About the Surgery
The practice covers the village of Ashwell with the surrounding villages of Hinxworth and Newnham in Hertfordshire, and Bassingbourn in South Cambridgeshire with the surrounding villages of Litlington, Steeple Morden, Guilden Morden, Abington Pigotts and Kneesworth.
The main surgery is in Gardiners Lane, Ashwell at the edge of the village, built on the site of an old barn in 1989. The surgery is purpose built with 5 doctors' consulting rooms, a dispensary, a nurses room and offices for the district nurses and health visitor. It is fully equipped to undertake a large variety of medical services.
There is a branch surgery at Bassingbourn in Spring Lane, which was purpose built in 1992. There are 2 doctors consulting rooms, a nurses room, health visitors clinic and dispensary. There is at least one surgery each weekday and the surgery is well equipped to undertake most of the activities of the main surgery.
The practice is fully computerised with links between the two surgeries via a landline. Blood tests are taken at both surgeries by the practice nurse and pathology specimens are collected several times a day for delivery to the hospital.
History of The Practice
Ashwell is situated in North Herts close to the borders with Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. Ashwell grew up around the springs which bubble out to form the river Rhee, one of the tributaries of the Cam. At the time of the Domesday Book (1089) it was one of the most important towns in Hertfordshire.
For the last 250 years Ashwell has been largely an agricultural village, although other local industry until the 1950s included brewing at "Fordham's Brewery."
Today the area is still largely agricultural, but many people live in Ashwell and the surrounding villages and work further afield in Cambridge, Stevenage, Welwyn or London. Recently there has been a growing number of small businesses setting up in the area, which enable people to work from home.
There has been a doctor practising medicine in Ashwell for many years. In 1900 Dr Woodforde was the local doctor practising from his home, "Spring House." In 1908 he decided there was too much noise in the High Street and built "Ashwell House" where he moved his practice to.
Dr John Moynihan took over in 1934 and worked with his wife Dr Sheila Moynihan. They moved the practice to "Stella House" in the High Street in 1952. In 1965, Dr Fergus Moynihan joined his father and, when Dr Ken Heaten joined in 1972, the practice expanded to include Bassingbourn.
Dr Hoffman joined in 1978 and Dr Coladangelo replaced Dr Heaton in 1980 when he emigrated to Canada.
Dr Russell joined in 1987 just before the Ashwell Surgery moved to new premises in Gardiners Lane in 1989.
Dr Coladangelo was replaced by Dr Blake in 1998.
In 2000, Dr Moynihan retired after 35 years at Ashwell, to be replaced by Dr Jarvis.
