Ashdon

For the Ashdon meteorite of 1923, see Meteorite falls.

Ashdon
240px Ashdon Windmill
Ashdon  Ashdon shown within Essex
Population	893 (2011)
OS grid reference	TL584421
Civil parish	Ashdon
District	Uttlesford
Shire county	Essex
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Saffron Walden
Postcode district	CB10 2
Dialling code	01799
Police	Essex
Fire	Essex
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Saffron Walden
List of places UK England Essex

Signpost in Ashdon

Ashdon, is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is about 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Saffron Walden and 23 miles (37 km) northwest from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Uttlesford and the parliamentary constituency of Saffron Walden. The village has its own Parish Council.

Geography

The village is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the nearest town, Saffron Walden. It is on the River Bourn, a tributary to the River Granta, a tributary to the River Cam. The village is close to the Essex/Cambridgeshire county border.

According to the 2001 census the population of the parish was 792. Apart from Ashdon village, the parish also includes Stevington End () and Church End ().

The River Bourn has caused much flooding in recent years to the village of Ashdon in 2000 and 2001 saw heavy winds and rain flood it immensely. On 14 June 2007 the village fell victim to flash flooding when a month's rain fell in an hour causing heavy flooding.

History

All of the Bartlow Hills were entirely in Ashdon Parish, Essex when the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Essex ran from Stevington End to the River Granta, then along the Granta westwards to Linton, as shown on Ordnance Survey maps including those dated 1805, 1838 and 1882.

Ashdon Halt was a stop on the closed Saffron Walden Railway near Church End.

Present day

Ashdon Primary School, a non-denominational, built in the Victorian Age, for 4–11 year olds is located in the village and has approximately 90 students and had Iain Dale, a Conservative Blogger.

Governance

An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward had a population of 1,736 at the 2011 census.

Sport

The village has are two cricket teams that play at Waltons Park. There is also a football, bowls. It also will host a trail run this year. It has hosted numerous cycle events in recent years.

Places of interest

There is a windmill on the hill, Bragg's Mill, which has recently been renovated; it is one of the few remaining post mills in Essex. The restored windmill was opened on 23 September 2006 by Patricia Herrmann OBE, Vice Chairman of the Essex Environment Trust. There is also a village museum with information on local history. The village hall is Midsummer Hill.

There are three religious centres in the village. These are two churches, All Saints Church and Ashdon Baptist Church and the Buddhist retreat at Marpa House. Ashdon Baptist Church has been in the village since 1809. The parish church of All Saints dates from the 13th century, with later alterations. Marpa House Buddhist retreat was established in 1973 and is run by the Dharma Trust and practices the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Business includes the local Post Office, a garage, pub, farm and Beeches Nursery.

See also

The Hundred Parishes

External links

• Ashdon Church on Essex Churches website
• Ashdon Weather
• Ashdon in the Domesday Book