Ash, Somerset
| Ash | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 Holy Trinity Church, Ash | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST474206 |
| Location: | 50°58’58"N, 2°44’60"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 626 (2011) |
| Post town: | Martock |
| Postcode: | TA12 |
| Dialling code: | 01935 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Somerset |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Somerton and Frome |
Ash is a village in Somerset, a mile north of Martock and six miles north-west of Yeovil in the south of the county. The parish had a recorded population of 626 in 2011. The parish includes the hamlets of Milton and Witcombe.
Ash has a primary school.
History
The name Ash, from the Old English æsc, meaning ash-tee, and hence "place with/near ash tree(s)."[1][2] It first appears in the record in the Domesday Book in 1086 as ‘Aisse’. It next appears, in 1225 as ‘Esse’ .
Milton is first mentioned in 1284-6 as ‘Milton Fauconberg’ or ‘Falcenbridge’. There appear to be two possible derivations: 'The gentle farnstead' from Old English ‘milde’ (mild) and ‘tun’ (village / estate) or 'Middle farm' from the Old English ‘'middel’' and '‘tun'’ Since Milton lies between the tithings of Long Load and Witcombe, the latter seems to be more likely as it was known as ‘Middleton’ in 1284-6.[2]
Witcombe means 'white valley' from the Old English ‘hwit’ and ‘cumb’. It occurs as ‘Whythicumbe’ in 1243, which might suggest an alternative derivation as 'Withycombe' meaning 'willow valley' from the Old English ‘wippe’ and ‘cumb’. It may also be ‘wide valley’ from Old English.[2]
The mediæval settlement seems to have included two separate hamlets on the two adjacent parallel lanes. These were the centres of the two mediæval manors: Ash Boulogne to the west, and Pykesash to the east. Both nuclei are characterised by an irregular group of working farms.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ash, Somerset) |
References
- ↑ Mills, A.D.: 'Dictionary of English Place Names' (Oxford University Press, 1991)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: The Dovecote Press Ltd. p. 21. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.