Home News Project Info History The River Wye Links Baysham, Sellack Herefordshire   Looking towards Kings Caple from Baysham In common with other Archenfield places with churches and priests, Sellack itself is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, although Baysham, now a hamlet in Sellack parish, is. Listed under a heading which says that 'the villages and lands (villæ vel terræ) below are in Archenfield', the manor of Baysham was part of the lands of the king. It was held of the king by William, son of Norman, and of him by a certain Walter. Before 1066 it had been held by Merwin from Edward the Confessor. In 1086 there were 14 men there with 7 ploughs who paid 5 shillings in customary dues. There were two ploughs in lordship and the value of the place was 30 shillings. By 1286 Baysham was held by the Church of Hereford (Hereford Cathedral) and possessed a mill and timber (perhaps in a wood but possibly trees in hedgerows). There appears to have been a church at Baysham in 1239. The recorded presentations (appointment of priests) to the church at Baysham are:-   1291  1322 1322 1342 1351 "   Hugh de Henle. Presented by the Dean and Chapter of Hereford   John Abraham   John de Henle   Thomas de Bredewardyn   Gilbert de Hundertone. By the Dean and Chapter   Richard le Parker The church at Baysham does not appear in the Devotional Money returns for 1543, and although there was a chapel at nearby Strangford at this date, this was a chapelry of Fownhope. From 1352 the presentations are to Sellack (see above) rather than Baysham. In 1525 Baysham was still a distinct township for taxation purposes -  the villata de Baiseham.   John Abrehall senior William Bennett de Strangford David Bennett William Watkins Richard Purdy William Bennett de Sellack John Gaunter John Purdy Geoffrey Purdy Thomas Bennett John Mottelowe John Cole William Bennett Thomas Gethyn Harry Howe David Bennett 20 pounds 13 pounds 13 shillings & 4 pence 13 pounds 6 shillings & 8 pence 15 pounds 13 pounds 13 shillings & 4 pence 6 pounds 13 shillings & 4 pence 4 pounds 40 shillings 40 shillings 20 shillings 8 pounds 100 shillings 60 shillings 20 shillings 20 shillings 20 shillings   However in 1534 the assessment is for Baiseham & Foy. Foy was not listed in 1525. Foy is a separate parish and does not include Baysham which seems always to have been in Sellack parish. The assessments in the early part of Henry's reign are township rather than parish-based.   Anna Abrehall widow Jenkyn Cole David Bennett William ap Gwatkyn Richard) Purdy John Maret 22 pounds 22 pounds 20 pounds 30 pounds 40 pounds 20 pounds   Tax assessment from Herefordshire Taxes in the Reign of Henry VIII edited by M A Faraday: Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, Herefordshire, 2005   The barn at White House Farm at Baysham     Sellack GENUKI pages Archaeological records from Sellack are held on Historic Herefordshire On Line Back to TOP

Wye Valley History pages

maintained by Archenfield Archaeology Ltd