Ecchinswell is a village and formercivil parish, now in the parish ofEcchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green,[1] in theBasingstoke and Deane district ofHampshire, England. In 1931 the parish had a population of 295.[2]
The Church of England parish church is a Victorian building dedicated toSaint Lawrence. The original church of St. Lawrence had to be demolished after it fell into disrepair.
The village also has an inn, "The Royal Oak" and some handsome thatched cottages.
Watership Down, location ofRichard Adams' novel of thesame name, is just south of Ecchinswell.Ladle Hill on Great Litchfield Down, also lies to the south. Part of the hill is a 10.37 hectares (25.6 acres)biological SSSI, firstnotified in 1978. The hill has a partially completedIron Agehill fort on its summit, and the surrounding area is rich in Iron Age tumuli, enclosures, lynchets and field systems. Ladle Hill and Watership Down are easily accessed from theWayfarer's Walk cross-county footpath that passes through the parish.
The village of Ecchinswell is part of the Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourneward ofBasingstoke and Deane borough council.[3] The borough council is aNon-metropolitan district ofHampshire County Council. On 1 April 1932 the parish was abolished to form "Ecchinswell and Sydmonton".[4]
Nuthanger Farm at Ecchinswell features extensively inRichard Adams'Watership Down.
