Ashurst Wood

infobox UK place
static_

country = England
latitude= 51.11073
longitude= 0.02578
area_total_km2=2.51
official_name= Ashurst Wood
population = 2,784cite web | url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5942623&c=AShurst+Wood&d=14&e=16&g=496643&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1195631668362&enc=1 | title=2001 Census information about Ashurst Wood | author=United Kingdom Census 2001|publisher=statistics.gov.uk|2001 Census] | year=2001 | accessdate=2007-11-21 | format=html | language=English]
civil_parish= Ashurst Wood
shire_district= Mid Sussex
shire_county = West Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster=Mid Sussex
post_town= EAST GRINSTEAD
postcode_district = RH19
postcode_area= RH
dial_code= 01342
os_grid_reference= TQ419365

Ashurst Wood is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. It is convert|1|mi|km|0 to the southeast of East Grinstead, just off the A22 arterial road. The village is in the Mid Sussex district of the county, and has a population of 2,784. Ashurst Wood is within the High Weald Area of Natural Beauty and has an SSSI inside its boundaries.cite web | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1000560 | title=SSSI information - Mills Rocks | date=2007-10-02 | accessdate=2007-11-21 | publisher=Natural England | format=html | language=English] In 2000, Ashurst Wood became a civil parish and a parish council was formed.cite web | url=http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=316&SiteExtra=10342578&TopNavId=677&NavSideId=3447 | title=Council Introduction | author=Ashurst Wood Parish Council | format=html | language=English | accessdate=2007-11-03]

The village has a history of agriculture and farming, and contains a church, village hall, primary school, two public houses, a general shop, post office and several small business premises. There are two public schools on the boundary of the village, Brambletye School and Stoke Brunswick School. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood in the Twentieth Century | month=May | year=2000 | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | author=Ashdown, Sue | page=p. 99] Bus routes run through the village with destinations of East Grinstead, Crawley and Tunbridge Wells.

History

The exact date of when the village was formed is not known, but two of the main roads in the village and Lewes Road (now part of the A22) were used as a ridge-way track for animals and people 5,000 years ago. [cite book | title=Sussex Notes and Queries | author=Margary, I.D | page=p. 62] There is also evidence of a Roman ironworks in the village.By 1066 the area had two established farms, the tracks between them are still in use today as roads. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood 1086-1986 | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | year=1986 | page=p. 4] The name of Ashurst Wood dates back to 1164 when the region was known as "Aesehyrst Wilde". There was no village then and the name was used for a common area.cite web | url=http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=316&SiteExtra=10342578&TopNavId=677&NavSideId=5822 | title=About Ashurst Wood | year=2002 | publisher=Ashurst Wood Parish Council | author=Ashurst Wood Historians | accessdate=2008-01-18] During the reign of Henry II, the area that is now Ashurst Wood was called, "Esseherst". The names "Aisherst", "Askhurst" and "Eseherst" were in use in the years 1186, 1248 and 1279 respectively. Around 1300, the oldest surviving house in the village was built. Part of this building remains as the Headmaster's drawing room in Stoke Brunswick School, [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood 1086-1986 | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | year=1986 | page=p. 7] and has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building. [cite web | title= Homestall Lodge (Stoke Brunswick School) | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=296038 | accessdate=2007-11-27] By the time of the reign of Elizabeth I, Ashurst Wood had prosperous farms, with Water Farmhouse being built in the 16th century, [cite web | title= Water Farmhouse | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=296039 | accessdate=2007-11-27] Great Surries dating from the 17th century, [cite web | title= Great Surries | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=296036 | accessdate=2007-11-27] and its barn being slightly more recent. [cite web | title= Barn to south of Great Surries | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=296037 | accessdate=2007-11-27] The population grew and more houses were built in the village. in 1855, the nearby town of East Grinstead was connected to London by rail, and another rail connection to the area in 1884 meant that Ashurst Wood was more accessible. Many wealthier people bought property in the area and this provided work other than that of the agricultural type. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood 1086-1986 | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | year=1986 | page=p. 8-9]

In 1910, the village school moved to new premises built for 240 children. It is still in use as the primary school today. The school began at its new location on 1910-09-30. During World War I, many villagers volunteered to serve in the armed forces. Back in the village efforts to help the war included making sandbags to be sent to the front. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood in the Twentieth Century | author=Hopkins, Anne and Taylor, Tom | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | month=May | year=2000 | pages=p. 15-23] In 1931, construction was complete on St Dunstan's Hall, which is now the Village Centre. The hall was immediately put to good use for many activities by villagers. Ashurst Wood experienced World War II first hand with bullets from planes hitting the school. Dogfights were regularly seen in the skies above and around the village, and buildings that are now part of Stoke Brunswick School were used for nursing allied airmen. In 1944, the village was hit by a series of V-1 flying bombs, "Doodlebugs", leaving craters that are still visible as of today. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood in the Twentieth Century | author=Hopkins, Anne and Taylor, Tom | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | month=May | year=2000 | pages=p. 49-59] Since the Second World War, the village has been expanded by suburban development. [cite web |url=http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/msdcpublic/resources/LCA10pt3CA06HighWeald.pdf |title=Landscape Character Area 6 High Weald |accessdate=2007-11-27 |format=PDF |work=MidSussex Council ] In December 1978, construction started on the United Reformed Church in the village to convert it into the new and current St. Dunstan's Church. The work was completed in Summer 1979 and dedicated in September by the Bishop of Horsham. The lease for St. Dunstan's Hall was taken over by the Ashurst Wood Community Association from the church and became the Village Centre in 1980. The hall was then renovated by local builders and has since been put to use by youth clubs, local theatre and many more activities.

Demography

At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001, there were formatnum:2784 residents in the village. As of 2001, Ashurst Wood is slightly less diverse ethnically than the national average. 96.5% of the village residents are white, 1.6% are of mixed race, 1% Asian, 0.1% Black, 0.4% Chinese and 0.4% are of other ethnicity. The village is fractionally more diverse than the regional average.cite web | url=http://www2.westsussex.gov.uk/business/economic_info/Ward%20Profiles/Mid%20Sussex/Ashurst_Wood_Ward_Profile.pdf | title=Ashurst Wood Ward Profiles 2007 | year=2007 | accessdate=2007-11-21 | publisher=West Sussex County Council, West Sussex Public Health Observatory | format=pdf | language=English] The mean age for residents of the village is 39 and the median age is 38. Figures released in 2006 and 2007 show that crime in the village is lower than the national averages. There are zero robberies per one thousand people, 4.7 burglaries per thousand and 7.5 vehicle thefts per thousand.

For the Census 2001, the people of Ashurst Wood indicated their religion. 71.8% stated their religion as Christian, 0.43% as Buddhist, 0.32% as Hindu, 0.36% as Jewish, 1.26% as Muslim, 0% as Sikh, 1.04% as other religions, 17.28% indicated they had no religion and 7.51% did not state their religion. The majority of residents are economically active. 43.91% and 14.12% of the population are in full and part time employment. 12.08% of residents are self employed and 1.28% are unemployed. This figure is lower than the local, regional and national percentages of unemployment. Economically inactive residents are made up of 13.1% retired, 3.28% students, 5.22% looking after their home or family, 2.1% permanently sick or disabled and 1.94% are economically inactive for other reasons.

Governance

Ashurst Wood is a ward and a civil parish since 2000. Following the local election on

Up until 1992 Ashurst Wood was split by the boundary of East and West Sussex, which meant parts of the village were under the control of Forest Row Parish Council and other parts East Grinstead Town Council. A plan to transfer land on the East Sussex part over to West Sussex County Council was submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment, and in 1993 the boundary changes came into force. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood in the Twentieth Century | author=Ashdown, Sue | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | month=May | year=2000 | page=p. 100]

Ashurst Wood is now in the District of Mid Sussex which is "mostly" covered by the Mid Sussex (UK Parliament constituency). Nicholas Soames, grandson of UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, is its Conservative Member of Parliament. In the 2005 local elections Nicholas Soames held his seat by winning the vote with 48.0%, a 1.8% increase than the previous election. The Liberal Democrats followed with 36.1%, a 5% increase. Labour received 12.7% of the vote, down 6.3% and The United Kingdom Independence Party received 3.2% of the vote, up 0.7% on the previous election. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/562.stm | title=Election 2005 - Result: Sussex Mid | date=2005-05-06 | accessdate=2007-11-27 | format=html | language=English | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News]

In 2005 a committee formed with the aim of creating an action plan to implement progress for the village. In 2006 a comprehensive questionnaire was produced and given to the villagers to ascertain what actions should be taken. [cite web | url=http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=142759&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142742&contentPK=18964094&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch | title=PLANS FOR EXTRA HOUSES IN VILLAGE | publisher=East Grinstead Courier | author=Thompson, Jessica | date=2007-11-15 | format=html | language=English] 55% of the questionnaires were returned and general population data recorded by this questionnaire echoed the findings of the 2001 census. The questionnaire resulted in a document called the "Ashurst Wood - Village Action Plan" which was published in April 2007. The document contains time scales for targets and actions that will be taken. ["Ashurst Wood - Village Action Plan." (print) Village Plan Steering Committee (April 2007)]

Geography

Ashurst Wood is situated on a prominent ridge convert|1|mi|km|0 to the southeast of East Grinstead [cite web | url=http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/midsussex/explore.html#ashurst | title=Mid Sussex Official Guide | publisher=Mid Sussex District Council | work=localauthoritypublishing.co.uk | accessdate=2007-11-21 | format=html | language=English] and is convert|400|ft|m|0 above sea level, [US Geological Survey. (2007)] This means the area is not prone to heavy flooding. Several farms are within the boundaries of the village which keep various livestock such as sheep and pigs, but Ashurst Wood is primarily a residential village.

The village primarily stands on "Tunbridge Wells Sand" and "Wadhurst Clay". Areas that are set on sandstone were quarried for the production of glass to use in the building of The Crystal Palace in London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The combination of permeable and impermeable types creates an abundance of streams and springs in woodland areas. [cite web | url=http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Uploads/Site316/Files/AWCGLeaflet.pdf | title=Ashurst Wood Conservation Group | month=April | year=2007 | format=pdf] These are known Ghyll springs and streams, and are common in the High Weald.

Mills Rocks in the north of the village is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is an area consisting of outcrops of sandstone, and is currently designated as "Unfavourable recovering", which means that it is not yet fully conserved but all the necessary management measures are in place. Provided that the recovery work is sustained, the SSSI will reach favourable condition in time.

Community facilities

Education

There are three schools in Ashurst Wood, a state primary school and two independent schools.
*"Ashurst Wood Primary School" is a mixed gender, non-denominational state school for children aged four to eleven years old and has been in its current location since 1910. As of the 2006 Ofsted inspection, there were 116 pupils enrolled at the school. In the Ofsted report, the school received satisfactory grades in the overall Inspection Judgements.cite web | url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=125929&inspectionNumber=282025&providerCategoryID=4096&fileName=\school\125\s5_125929_20061201.xml | title=Ashurst Wood Primary School Inspection Report | date=2006-11-14 | accessdate=2007-11-03 | publisher=Ofsted | format=html | language=English] In 2006, Ashurst Wood Primary School received the International School Award. [cite web | url=http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/curriculum/international-links/isa-folder/international-school-award-2006.en | title=International School Award 2006 | date=2006-11-02 | accessdate=2008-01-18 | publisher=The West Sussex Grid for Learning] To receive this award, the school is involved in an international link with Mervin Iverson Elementary in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Members of staff have visited each school and the students are in contact with each other and are involved in joint activities. [cite web | url=http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/curriculum/international-links/tipd-folder/las-vegas-5---ashurst-wood-primary.en | title=Las Vegas - February 2005 - Ashurst Wood Primary School | date=2005-08-25 | accessdate=2008-01-18 | publisher=The West Sussex Grid for Learning]
*"Stoke Brunswick School" is a mixed gender day and boarding independent school for children aged three to thirteen years old. The building previously stood in Cheshire but it was relocated to Ashurst Wood where it became a school. As of 2003, there are 148 students and 18 of those are boarding. In a report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, there were overall good findings for the school, including children achieving good academic standards. [cite web | url=http://www.isi.net/reports/2003/1189_03.htm | title=Inspection Report on Stoke Brunswick School | date=2003-05-23 | accessdate=2008-01-18 | publisher=Independent Schools Inspectorate]
*"Brambletye School" is an independent day and boarding preparatory school for girls and boys aged seven to thirteen years old. The school's grounds cover convert|140|acre|km2 to the south west of the village. The preparatory school has been coeducational since 2000 but the pre-prep school has always accepted girls. [cite web | url=http://www.brambletye.co.uk/home.php | title=Brambletye School Official Website | accessdate=2008-01-18 | publisher=Independent Schools Inspectorate] In 2001, the Independent Schools Inspectorate found that there were 206 pupils at the school, 99 of which are boarding there. The ISI report findings showed that the school was doing very well with small room for improvement. [cite web | url=http://www.isi.net/reports/2001/0141_01.htm | title=Independent School Inspectorate Report on Brambletye School | date=2001-10-05 | accessdate=2008-01-18 ]

ports and recreation

. [cite web | url=http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=316&SiteExtra=10342578&TopNavId=677&NavSideId=3481 | title=John Pears Pavilion and Tennis Courts | author=Ashurst Wood Parish Council | accessdate=2007-11-03 | format=html | language=English]

The other recreational field known locally as "The Rec", is where the Mid-Sussex Football League division 2 team Ashurst Wood F.C. plays its home games. [cite web | title=Ashurst Wood local plan | url=http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/local_plan_online/written/cpt18.htm | publisher=Mid-Sussex District Council | accessdate=2007-11-03 | language=English | format=html] The team was formed around the early 1920s. The recreation ground was also home to the village cricket team which had been running for over 100 years, but folded due to lack of participants in 1999. [cite book | title=Ashurst Wood in the Twentieth Century | author=Ashdown, Sue | publisher=Ashurst Wood Historians | month=May | year=2000 | page=p. 86]

Other facilities

Ashurst Wood is served by the Metrobus bus service, with final destinations of Crawley, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Uckfield. [cite web | url=http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnshowr.asp?RN=KE291A | title=Listing of Transport Services from Ashurst Wood | publisher=carlberry.co.uk | date=2005-05-01 | accessdate=2008-01-18] There is also a community funded bus service called "EG Bus" that provides a ride to East Grinstead for the elderly and disabled. The bus picks up people from various places in the village to take them to the shops in East Grinstead and relies on volunteer drivers. [cite web | title=Ashurst Wood Parish Council Newsletter | url=http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Uploads/Site316/Files/november07e-newsletter.doc | format=doc | accessdate=2008-01-18] In the village there is Allan Martin Meats, an award winning butchers shop. The shop gets its meat locally and is a supplier to local public houses. In 2008 the butchers provided meat for television chef Gordon Ramsey for a programme aired on Channel 4. [cite web | url=http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231831&command=displayContent&sourceNode=143983&contentPK=19570385&folderPk=82906&pNodeId=143791 | title=Chips Down as Steak is Cooked Live | date=2008-01-17 | accessdate=2008-01-18 | publisher=East Grinstead Courier]

P.R.A.W.N.S.

To celebrate the millennium, in January 2000 some residents of Ashurst Wood unofficially declared independence from the United Kingdom. The new state was known as The "People's Republic of Ashurst Wood, a Nation State", which gave the acronym P.R.A.W.N.S..cite web | title=Village declares independence | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/594935.stm | date=2000-01-07 | accessdate=2007-11-03 | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News | format=html | language=English] This was reported in the local and national media, notably by the radio DJ Chris Moyles during his show on BBC Radio 1. [cite web | title=Ashurst Wood "PRAWNS" event discussed on Radio One | url=http://www.mp3tube.net/musics/Amateur-PRAWNS/79335/ | author=Moyles, Chris | format=mp3 | publisher=BBC | work=BBC Radio One | language=English | date=2000-01-08 | accessdate=2007-11-16]

The "revolution" was said to be justified because of a ruling by King Ethelred in the year 979, specifying that the village of Ashurst would be immune from taxation after he fell ill there.

References

External links

* [http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/page.cfm?CFNoCache=TRUE&LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=2119 Mid Sussex District Council profile for Ashurst Wood]
* [http://www.ashurstwood.w-sussex.sch.uk/ Ashurst Wood Primary School]
* [http://www.escis.org.uk/Details.asp?s=&id=17886&count=3&findall=-1&srchfld=0&adv=0&em=0 Ashurst Wood Historians]
* [http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=4765 The Church of St Dunstan]