If you are moving house, looking to start a new life in Abbotts Ann or retiring to Abbotts Ann, we can help you.
Anyone who intends to remain a virgin till they die should head for the scenic village of Abbotts Ann, where they will be rewarded with a most special send-off.
In all seriousness, the last virgin to be buried wearing a hazel crown in Abbotts Ann, in the north-west corner of Hampshire, was afforded the honour as late as 1974.
Virgins’ crowns marked the death of men or women who were chaste, who had been born in the village and were members of the village church. The crowns were made of twigs decorated with paper rosettes. They had five parchment gauntlets hanging from them. They were carried in front of the coffin by two girls in white, and they were hung at the font for three weeks in case anyone wanted to challenge the deceased’s chastity. There are plaques in the nave to all the Virgins commemorated in this way.
The village lies 15 miles from Winchester and three miles from Andover. It is so pretty, with many thatched cottages and stream brimming with trout flowing through it.
The village has long welcomed incomers. In the 1930s, the Government invited people from the north east and Wales to settle at Little Park Farm on the edge of the village, as part of the Land Settlement Association. Families were each given a bungalow, ten acres of land and a pig.
Some 40 years later the Government sold the properties off, offering the settlers the chance to buy their holdings. Hampshire College of Agriculture bought the remaining land.
The village now has more than 2,000 inhabitants.
Abbotts Ann Village History
The estate of Abbotts Ann was bought in 1710 by the grandfather and great grandfather of two British prime ministers, Thomas ‘Diamond’ Pitt. He also bought the manor house and the church, using money from the sale of a massive diamond.
Perhaps Abbotts Ann’s most famous resident was a blacksmith Robert Tasker, who came to live in the village in 1806. He invented the iron plough in 1859, which was such a success that he was able to build his own foundry in Anna Valley. During the Second World War, Taskers built long trailers to transport aeroplanes and other large vehicles.
In 1831, Robert Tasker built one of the first non-denominational schools in England. Abbotts Ann Primary School has since moved to a new site.
Removals service near Abbotts Ann
Armishaws are here to make your move as easy as we can. We offer house removal and commercial removal services, including European removals and international removals and we are fully insured for your peace of mind.
If you call us on 0800 917 1015 or email enquiries@armishaws.com we’ll give you a competitive quote – fast.
Armishaws can move you to or from anywhere in the UK or Europe. We have lots of fully-trained staff and a fleet of modern vehicles.
Armishaws always work to the highest standards – we have held the BSEN 12522 certificate since 1999.
Why Choose Armishaws for your move?
Armishaws can design a service to fit any need. We have multiple branches and we are the best local choice, with a reliable team providing a fantastic value service to make moving or storing your possessions a piece of cake. We have loads of experience in helping with moves to anywhere and everywhere.
Armishaws is a family owned removals business and and has been running since 1973. Our removals and relocation services covers all regions within the UK, Northern Ireland, Eire and the Channel Islands.
Find Out MoreWe pride ourselves on our international removals services. As a result of our international removals experience and expertise, we have established working relationships with many major shipping companies.
Find Out MoreOur experience in providing solutions for businesses with their moving, and storage needs will ensure that your business will encounter the least amount of disruption possible. We provide a full range of services to help businesses relocate and store their equipment.
Find Out MoreWhether you require long term or short term storage, our secure container storage system will ensure the safety and care of all your personal or business possessions. Whether you personally wish to store items to pass onto family and friends, store your home items while moving abroad or while you are between homes we can help.
Find Out MoreWe cover removals and relocations to the whole of Hampshire, including:
Aldershot, Alresford, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Bordon, Botley, Brockenhurst, Chandler’s Ford, Chineham, Cosham, Crondall, Eastleigh, Eversley, Fareham, Farnborough, Fawley, Fleet, Fordingbridge, Frimley, Gosport, Hamble, Havant, Hayling, Hedge End, Highclere, Hythe, Kingsclere, Kingsworthy, Knowle, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Middle Wallop, Nether Wallop, New Forest, New Milton, North Baddesley, Nursling, Oakley, Odiham, Over Wallop, Overton, Petersfield, Portchester, Portsmouth, Purbrook, Ringwood, Romsey, Shawford, Southampton, Sparsholt, Stockbridge, Sutton Scotney, Tadley, Titchfield, Totton, Twyford, Waterlooville, Whitchurch, Whiteley, Wickham, Winchester, Yately, and many more.
The parish of Abbotts Ann lies within the gorgeous Test Valley, surrounded by Little Ann, Little Park, Abbotts Ann Down and the Anna Valley.
It is not far from Salisbury and Winchester, and boasts an award-winning village shop, church, primary school, nursery school and two pubs.
Community spirit is strong here, with residents joining forces to organise an annual village fete and run the community village shop. There are numerous clubs and social occasions.
Have a look at the amenities in the village.
Homes in Abbotts Ann had an overall average price of £463,286 in the last year.
The majority of sales were detached properties, selling for an average £471,875. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £605,750, with flats fetching £144,000.
Check out homes for sale in Abbotts Ann here.
The nearest town is Andover, a large settlement with lots of industry. A little further away are the cities of Salisbury and Winchester, and it is possible to reach London in just over an hour.
The Abbotts Ann Village Players perform at the village hall, which has a large stage. The Players have been running for 40 years and villagers love their pantomimes!
There is an annual fete, lots of great regular events and opportunities to get involved in village life.
Abbotts Ann Church of England Primary School (www.abbottsann.hants.sch.uk) is said to be a state of the art school with plenty of amenities.