Home News Project Info History The River Wye Links Bridstow Herefordshire   Bridstow lies in Archenfield and was Lann San Freit (sometimes Lann San Bregit) before the arrival of the English in whose language the name means 'Holy place of St Bride'.  The Liber Llandavensis, the Book of Llandaff, records that in 1066, Herewald,  bishop of Llandaff, appointed Guollguinn as priest here. Guillguinn's son Ioann succeeded him as parish priest (It was not uncommon for priests to be married and sons sometimes succeeded fathers in an incumbency). Although it clearly existed, and had a church with a priest at the time, Bridstow itself is not mentioned in Domesday. This is common for places in Archenfield. Two places in the present parish do appear in Domesday, Ascis and Wiltone - now Ashe Ingen - and Wilton. Ascis and Wilton belonged to the manor of Cleeve on the left bank of the Wye. Cleeve had belonged to Harold Godwinson before he became king. The manor of Cleeve was centred in the area which is now Lower Cleeve Farm on the southern outskirts of Ross-on-Wye. It has been suggested that it was Harold who took this area from the Welsh while he was campaigning against them in the 1050s.   St Bridget's church, Bridstow was rebuilt in 1862 but the re-set chancel arch is early 12th century. A re-set arcade of about 1200 is in the north chancel wall. The tower is late 14th century. Image courtesy of Hereford City Library     Bridstow church in February 2006 during a visit by the LOWV group     Bridstow medieval churchyard cross. Churchyard crosses are common in Herefordshire     The Wells Brook flowing through its marshy valley leading towards Bridstow church     A little nearer to Bridstow church. The footpath from Pool Mill to the church.     Bathers at Bridstow in the 1930s     Buckcastle Hill   Houses on the edge of what originated as a squatter settlement at Buckcastle Hill Poolmill     Ashe Ingen Ashe Ingen takes its name from Ascis - ash trees. It was one of the earliest English lands in Archenfield.   Wilton If Ashe Ingen takes its name from ash trees, Wilton is the estate among the willows. Wilton and Wilton Bridge from the Ross-on-Wye side of the river. Click for Wilton page.   For Wilton Castle click image   Dadnor Pony and trap at Dadnor Court   Birch Also at Bridstow in the 13th-14th century was Birch or Birchis with the simple meaning Birch Trees, in contrast to the ash of Ashe Ingen and the willows of Wilton. The site of Moraston House was known as Meredicheston - Maredudd's (Meredith) estate in 1334.   Hollington This pond on the Crow Brook which forms the boundary between the parishes of Bridstow and Marstow.     From the air this pond is a fairly substantial landscape feature.     Yet it was not there in 1839 when the tithe map was drawn     Nor in 1905 on the 2nd edition OS map   Links Bridstow GENUKI pages wyenot.com/bridstow Archaeological records from Bridstow are held by Historic Herefordshire On Line Back to TOP

Wye Valley History pages

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