Down Ampney

History

Down Ampney was notable in medieval times as one of the seats of the powerful Hungerford family, whose principal family seat was at Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset. The Down Ampney estate later passed from the Hungerford family to the Earls of St German (the Eliot Family).

Ralph Vaughan Williams

The Old Vicarage in Down Ampney was the birthplace in 1872 of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose father, the Reverend Arthur Vaughan Williams (1834–1875), was vicar of All Saints. In 1906 the composer wrote a tune for the hymn "Come Down, O Love Divine" which he titled "Down Ampney" in honour of his birthplace.

RAF Down Ampney

During the Second World War, RAF Down Ampney airfield was a base for Dakota aircraft seeing active service in the war. The airfield played an important role in the Battle of Arnhem, 1944.

Governance

Down Ampney has a Parish Council, currently with 7 members.

As of May 2015 the village became part of 'The Ampneys and Hampton Ward' on Cotswold District Council. The current District Councillor is Liberal Democrat Lisa Spivey who was elected in the 2019 United Kingdom local elections.

Ampney Crucis is part of the wider South Cerney electoral division for elections to Gloucestershire County Council, the current County Councillor is Conservative Shaun Parsons who was elected in the 2017 United Kingdom local elections.

All Saints' Church

All Saints' Church is an ancient building that was founded by the Knights Hospitaller in 1265. It lies on the edge of the village; its peripheral location was brought about when the centre of the village shifted north due to the effects of the bubonic plague.

Its prominent spire dates from the 14th century, although much of the church fabric seen today is the product of Victorian restoration work carried out in 1863.

The church contains a number of elaborate monuments to the Hungerford family, including a 1637 Renaissance-style monument to Sir John and Sir Anthony Hungerford. Among the medieval memorials are two recumbent effigy tombs of Sir Nicholas de Valers (d.1300) and Lady Margaret de Valers (d.1320). The wooden fittings in the church, including the pulpit, reredos, and rood screen were designed in 1898 by Charles Ponting. Another screen in the north transept screen dates from 1900 and incorporating painted Jacobean panels displaying the coat of arms of Sir Anthony Hungerford. Today the church is a Grade I listed building. There is also a 20th-century stained-glass window in commemoration of 271 Sqn and the R.A.S.C who flew in the Dakota aircraft from the airfield for the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The church holds an annual Arnhem Service in memory of the wartime operation. Another stained-glass is dedicated to the memory of Rev, Arthur Vaughan Williams who is buried in the churchyard.

The church featured in the 2017 Channel 4 television programme Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages.

Amenities

In addition to the church and the airfield, the village has a school which is more than 150 years old, a multi-use games area for younger residents, a tennis club, a village hall and a small village shop.

The Down Ampney estate, comprising almost all of the farm land in the parish, is now owned by the Co-operative Group.

File:Ampney Brook from Sheeppen Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 350346.jpg|Ampney Brook File:East House, Down Ampney - geograph.org.uk - 331224.jpg|East House File:Down Ampney war memorial - geograph.org.uk - 353575.jpg|War memorial File:Stained glass Arnhem memorial window, All Saints Church, Down Ampney (geograph 3301249).jpg|Arnhem memorial window, All Saints' Church File:The Old Vicarage, Down Ampney - geograph.org.uk - 1570362.jpg|The Old Vicarage, birthplace of Ralph Vaughan Williams

References

References

1. Cummings, Mark. (24 Feb 2011). "I say Over...you say Oooover". BBC.
2. "Parish population 2011".
3. "Down Ampney Village, History".
4. (2006). "Daily Telegraph Book of Hymns". Bloomsbury Academic.
5. (2012). "Air Battle for Arnhem". Pen and Sword.
6. "Down Ampney Village, Church".
7. "Cllr Shaun Parsons". Gloucestershire County Council.
8. Herde, Peter (2007). "The Dispute between the Hospitallers and the Bishop of Worcester about the Church of Down Ampney. An Unpublished Letter of Justice of Pope John XXI (1276)". In Karl Borchardt, Nikolas Jaspert and Helen J. Nicholson (ed.). ''The Hospitallers, the Mediterranean and Europe. Festschrift for Anthony Luttrell''. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-6275-4. p. 48.
9. {{NHLE
10. "Down Ampney Village, Ralph Vaughan Williams".
11. [http://php.wiltshire.gov.uk/row/sect31deposits/latt201301.pdf Statutory Declaration of D. N. Humphreys]