Axford, Wiltshire

Human settlement in England
  • Ramsbury
Unitary authority
  • Wiltshire
Ceremonial county
  • Wiltshire
Region
  • South West
CountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townMarlboroughPostcode districtSN8Dialling code01672PoliceWiltshireFireDorset and WiltshireAmbulanceSouth Western UK Parliament
  • Devizes
WebsiteRamsbury & Axford Community
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire
51°25′44″N 1°39′32″W / 51.429°N 1.659°W / 51.429; -1.659

Axford is a small village in Ramsbury parish in the English county of Wiltshire. It lies on the north bank of the River Kennet, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south-west of Ramsbury village and the same distance east of Marlborough.

History

Axford was one of seven Saxon settlements along the Kennet Valley in modern-day Wiltshire in the 5th and 6th centuries.[1]

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Axford manor was centred on Priory Farm a short distance from the village itself. The majority of housing was built to the south of the main road through the village; the area to the north was developed during the late 18th and early 19th century.[2]

St Michael's church was built in 1856 to designs of William White, as a chapel of ease to Holy Cross at Ramsbury.[3]

A military camp was sited near Axford during the Second World War.[4]

Notable buildings

Axford has a Grade I listed building, Axford Farmhouse, which has medieval origins.[5] Riverside House, Grade II* listed, has a 16th-century wing, partly timber framed; the house was enlarged in the 17th century.[6]

Local government

Axford is in Ramsbury civil parish; the parish council styles itself as Ramsbury & Axford Parish Council.[7] The second tier of local government is Wiltshire Council. The two councils are responsible for different aspects of local government.

Amenities

Axford is close to the A4 road. Bus services are provided by the Swindon's Bus Company route 48 between Swindon and Marlborough.[8]

The village pub, the Red Lion, closed in 2019.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Ramsbury". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. ^ Chandler, John (2001). "Ramsbury Concise History". Marlborough and Eastern Wiltshire. Hobnob Press. ISBN 0-946418-07-1.
  3. ^ "Church of St. Michael, Axford, Ramsbury". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  4. ^ Flying Troops to Camp The Leader Post, 1 September 1939
  5. ^ Historic England. "Axford Farmhouse (1300471)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Riverside House (1365448)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council, accessed 13 March 2013". Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  8. ^ Thamesdown Transport - Timetables - Route 46/46A/48 Archived 24 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Wiltshire/Berkshire border pub project for sale". Sidney Phillips. May 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.

Further reading

  • Baggs, A.P.; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1983). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History – Wiltshire – Vol 12 pp47-52 – Parishes: Axford". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 2 December 2019.

External links

  • Ramsbury & Axford website

Media related to Axford, Wiltshire at Wikimedia Commons