Amesbury
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also: Amesbury, Massachusetts
| Amesbury | |
  Amesbury shown within Wiltshire |
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| Population | 8,907 |
|---|---|
| District | Salisbury |
| Shire county | Wiltshire |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Wiltshire |
| Fire | Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Wiltshire | |
Amesbury is a town and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire, eight miles north of Salisbury. Stonehenge is in the parish of Amesbury.
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[edit] Geography
Amesbury is located at (51.1667, -1.7833)1, 8 miles north of the city of Salisbury. The burial site of the Amesbury Archer (see below) has lent its name to the founding of a Primary School and to a new housing development.
- See also Stonehenge.
In 2002, the discovery of the richest Bronze Age burial site yet found in Britain was made at Amesbury. The remains of two men of apparently aristocratic rank were accompanied by over 100 objects including arrowheads, copper knives and gold earrings. The occupant of the more richly furnished grave has become known as the "Amesbury Archer"..
One mile to the west of the town is a concealed Iron Age hill fort, now overgrown by woods. This is known locally as "Vespasian's Camp" (after the Roman general, later Emperor, who campaigned through this part of the island).
Marked on 17th century maps as "Ambersbury", it has been suggested that it was so named after Ambrosius Aurelianus, leader of the Romano-British resistance against the Saxon invasions in the 5th century. Amesbury is also associated with the Arthurian legend: the convent to which Guinevere retired was said to have been the one at Amesbury. The present town was granted its town charter in 979, although the site had already been settled as the location of this convent.
In 1965 the Beatles stayed at the Antrobus Arms Hotel during the filming of 'Help' on Salisbury Plain
Amesbury has 4 main schools: Stonehenge School, Christ the King, Amesbury Archer Primary School, Amesbury Primary School.
There is a football team named Amesbury Town[1] and currently play in the Sydenhams League Division One.
There has been one junior football team called Amesbury Juniors[2],from U8's to U15's, until recently when there was a row and the team split and the U12's went and played for Amesbury Town Juniors[3].
Amesbury Juniors play in different leagues. They are: Testway football league, Mid Wilts Youth and Minor league and the South Wilts Youth and Badger league. Amesbury Town Juniors play in just Mid Wilts Youth and Minor.
[edit] Amesbury Abbey and Priory
A Benedictine abbey, the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Melor, was founded near Amesbury after 979 by Dowager Queen Ælfthryth.[1] This was on the site of a previous monastery.[2]
It was dissolved in 1177, as a result of a scandal. Its church was taken over by Amesbury Priory[3], a refoundation by nuns from Fontevrault[4], and is still in use the church is dedicated to St.Mary and St. Melor[5].
[edit] Ongoing development at Amesbury
The East of Amesbury has seen substantive residential developments between the town centre and Boscombe Down, Gleeson Homes completed the 'Butterfield Down' development in 2006. This is a mix of Private homes and a development of rented / affordable homes managed by Shaftesbury Housing. The 'Archers Gate' Development is an ongoing development of some 500 homes by developers Bloor Homes, Persimmon Homes and Charles Church (themselves a division of the Persimmon Group). The development will also include affordable homes available via the Housing Corporation. The development includes the new Amesbury Archer Primary School and the Bowman Centre, a new community facility managed by the Town Council.
At the Boscombe Down junction of the A303 a new mixed business development known as Solstice Park This is already home to the Solstice Park Services which includes a Holiday Inn Hotel and plans have been submitted for a Regional Distribution Centre for a major retailer[6].
[edit] Notes
- ^ Houses of Benedictine nuns - Abbey, later priory, of Amesbury | British History Online
- ^ Elfinspell: Amesbury Monastery, by John Timbs from Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales, Their Legendary Lore and Popular History, Re-edited, Revised and Enlarged by Alexander Gunn, Volume II, History, architecture and legends, English and Welsh Architecture, Ecclesiastical History online text, free e-book
- ^ Wiltshire County Council - Wiltshire Community History Get Church Information
- ^ CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Order and Abbey of Fontevrault
- ^ St Mary & St Melor Abbey Church
- ^ http://www.this-is-amesbury.co.uk/pdf/atcfullmins/atcfullminutesjanuary2008.pdf
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