UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES · UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES. trees and the views open up to the west and the...

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T HERE is some evidence that Shobdon was a pre-Roman settlement. It is thought that a Roman road ran from the south west to join the Roman road to Leintwardine; there is a reference in the Domesday Book. In the 18th century, when the Bateman family built Shobdon Court, it became an estate village, with the majority of the population employed by the estate. 1 With your back to the lane down to the church, walk north, up the quarter-mile long, tree-lined avenue to The Arches. These were once part of the chancel of the Norman church that was replaced in the mid 18th century, by the present church. The Arches originally formed the chancel arch and two doorways. The sculptures that are of great national interest were made by masons of the Herefordshire School of Romanesque Architecture. The Norman church was erected at the expense of Oliver de Merlimond, a steward of the Mortimers, who was awarded the manor at Shobdon by them. It is said that this was the first building, in Herefordshire decorated by the Herefordshire School. More examples of their work can be seen at Kilpeck and Eardisley churches. About 15 yards to the left of The Arches follow the path through the woods to the lane; turn left to walk along for about quarter mile, passing Uphampton House on the right. Take the lane, on the right, opposite The Parks, that leads towards Shobdon Hill. 2 Just before the Shobdon Forest Research Field Station, cross the stile on the left and follow the field edge keeping the woods of the field station on the right. About two thirds along the field, cross the stile at the end of the fence and walk along the track. Almost immediately, turn up the track on the right, to begin walking up Shobdon Hill. As you ascend, you pass a great variety of WALK 89 Herefordshire & Wye Valley Life February 2011 89 www. herefordshire.greatbritishlife .co.uk Greta Pennington of the Mortimer Group of The Ramblers leads a walk from Shobdon Hill to Strawberry Hill Gothic UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES

Transcript of UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES · UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES. trees and the views open up to the west and the...

Page 1: UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES · UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES. trees and the views open up to the west and the south. 3 At the top of the hill go left to walk along the crest. Here you can see the

THERE is some evidence thatShobdon was a pre-Romansettlement. It is thought that a

Roman road ran from the south west tojoin the Roman road to Leintwardine;there is a reference in the DomesdayBook. In the 18th century, when theBateman family built Shobdon Court, itbecame an estate village, with themajority of the population employed bythe estate.

1With your back to the lane down tothe church, walk north, up the

quarter-mile long, tree-lined avenue toThe Arches. These were once part of thechancel of the Norman church that was

replaced in the mid 18th century, by thepresent church. The Arches originallyformed the chancel arch and twodoorways. The sculptures that are ofgreat national interest were made bymasons of the Herefordshire School ofRomanesque Architecture. The Normanchurch was erected at the expense ofOliver de Merlimond, a steward of theMortimers, who was awarded the manorat Shobdon by them. It is said that thiswas the first building, in Herefordshiredecorated by the Herefordshire School.More examples of their work can beseen at Kilpeck and Eardisley churches.About 15 yards to the left of The Archesfollow the path through the woods to

the lane; turn left to walk along forabout quarter mile, passing UphamptonHouse on the right. Take the lane, onthe right, opposite The Parks, that leadstowards Shobdon Hill.

2 Just before the Shobdon ForestResearch Field Station, cross the

stile on the left and follow the field edgekeeping the woods of the field stationon the right.

About two thirds along the field, crossthe stile at the end of the fence and walkalong the track. Almost immediately,turn up the track on the right, to beginwalking up Shobdon Hill. As youascend, you pass a great variety of

WALK

89Herefordshi re & Wye Val ley L i fe February 2011 89www.herefordshire.greatbr i t ishl i fe .co.uk

Greta Pennington of the Mortimer Group of The Ramblers leads a walk from Shobdon Hill to Strawberry Hill Gothic

UNDERNEATHTHE ARCHES

Page 2: UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES · UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES. trees and the views open up to the west and the south. 3 At the top of the hill go left to walk along the crest. Here you can see the

trees and the views open up to the westand the south.

3At the top of the hill go left to walkalong the crest. Here you can see the

reasons why the hill presents such ajagged profile from a distance. Many ofthe trees have been felled. On the right,you look down into the steep valley ofthe River Lugg, and the tree- coveredhills to the north.

4 At the end of the ridge, bear right,keeping the wire fence on your left,

to follow the well-marked track goingdown hill. After about 150 yards lookout for the small path on the left, thatleads up to a stile that you cross.

5This path now contours round thehillside, with a steep, wooded slope

on the right. You have views down tothe village of Byton. Continue onround, on this path to the sigh post. Go

sharp left up to the stile, and thenfollow along by the side of the hedgeand woodland to the gate and stile atthe end of the field. Keeping the barnon your left go across to the stile, andwalk up the field alongside the fence,and then down to the stile, into thewood. As you emerge from the wood,cross the next stile and walk across, anddown the field to the gate. Walk on,keeping the fence on your right, to thenext gate, with the fence and hedge, stillon the right, to a grass track leadingdown to the right which you take downto the gate, to walk down the well-defined track, keeping the farm on theleft. Below and slightly to the left youcan see Shobdon Airfield. Glider crewstrained here in the Second World Warfor the D Day landings and for Arnhem.It has a busy glider and aero club.

6Cross the road at the bottom of thetrack, to the gate opposite. Slant left

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across the field to the stile, andcontinue on the cleared path throughthe crops, slanting to the left of theelectricity pole, to the stile at the lefthand corner of the field. Cross left overthe corner of the next field and followthe fence down to the dip and the stile.

There is a farm over to the right.Turn sharp left after crossing the stileand walk beside the fence to the stile.

7You are now going to cross an areathat was glaciated during the last

Ice Age and this has left a legacy. Thereare a number of small lakes and pondsand low hillocks. These are drumlinsthat are composed of moraine debris.The ponds are kettle holes. This is a

dampish area to walk through. To theright, hidden by the trees is Pearl Lake,one of the largest areas of open waterin Herefordshire. Follow the fence,crossing the stiles, and winding yourway through the gorse bushes to thesloping area where some horse laneshave been marked off. Walk straightover to the stile and walk along the topof the field, then bear left through thegap, at the copse, to continue walkingwith the trees on the right, to the woodsahead. Cross the track that comes downfrom your left, to enter the woods, atfirst on a small grass track that verysoon opens up to a well defined path upthrough the wood. After crossing thestile, on the right, follow the track upleft. The Motte, of what had oncebeen Shobdon Castle is to your right.There are some very large oak treesgrowing round the edge. Go throughthe gate and right to the car park.

8Before leaving, go down right fromthe car park to the church. Built in

the 18th century, it is built in the styleknown as Strawberry Hill Gothic.According to Pevsner the interior is“delightful and ought to be kept in astate of high finish”. A visit makes aninteresting end to the walk. ■

www.herefordshire.greatbr i t ishl i fe .co.ukFebruary 2011 Herefordshi re & Wye Val ley L i fe Herefordshi re & Wye Val ley L i fe February 2011 91www.herefordshire.greatbr i t ishl i fe .co.uk90

The RamblersThe Ramblers TheRamblers is Britain’sbiggest charityworking to promotewalking and improve conditionsfor all walkers. In Herefordshirethere are four groups: Hereford,Mortimer, Ross-on-Wye andLeadon Vale. For moreinformation contactTom Fisher, tel: 01886 821544 or email: [email protected]

THE WALK Start/Parking: Explorermap OS 203 Ludlow. OSref. 341629. Car park just north of Shobdon Church

Maps: OS Explorer 203and 201

Distance: 5 miles

Grade: Moderate withsteady uphill to top ofShobdon Hill at more than 1,000 feet above sea level

Stiles: 14

Nearest town: Leominster

Refreshments: Bateman Arms:01568 708374

Toilets: None

Public transport: There is a regularbus service between Leominster andKington via Shobdon. Contact Traveline for details on0871 2002233

To view a larger version of this map visitwww.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk

Right Wigmore Rolls

Below (top to bottom) UphamptonHouse; Approaching Shobdon Hill; Shobdon ?????

Below left and left Shobdon Church

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