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Abenhall
Gloucestershire
Where your ancestors lived
These pages contain various resources and information about Abenhall in the
past.
Abenhall village from Plump Hill
Abenhall is a tiny, ancient village in a secluded quiet valley near Mitcheldean.
The parish includes the settlement of Plump Hill, on the Mitcheldean to
Cinderford Road as it climbs into the high Forest. Once part of the Westbury
Hundred (which was known as Dene at the time of the 1086 Domesday book) Abenhall
is on the Flaxley to Mitcheldean Road. Originally a mining and iron making
centre, it is notable for its 14th century Church of St Michael, which is
built of local red sandstone and has excellent contemporary carvings relating
to the Forest of Dean's industries. These include a shield bearing the arms
of the Freeminers on the west wall and the fabulous mid-15th century octagonal
font, that has tools of miners and metalworkers incised on its sides.
Churches
St. Michael's Church - originally built as a chapel of ease, the church was
expanded in the 14th century to include nave, south aisle and tower. The
arms of the Freeminers can be seen on the south side of the tower and on
the 18th century font. Abenhall church is 1.5 km south of Mitcheldean and
is set in beautiful surroundings on the edge of the Forest. Old Parish baptism,
marriage and burial registers, from 1596, are stored at the Gloucestershire
Record Office.
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Plump Hill from Abenhall village.
Plump hill is part of the parish of Abenhall, situated on high ground on
the edge of the forest, and in fact there are many more houses in this part
of the parish than the old village centre around the church.
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An old photograph of Plump Hill, looking north towards Mitcheldean. |
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The delightful church of St. Michael, Abenhall, which is set in an
immaculately maintained church yard, complete with all of its original
gravestones.
Some of these gravestones are illustrated on the family history pages, along
with transcripts from part of the parish burial registers.
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