(reproduced with kind permission of the owner, Miss Dixon)
Although Steeple Ashton is now only a village, it was once a prosperous market town which stood on the site of even older habitation. In 901 Alfred The Great, King of Wessex, bequeathed the Manor of Ashton for the maintenance of his youngest daughter, and his great-grandson Edgar included it among the endowments of the nunnery of Romsey. There was once a moat surrounding the town, and traces of it can still be seen to the South-East of the church. A market cross was errected on the village green in 1071, which marked the place where the hundred court was held. This was where the tithingmen transacted their business in the open air, and a court was held in the village from then until recently. In the 13th centuary, deeds of Edward I and II refer to Ashton Forum, meaning market, the place where a settled mart was held, and in 1349 the market was established by Charter. Before this the commodities sold were the local products of wheat, wool, lambs, pigs, apples and cheese. In medieval times Steeple Ashton became an important weaving centre, with wealthy merchants whose houses still stand in the village and neighbouring district, and who established their own timber-framed market house in the High Street. Many houses were destroyed in the great fire of about 1500, and the Sanctuary is now reputed to be the oldest house in the village. After the fire, the market was resumed in nearby Lavington - now known as Market Lavington.
The Sanctuary is a timber framed / brick infill building with cruck trusses. It is not known exactly when the house was built, but it was sometime between 967-1539 AD in the period when the village belonged to Romsey Abbey. The beams in the front bedroom are more ornate than in the other rooms, suggesting that it belonged to someone important, and they have been identified as being the work of Hampshire workmen as oposed to the typically Wiltshire style elsewhere. The house was modernised in 1687, when the ceiling was added to the central cruck hall to create the second storey. Electricity was added in 1932, with the original wiring lasting until 1992!
The main cruck is thought to be unique in Wiltshire, in that a crown has been used to join the two beams instead of the more usual (for Wiltshire) top beam. There are features from various historical periods still present, including a 14th century lancet window and a 15th century jetty. The tudor-style fireplace in the main hall (still in use for special occasions) has a metal back-plate dated 1702, and the well preserved oak pannelling in the living room is also thought to be 18th century.
The Sanctuary is reputed to be haunted, and very few visitors are unaffected by its atmosphere. We have had several unexplained happenings in the last ten years, including distinct footsteps along the path when no-one was there, and footsteps along the landing at five in the morning when nobody was up (we checked!). Could it possibly be the owners of the leg bones found when one of the fireplaces was excavated early this century? - that were supposed to have been unceremoniously buried in the field!
the boat worked well for a long time, although the ducks weren't too keen on
having their territory invaded!
The local fox finally had the last duck in 2001, so now we make do with visiting
mallards and some moorhens that come and nest every year!
back to The Sanctuary
more pictures of the house.