Walford, Ross-on-Wye

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Walford
Herefordshire
Walford Church - geograph.org.uk - 745287.jpg
St Michael's & All Angels Church, Walford
Location
Grid reference: SO587204
Location: 51°52’50"N, 2°36’5"W
Data
Population: 1,504  (2011)
Post town: Ross-on-Wye
Postcode: HR9
Local Government
Council: Herefordshire

Walford is a village in the south of Herefordshire, two miles south of the market town of Ross-on-Wye. It includes the settlements of Bishopswood, Coughton, Deep Dean, Hom Green and Walford.

This is one of two villages called Walford in the county, the other Walford being in the north of Herefordshire.

Churches

There are two Church of England churches in the parish: All Saints at Bishopswood and St Michael and All Angels at Walford itself. They belong to different benefices.

The centre of the nave of Walford church was constructed around 1100 making it one of the earliest churches to be built in Herefordshire.[1]

Bishopswood Church is far more recent being endowed in 1841.[2]

About the village

The B4324 Ross-on-Wye to Coleford road runs through the village.

The River Wye forms the western boundary of the parish. Kerne Bridge allows the B4229 road to cross the river to Goodrich.

Walford Court was the headquarters of Colonel John Birch during the siege of Goodrich Castle in the Civil War.

In Hom Green stands Hill Court Manor, a country house built in 1700, now a Grade I listed building[3]

Also at Hom Green is the Church of the Paraclete, now closed. It is a Grade II listed building.[4] The church was built in 1905–06 to designs by George Frederick Bodley in memory of Major Lionel James Trafford.

Walford has a children's nursery (at the village hall) and a primary school.

Railways

The Ross and Monmouth Railway went through the village between Ross-on-Wye railway station and Monmouth Troy railway station from 1873/4. Eventually Walford Halt railway station was opened. It was opened by the Great Western Railway on 23 February 1931[5] and consisted of 120 ft platform and a small hut on the east side of the line. It was unstaffed and had no freight facilities or sidings. The staff of Kerne Bridge station lit the platform lights and cleaned the stop, though its traffic receipts were counted with Ross-on-Wye's.

The halt closed on 5 January 1959[5] when the Ross and Monmouth Railway was closed to passengers. The track was still used from Ross-on-Wye to Lydbrook until 1965 as a private siding to serve a cable works.[6][7]

Outside links

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about Walford, Ross-on-Wye)

References

  1. Ross with Walford and Brampton Abbotts Benefice: St Michael and All Angels, Walford
  2. Bishopswood Church
  3. National Heritage List 1099665: Hill Court Manor
  4. National Heritage List 1348845: Church of the Paraclete, Hom Green
  5. 5.0 5.1 Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 239. R508. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. 
  6. Stanley C Jenkins, The Ross, Monmouth and Pontypool Road Line, revised second edition 2009, ISBN 978-0-85361-692-4
  7. Stan Yorke, Lost Railways of Gloucestershire, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84674-163-0