Ightfield
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Ightfield is a small village and civil parish in North Shropshire, Shropshire, England.
Within the parish boundaries is another small village - Calverhall.
Ightfield is situated in one of the most rurul areas one could expect to find, with many of its routes being in farming. Over the years, the number of farmers in the area has declined, with only a handful remaining. Due to the reduced amount of agricultural activity, the village expanded slightly, with the addition of two new housing estates, built on previously agricultural land.
Many year's ago, Ightfield had a local public house for traveler's to break up their long journeys via horse and cart. That is now long gone, and was converted into a private home some years ago.
The church forms a focal point in the village, with its fantastic outlook over the surrounding countryside, it's a real place of beauty.
There is also a ghost associated with this small village. It is said that if one is to walk along a particular route from Ightfield Hall to the village, that a ghost on horseback will ride towards you along the avenue of trees forming the pathway.
Ightfield is also known as "The centre of the universe" by some from the area, as it is located at the estimated centre of the known universe. This is not an exact figure, as the limits of the universe are near impossible to define.
An important thing to note is that the village playground has been recently improved, with a zip-wire now installed. A basketball hoop has also been put in place, which makes up slightly for the gaping hole left in the locals' hearts when the round-a-bout was taken away as it was deemed unsafe.
Other attractions include the local bus shelter which famously was built by the villagers in 1967 and has housed the youth of the village as a centre of activity and entertainment.
The loss of the Post Office in 2002 left the villagers in fear over the economic and structural growth of the village with many now having to buy groceries in the nearby Whitchurch. Fortunately, this didn't hinder the development of multiple new housing estates.
The yearly 'chasing of the otter' takes place every May 9th at dawn, with many villagers gathering together to run from Ightfield to the nearby Calverhall chasing after a man dressed as an otter (a local volunteer). To date, not one of the villagers has completed this gruelling run or caught the otter. Whilst the ritual is ridiculed amongst some of the younger generation, the heritage and tradition involved in the run brings the villagers closer together.
addition: i'm not so sure about the chasing the otter part of this description. i've lived in ightfield for a couple of years now and never heard of this... i'm up for it though if anyone else is. i'd outrun any man dressed as an otter and calverhall is only one mile away so how come no one has managed to complete the run. ightfield is also home to Tom Leonard, one of the vets from Vets in Practice, a BBC television programme from the late 90's. He has a veterinary practice in the local town of Whitchurch.
Ightfield is a lovely place to live and is only three miles from the centre of the universe, you can see it on a clear day.
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