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Village green and war memorial at Ampney Crucis
Village green and war memorial at Ampney Crucis

Ampney Crucis


click on a photo to see it full-sized

Summary
A prosperous village a few miles west of Cirencester, Ampney Crucis has a lovely village green with a war memorial, and a 12th century church with very good medieval wall paintings.

The name 'Ampney Crucis' needs a bit of linguistics to find its origin. It comes from the name of the brook that runs through the village ('Ampney', a tributary of the Thames) and 'Crucis' from the Latin for Cross; a reference to that fact that the village church is dedicated to the Holy Rood, or Cross. The village was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Omenie, a Latin form of Ampney, and later it was known as Aminel and Aminie befotre taking on the current form of Ampney.

The village is located just east of Cirencester on the A417 to Lechlade. Turn off the road beside the pub, and you immediately go over a small bridge across the Ampney brook. The village cricket ground is through a screen of trees to your right, and a lovely flower-rimmed green is to your left. Set back from the edge of the green is a war memorial (see photo). The road divides at the former rectory; uphill to the right is a residential area of pretty cottages. To the left is a short cul-de-sac which ends at the parish church.

Church of the Holy Rood, Ampney Crucis
Church of the Holy Rood, Ampney Crucis

The church is unusually dedicated to the Holy Cross, and dates to at least the late Norman period, though the tower is 15th century. Immediately opposite the porch door the blocked up remnants of a Saxon door can be seen. This is probably a remnant from a much earlier church. In the churchyard is a 15th century cross atiop a slender column. The carvings on the head of the cross are in quite remarkable condition, a testament to the fact that the head of the cross was hidden behind the rood loft stairs inside the church for several centuries to save it from destruction duruing the religious turmoil of the 17th century. It was found and restored in the Victorian era.

Photos of Ampney Crucis
15th century cross in the churchyard at Ampney Crucis. The cross is believed to date to 1415
15th century cross in the churchyard at Ampney Crucis. The cross is believed to date to 1415
The head of the cross was saved from destruction during the English                  Civil War period by being hidden in the Rood loft staircase. It                  was found there in 1840 and restored to its perch atop the cross in 1860.
The head of the cross was saved from destruction during the English Civil War period by being hidden in the Rood loft staircase. It was found there in 1840 and restored to its perch atop the cross in 1860.
The tomb of George Lloyde (d. 1584) and his wife stands in the north transept.
The tomb of George Lloyde (d. 1584) and his wife stands in the north transept.
Detail from the Elizabethan tomb of George Lloyde, lord of the manor at Ampney Crucis.
Detail from the Elizabethan tomb of George Lloyde, lord of the manor at Ampney Crucis.
Cherub carved into a memorial, set into the exterior south wall of the chancel.
Cherub carved into a memorial, set into the exterior south wall of the chancel.
Medieval wall painting, north transept
Medieval wall painting, north transept

Location map for Ampney Crucis

Details
Ampney Crucis
Cotswolds
Gloucestershire
England

OS SP065015


+ Find out more +

    Nearest Hotels to Ampney Crucis

The Crown of Crucis Hotel Ampney Crucis The Crown of Crucis Hotel - 0.4 miles away
Ampney Crucis, Gloucestershire
Stay from: 50.00
Travelodge Cirencester Cirencester Travelodge Cirencester - 2.1 miles away
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stay from: 27.50
Riverside House Cirencester Riverside House - 2.1 miles away
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stay from: 40.00

More Hotels near Ampney Crucis

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+Attractions +
Nearest Attractions

Ampney St Mary
1.4 miles (Town)

Barnsley House Garden
2.2 miles (Garden)

Cirencester, St John the Baptist
2.6 miles (Church)

Corinium Museum
2.8 miles (Museum)

Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre
2.8 miles (Roman)

Cirencester
3.5 miles (Town)

Shorncote, All Saints
3.8 miles (Church)

Bibury
4.4 miles (Town)

Top Gloucestershire Destinations
Adlestrop
Alderley
Ampney Crucis
Ampney St Mary
Ashleworth
Berkeley
Bibury
Blockley
Bourton on the Water
Broad Campden
Broadwell
Chalford
Chedworth
Cheltenham
Chipping Campden
Cirencester
Coln St Aldwyns
Didbrook
Dursley
Eastleach Martin and Eastleach Turville

Suggested Gloucestershire Attractions
Adlestrop, St Mary Magdalene
Ashleworth Tithe Barn
Ashleworth, St Andrew and Bartholomew
Barnsley House Garden
Batsford Arboretum
Belas Knap
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley, St Mary's
Blackfriars, Gloucester
Bledington, St Leonards
Bourton House Garden
Brookthorpe, St Swithun's Church
Buckland, St Michael
Cerney House Gardens
Charfield, St James Church
Chavenage
Chedworth Roman Villa
Chedworth, St Andrews
Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre
Cirencester, St John the Baptist



+Accommodation +

Some hotels in Ampney Crucis
The Crown of Crucis Hotel - from 50.00

More hotels in Ampney Crucis

Self Catering in Gloucestershire
3 Holmer Cottages
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Sleeps 2, from 210.00


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Sleeps 2, from 330.00


Badger's Lodge
Cotswold Water Park
Sleeps 4, from 406.00


Bakery Cottage
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Sleeps 3, from 256.00


Beehive Cottage
Gloucester
Sleeps 2, from 200.00



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