Mears Ashby
| Mears Ashby | |
  Mears Ashby |
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| Population | 442 (2001 Census) |
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| OS grid reference | SP838666 |
| District | Wellingborough |
| Shire county | Northamptonshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORTHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | NN6 |
| Dialling code | 01604 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Wellingborough |
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Coordinates: 52°17′36″N 0°46′19″W / 52.29335°N 0.77205°W
Mears Ashby is a village in the English county of Northamptonshire between the county town of Northampton and Wellingborough and is in the West ward of borough council of Wellingborough area which also includes Sywell.
Demographics
The 2001 census recorded its population as 442 of which 221 were male and 221 female.
Witchcraft
According to Westwood and Simpson in their book, The Lore of the Land, the county in general and Mears Ashby in particular has a long tradition of witchcraft and accusations of witchcraft. In their book they recall that as late as 1785 a local inhabitant, Sarah Bradshaw, was so accused. We learn from the Northampton Mercury on 1 August 1785 that:
- "Thursday last, a poor woman, named Sarah Bradshaw of Mears Ashby...who was accused by some of her neighbours of being a witch, in order to prove her innocence, submitted to the ignominy of being dipped (on a ducking-stool); when she immediately sunk to the bottom of the pond; which was deemed an incontestable proof that she was no witch!"
Further reading
- Northampton Mercury 1 August 1785
- The Lore of the Land - Westwood & Simpson - 2005 - ISBN 0-14-100711-7
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mears Ashby. |
- Village website
- Mears Ashby Cricket Club
- Mears Ashby Jackdaws Football Club
- Brief description w/ map
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