Ashley, Northamptonshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashley |
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 The George public house, Ashley |
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 Ashley
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| Population | 224 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SP7990 |
| • London | 92 miles (148 km) SSE |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MARKET HARBOROUGH |
| Postcode district | LE16 |
| Dialling code | 01858 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Ashley is a small village in North Northamptonshire, England. It's located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of Market Harborough and 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Corby. In 2011, about 224 people lived here. The village is close to the River Welland, which marks the border with Leicestershire. A very old Roman road, called Via Devana, used to run just north of Ashley. This road connected Ratae (now Leicester) to Duroliponte (now Cambridge). The name Ashley means 'ash-tree wood' or 'clearing'.
Contents
Exploring Ashley's Buildings
The Village Church
The church in Ashley is called St Mary the Virgin. Most of it was rebuilt in 1867 by a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott. This work was done for the local rector, Richard Pulteney, who was in charge of the church from 1853 to 1874.
The Manor House
The Manor House was also updated for Mr. Pulteney in 1865. This work was done by another architect named Edmund Francis Law. Mr. Pulteney also asked Sir George Gilbert Scott to build a school for the village in 1858. The school was built in a style called Gothic. A house for the school's head teacher was also built in 1865.
Discovering Roman History
Ashley's Roman Villa
In the 1800s, during the building of a railway line, remains of a Roman villa were found. This discovery happened in a field called Alderstone, just north of the village. The railway line connected Market Harborough to Peterborough and Stamford. Ashley even had its own railway station, called Ashley and Weston railway station.
The villa site was very close to the ancient Roman road that went from Leicester to Cambridge. Later digs in 1969-1971 showed that there was a main villa building and other smaller buildings nearby.
Fun Village Events
Easter Monday Tug-of-War
Every year on Easter Monday, Ashley has a special tradition. The villagers take part in a tug of war match against the people from the neighboring village of Medbourne. It's a fun and exciting event for everyone!
