Figheldean
Encyclopedia
Figheldean is a village and civil parish on the River Avon 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Amesbury
in Wiltshire
.
Centred on the village, the parish of Figheldean extends 3 miles (4.8 km) eastwards towards Tidworth
as far as Devil's Ditch and 3 miles (4.8 km) westwards beyond Larkhill
towards Shrewton
as far as Robin Hood's Ball
. The parish includes the hamlet
of Ablington
. About 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north is Netheravon
, and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south is Durrington
.
All around lies Salisbury Plain
, the largest remaining area of unimproved chalk grassland in northern Europe
, which supports many nationally rare species.
There are many archaeological sites of importance in the parish from long barrows to Roman villas, showing that people have been living in the area for at least 6,000 years.
The earliest record of Figheldean is in the Domesday Book
of 1086 in which the village is called Fisgledene. The parish church
is first mentioned in Henry I
's charter granting its lands and revenues to the cathedral at Old Sarum
.
Figheldean House is the oldest in the village still standing. It was owned by the Army for their Brigadier Generals and was subsequently sold to a private owner.
The River Avon section in Figheldean past the site of the old watermill was recently renovated with the weeds being pulled out from the bank and surrounding land. They then rebuilt the banks. It was finished in about September 2008 and some fitting wildlife has been brought to the land.
A fair is held yearly at the Figheldean field and regularly attracts 2,000 - 3,000 people a year. There is a dinner-and-dance held on the Friday night before the fair to help raise funds for the parish.
The famous football player George Marks
was born in Figheldean and played for Arsenal
from 1936 to 1946 before later playing for Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Reading
. He died in 1998 in Salisbury
.
Amesbury
Amesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is most famous for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is in its parish, and for the discovery of the Amesbury Archer—dubbed the King of Stonehenge in the press—in 2002...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Centred on the village, the parish of Figheldean extends 3 miles (4.8 km) eastwards towards Tidworth
Tidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
as far as Devil's Ditch and 3 miles (4.8 km) westwards beyond Larkhill
Larkhill
Larkhill is a garrison town in the civil parish of Durrington, Wiltshire, England. It is a short distance west of Durrington village proper and north of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. It is about north of Salisbury....
towards Shrewton
Shrewton
Shrewton is a village in Wiltshire, England, located around 9 km west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. It lies on the A360 road between Stonehenge and Tilshead. It is close to the source of the River Till, which flows south to Stapleford. Its population at the 2001 Census was 1,826, as...
as far as Robin Hood's Ball
Robin Hood's Ball
Robin Hood’s Ball is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles from the town of Amesbury, and 2.5 miles from Stonehenge.-Etymology:...
. The parish includes the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Ablington
Ablington, Wiltshire
Ablington is a hamlet in the English county of Wiltshire located alongside Figheldean, which is also the controlling parish. It was known as Alboldintone in the Domesday Book.-References:...
. About 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north is Netheravon
Netheravon
Netheravon is a village and civil parish on the River Avon, about north of the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire.-Notable people:The writer Frank Sawyer , although born in Bulford, spent most of his life in Netheravon as river keeper River Avon and died on the banks of the river near the parish church...
, and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south is Durrington
Durrington, Wiltshire
Durrington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is in the east of Salisbury Plain, about north of Salisbury, south of Swindon and northeast of Stonehenge...
.
All around lies Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
, the largest remaining area of unimproved chalk grassland in northern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, which supports many nationally rare species.
There are many archaeological sites of importance in the parish from long barrows to Roman villas, showing that people have been living in the area for at least 6,000 years.
The earliest record of Figheldean is in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 in which the village is called Fisgledene. The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
is first mentioned in Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
's charter granting its lands and revenues to the cathedral at Old Sarum
Old Sarum
Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
.
Figheldean House is the oldest in the village still standing. It was owned by the Army for their Brigadier Generals and was subsequently sold to a private owner.
The River Avon section in Figheldean past the site of the old watermill was recently renovated with the weeds being pulled out from the bank and surrounding land. They then rebuilt the banks. It was finished in about September 2008 and some fitting wildlife has been brought to the land.
A fair is held yearly at the Figheldean field and regularly attracts 2,000 - 3,000 people a year. There is a dinner-and-dance held on the Friday night before the fair to help raise funds for the parish.
The famous football player George Marks
George Marks
William George Marks was an English association football player, who played as a goalkeeper.Born in Figheldean, Wiltshire, Marks started his career at local club Salisbury Corinthians before joining Arsenal as an amateur in March 1936; he turned professional two months later...
was born in Figheldean and played for Arsenal
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
from 1936 to 1946 before later playing for Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. He died in 1998 in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
.