Home News Project Info History The River Wye Links Fawley, Brockhampton Herefordshire In the 1880s Fawley, which had previously been a chapelry within Fownhope parish, was transferred to Brockhampton. Fawley probably means 'hay clearing' or 'hay meadow' - Old Mercian English faelethe-leah or faelethe-eye. Much Fawley                     photograph courtesy of Hereford City Library   St John's chapel, Fawley This has a 12th century nave which may have been extended in the 14th century. image courtesy of Hereford City Library   In 1377 19 males and females over the the age of 14 paid tax at Fawley (only genuine paupers were exempt from the tax). Carey Mill, on an island in the Wye, belonged to Llanthony Abbey, and was grinding corn in the 13th century. In 1284 the prior of Llanthony obtained Free Warren (exclusive hunting rights) in Fawley. In 1501 Llanthony Abbey, through the auspices of its tenant David ap Gwillym destroyed three tenements in Fawley and converted their arable land into sheep pasture. In 1528 Carey mills and the attached fishery was leased by the prior of Llanthony to Roger Cox. In 1523 the recorded inhabitants of Falley and their assessed wealth was as follows:   Johanna ap Gwyllym  John ap Gwyllym  Alicia Cox  Roger Cox  Luke Brook  William Sheppard 7 pound  8 pounds  4 marks  6 pound  20 shillings  20 shillings   Tax assessment from Herefordshire Taxes in the Reign of Henry VIII edited by M A Faraday: Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, Herefordshire, 2005 In 1562 Elizabeth I granted the lordship and manor of Fawley to Blanche Parry. Blanche was lady-in-waiting to the queen; her tomb is in Bacton church in south-west Herefordshire.   See www.wyenot.com/fawley.htm   Back to TOP

Wye Valley History pages

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