Ashill, a parish 3-3/4 m.  N.W. of Ilminster, situated on rising ground on the Taunton and Ilminster road.  The church is interesting by reason of the Norman work that it contains, including N. and S. doors and triple chancel arch (restored).  There are two effigies in recesses in the nave wall, one representing a woman and her six children.  At Capland, 1-1/2 m. off, there is a chalybeate spring.

Ashington, 3 m.  E.S.E. of Ilchester, has a small church dedicated to St Vincent.  It is remarkable for the large square bell-cot over the W. gable (cp.  Brympton and Chilthorne Domer) which is supported by a massive buttress in the middle of the W. front.  Within the building note (1) the three lancets at the E. end; (2) the foliated interior arches of the chancel windows (two of which are very small lancets); (3) the pulpit, dated 1637.  The glass in some of the windows is good.

Ashton, Long, is a straggling village, noteworthy for its court and church. Ashton Court, the seat of Sir J.H.  Greville Smyth, was erected by Inigo Jones in 1634, and is surrounded by a beautifully-wooded park.  Long Ashton church contains a fine screen, gilded and painted (the old colours being reproduced), and a 15th cent. tomb (in the N. chapel) with two effigies, belonging to Sir Richard Choke and his wife.  There are also two mutilated effigies, preserved in the N. porch, which are supposed to belong to the de Lyons family, who once owned the park.

Ashwick, 2 m.  S.E. of Binegar.  There is no village, but merely a group of houses.  The church has a graceful late Perp. tower, with spirelet:  this is the only original part of the fabric, the rest having been rebuilt in 1825. Ashwick Grove is a prettily-situated mansion, said to contain a good collection of pictures.

Athelney, included within the parish of Lyng (with a stat.), is the spot historically famous for having harboured Alfred in 878 when he had to escape before a sudden inroad of the Danes (see p. 12).  It was once an island (the name means “isle of the nobles"), and in wet weather must even now almost resume that condition.  Alfred, after having defeated the Danes at Ethandune, founded a monastery here, of which all traces have unhappily disappeared.  A small monument (best approached from the main road between Lyng and Borough bridge) was erected in 1801 by Mr John Slade, the owner of the estate, to commemorate the events connected with the locality; but the inscription is misleading in giving 879 (instead of 878) as the year when Alfred took refuge here, and in stating that he lay concealed for a whole year (instead of a few months).  The neighbourhood abounds in osier and reed-beds, producing materials for basket-work.