|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main Menu:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amenities Menu:
Search our Site:
Ashton Scrapbook
Over the last 54 years, this book has become a 'classic' for those wishing to study the history of Ashton village from its very earliest days to 1953. It is now reprinted.Click below for more information and how to buy a copy.
>>>Scrapbook - 1953
Over the last 54 years, this book has become a 'classic' for those wishing to study the history of Ashton village from its very earliest days to 1953. It is now reprinted.Click below for more information and how to buy a copy.
>>>Scrapbook -
ROOTS 2002:
Ashton Historical Roots Weekend
26-27-28 April 2002
The Roots Weekend was a Great Success, see the report below and link to the Langhorns web site for more.
Ashton Historical Roots Weekend
26-
The Roots Weekend was a Great Success, see the report below and link to the Langhorns web site for more.
|
|
|
|
For those who came to us, thank you all for making it such a great success. For those who missed it, we may have another (Roots 2009 ! ) ? Let us know if you are interested.
Thank you all for your help:
This report is just a quick thankyou for those we may have missed.
The Roots Weekend was a huge success with people coming to Ashton from America, Australia and New Zealand as well as all parts of the UK. Many of the visitors have asked us to thank all those who made them feel welcome.
Everyone from the Family Tree groups to the casual drop in visitors enjoyed their time spent in Ashton.
We had over 500 visitors and as many of you know even the TV cameras recorded the event.
Over £2,000 in orders were taken and the profit from the weekend will be presented to the
'Village Group Fund'.
We would like to thank the following:-
Judy & Terry Langhorn for organising the Roots Family Reunion Group
Sylvia for the Reed Family Reunion
The Ashton 1940's Evacuee Reunion
The Tow Path Camping Group !!!!!
and all the other gatherings / groups / reunions etc (un-
The following companies and Groups etc gave equipment and support:-
Trevor Newton & the Mens Own Rugby Club
Bruce from Brooks Services of Milton Keynes
Annette and The members of Ashton School
The members of Ashton Church
Betta and the Zanotto Family
EMC Hire Ltd
Whitesmith Research
Johnathan and the staff at the Old Crown
The Chronicle & Echo Newspaper
Anglia TV
English Heritage (Photography section)
Ashton Millennium Group
Thank you to the villagers of Ashton:
A very large number of villagers and others were involved in the preparation and support over the weekend. We would like to thank you personally for the help you gave in making the event such a success.
The following people helped directly or were supporting us 'behind the scenes' :
(in no particular order)
Liz Bartlett -
Anne Sale
Kath Lever
Lesley Godfrey
Len Davis
Marion Wilson
Bernard Day
Brian Nevison
Sue Mallock
Sharon & Rebecca
Mark Everitt
Rebekah Russell
Jeremy Roychoudhury
Simon Clarke
Martin Wilson
Pat Myles
Rosemary Skinner
Joyce Kingsbury
Diane Lumsden
Carole Broadhurst
Julie James
Iris Welch
Jane Sheahan
Gemma Freund
Maureen Hunter
Brian Sale
Albert Godfrey
Ann Griffin
Alan Beber
Andy Hibbs
Betty Fevier
Ken Ansdell
Rose White
Mike Learoyd
Maureen Bailey
Graham James
Angela Gledhill
Yvonne Hardman
Dene Warren
Andrew Hunter
Norman & Janet Drury
Mary Russell
Pat Nevison
Stephanie Fowler
Janet & Rebecca Roychoudhury
John, Denise & Scott Andrews
Allan Myles
Peter Griffen
Jody Godfrey
Anjie Learoyd
Ann Lamb
David Gledhill
Venita Webb
Peter Crawford
Chris Notley
Peter Lumsden
Steve Falder
Kelly Martin
Jeremy Martin
Diane Shadforth
Des Webb
Liz Beber
Julie Squire
Bryan Skinner
David Broadhurst
Les Welch
Ben Godfrey
Helen Hall
A big thankyou all -
More Information available?:
If you were there have you any photographs, stories, etc etc of the weekend that we may share on this Ashton Roots web site. Please contact me, see below.......
For more information of the weekend, contact:-
David Farrand —
Tel: 01604 863 225
E-
Andrew Fowler —
Tel: 01604 862 904
War Wounds - Evacuee:
David Owen from Canada recently visited Ashton.
He met, after more than sixty years,
old friends from the village and visited the graves of
Aunts Tess and Amy and saw the Chapel once again.
He wrote this poem some time ago about his time as an evacuee in Ashton.
He met, after more than sixty years,
old friends from the village and visited the graves of
Aunts Tess and Amy and saw the Chapel once again.
He wrote this poem some time ago about his time as an evacuee in Ashton.
There are many ways
that children go to war
that war comes to children.
They are evacuees
laden with home-made oilskin knapsacks
and gasmasks
loaded on the back of a lorry
trucked door-to-door like vegetables
still unripe.
Just eight years old
too soon grown up
his farewell charge
"look after your sisters"
a grave trust weighing
on small shoulders.
Clinging together in a desperate plea
that they must not be separated.
But torn apart, abused, mistreated,
he did the only thing he could think of
gathered their bewildered faces
and ran away.
Ten miles and ten hours wearied
stained by their fill
of hedgerow blackberries
and ditch dirty
chilled by autumn air
they were spotted
comforted and returned.
To his surprise
people seemed to understand.
A child displaced by war and set adrift
Tess and Amy took him in
"Suffer the little children"
Tess 68 and Amy 65, spinsters
"Call us aunts" they said
conviction rich, assets poor
disciples in the Weslyan Methodist Chapel
the small stone citadel his first anchor.
Plenty large enough
for its meagre congregation
of Aunt Tess, Aunt Amy and he
"Where three are gathered in My Name."
From his bedroom window under the thatch,
framed by vines where grapes grew
but never ripened,
He could see the stone chapel
and farmer Rogers' fields, where by day
He picked stones for six pence
and gleaned grain missed by the binder,
feed for the chickens.
And after the taper is snuffed,
the sky, colour of black-country anthracite,
spread to within a span of the horizon
to meet the nightly incendiary glow,
confirming his home fires
were still burning,
over the bend of the world
sixty miles away.
Now in its diamond anniversary,
on his pilgrimage back from worlds away
and generations past
Tess and Amy gone to their inheritance
the Chapel now the publican's garage.
His anchor long since rusted
the wounds yet deep
the scars still bleed.
that children go to war
that war comes to children.
They are evacuees
laden with home-
loaded on the back of a lorry
trucked door-
Just eight years old
too soon grown up
his farewell charge
"look after your sisters"
a grave trust weighing
on small shoulders.
Clinging together in a desperate plea
that they must not be separated.
But torn apart, abused, mistreated,
he did the only thing he could think of
gathered their bewildered faces
and ran away.
Ten miles and ten hours wearied
stained by their fill
of hedgerow blackberries
and ditch dirty
chilled by autumn air
they were spotted
comforted and returned.
To his surprise
people seemed to understand.
A child displaced by war and set adrift
Tess and Amy took him in
"Suffer the little children"
Tess 68 and Amy 65, spinsters
"Call us aunts" they said
conviction rich, assets poor
disciples in the Weslyan Methodist Chapel
the small stone citadel his first anchor.
Plenty large enough
for its meagre congregation
of Aunt Tess, Aunt Amy and he
"Where three are gathered in My Name."
From his bedroom window under the thatch,
framed by vines where grapes grew
but never ripened,
He could see the stone chapel
and farmer Rogers' fields, where by day
He picked stones for six pence
and gleaned grain missed by the binder,
feed for the chickens.
And after the taper is snuffed,
the sky, colour of black-
to meet the nightly incendiary glow,
confirming his home fires
were still burning,
over the bend of the world
sixty miles away.
Now in its diamond anniversary,
on his pilgrimage back from worlds away
and generations past
Tess and Amy gone to their inheritance
the Chapel now the publican's garage.
His anchor long since rusted
the wounds yet deep
the scars still bleed.
Ashton's History & Roots 2002:
For those interested in the Village History there are some new books available:-
(1) Ashton Scrapbook 1953:
This Classic work by Ashton's Womens Institute in 1953 has now been re-
Contact us if you wish to purchase a copy.
(2) Ashton Church Yard Monument Inspection:
Thanks to all those who have spent so much time researching and documenting the graves in the Chuch yard during the Roots 2002 weekend. The resulting M.I. book is now available at £ 1.50 from www.northants-
(3) Victoria County History Trust (VCHT) Volume 5:
A new chapter in Northamptonshire's history has been published after a gap of almost 60 years and is set to become an invaluable source for all those interested in Ashton and South Northants history. Between 1906 and 1937 four volumes of the history of Northamptonshire were published by the VCHT, now after a gap of almost six decades and six years of research a fifth volume is being published. Each county has one of these trusts but many have been lain dormant for some time.
Details of this book cam be viewed at:
www.british-
In Saxon times the county was divided into administration units called Hundreds. This new book concentrates on an area called Cleley Hundred which includes Ashton, Roade, Hartwell, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger, Easton Neston, Paulerspury, Grafton Regis, Potterspury, Cosgrove, Furtho, Passenham and Wicken.
(4) History of Grafton Regis:
The 466 page book features many, pictures and accounts from the times between the 16th and the 20th Century, including information about the Dukes of Grafton. The book, launched on February 21 2003 there may be spare copies available.
In addition a comprehensive interactive double CD may be purchased which covers not only Grafton Regis but also many of the surround villages on the Grafton estate, inclucluding Ashton.
www.grafton-
Family History:
With the recent interest, we see this section becoming an important part of the web site. Any Historical information, photos etc etc will be greatfully received as we are at present collecting and archiving as much as we can in scanned photos & text so that it is easily accessed by all. We are aware that not everyone has access to computer equipment & so in the future we may decide to publish a book on Ashtons History, to complement the Ashton Scrapbook that was published in 1953.
If there are any Ashton 'Locals' out there who interested in Ashtons history and would be prepared to help us with this project, please get in touch. Computer skills or access to computers is not necessary.
Ashton History Contact / information points:
There is much already published in both paper form and on the internet, here are some:.....
Some books are now available -
Ashton Church Yard Monument Inspection -
Victoria County History Trust (VCHT) Volume 5 -
In Saxon times the county was divided into administration units called Hundreds. This new book concentrates on an area called Cleley Hundred which includes Ashton, Roade, Hartwell, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger, Easton Neston, Paulerspury, Grafton Regis, Potterspury, Cosgrove, Furtho, Passenham and Wicken.
The 466 page book features maps, pictures and accounts from the area between the 16th and the 20th Century, including information about the Dukes of Grafton. The book is to be launched on February 21 2003 and can be ordered for a special price of £67.50p until the end of May 2003 (normal price £90.00p). The book can be ordered by calling 01394 411320 or logging onto www.EnglandPast.net
Ashton Village Scrap Book(1) -
Ashton Church Yard Monument Inspection -
www.northants-
Ashton Village Scrap Book(2) -
Created (but not published) in 1965 by Village Womens Institute, we have much of this scanned in. This gives a good insight to the life of the village in the mid 1960's. Further information was added by Kath Lever in the 1980's. We are intending to add to this work with the huge amount of additional information we now have archived, along with hundreds of photographs we have collected over the years. leading up to Roots 2009 so bringing the Original book right upto date.
The Marriotts: (volume1&2 ):
A huge two volume work. The first few chapters of volume one cover the early history of the Marriott family who lived at the Manor. Again another work we wish to record and publish on the site.
Ashton Village Appraisal -
Ashton VillageYear 2000 Photo Record -
Ashton Village Photo Archive -
Ashton History Internet Sites:
Norman TEW -
Grafton Regis -
This site is worth a visit, as Grafton (with Royal connections) is quite close to Ashton. They have a new book and CD out on the history of the village with some mention of Ashton and its history . More information is found at the Grafton web site at: www.grafton-
Other Sites-
* Ashton history http://ds.dial.pipex.com/anna.smart/nth.htm
Ashton History Contacts:
If you find other sites or sources of information which may be useful to others, Please contact us.
If you are reseaching your family links in Ashton, why not allow us to place your information / needs, directly on this site. This will allow any visitors to the site to contact you directly with their information. contact us with the background / history and your address and / or email address and we will be happy to post it on the site. Please precis / limit the information you supply to less than one page A4.