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Originally known as the village of Worth, the prefix Long was added to
describe its narrow shape. Situated on a ridge, the land drops away to the north
where the river Thames forms the boundary. The soil is good sandy loam,
excellent for growing most vegetables and flowers.
The oldest building in the village is the Anglican church, part of which was
constructed in the 12th century. A leaflet on the table inside the south door
describes the many items of interest, such as the brasses and the fragments of
the monument to one of the Marten family. The monument was said to have been
destroyed when Charles II came to the throne as Henry Marten had signed the
death warrant of Charles I in 1649. Other distinguished persons to be born in
Longworth were John Fell in 1625 and Richard Doddridge Blackmore in 1825, both
sons of former rectors. John Fell later became Dean of Christ Church, Oxford and
is recalled in the epigram:
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell
But this I know and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell.
Richard Blackmore was the author of the well known book, Lorna Doone.
Longworth village still has a few houses more than 100 or 200 years old, but
during the 1980's many of the small cottages were developed to make larger
luxury homes. Still much of their character has been retained. None of the
houses are open to the public but the gardens of the Manor, Haugh House and
Martens Hall Farm are opened each year under the National Gardens Scheme and
each September the village fete in aid of the church is held in the manor
grounds.
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