A notable grave in St James churchyard
Margaret (pen name Michael) Fairless was a Victorian writer. A frail soul with spinal problems, she came to live in my village, Ashurst, in failing health for the latter part of her life and began to write then.... mostly pleasant short novels with a religious & rural theme. They were published after her death, aged 32, in 1901. 'The Roadmender' is the most well known of her works.

Ashurst's other famous resident was Sir Laurence Olivier whose funeral was held at this church. He was interred elsewhere. His widow, Dame Joan Plowright, still resides in Ashurst.