ASHDON, a parish in the hundred of FRESHWELL,
county of ESSEX, 3 miles (N. E. by E.) from Saffron-
Walden, containing, with the hamlet of Bartlow-End,
1014 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry
of Colchester, and diocese of London, rated in
the king's books at £28. 3. 4., and in the patronage of
the Master and Fellows of Caius College, Cambridge.
The cmirch, dedicated to All Saints, has been repaired
and new pewed within the last twenty years: at the
east end of the south aisle is a building termed the Old
Chancel. There are four large barrows, commonly
called Bartlow Hills, in this parish, one of which, on
being opened, was found to contain stone coffins and a
number of iron chains similar to the curb of a bridle:
they are supposed to be sepulchral monuments of the
Danish chiefs killed at the battle of Assandune, or Ashdon,
in which Edmund Ironside was defeated by Canute
in 1016; but the more reputable historians refer this
event to Ashingdon. Here is a -charity school, with an
endowment of £3 per annum.