Ashley, Staffordshire

Ashley
Ashley  Ashley shown within Staffordshire
Population	508 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SJ762363
District	Newcastle-under-Lyme
Shire county	Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Near Market Drayton
Postcode district	TF9
Dialling code	01630
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Stone
List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire

Ashley is a village and former civil parish in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 508. The village is close to the border of Shropshire, adjacent to Loggerheads, and is 4 miles (6 km) west north west of Market Drayton.

History

The name means "the forest clearing by the ash tree" the old village is in evidence in the lanes of Hookgate, Ashley Dale and Jugbank. Mainly sandstone cottages now mixed in with modern housing. From medieval times men have indiscriminately hacked clearings in the forests. Then linked them with tracks and lanes following no specific pattern.

The church of St John the Baptist possess a 17th century tower with the remainder built in 1860-62 by J. Ashdown of London in a style representative of the13th-14th century. The church is on a raised mound which would leave one to think originally of Saxon or pre-Christian times. It is worth a visit for the spectacular tomb of Sir Gilbert Gerard (d. 1592) and his wife (d. 1608). Near to the church is a mound as yet unexcavated but thought to a burial ground from the time of the Black Death.

The Roman Catholic chapel of Our Lady and St John a rather unimposing building not far from St John the Baptist. The church and rectory are just one building with a hint of gothic-like adornments an a colour washed stucco.

External links

• Loggerheads (and Ashley) Parish Council website