of the Rev. Hugh R. Fleming, and 1¼ miles from the parish church, is a mansion in the Tudor style, once occupied by Sir William Maynard, who rebuilt it: the estate derives its name from an ancient and important family. Here are four celebrated barrows, known as the Bartlow Hills, and forming part of the boundary separating this county from Cambridgeshire: they were opened in 1832 and 1835, and were found to contain interesting remains and works of art of Roman workmanship: most of the relics subsequently perished in a fire, but drawings and casts are preserved in the museum at Saffron Walden. A stone trough in the garden at Ashdon rectory is said to have been brought from the Hills (see Archaeologia, vols. xxv, xxix). The area is 1,070 acres; rateable value, £1,037; the population in 1911 was 121.

Sexton, Harry Freeman.

RUDDUCK'S HILL is 1½ miles south-east.

The ecclesiastical parish of Bartlow St. Mary is partly in this county and partly in the county of Cambridge. The population in 1911 was 211. For particulars see Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire.

Post, M. O. & T. Office.-Richard Charles Eason, subpostmaster. Letters arrive from Saffron Walden at 7.5 a.m. & 5.30 p.m. week days & 7 a.m. sundays; dispatched at 10.30 a.m. & 7.15 p.m. week days & 10 a.m. sundays

Wall Letter Box, Council School, cleared at 10.35 a.m. & 7.25 p.m. week days & 10.5 a.m. sundays

County Police Station, Arthur W. Cross, constable

Public Elementary Schools.
Mixed, erected in 1878, for 165 children; average attendance, 110; William Tuck, master; Miss Day, infants' mistress; Miss Mabel Smith, assistant mistress The National was restored & enlarged in 1877 & is now used for the Church Sunday school

Carrier to Saffron Walden.-Frederick Frost, tues. &:; sat

PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Andrews Mrs. Spring fields
Banham Rev. Daniel Beales Redfarn M.A. (rector), Rectory
Barrick Mrs. William, Clare cottage
Candlish James, The Villa
Collins James A. Ashdon hall
Duchesne Mrs. The Clays
Fleming Rev. Hugh R. Waltons
Revill Capt. Wm. C. B. The Cottage
Smith Rev. Thomas Henry (Baptist)

COMMERCIAL.
Adams George, Rose & Crown P.H
Archer Levi, saddler & harness makr
Boys' Home (Rev. Daniel B. R. Banham, hon. sec.; Miss Whitehead, matron)
Cemetery (Herbert Hales, clerk; Harry Freeman, keeper)
Charlton Roderick, fruit grower, Midsummer hill
Cooper Chas. wheelwrt. & blacksmith
Cooper Smith, beer retailer
Desborough John King, farmer
Eason Richd. Chas. grocer, Post office
Frost Frederick, baker & carrier
Furze Frederick, farmer, Goldstones
Hagger Alfred, farmer, Overall
Hagger Joseph, farmer, Great Bowsers farm
Hagger Stanley, farmer, Hill farm
Hagger Thomas J. farmer, Rickett's & Thickoe farm
Harris Amos, thatcher
Hill Stephen, farmer
Hutchings Wm. farmer, New Ho. farm
Ketteridge York, bricklayer
Kettridge Joseph, farmer
Marsh Benjamin, beer retailer
Marsh Martin, shopkeeper
Matthews Robert, shoe maker
Nunn Benjamin, farmer
Pallett Ernest, farmer, Ivy Tod
Pateman Frederick, butcher
Purkis John., grocer
Rowell Arthur, farmer, Ashdon st
Smith Harold W. frmr. Newnham hall
Smith William, blacksmith
Webb George B. beer retailer
Webb Thomas, farmer, Ashdon farm
White John, Fox inn