Abbotts Ann
Encyclopedia
Abbotts Ann is a village in the parish
of the same name, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south-west of Andover
, Hampshire
, England
.
rule the village prospered, and at the end of Dunkirt Lane a large Roman Villa was built. Mosaics taken from this villa are now in the British Museum
.
First mentioned as Anna when reportedly granted to the New Minster of Winchester by King Edward the Elder
, it was later recorded in the Domesday Book
as an area containing 8 hides
and 3 mills. The long, narrow and roughly rectangular boundary is characteristic of West Hampshire chalk land parishes. Defined in Saxon times, or possibly earlier, this shape ensured that Abbotts Ann had its share of river, down land and richer waterside meadows. Before the Norman
invasion the land was granted to the Abbey of Hyde and became known as Ann Abbatis (the ‘Estate on the River Anne belonging to the Abbott’). Little Ann was granted to the Abbey of Wherwell. After the dissolution of the monasteries the estates passed back into secular hands.
In 1716, Thomas Pitt
(the grandfather of William Pitt the Elder), the former Governor of Madras who had bought the Manors of Abbotts Ann and Little Ann, demolished the old church and replaced it with the one we see today. The Church has the largest collection of ‘Virgins’ Crowns’ in England.
In 1806, Robert Tasker settled in Abbotts Ann and later took over the Blacksmith’s business. Tasker and his brother developed the first iron plough, which become so popular that they set up the Waterloo Ironworks in Anna Valley
to cope with the demand. In 1831, Robert Tasker built the school on its present site in the village, and leased it to the Revd. Samuel Best, the Rector of Abbotts Ann. Built 39 years before education became compulsory, the school was one of the first in England to take children of all denominations.
Between 1915 and 1924 the Red Rice Estate, which included Abbotts Ann and much of the surrounding countryside, was sold. In 1934 the Government bought Little Park for the new ‘Land Settlement Association’, creating the largest influx of population into the village since AD500. The settlers came mainly from northern England and Wales
, and those who stayed on made a permanent contribution to the village. Of the 517 houses in the village, 107 have been built in the last 20 years.
s and 49 virgin crowns. The village also has a village hall, a primary school, a playing field and a pub called the Eagle, as well as another well known pub in the neighbouring village of Little Ann
, called the Poplar Farm Inn. The village is also home to one of the last remaining classic red phoneboxes
left in England.
Hurdy-Gurdy legend Graham Whyte lives in the village and is often seen in his trademark green trousers.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of the same name, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south-west of Andover
Andover
-Places:In the United Kingdom:* Andover, Hampshire, EnglandIn Canada:* Andover, New Brunswick* Perth-Andover, New BrunswickIn the United States:* Andover, California* Andover, Connecticut* Andover, Florida* Andover, Illinois* Andover, Iowa...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The village name Annwas derived from the Celtic river name ‘Anne’ meaning ‘Ash Tree Stream’ (now known as the Pillhill Brook). The first settlements in the area can be traced back to 50BC when the Atrebates cleared the forests and cultivated the land. During RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
rule the village prospered, and at the end of Dunkirt Lane a large Roman Villa was built. Mosaics taken from this villa are now in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
First mentioned as Anna when reportedly granted to the New Minster of Winchester by King Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...
, it was later recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as an area containing 8 hides
Hide (unit)
The hide was originally an amount of land sufficient to support a household, but later in Anglo-Saxon England became a unit used in assessing land for liability to "geld", or land tax. The geld would be collected at a stated rate per hide...
and 3 mills. The long, narrow and roughly rectangular boundary is characteristic of West Hampshire chalk land parishes. Defined in Saxon times, or possibly earlier, this shape ensured that Abbotts Ann had its share of river, down land and richer waterside meadows. Before the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
invasion the land was granted to the Abbey of Hyde and became known as Ann Abbatis (the ‘Estate on the River Anne belonging to the Abbott’). Little Ann was granted to the Abbey of Wherwell. After the dissolution of the monasteries the estates passed back into secular hands.
In 1716, Thomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt , born at Blandford Forum, Dorset, to a rector and his wife, was a British merchant involved in trade with India....
(the grandfather of William Pitt the Elder), the former Governor of Madras who had bought the Manors of Abbotts Ann and Little Ann, demolished the old church and replaced it with the one we see today. The Church has the largest collection of ‘Virgins’ Crowns’ in England.
In 1806, Robert Tasker settled in Abbotts Ann and later took over the Blacksmith’s business. Tasker and his brother developed the first iron plough, which become so popular that they set up the Waterloo Ironworks in Anna Valley
Anna Valley
Anna Valley is a village in Hampshire, United Kingdom. The settlement is a suburb of Andover, and is located approximately south-west of the town centre....
to cope with the demand. In 1831, Robert Tasker built the school on its present site in the village, and leased it to the Revd. Samuel Best, the Rector of Abbotts Ann. Built 39 years before education became compulsory, the school was one of the first in England to take children of all denominations.
Between 1915 and 1924 the Red Rice Estate, which included Abbotts Ann and much of the surrounding countryside, was sold. In 1934 the Government bought Little Park for the new ‘Land Settlement Association’, creating the largest influx of population into the village since AD500. The settlers came mainly from northern England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and those who stayed on made a permanent contribution to the village. Of the 517 houses in the village, 107 have been built in the last 20 years.
Present
Today the village contains a village shop run by volunteers (which itself contains a post office - one of many recently threatened with closure), which achieved first prize in the Best Rural Retailer 2009 competition. There is also a parish church (St. Mary's), famous for its box pewBox pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s and 49 virgin crowns. The village also has a village hall, a primary school, a playing field and a pub called the Eagle, as well as another well known pub in the neighbouring village of Little Ann
Little Ann
Little Ann is a hamlet attached to Abbotts Ann, approximately two miles south-west of Andover in the north-west of Hampshire.The Poplar Farm Inn is situated in the village, and is part of the Vintage Inns chain, a trading name of Mitchells & Butlers....
, called the Poplar Farm Inn. The village is also home to one of the last remaining classic red phoneboxes
Red telephone box
The red telephone box, a public telephone kiosk designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the United Kingdom, Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar, and despite a reduction in their numbers in recent years, red boxes can still be seen in many places and in current or former...
left in England.
Hurdy-Gurdy legend Graham Whyte lives in the village and is often seen in his trademark green trousers.
External links
- Abbotts Ann & Little Ann - Homepage