Abbotts Ann

First mentioned as Anna when reportedly granted to the New Minster of Winchester by King Edward the Elder, it was later recorded in the Domesday Book as an area containing 8 hides and 3 mills.

Defined in Saxon times, or possibly earlier, this shape ensured that Abbotts Ann had its share of river, down land and richer waterside meadows.

This success led to the establishment of the Waterloo Ironworks in Anna Valley to meet the growing demand for agricultural machinery.

In 1716 Pitt – who had made a huge fortune from his sale of a 410 carat (82g) diamond, purchased for £20,400 (equivalent to £4,182,000 in 2023) [5] and sold to the French regent, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, for £135,000 (equivalent to £25,935,050 in 2023) [5] – paid for the demolition of the existing church and the construction of the present parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Abbotts Ann.

[6] The church has one of the largest collections of virgins' crowns in existence, and Abbots Ann is the only parish in England which perpetuates the custom of awarding them.

[7] The crowns "may be requested by the relatives of the deceased person, who must have been born, baptised, confirmed and have died, unmarried, in the parish, and must have been of unblemished reputation.

King observed that "With today's increasingly mobile population very few people are likely to spend all their lives in one parish and this ancient custom may disappear.

The village is also home to one of the last remaining classic red phoneboxes left in England, unfortunately it no longer has a working phone and instead houses local information.