Introduction.....
Recovered from the long bike ride #3 on the 11th August, there is little to report before I get straight into trip #4 with just a five-day gap. I’ve selected a route again west of the city but this time south of the river Wye into an area I hardly know. I don’t expect to exceed the distance of trip #3 but I wish to retain momentum. I make no apology for planning my routes to link up adjoining villages where the centre of attraction is usually the church. So far these have been more numerous than pubs or other features, besides which a church offers great archaeological interest and history as well as the spiritual. So, let’s hope spiritual guidance takes us somewhere interesting today.
Tour #4
So let me begin..... The weather this week does not promise much but being a bit cooler, it should be comfortable for today. I start by following the Great Western Way cycle route out of the city which links up with Belmont Haywood Country Park. It’s just a pause here to take photos. I’m soon across the A465 and along Ruckhall Lane where there is an important landmark.
English Benedictine Monastery..... A familiar name to all Herefordians, Belmont Abbey is a monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. It stands on a small hill overlooking the city of Hereford to the east, with views across to the Black Mountains, Wales to the west. Between 1859-1916 this church was the cathedral of the new Catholic Diocese of Newport and Menevia, serving Wales and Herefordshire. It is both an abbey and a parish church in the Archdiocese of Cardiff and is central to the daily life of the monastic community that lives here.
Once again, I’m grateful for the opportunity to see inside an impressive building, this one of the Catholic faith. It all reminds me that without my desire to get out and about on my bike, I just would not have brought myself here. I continue west down Ruckhall Lane but I’ve already consumed nearly an hour.
All Clear at All Saints..... The route takes me into Clehonger CP and I need to make a detour which leads to another church. All Saints Church in Clehonger is a lovely Herefordshire church built during the 13th century, although there was once a Norman church on the site. This is one of few churches to have changed names following the original dedications, and in fact it used to be St. Mary’s. The first time that All Saints occurred was 1742. As a subject of associated interest, I always check now for any service burials on site. A rather impressive headstone relates to Sapper T. G. Nash of the Royal Engineers who died just 19 years old....view. It is quite unusual to find an impressive family-funded memorial headstone as well as the usual CWGC one.
I return to Ruckhall Lane and head further west through Lady’s Coppice and its tree lined undulating route. I’m soon on Eaton Bishop, the location of yet another church.
Medieval All Angels..... St Michael and All Angels is justifiably recognised for its outstanding 14th century stained glass, the most notable being the medieval stained glass of the east window. An interesting feature is the almost complete carriage drive around the church. Again, I’m blessed to be able to enter the church where a member of the church community is busy cleaning up for a funeral later. Well, I don’t particularly want to stay for that but I’m kindly shown some of the early features including the impressive stained-glass and the roof.
In a separate plot, another CWGC burial is located, that of Private R. W. Taylor of the Cheshire Regiment who died at home in 1943....view.
Detour to the Blessed Virgin..... I’ve covered three villages already with their impressive monuments of religious dedication. I now head north on a detour taking in Canon Bridge but my visits so far have been time consuming and with nothing too obvious in this village I press on only to miss a turn and end up in Madley. However, on this occasion this turns out well as I can add yet another church, a more substantial one at that.
This village contains the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Madley. It is one of the finest church buildings locally, dating from 1100 to 1350. A pilgrim site since 550 AD – St Dubricius (Dyfrig) was reportedly born here. Stained-glass 13th and 14th century, 14th century wall paintings, a rare polygonal apse, and a restored crypt are features in this church.
A Reconstructed Bridge and a Norman Church..... Once again, I’ve underestimated the time that’s been consumed but I have my sights set on a final location that has two attractions knowing that there is a straight run back into the city to the north of the river. Heading north again passing through Lulham, I reach Bridge Sollers most content with my effort today. I pause at the bridge over the River Wye, the only one between here and Hereford City. It was reconstructed in 2004 from the original erected in 1896. It’s a good photo opportunity but there is one more site just a touch further on that will complete my visits for today.
St Andrews Church, Bridge Sollers is small and doesn’t appear in the Visit Herefordshire Churches guide. It is early from the Norman Period. A grade 1 listed church, it has been re-ordered and has fantastic facilities for small gatherings and functions. The interior of the church has retained its holy space for quiet prayer and reflection in the chancel area.
All wrapped up with nowhere to go..... Well, that just about wraps it up for site visit today. There is a quieter route back into the city avoiding and running parallel with the busy A438. It runs through Bishopstone and onto Kenchester where I can follow the same route back into the city as I took on the outward leg on trip #3. However, just past Bishopstone my impressive trip today comes to a gradual halt. I’ve managed to pick up a puncture riding over debris from a farmer’s hedge cutting. As I have no means to repair the puncture, short of walking over 5 miles, all I can do is call my brother-in-law to pick me up. Even so I push the bike for a mile to the outskirts of Credenhill before Pete arrives. Still, it’s 3pm before I arrive home to reflect on what just happened.
Conclusion.....What would have been close to 20 miles today become just 13 but there are a couple of positives. The obvious one it that I need to remember to carry a puncture repair kit with me; I should have been able to complete the trip today with just a 30-minute delay. I’m mindful of the fact that I am not fully prepared yet for these longer trips, something I have to address before the next. The second positive is that I actually completed and even extended my trip itiniary today. After the puncture there was nothing else to include that hadn’t been covered already. The trip has yet again provided me with excellent material that I can include on this page. It’s another trip scratched and I will look forward to the next one.
So let me begin..... The weather this week does not promise much but being a bit cooler, it should be comfortable for today. I start by following the Great Western Way cycle route out of the city which links up with Belmont Haywood Country Park. It’s just a pause here to take photos. I’m soon across the A465 and along Ruckhall Lane where there is an important landmark.
English Benedictine Monastery..... A familiar name to all Herefordians, Belmont Abbey is a monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. It stands on a small hill overlooking the city of Hereford to the east, with views across to the Black Mountains, Wales to the west. Between 1859-1916 this church was the cathedral of the new Catholic Diocese of Newport and Menevia, serving Wales and Herefordshire. It is both an abbey and a parish church in the Archdiocese of Cardiff and is central to the daily life of the monastic community that lives here.
Once again, I’m grateful for the opportunity to see inside an impressive building, this one of the Catholic faith. It all reminds me that without my desire to get out and about on my bike, I just would not have brought myself here. I continue west down Ruckhall Lane but I’ve already consumed nearly an hour.
All Clear at All Saints..... The route takes me into Clehonger CP and I need to make a detour which leads to another church. All Saints Church in Clehonger is a lovely Herefordshire church built during the 13th century, although there was once a Norman church on the site. This is one of few churches to have changed names following the original dedications, and in fact it used to be St. Mary’s. The first time that All Saints occurred was 1742. As a subject of associated interest, I always check now for any service burials on site. A rather impressive headstone relates to Sapper T. G. Nash of the Royal Engineers who died just 19 years old....view. It is quite unusual to find an impressive family-funded memorial headstone as well as the usual CWGC one.
I return to Ruckhall Lane and head further west through Lady’s Coppice and its tree lined undulating route. I’m soon on Eaton Bishop, the location of yet another church.
Medieval All Angels..... St Michael and All Angels is justifiably recognised for its outstanding 14th century stained glass, the most notable being the medieval stained glass of the east window. An interesting feature is the almost complete carriage drive around the church. Again, I’m blessed to be able to enter the church where a member of the church community is busy cleaning up for a funeral later. Well, I don’t particularly want to stay for that but I’m kindly shown some of the early features including the impressive stained-glass and the roof.
In a separate plot, another CWGC burial is located, that of Private R. W. Taylor of the Cheshire Regiment who died at home in 1943....view.
Detour to the Blessed Virgin..... I’ve covered three villages already with their impressive monuments of religious dedication. I now head north on a detour taking in Canon Bridge but my visits so far have been time consuming and with nothing too obvious in this village I press on only to miss a turn and end up in Madley. However, on this occasion this turns out well as I can add yet another church, a more substantial one at that.
This village contains the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Madley. It is one of the finest church buildings locally, dating from 1100 to 1350. A pilgrim site since 550 AD – St Dubricius (Dyfrig) was reportedly born here. Stained-glass 13th and 14th century, 14th century wall paintings, a rare polygonal apse, and a restored crypt are features in this church.
A Reconstructed Bridge and a Norman Church..... Once again, I’ve underestimated the time that’s been consumed but I have my sights set on a final location that has two attractions knowing that there is a straight run back into the city to the north of the river. Heading north again passing through Lulham, I reach Bridge Sollers most content with my effort today. I pause at the bridge over the River Wye, the only one between here and Hereford City. It was reconstructed in 2004 from the original erected in 1896. It’s a good photo opportunity but there is one more site just a touch further on that will complete my visits for today.
St Andrews Church, Bridge Sollers is small and doesn’t appear in the Visit Herefordshire Churches guide. It is early from the Norman Period. A grade 1 listed church, it has been re-ordered and has fantastic facilities for small gatherings and functions. The interior of the church has retained its holy space for quiet prayer and reflection in the chancel area.
All wrapped up with nowhere to go..... Well, that just about wraps it up for site visit today. There is a quieter route back into the city avoiding and running parallel with the busy A438. It runs through Bishopstone and onto Kenchester where I can follow the same route back into the city as I took on the outward leg on trip #3. However, just past Bishopstone my impressive trip today comes to a gradual halt. I’ve managed to pick up a puncture riding over debris from a farmer’s hedge cutting. As I have no means to repair the puncture, short of walking over 5 miles, all I can do is call my brother-in-law to pick me up. Even so I push the bike for a mile to the outskirts of Credenhill before Pete arrives. Still, it’s 3pm before I arrive home to reflect on what just happened.
Conclusion.....What would have been close to 20 miles today become just 13 but there are a couple of positives. The obvious one it that I need to remember to carry a puncture repair kit with me; I should have been able to complete the trip today with just a 30-minute delay. I’m mindful of the fact that I am not fully prepared yet for these longer trips, something I have to address before the next. The second positive is that I actually completed and even extended my trip itiniary today. After the puncture there was nothing else to include that hadn’t been covered already. The trip has yet again provided me with excellent material that I can include on this page. It’s another trip scratched and I will look forward to the next one.
