“Wherever one goes, there will not be a mile that is visually unrewarding.” Sir Nikolaus Pevsner was clearly impressed...
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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LOCATOR MAP Clun
Stanton Lacy
Hoptonheath Marlow Leintwardine
Knighton
Ashton
Hallow Knightwick
Kington
Birley
Newchurch
Bromyard
Hope-underDinmore
Broadwas
HEREFORDSHIRE Stretton Sugwas
Hereford
Madley
Three Cocks
Kingstone Callow
Talgarth Ewyas Harold
Mordiford
Llanvihangel Crucorney
Crickhowell
Hollybush
Fownhope
Much Birch
Grosmont
Yatton
Dymock Staunton
Newent
Llandinabo
St Weonards
Ross-on-Wye
Skenfrith
Huntley
Gloucester
Whitchurch
Llangynidr
Abergavenny
Ledbury
Wormbridge Pontrilas
Llanthony
Upton upon Severn
Staplow
Dormington
Allensmore Turnastone
Storridge
Great Malvern White Stone
Hay-onWye Peterchurch
Bishop's Frome
Sutton St Nicholas
Yazor
Willersley
Worcester
Acton Green
Weobley
Whitneyon-Wye
Glasbury
Martley
Pembridge
Walton Llanfihangelnant-Melan
High Lane
Leominster Kimbolton
Titley
Ombersley Upper Sapey
Leysters
Shobdon New Radnor
Abberley
Tenbury Wells
Woofferton
Presteigne
Stourporton-Severn
Mamble
Richard's Castle
Whitton
Bewdley
Ludlow Overton
Adforton
Bleddfa
Kidderminster
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleehill
New Invention
Knucklas
Mitcheldean
Llanvetherine
Cinderford
Westbury upon Severn
Monmouth
Towns and Villages Abbey Dore As h t o n Bishop’s Frome Brampton Bryan Brockhampton Bromyard Di lw yn Do r sto n e Ea rdisla nd Ea rdisle y Edvin Loach Ewyas Harold Fo wn ho pe Garway Goodrich Grosmont Ha y- o n - Wy e Hereford Hoar withy
pg 23 pg 37 pg 32 pg 40 pg 15 pg 30 pg 46 pg 25 pg 41 pg 47 pg 32 pg 23 pg 16 pg 6 pg 5 pg 6 pg 28 pg 17 pg 17
Holme Lacy Hope Ho pe un unde derr Din Dinmo more re Kilpeck Kimbolton Kington Kinnersley Ledbury Leo minster Lla nr ot ha l Lower Low er Broc Brockha khampt mpton on Lyonshall Ma dl ey Mo cc as Mo rdi for d Mortimer’s Cross Much Marcle Or leto n Pembridge Peterchurch
pg 16 pg 32 pg 22 pg 37 pg 42 pg 47 pg 9 pg 35 pg 6 pg 32 pg 42 pg 26 pg 28 pg 28 pg 38 pg 9 pg 38 pg 42 pg 25
Peterstow pg 16 Ross-on-Wye pg 7 Sell ac k pg 17 Sho bdon pg 40 S ke n f r i t h pg 6 St Weonards pg 6 Stanford Bishop pg 32 Sutton St Nicholas pg 30 Swa insh ill pg 26 Symonds Yat pg 4 Welsh Newton pg 5 Weobley pg 46 West eston-u on-unde nder-P r-Peny enyard ard pg 8 Whitchurch pg 5 Wi g m o r e pg 38 Wi l t o n pg 16 Woolhope pg 16 Yarpole pg 38 Yatton pg 9
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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Herefordshire “Wherever one goes, there will not be a mile that is visually unrewarding.” Sir Nikolaus Pevsnerr was clearly impressed, and today’s Pevsne visitors will also find delights at every turn in the rolling landscape, the pretty villages and the charming char ming market towns. Herefordshire had few natural resources, so the industrial scars that spoil many counties are mercifully absent; the beauty and peace remain relatively intact, and motorists will generally find trafficfree roads. Apples and hops are the traditional crops of Herefordshire, and the cider industry is still a thriving one. The days when almost every farm produced its own cider are long gone, but many of the old mills are preserved on the farms or in museums. Large areas (over 9,500 acres) of the county are given over over to cider orchards, and 63 million gallons of cider are produced here each year - well over half the UK total. The Cider Museum in Hereford is a good starting point for taking the Cider Route, which tours the Herefordshire countryside and includes more than a dozen cider-makers. In western Herefordshire perry is something of a speciality, speciality, It is made in a similar way to cider but with pears instead of apples. Hops have been cultivated in the county since the 16th century and once
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G u i d e provided late summer work for thousands of t o R pickers,, mainly from the Black Country and pickers u r south Wales. Wales. The industry is considerably a l E smaller now, now, and mechanisation has greatly g reatly n g reduced the need for manual labour. The l a poles and wires used to support the hops are n d a less common sight, but they can still be H E seen, along with the occasional kiln for R drying the hops - the Herefordshire E equivalent of Kent’ Kent’ss oast houses. Sheep and F O cattle are a familiar sight; Hereford cattle are R D found in many parts of the world, S H particularly on the American continent. I R Industry was never developed to any great E extent in the county, partly through the remoteness of the location and the poverty poverty of communications,, and the visible traces of its communications heritage are confined largely to castles (this is Border territory) and churches. The castles were mainly of the straightforward motte motte and bailey variety, the motte being a tower-topped earthen mound surrounded by a small court, the bailey a larger yard with the stables and workshops worksho ps and accommodation. Skirmishes with the Welsh Welsh were a common occurrence occur rence for many centuries, and one of the county’s county’s bestknown landmarks, Offa’s Dyke, was built in the 8th century as a defence against the Welsh marauders.
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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South Herefordshire The River Wye rises in the Plynlimon mountains east of Aberystwyth, near the spot where the Severn also has its source. The Wye enters England by Hay-on-Wye and winds its way through some some of the most delightful scenery in the whole land, changing mood and direction from time to time and finally joining its original neighbour at the Severn Estuary. The whole of its length offers great touring and walking country, and the Wye Valley Walk, waymarked waymark ed with the logo of the leaping salmon, follows the river closely for 112 miles, almost half of which are in Herefordshire. The valley was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1971, and the river itself was the first to be recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The salmon salmon logo is, of course, wholly appropriate, as the Wye is a Mecca for anglers. In the 18th century, artists, poets and
the leisured classes enjoyed the Wye Tour, Tour, a highly agreeable alternative to the European Grand Tour, Tour, and three centuries later the car, train and bicycle have brought the charm of the valley within the reach of all. SYMONDS YAT
5 miles miles NE of Monm Monmouth outh off the A40 and B4164 C Seven Sisters Rock E Jubilee Park
C Caves
I Amazing Hedge Puzzle
Travelling upstream, a journey through the southern part of the county starts at the beauty spot of Symonds Yat, an inland resort to which visitors flock to enjoy the views, the walks,, the river cruises, walks cr uises, the wildlife (peregrine falcons nest at Coldwell Rocks), the history and the adventure. Into the last category fall canoeing - rushing down the Wye gorge south of the village - and rock climbing. Symonds Symonds Yat (yat means gap) is divided into east and west by the Wye, with no vehicular bridge at that point. Pedestrians can make use of the punt ferry, pulled across the river by chain, but the journey by car is 4.5 miles. Walking in the area is an endless delight and, at The Biblins, a swaying suspension bridge provides vertiginous thrills across the river. Notable landmarks include the Seven Sisters collection of ooliti ooliticc Rocks , a collection limestone crags; Merlin’s Cave; King Arthur’s Cave, where the bones of mammoths and other prehistoric creatures have been found; Coldwell Rocks and Yat The River Wye from Yat Rock Rock itself, rising to 500 feet
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above sea level at a point where the river in a commanding position above the Wye. Built performs a long and majestic loop. Also on of red sandstone in the 11th century by Godric the Symonds Yat walkabout is a massive Mapplestone, the castle is now ruined but still boulder measuring 60 feet by 40 feet, one of magnificent. It was the last bastion to fall in the the largest in the country. Civil War, attacked by ‘Roaring Meg’, a siege gun cast in Whitchurch that could hurl a 200lb Other entertainment in the area is ball and which can now be seen in Hereford. provided by the Amazing Hedge Puzzle The siege lasted four and a half months and devised by brothers Lindsay and Edward marked the end of the castle’s castle’s ‘working life’. Heyes to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 1977 English Heritage maintains the ruins, and the Jubilee. On the same site is a museum of 12th-century keep and elements from the mazes and a puzzle shop with the largest following two centuries are well worth a visit, collection of puzzle games in the UK. Also either to walk the ramparts or just to imagine in the Jubilee Park is a garden centre with the glorious sight it once presented. The an extensive extensive range of plants plus garden Castle is open daily from April to 1 furniture and a gift shop. The church in November, Wednesday to Sunday at other Symonds Yat, built in the 14th century, is times. dedicated to St Dubricius, a local who converted the area to Christianity and who, Torwood, T orwood, near Whitchurch, is an interesting according to legend, crowned King Arthur. cottage garden by the village school, specialising in shrubs, conifers and herbaceous In 1993 Symonds Yat provided the plants. Private visits welcome. backdrop for the film Shadowlands starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger and GOODRICH based on the life of CS Lewis and his wife.
6 miles miles NE of Monm Monmouth outh off the A40
WHITCHURCH
Goodrich village is notable for the landmark 14th-century broach spire of its parish A Goodrich Castle E Zoo church. The vicar at a critical point in the War was one Thomas Swift, grandfather At Symonds Yat West, close to the village of Civil War of Jonathan Swift, Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels . Whitchurch, the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo This staunch royalist royalist hid some of the gives visitors the chance to experience the church’s treasures, including a superb silver warmth of a tropical hothouse with chalice, from the marauders and, it is said, butterflies flitting freely about their heads. sewed 300 pieces of gold into his waistcoat See them fly, hatch, court, lay eggs, display to take to the king. their colours and sup nectar from the fragrant tropical plants. Open daily WELSH NEWTON throughout the year. A little further up, just 4 miles N of Monmouth on the A466 off the A40, is Kerne Bridge, a settlement The village lies right on the A466, and just off that grew around a bridge built in 1828, where coracles are still made, and from where it stands Pembridge Castle, now a private house. In the village churchyard of St Mary the energetic walker can hike to the historic the Virgin lies the body of John Kemble, a and majestic Goodrich Castle, which stands
4½ miles miles NE of Monm Monmouth outh off the A40
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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Roman Catholic who was executed in 1679 for daring to hold a mass in the castle. A plain slab commemorates the martyr, who was 80 years of age when he met his violent end. Several more castles along the River Monmow are further reminders that this pretty part of the world was once a very turbulent one. ST WEONARDS
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SKENFRITH
G u i 7 miles NW of Monmouth on the B4521 d e t A Skenfrith Castle o R u A drive or an energetic walk takes in the r a remains of Skenfrith Castle (the round tower l E is an impressive sight), an ancient mill and the n g l a Church of St Bridget, dating, like the castle, n d from the 12th and 13th centuries. All in the H tiny village of Skenfrith!
E R GARWAY E B Violette Szabo GC Museum F 9 miles NW NW of Monmouth on on a minor minor road O R This little hilltop village is named after an A Dovecote D Garway Hill D obscure Welsh Welsh saint who is portrayed in early S H Marvellous views from the wild and remote 16th century stained glass in the church named I Garway Hill take in the river valley, the Forest R after him. him. Most of the church church is of the same E
9 miles N of Monmouth on the A466
period, but a 13th-century doorway in the porch has survived. About three miles north of St Weonards, Weonards, at Wormelow Tump, the Violette Szabo GC Museum celebrates the bravery of the young Herefordshire woman who was parachuted into Nazi-occupied France to work with the maquis. While trying to save a key agent, using a sten gun single-handed, she was captured, imprisoned, tortured and shot in January 1945. The 1950s film Carve Her Name With Pride , with Virginia McKenna in the title role, tells her dramatic story. story. The museum, opened in June 2000, contains memorabilia of this remarkable woman woman and is open on Wednesdays from April to October, other times by appointment (01981 540477/ 540328). LLANROTHAL
6 miles miles NW NW of Monm Monmouth outh off the A466 Standing in isolation at the end of a lane by the river is the Church of St John the Baptist, built in the 12th and 13th centuries and restored from almost total ruin in the 1920s.
of Dean beyond Symonds Yat Yat to the east, and the Black Mountains. The church at Garway was built by the Knights Templar Templar and the influences from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem can clearly be seen. During the purges of Henry VIII’s reign, the Abbot of Monmouth was one of many who sought refuge in the church tower. The most unusual building in Garway is undoubtedly the famous mentioned Dovecote , the first of several to be mentioned in this guide. Built in the 1300s (probably the work of the same good knights) it stands in a farmyard next to the church and has precisely 666 pigeonholes. GROSMONT
12 miles NW of Monmouth on the B4347 In the village of Grosmont lies another castle castle with impressive remains, and another interesting church, this one dedicated to St Nicolas of Myra. A little way beyond Grosmont is Kentchurch Court, a one-time border castle rebuilt by John Nash around 1800 and featuring some splendid wood carvings by
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Grinling Gibbons. The Court has for many centuries been the home of the Scudamore family,, one of whose number married family Owen Glendower.
of night in an effort to avoid avoid panicking the populace. Notable features in the church include 15th-century stained glass figures and a tomb chest with effigies effigies of William Rudhall, Rudhall, Attorney General to Henry Vlll and founder of the almshouses, almshouses, and his wife. Pride Pride of place Ross-on-Wye in the market square goes to the 17th-century Market House, with an open ground floor and A Market House I Festival pillars supporting the upper floor, which is a The lovely old market town of Ross-on-W Ross-on-Wye ye is Heritage Centre. Centre. Spot the relief of Charles ll signalled from some way off by the towering on the east wall. spire of St Mary’s Mary’s Church, surrounded up on Among the many other interesting buildings its sandstone cliffs by a cluster of attractive in Ross is Thrushes Nest, once the home of houses. Opposite the church is a row of Sir Frederick Burrows, a railway porter who Tudor almshouses, almshouses, which have an ancient yet rose in life to become the last Governor of ageless look look and show off off the beaut beautyy of the Bengal. Opposite Market House stands the rosy-red sandstone to great effect. The town half-timbered house (now (now shops) of the was visited by the Black Death in 1637, and town’s greatest benefactor, John Kyrle. A over 300 victims are buried in the churchyard. wealthy barrister who had studied law at the A simple stone cross commemorates these Middle Temple, Temple, Kyrle settled in Ross around hapless souls, who were interred in the dead PARKFIELDS GALLERY
4 High Street, Ross-on-Wye Ross-on-Wye HR9 5HL Tel: 01989 565266 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.parkfieldsgallery.co.uk Set in picturesque Ross-on-Wye, Parkfields Gallery exhibits a diverse and extensive range of high quality art and contemporary craft by both local and nationally renowned makers. Work on display ranges from paintings, prints, ceramics, glassware and sculpture to jewellery, designer textiles and superb handmade furniture. The changing exhibition programme, with a new, themed, multi-media exhibition every six weeks, ensures there is always something different to view! With a welcoming, friendly atmosphere, visitors are encouraged to browse and enjoy the diversity of work on display. Parkfields Gallery is happy to organise special commissions from the makers and operates the Own Art interest free Art Buyers Credit Scheme. A framing service is also available. Parkfields Gallery is open Mon- Sat 10am-5pm – a warm welcome awaits you. Directions: In the centre of Ross is the Market House; walk up the High Street for approx 200yds. Parkfields Gallery is opposite Lloyds TSB bank. A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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each August and grows in stature year by year. In and around Ross are several examples of modern public art, including leaping salmon metal sculptures (Edde Cross Street) and a mural celebrating celebrating the life of locallyborn playwright Dennis Potter Potter.. At Ross-on-Wye Candlemakers in Gloucester Road are a shop and workshop showing the manufacture of all types of candles, with evening demonstrations and group visits by appointment.
Around Ross-onWye WESTON-UNDER-PENYARD
2 miles E of Ross on the A40 D Hope Mansell Valley
D Forest of Dean
Market House, Ross-on-Wye
1660 and dedicated the rest of his life to philanthropic works: he donated the town’ town’ss main public garden, The Prospect; he repaired St Mary’s spire; he provided a constant supply of fresh water; and he paid for food and education for the poor. Alexander Pope was as impressed as anyone by this benefactor, penning these lines some time after the great man died in 1724 1724 at the age of 87: Rise, honest honest Muse, and sing sing the Man of Ross, Health to the sick and solace to the swain, Whose causeway parts the vale in shady rows, Whose seats the weary traveller repose, Who taught that heav’n directed spire to rise? ‘The Man of Ross’, each lisping babe babe replies.
The Ross International Festival of music, opera, theatre, comedy and film takes place
Leave the A40 at Weston Cross to Bollitree Castle (a folly), then turn left to Rudhall and you’ll come upon Kingstone Cottages, whose delightful informal gardens contain the National Collection of old pinks and carnations. car nations. Private Private visits welcome. South of Weston lies Hope Mansell Valley, tucked away between the River Wye and the Forest of Dean, and certainly one of the loveliest and most fertile valleys in the region. It is an area of of wooded hills and spectacular views, of farms and small settlements, with the tiny village of Hope Mansell itself at the far end. The Forest of Dean, over the border in Gloucestershire, is a vast and ancient ancient woodland full of beauty and mystery, with signs of an Iron Age settlement. Later a royal hunting ground, and the home of charcoal-burners and shepherds, it became the first National Forest Park.
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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5 miles NE of Ross on the A449 In a remote farmyard setting off the B4224, Yatton Y atton Chapel, disused for many years, is a simple little church with a 12th-century doorway,, a wooden belfry, doorway belfry, agricultural ag ricultural floor and largely unplastered walls. MUCH MARCLE
7 miles NE of Ross on the A449 A Church
A Hellens
B Cider Museums
E Westons Cider Mill
E Great Marcle Yew
E Newbridge Farm Park
This is Big Apple Country, with major cider connections in the shape of Westons Cider Mill and Lyne Down Farm, where traditional methods of making cider and perry are still employed. Among the many attractions are free cider tasting, the Bottle Museum, a wetland nature reserve, the award-winning Henry Weston Courtyard Garden, a traditional and rare breeds farm park, shire horse dray rides and a tea room. Open daily; tours start every day at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm (free samples for adults!). The Chu Church rch of of St Bartholomew is notable for some superb tombs and monuments, amongst them an effigy of Much Marcle’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. The well-preserved effigy portrays Blanche Mortimer, daughter daughter of the 1st Earl of March, who died in 1347. As was customary at that time, the effigy depicts her as aged around 30 – the supposed age at which Christ was crucified – suggesting the possibility of marriage to Him in Heaven. The church contains another striking figure, a rare painted wooden effigy, carved from solid oak, which is thought to be the likeness of a 14th-century landowner called Walter Walter de Helyon. Up until the 1970s he was painted a
rather sombre stone colour, but was then loaned for an exhibition of Chaucer’ Chaucer’ss London and was repainted in his original colours. The Great Marcle Yew is a talking point among all visitors to the village - its massive trunk has been hollowed out, allowing up to eight people to enjoy cosy comfort on the bench inside. A short distance north of Much Marcle, Hellens is an untouched Tudor/Stuart house set in 15 acres of grounds with coppices, lawns and fishponds. The house contains a wealth of period furnishings and decorations, decorations, fine paintings, miniatures and artefacts. Closer to Ledbury, on the A4172 at Little Marcle, is Newbridge Farm Park , where families can enjoy a day out on the farm in the company compa ny of a large assortment assortment of frien friendly dly farm animals (01531 670780). LEDBURY
10 miles NE of Ross on the A449 A Barrett Browning Institute A Church
A Market House
A Eastnor Castle
A How Caple Court B Butchers Row Museum B Heritage Centre
B Painted Room
A classic market town filled with timberframed black-and-white buildings, mentioned in the Domesday Book as Ledeberge and accorded its market status in the 12th century century.. The centre of the town is dominated dominated by the 1892, 2, erected erected Barrett Browning Institute of 189 in memory of the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose family lived at nearby Colwall. Alongside it are the almshouses of St Katherine’s Hospital, founded in 1232 for wayfarers and the poor. Church Lane, much in demand for calendars and as a location for film scenes, is a cobbled medieval street where some of the buildings seem almost to meet across the street. In the Heritage Centre, in a
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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WYEBRIDGE INTERIORS
G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d
26 High Street, Ledbury, Ledbur y, Herefordshire HR8 1DS Tel: 01531 634102 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.presentsR4U.com “A wonderful range of designer led gifts for every occasion at affordable prices.” Wyebridge Interiors incorporating Wyebridge 2 and PresentsR4U.com is situated in our shop in Ledbury High Street, Herefordshire. Ledbury is in the heart of the beautiful English countryside and central to the Malvern Hills, Gloucester, the Cotswolds, Hereford, the Wye Valley and the proximate Welsh Marches and Leominster. “We specialise in all aspects of Designer led interior furnishings including: furniture, pictures, lighting, mirrors, soft furnishing, cushions, fabrics, and paints. Our fashion accessories include: jewellery , handbags, scarves and gloves. A complete range of original and high quality gifts and presents are to be found on the website as well as in the Ledbury shop. We also offer a comprehensive wedding list service. The utmost care is taken in obtaining the best quality products from our diverse range of international craftsmen and suppliers. You can source fabrics and wallpapers at Chelsea Harbour and then order through us. Our friendly staff are always ready to assist be it in the shop or on the telephone.” In 1987 Mary Pytel set up Wyebridge interiors in Hereford. With her background in antiques, decorative textiles and an art school training, the business quickly became Herefords leading interior design showroom. In 1997, Mary branched out, opening another shop in the thriving market town of Ledbury in the High Street. Wyebridge 2 is now a successful home interiors, accessories and gift shop, offering a sophisticated blend of unusual artefacts and attracting a wide range of customers and clients from many parts of the world. Walenty Pytel is internationally renowned as Europe’s leading metal sculptor of birds & beasts and his sculptures can be viewed on the shop website. One of his best known public works is the majestic jubilee fountain standing under Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament.
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H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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timber-framed former grammar school, by Westmacott, Westmacott, Flaxman and Thornycroft, T hornycroft, and visitors can learn about Ledbury’s past, John bullet holes in the door - the scars of the Masefield and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Battle of Ledbury Ledbury.. The town’s town’s history has in and try their hand at timber framing. Opposite general been fairly placid, but its peace was the Heritage Museum is the Butchers Row broken with a vengeance in April 1645, when Royalist troops under Prince Rupert surprised Museum, a tiny museum depicting Victorian life. The house used to stand in the middle of a Roundhead advance from Gloucester. In the the High Street but was demolished in about fierce fighting that followed there were many 1830. It was re-erected in 1979 in Church deaths, and 400 men were taken prisoner. Lane by the Ledbury & District Society. Also Annual events at Ledbury include a poetry in Church Lane is the 16th-century Painted festival in July, a street carnival in August and a Room with unique Tudor wall paintings. hop fair in the autumn. Among the famous The town’s symbol is the Market House, sons of the town town is one of our most most dating from about 1650 and attributed to John distinguished Poets Laureate, John Masefield, Abel, the royal carpenter. car penter. Another notable born in 1878 in a house called The Knapp. landmark is the Norman parish Chu Church rch of of St William Langland, who wrote Piers Plowman, Michael and All Angels, with a soaring 18th- was born in 1332 in nearby Colwall. The town century spire set on a separate 13th-century is a great place for walking and, on the tower,, a golden tower g olden weather vane, some fringes, nature-lovers will find plenty to magnificent medieval brasses, fine monuments delight in Dog Hill Wood, Frith Wood and THE VELVET BEAN
Church Lane, Lane, Ledbury, Ledbury, Herefordshire Herefordshire HR8 1DH Tel: 01531 634744 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.thevelvetbeanchocolates.co.uk Located in the heart of Ledbury lies a treat for chocolate lovers everywhere. Ben and Melissa Boyle’s The Velvet Bean is a small yet delightful chocolate shop. The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the shop is the wonderful comforting aroma of chocolate. You could get your chocolate fix just breathing in the chocolate fumes. Irresistibly delicious chocolate of the finest quality and the most unique flavours are hand-crafted by Ben and Melissa at their home just outside Ledbury. Using only premium ingredients from around the world, such as the finest Belgium chocolate, local Herefordshire cream and local liquors, Ben and Melissa have created an extensive range of handmade mouth-watering dark, white and milk chocolates, pralines and truffles to choose from. They do like to indulge themselves and their customers, so they are always experimenting with new flavours and fillings, you’ll always find something new to try when you visit them in store. The Velvet Bean’s chocolates make great gifts for loved ones and you can now order them from the online shop!
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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JOHN NASH INTERIORS
G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d
18 High Street, Ledbury, Ledbur y, Herefordshire HR8 1DS Tel: 01531 635714 Fax: 01531 635050 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.johnnash.co.uk John Nash Interiors specialise in antiques and bespoke interior design for commercial and private property. Owners John Nash & Louis Calleja are known all over Great Britain and Europe for their high standard of workmanship and unrivalled knowledge of antiques. John’s specialist knowledge and contacts contribute to the unique selection of antiques and collector’s items that can be found in the shop. John also sources individual pieces for clients, shipping both large and small items abroad on a regular basis. Louis and his design team work closely with their clients, carefully interpreting clients instructions, and at the same time, providing innovative working solutions for required criteria on both domestic and commercial projects. The fabric showroom houses from over seventy different designers/suppliers, in addition, an extensive range of flooring and lighting products guarantee that every aspect of a project has access to the most comprehensive and current range of products and materials. John Nash Interiors is the oldest business in Ledbury and offers the most stylish and contemporary interior design service outside of London.
CELEBRATIONS
1 High Street, Ledbury, Ledbury, Herefordshire Herefordshire HR8 1DS 1DS Tel: 01531 634566 e-mail:
[email protected] Situated in the heart of Ledbury town centre, Celebrations is an Aladdin’s Cave of gifts, local crafts and greetings cards. It is owned and run by Melissa and Ben Boyle, who moved to Ledbury from the Home Counties after falling in love with the area while visiting relatives. They have revamped the shop and introduced many new lines, with an amazing variety of gifts for all the family to suit every pocket. There’s a fabulous range of toiletries from Norfolk Lavender, collectable mugs and plates, toys, games, gizmos and teddies, and locally made craftware includes baskets and blankets, picture frames, preserves, cards for all occasions and much, much more. The shop also stocks a wide selection of souvenirs with a Ledbury, Malvern & Herefordshire theme. theme. Celebrations is open from 9 to 5 Monday to Saturday Melissa and Ben also own the Velvet Bean, Bean, a delightful shop in the same building (just round the corner in Church Lane) selling a mouthwatering selection of chocolates made by hand not far from the shop. The Velvet Bean (Tel: 01531 634744) is open from 10 to 5 Monday to Friday and from 10 to 4 on Saturday. A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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Conigree Wood, as well as on Wellington including a library in Italian Renaissance style Heath and along the Old Railway Line. containing a treasure house of paintings and tapestries, and a spectacular Gothic drawing Two-and-a-half T wo-and-a-half miles outside Ledbury on room designed by Pugin. The grounds, part the A438 towards Tewkesbury stands of whic which h are a Site of Speci Special al Scientific Scientific Eastnor Castle, overlooking the Malvern Interest, are home to a wonderful variety of Hills. This fairytale castle, surrounded by a flora and fauna, and throughout the year the deer park, arboretum and lake, has the look castle is the scene of special events. The of a medieval fortress but was actually built arboretum contains the finest collection of between 1812 and 1824 and is a major cedars in Britain. example of the great Norman and Gothic architectural revival revival of the time. The first The Edwardian gardens at How Caple Earl Somers wanted a magnificent baronial Court, set high above the Wye in park and castle and, with the young and inspired woodland, are magnificent indeed, with woodland, architect Robert Smirke in charge, that’s formal terraces, yew hedges, hedg es, statues, pools, pools, a exactly what he got. The combination of sunken Florentine water garden and inherited wealth and a judicious marriage woodland walks. How Caple’s medieval enabled the Earl to build a family home to Church of St Andrew and St Mary contains a impress all his contemporaries. The interior is priceless 16th-century German diptych excitingly beautiful on a massive scale: a vast depicting, among other subjects, the 60ft hall leads into a series of state rooms martyrdom of St Clare and St Francis, Francis, and
Tudor House, 17c The High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1DS Tel: 01531631044 website: www.husandhem.co.uk
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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GURNEYS BUTCHERS
G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d
12 High Street, Ledbury, Ledbury, Herefordshire Herefordshire HR8 1DS 1DS Tel: 01531 632526 Ledbury is a fine old market town with some interesting buildings and some excellent shops. It’s well worth taking time for a stroll around the town, and for many of the locals a regular visit to Gurneys Butchers is high on the agenda. Paul Gurney has been working in the shop since he was 14, learning the traditional values of his trade, and now as the owner he still holds to the essentials of good produce and great customer service. Paul and his staff know their trade and they also know their customers, and the people of Ledbury and the surrounding area have responded with their loyal custom over the years. All the meat in Paul’s spotless shop is sourced locally, including prime cuts and joints of beef, lamb and pork, free-range chickens and seasonal game. The beef is hung for 21 days to ensure maximum flavour and tenderness, and Gurneys cures its own bacon and produces sausages in a variety of flavours that change regularly. Local producers are given due credit on a blackboard outside the shop: recently featured were John Bishop (beef and lamb from Colwall) and Chris Tindle (Gloucester Old Spot pork from Upton Bishop). The shop also sells a selection of cooked meats, pies, eggs and dairy products.
THE WOODHOUSE FARM COTTAGES
Staplow, Ledbur Ledbury, y, Herefo Herefordshire rdshire HR8 1NP Tel: 01531 640030 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.thewoodhousefarm.co.uk Winners – Self-Catering Holiday of the year 2009 – England. Located just outside the ancient town of Ledbury sit The Woodhouse Farm Cottages, Cottages, surrounded by apple orchards and in an outstandingly beautiful part of the most unspoilt county in England. Nestled in this Herefordshire haven are three stunning properties available to let that guarantee luxury in rural surroundings. There is a choice between Barn Croft, which sleeps six in a spacious and sunny stone barn conversion opening onto picturesque gardens complete with moat; The Wainhouse, a beautifully converted wagon store with pretty brick arches overlooking a stoneflagged terrace, sleeping two; and The Woodhouse, a Grade 11 Star Listed building, a medieval hall-house, lovingly restored from the 1430s with traditional methods and materials, sleeping six to eight people. There really is little description that can do these properties justice; the elegant combination of fine furniture, original beams, woodburning stoves, rich fabrics with all the luxurious modern comforts you could imagine, such as digital freeview and DVDs, radio, games, CDs, clever underfloor heating and free broadband. Treats are available to order such as hampers personal chefs and beauty treatments, all to ensure that a stay at The Woodhouse Farm Cottages will be one to remember. They make the perfect retreat to hold a special occasion such as a reunion or wedding, as garden marquees and catering are available, with plenty of information provided for those looking for a stress-free holiday in this scenic area of Herefordshire. A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
H E R E F O R D S H I R E
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Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Christ.
G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d
BROCKHAMPTON
5 miles miles N of Ros Rosss off the B4224 A Church
J Marcle Ridge
The Church of of All Saints Saints is one of only two thatched churches in the country and dates from 1902, designed by William Lethaby, who had close ties with Westminster Abbey,, and built by Alice Abbey Foster, a wealthy American, as a memorial to her parents. The Norfolk thatch is not the only unusual aspect here, as the church also boasts stained glass made in the Christopher Whall studios and tapestries from the William Morris
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Tudor Gatehouse, Brockhampton
workshop from Burne-Jones designs. workshop This is, like so much much of the county, county, great walking country, with the Marcle Ridge and the 500ft Woolhope Dome nearby.
TOM DICKINS FINE ART
Upper Eggleton Court, Stretton Grandison, nr Ledbury, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2TR 2TR Tel: 01531 0 1531 670080 Fax: 01531 670081 e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.tomdickins.co.uk Tom Dickins Fine Art is the home, workplace and studio of the illustrator, sculptor and fine artist Minter-Kemp and her husband Tom Dickins. Best-known for her humorous greetings cards, which sell all around the world, Minter-Kemp paints portraits, oil paintings and watercolours as well as producing bronze sculpture. She is unusually versatile. The showroom downstairs offers you the opportunity to buy her cards (including the charity Christmas card range sold in aid of Breast Cancer Haven) as well as prints, bone china mugs, placemats, coasters, books, wrapping paper and her original work. Upstairs the gallery periodically houses her exhibitions. It is a busy working gallery in a beautiful setting and is open weekdays only (9am to 5pm) and at weekends by appointment. Most products can also be viewed and purchased on the website, including retro greeting cards by Martin Wiscombe whose work is also published by Tom Dickins. Do drop in – you never know what you’ll find in the middle of nowhere! A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
H E R E F O R D S H I R E
Looking for somewhere to stay, eat, drink or shop? www. www.find findsomewhere.co.uk somewhere.co.uk WOOLHOPE
7 miles miles N of Ros Rosss off the B4 B4224 224 A Church
small grotto, sunken garden and secret garden. Private visits are welcome. FOWNHOPE
7 miles NW of Ross on the B4224 A small village enjoying lovely lovely views of the Black Mountains, Woolhope is named after A pleasant village set beside the River Wye. Wye. Wuliva, Wuli va, the sister of Lady Godiva who owned Every year on Oak Apple Day, in May or the manor in the 11th century. In the 13th June, the Green Man Inn celebrates the century sandstone Church of of St George George is a restoration of Charles II with the Heart Heart of modern stained-glass window depicting the Oak Club Walk. The inn’s most famous siblings. Godiva rides through the streets on landlord was Tom Spring, a champion bareher white horse (all in the best possible taste), knuckle knuck le prizefighter who died in 1851. is seen petting a cat and a dog, while her sister Fownhope’s church, known as the ‘Little Cathedral’, has a special treasure in the form has a dog and some rabbits at her feet. of a Norman tympanum depicting the Virgin WILTON and Child with a winged lion and eagle 1 mile W of Ross on the A40 amongst foliage. C Castle
HOLME LACY
Wilton, just a short walk from Ross, stands at a crossing point of the River Wye. Wye. The bridge was built in 1599, some years after a river disaster that claimed 40 lives. lives. Over the bridge bridg e are the ruins of Wilton Castle, of whi which ch some walls and towers still stand. An 18thcentury sundial on the bridge bears this numinous inscription: “Esteem thy precious time, which pass so swiftly away: Prepare them for eternity and do not make delay.” PETERSTOW
2 miles W of Ross on A49 E Broome Farm
E Kyrle House
At Broome Farm, half a mile off the A49, traditional farmhouse cider has been brewed since the early 1980s, winning many prizes throughout the 1990s and featuring apples with evocative names like Fox Whelp or Yarlington Mill. Also at Peterstow is Kyrle House, whose country garden contains herbaceous borders, a
8 miles NW of Ross on the B4399 A St Cuthbert’s Church
A Dinedor Court
A Rotherwas Chapel
Holme Lacy was originally the estate of the de Lacy family in the 14th century, but later passed into the hands of the illustrious Scudamore family. The 1st Viscount Scudamore was the first person to classify the varieties of cider apple, and actually introduced the well-known Red Streak Pippin strain. The fine Palladian mansion dates from 1672 and once sported woodwork by Grinling Gibbons. St Cuthbert’s Church , standing away from the village on a bend of the Wye, Wye, has a remarkable collection of 16thand 17th-century 17th-century monuments of the Scudamores, and also some fine furnishings and medieval stalls with misericords misericords.. Near the village of Holme Lacy is Dinedor Court, a splendid 16th-century listed farmhouse with an impressive oakpanelled dining hall. English Heritage is
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
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G u i d e t o R u r a l E n g l a n d H E R E F O R D S H I R E
