832 



Rood Ashton, Sfc. 



It afterwards belonged to the Halls, of Bradford, and, like the rest j 

 of that estate passed to the Dukes of Kingston, from whom to Earl 

 Manvers. The other, Paxcroft Overcourt, formerly belonged to 

 Blount, Lord Mountjoy, who, in 1599, sold it to Mr. Long, of 

 Whaddon. 1 



3. Rood Ashton, or, as it was sometimes called in old documents, 

 Chapel Ashton. 



As to the meaning of the name, the one of these helps to explain 

 the other. Some ancient owner attached to his house here a chapel j 

 for his own household : which would also be useful for the villagers 

 living at West Ashton, who, at that time, were a long way from 

 their parish church. Of such chapel there are no traces now to be 

 met with, but tradition points out a site in a part of Mr. Long's 

 pleasure-ground behind the house, where some masonry and bones j 

 were found many years ago. 



Rood (so pronounced, I believe, in Saxon, though written Rode) 

 is an old word signifying " Image." It is sometimes used for the j 

 cross only ; but it more properly means a u Crucifix/'' i.e., a cross j 

 with the image of Our Saviour upon it ; including also, when com- 

 plete, the figures of Mary and St. J ohn at foot ; in allusion to the 

 text (John xix. 26) where our Lord, from the cross, beheld " His 

 Mother and the disciple whom he loved." The difference between 

 the " Cross " and the " Rood " was well known. Robert de Brunne, ] 



1 West Ashton, containing about 2000 acres, was made a separate district in 

 1846. The Church of St. John was consecrated in October of that year by Dr. 

 E. Denison, Bishop of Sarum. 



Scarcely had this church been finished when it was destined to receive, on 

 the very first monument placed against its walls, the name of the founder's 

 eldest son and heir, and his youthful wife. 



" Walter Long, eldest son of Walter Long Esq., of Rood Ashton, died at 

 Rome 17 April 1847 in his 24th year. 



" Also Harriet Averina Brunetta, daughter and heir of John Owen Herbert 

 Esq. of Dolevorgan, Montgomeryshire : died Jan. 28th, 1847, in her 24th year. 

 [She died at Seagry House, near Chippenham.] They were loyely and pleasant 

 in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." 



On the chancel south wall, upon a black marble tablet, is a brass inlaid with 

 canopy work, to the memory of "Mary Ann Long, wife of Walter Long, Esq. 

 M.P. dau. of the Rt. Hon. Archibald Colquhoun Lord Registrar of Scotland. 

 Died at Paris March 16 1856." 



