Ludgershall

History

There is evidence of settlement in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age at Windmill Down on the western edge of the parish. The name Ludgershall derives from the Old English lūtegār "a spear set as a trap to impale wild animals" and halh "a nook of land". The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded small settlements at Ludgershall and Biddesden. The entry for Litlegarsele reads: "Edward of Salisbury holds Ludgershall. Alfward held it before 1066; it paid tax for one hide (about 24 acres). Land for 3 ploughs. In Lordship 2 ploughs, 3 slaves; 8 Cottagers with 1 plough. Pasture 3 furlongs long and 1 furlong wide; woodland ½ league long and 2 furlongs wide." The value was 100 shillings. Ludgershall Castle was constructed by 1103, The village may have been a planned borough of the early 12th century. It lay on the old Marlborough to Winchester road, which was an important route in the early 13th century. Later, the village lost its importance, and was damaged by fire in 1679. and cottages on Castle Street from the late 17th. Windmill Hill has been part of the Salisbury Plain Training Area since c.1898, and land in the west of the parish has been used by the Army since 1939. Military activity, including the construction of Tidworth Camp nearby, led to a substantial increase in the population of the parish. Biddesden is a hamlet to the east of Ludgershall, reached via Faberstown along Biddesden Lane. It is on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border and while most of Biddesden is in Wiltshire, Biddesden Bottom, the site of the Ludgershall Roman Villa, and the public footpath sign thereto, are in Hampshire.

Most-observed species

• hedgehog

  Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus, 1758 · Mammalia
  10,923
• Meadow Brown

  Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  5,654
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,136
• Brimstone

  Gonepteryx rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  3,010
• Small Heath

  Coenonympha pamphilus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  2,929
• Small White

  Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  2,845
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,561
• Common Blue

  Polyommatus icarus (von Rottemburg, 1775) · Insecta
  2,488

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2020-09-22
  5 km N of Aylesbury, United Kingdom
• M 3.9 — 2020-09-08
  2 km WSW of Pitstone, United Kingdom
• M 3 — 2019-05-19
  7 km ESE of Swanage, United Kingdom
• M 3.3 — 2019-02-27
  3 km SE of Dorking, United Kingdom
• M 2.8 — 2018-07-05
  1 km S of Ewhurst, United Kingdom
• M 2.6 — 2018-06-27
  5 km W of Capel, United Kingdom