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 Ampney Crucis 
        A look at the past

 

• Ampney Crucis gets its name from the river (Ampney Brook), a tributary of the Thames, and the church (Church of the Holy Cross). The Old English Amma’s Stream is probably derived from the Latin Amnis – a stream. By 1086 the village was known by its Latin name of Omenie; by 1100 – Amenel; by 1215 -  Ameney; and in 1287 Ameney Sancte Crucis. The modern name of Ampney Crucis seems to have been in use since 1535, however, one of our residents has a map of the area which has been authenticated as being produced circa 1632 which still shows the village as Holiroodeamney. 
• We know the Romans were at Ampney Crucis – there is evidence of a settlement greater than 4 hectares in the village. In the 1780’s some workmen who were digging up stone by the side of the London Road discovered an earthenware urn. It contained burnt bones, ashes and some Roman coins of the lower empire. The urn is now in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
• At the time of The Doomsday Book, Ampney Crucis was situated in the Garsdon Hundred.  Holders of the land include Thurstan, son of Rolf; Tovi;  Humphrey the Chamberlain; Alfwy; and Baldwin.
• Ampney Crucis Church of the Holy Rood has the rare dedication of the Holy Cross and is referred to in the Doomsday Book (1086) as the Church of Omenie Holy Rood (rood being the Saxon for cross).
•  Edward Daubeny , who lived in Ampney Crucis from 1829 was the brother of a famous naturalist, Professor Charles Daubeny FRS, FGS, FLS. Before coming to Ampney Crucis, Edward was a midshipman on H.M.S. Bellona and was wounded in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. Roger F Vaughan has written an article on Charles Daubeny.
• In 1844, Edward’s daughter, Jane Daubeny, married an equally famous British Naturalist, Leonard Jenyns, about whom  Roger Vaughan has also written .
• Here is the touching story of the Browness family from Ottawa in Canada. They have traced their family back to Mary Brawnus, who arrived in Ampney Crucis from Oddington in 1784. Their web pages give a fascinating account of their story and are well worth a read .

·        Gordon Beavington has painstakingly transcribed the Census for Ampney Crucis for the years: 1851, 1861, and 1871, and also the 1851 Census for Cirencester Workhouse which includes some Ampney Crucis residents. 

• Ampney Crucis War Memorial   - The memorial is sited at the foot of the village, near to a bridge and within site of the Crown of Crucis hotel.

 

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Last update: 25 July 2007