From the East & South East: From the M3 exit at
Junction 7 onto the A303 (the highway only goes to the West) signposted to
Andover. You cross the A345 roundabout, pass Stonehenge, cross the
A360 roundabout, through Winterbourne Stoke - which has a very active speed
camera - and through the roundabout on the A36. Eventually turn right onto a slip road signposted Warminster to the North and Shaftesbury to the South. Turn left off the slip road to Shaftesbury on
the A350. Turn left at the roundabout at the Esso station onto the A30.
Ten kilometers later, turn left at the Ansty/Swallowcliffe sign.
At junction 7, you're an hour away from the A350
At Stonehenge, you're twenty minutes away from the A350
From Salisbury: Drive west along the A36, through
the traffic lights 2 or so km out of town, past the Wilton Garden Centre, right turn
on the roundabout, through Wilton on the A30. Fifteen kilometers from Wilton turn
right off the main road at the Ansty/Swallowcliffe sign.
It's a half hour drive from Salisbury
From Warminster: Drive south on the A350 to
Shaftesbury. Turn left at the roundabout at the Esso station onto the A30.
Ten kilometers later, turn left at the Ansty/Swallowcliffe sign.
It's a forty minute drive from Warminster.
From the West (Exeter, etc): Drive East along the
A303 to the Esso station at Willoughby Hedge. Turn off on the slip road on
the left signposted to Shaftesbury and left again onto the A350 South to
Shaftesbury. Turn left at the roundabout at the Esso station onto the A30.
Ten kilometers later, turn left at the Ansty/Swallowcliffe sign.
For a real road map click: http://www.streetmap.co.uk where you can select Ansty or a post code, if you know an address
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History
Two Manors are mentioned in the Doomsday Book with the
main estate being owned by Waleran the Hunter.
In 1066 William the Conqueror gave
the Manor of Ansty to Payne de Turberville and that family held the title for
the next
145 years. It is interesting to
note that this is the same person as "D'urberville" in
Hardy's
"Tess of the D'urbervilles"
and Ansty is indirectly mentioned
early in the
book: 'In the reign of King John, one
of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers'.
In 1211 Walter de Turberville gave the Manor to
the Knights Hospitaller and whilst England was under an interdict between 1208
and 1214, Ansty would have been one of the few place where the sacraments were
still celebrated, as the Knights Hospitaller were exempt because they reported
directly to Pope.
The Order of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem
was one of the two major orders established to help capture and retain Jerusalem
and the Holy Land during the Crusades. The orders became very wealthy and
powerful as they had many estates given to them throughout Europe and they were
exempt from paying taxes to the King.
These estates were known as "Commanderies" of the
Order and generally consisted of a Manor House, Church and Hospice plus other
buildings. The Church of St. James was built by the Hospitallers in about 1230
together with a Hospice (possibly on the site of or near to the present
building). Ansty pond is also thought to have been created about this time to
provide fresh fish for the Order.
The Hospitallers held Ansty until the dissolution
of the monasteries in 1541 at which time the Manor was sold to Sir John Zouch
for 30.6.9d. Francis Zouch (buried in Ansty) inherited the
Manor from his father in 1585. Shortly afterwards Ansty was purchased by Sir
Matthew Arundell and in 1596‑98 his son Thomas Arundell (later the first Lord
Arundell) rebuilt the Manor House and also built the present "Hospice or
Commandery". Ansty remained part of the Wardour Estate until it was sold
privately in 1946.
The large stone building near to the church is
locally called "The Hospice" or "Old Commandery". It was built in 1596‑98 by
Thomas Arundell (possibly on the site of the original Hospice of the Knights
Hospitaller). It was most likely used as a banqueting hall
From 2nd to 11th May 1643,
during the siege of Wardour Castle, the Cromwellian army is reputed to have been
housed in the "Hospice". It is also interesting to note that the local Ansty
maypole was removed at this time by the Puritans but was replaced in 1680
following the restoration of the monarchy.
The "Hospice" was badly damaged by fire in 1922
and shortly after the second world war the south east corner was damaged by an
American tank which accidentally hit the building. The building was restored in
2001 and is now used for local private and village events such as the maypole
celebrations, harvest supper and village weddings.
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Today Ansty is a small
rural village of about 125 people including 25 children of school age. There are
still several farms but the village has now lost its shop, post office and pub. In recent years the village
has become known for its polo club which is in a stunning setting at the foot of
the downs. The parish church which dates from the 13th
century is dedicated to St James and holds services every Sunday plus a short
evening service each Tuesday.
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Not only are books and video
tapes are available but also internet access and full facilities for the
disabled
In very early times Ansty (Anestige ‑ a Saxon word
meaning "the way up") was part of the Royal Forest of Selwood and King Alfred is
reputed to have hunted here in about AD 890.
On the 1st of
May each year local children dance around the maypole as part of the local May
Day celebrations and the village still holds an annual fete and harvest supper.
WILTON MOBILE
LIBRARY
Location: Ansty Maypole
Time: Every
other Thursday from 2.15 to 2.50pm
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St
James' Church Services
1st Sunday Family Communion; 2nd & 3rd Sunday: Parish Communion Order 1;
4th Sunday:
BCP Holy Communion [said];
when there is a 5th Sunday: Matins [sung].
click for Team Church Notices