JOHN MOOREHERITAGE SERVICES - Archaeology Data Service
JOHN MOOREHERITAGE SERVICES - Archaeology Data Service
JOHN MOOREHERITAGE SERVICES - Archaeology Data Service
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<strong>JOHN</strong> <strong>MOOREHERITAGE</strong> <strong>SERVICES</strong>
<strong>JOHN</strong> <strong>MOOREHERITAGE</strong> <strong>SERVICES</strong>
<strong>JOHN</strong> <strong>MOOREHERITAGE</strong> <strong>SERVICES</strong>
<strong>JOHN</strong> <strong>MOOREHERITAGE</strong> <strong>SERVICES</strong>
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
<br />
<br />
This archaeological desk-based assessment was commissioned as part of the<br />
consideration of the errection of polytunnels and the excavation of three new ponds<br />
at Cobrey Farms, Coleraine Buildings, Coughton, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. This<br />
study was specifically commissioned to assess the potential for archaeological<br />
remains to be present within the area of the proposed ponds.<br />
The location of the proposed development site at Cobrey Farm is split in to three<br />
areas as shown on Figure 1 as A, B and C.<br />
The potential for prehistoric remains in the area is low, except in Area C where the<br />
stone macehead was recovered, were it must be considered moderate to high.<br />
The chance of Roman remains in the site is though to be low, but moderate in Area A.<br />
Here, however, the remains are likely to be limited to field boundaries.<br />
The area appears to have been arable or farmland since the medieval period and the<br />
potential for remains of medieval, post-medieval and early modern date is considered<br />
low, although there is a low to moderate potential for quarry pits to be present in the<br />
vicinity of Area B.<br />
1
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This archaeological desk-based assessment was commissioned by DLA Ltd on behalf<br />
of Cobrey Farms as part of the consideration of a proposal for new ponds at Cobrey<br />
Farms, Coleraine Buildings, Coughton, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.<br />
<br />
This report has been prepared in accordance with Planning for the Historic<br />
Environment (PPS 5) issued by the Department for Communities and Local<br />
Government (2010); and with the policies relevant to archaeology in the<br />
Herefordshire Local Development Framework 2026 (Draft June 2008). In format and<br />
contents this report conforms to the standards outlined in the Institute for<br />
Archaeologists’ guidance paper for desk-based assessments (IfA revised 2008).<br />
<br />
<br />
Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS 5 2010) provides guidance related to<br />
archaeology within the planning process. The following Policy points are key to this<br />
development:<br />
HE4.1 Local planning authorities should consider whether the exercise of permitted<br />
development rights would undermine the aims for the historic environment. If it would, local<br />
planning authorities should consider the use of an article 4 direction to ensure any<br />
development is given due consideration<br />
HE6.1 Local planning authorities should require an applicant to provide a description of the<br />
significance of the heritage assets affected and the contribution of their setting to that<br />
significance. The level of detail should be proportionate to the importance of the heritage<br />
asset and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on the<br />
significance of the heritage asset. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record<br />
should have been consulted and the heritage assets themselves should have been assessed<br />
using appropriate expertise where necessary given the application’s impact. Where an<br />
application site includes, or is considered to have the potential to include, heritage assets with<br />
archaeological interest, local planning authorities should require developers to submit an<br />
appropriate desk-based assessment and, where desk-based research is insufficient to properly<br />
assess the interest, a field evaluation.<br />
HE6.2 This information together with an assessment of the impact of the proposal should be<br />
set out in the application (within the design and access statement when this is required) as<br />
part of the explanation of the design concept. It should detail the sources that have been<br />
considered and the expertise that has been consulted.<br />
<br />
The Draft <strong>Archaeology</strong> and Development Supplementary Planning Document (2008)<br />
highlights several key policies that will affect this development:<br />
ARCH1 – Prior to determination of applications for development on sites where there is<br />
reason to believe there are remains of archaeological importance, an archaeological field<br />
evaluation may be required.<br />
2
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
ARCH 3 – Development proposals and works, which may adversely affect the integrity,<br />
character or setting of Scheduled Ancient Monuments will not be permitted.<br />
ARCH 8 – Proposals affecting sites of archaeological interest will be required to show how<br />
the interest will be protected and where feasible can be enhanced.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The primary aim of the desk-based assessment is to provide a professional appraisal<br />
of the archaeological potential of the site. This follows the Government guidance in<br />
PPS 5 by presenting a synthetic account of the available archaeological and historic<br />
data and its significance at an early stage in the planning process. The report will<br />
provide the evidence necessary for informed and reasonable planning decisions<br />
concerning the need for further archaeological work. The information will allow for<br />
the development of an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on<br />
the archaeology, if this is warranted.<br />
In accordance with PPS 5, the report presents a desk-based evaluation of existing<br />
information. It additionally follows the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) Standard<br />
definition of a desk-based assessment (IfA revised 2008). In brief, it seeks to identify<br />
and assess the known and potential archaeological resource within a specified area<br />
(‘the site’), collating existing written and graphic information and taking full account<br />
of the likely character, extent, quantity and worth of that resource in a local, regional<br />
and national context. It also aims to define and comment on the likely impact of the<br />
proposed development scheme on the surviving archaeological resource.<br />
The IfA Standard states that the purpose of a desk-based assessment is to inform<br />
appropriate responses, which may consist of one or more of the following:<br />
The formulation of a strategy for further investigation, whether or not<br />
intrusive, where the character and value of the resource is not sufficiently<br />
defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised.<br />
The formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or<br />
management of the resource<br />
The formulation of a project design for further archaeological investigation<br />
within a programme of research<br />
In accordance with PPS 5, the desk-based assessment forms the first stage in the<br />
planning process as regards archaeology as a material consideration. It is intended to<br />
contribute to the formulation of an informed and appropriate mitigation strategy.<br />
<br />
<br />
The format of the report is adapted from an Institute for Archaeologist Standard<br />
Guidance paper (IfA, revised 2008).<br />
In summary, the work has involved:<br />
3
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
- Identifying the client’s objectives<br />
- Identifying the cartographic and documentary sources available for<br />
consultation<br />
- Assembling, consulting and examining those sources<br />
The principal sources consulted in assessing this site were the Historic Environment<br />
Records for Herefordshire and the Herefordshire Records Office. The first holds<br />
details of known archaeological sites. The Records Office contained copies of<br />
relevant early editions of Ordnance Survey maps, other cartographic sources and<br />
documentary sources. Archaeological sites in Herefordshire within 600 m of the<br />
proposal site have been noted. Aerial photographs of the area held at the National<br />
Monuments Record in Swindon were also consulted.<br />
The extent to which archaeological remains are likely to survive on the site will<br />
depend on the previous land use. The destructive effect of the previous and existing<br />
buildings/infrastructure/activity on the site has therefore been assessed from a study<br />
of available map information and other documentary sources.<br />
In order that the appropriate archaeological response/s can be identified,<br />
consideration has been given to the need for further assessment and evaluation by<br />
fieldwork, in order to identify and locate surviving archaeological deposits on the<br />
site.<br />
(Figure 1)<br />
The location of the proposed development site at Cobrey Farm is split in to three<br />
areas as shown on Figure 1 as A, B and C. The site is currently used for general<br />
agricultural use. The site is located approximately 2km to the south of Ross-on-Wye.<br />
The farm is centred at grid reference SO 615 219 located in a valley location with<br />
elevations across the farm ranging from approximately 40m to 115m AOD.<br />
The geology of the site has been identified from British Geological Survey Map 215<br />
(Ross-on-Wye) and consists of alluvium in the valley base underlain by the<br />
sandstones and mudstones of the Brownstone Formation of the Lower Old Red<br />
Sandstone. The Soil Survey of England and Wales classify the soils at the farm as<br />
Sub-group 541c: well drained reddish coarse loamy soils over sandstone, shallow in<br />
places especially on brows. Some reddish fine silty soils over shale and siltstone.<br />
<br />
The planning application is for the erection of polytunnels across the site<br />
predominantly for the growing of vegetables and soft fruit. Associated with these<br />
polytunnels are three proposed ponds for water retention.<br />
4
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Figure 1. Location Map<br />
B<br />
C<br />
5<br />
A<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
0 m<br />
1000 m
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
<br />
<br />
(By Stephen Yeates)<br />
The name Cobrey was first recorded in the later medieval<br />
period. It has various other variable forms including Cokebury, Colbrey and<br />
Coughbury and the prefix is of a similar origin to that of Coughton, recorded as<br />
Cocton(e) 1216-72 (Coplestone-Crow 1989, 197-8). Bannister (1916, 51) suggested<br />
that the name contained the personal name Cocca. Coplestone-Crow (1989)<br />
suggested the prefix was Old English coc, a cock, or that the word was cocc, a<br />
pyramidal shaped hill, in respect to Chase Hill. Consequently Coplestone-Crow<br />
interpreted as Cobrey as the manor house by Cocc, the pyramidal shaped hill.<br />
Coplestone-Crows place-name interpretation suggests that there could be a significant<br />
medieval site in the vicinity of Cobrey, in this interpretation burh, is being used for a<br />
medieval manorial site. Banister (1916, 51) noted that the site of Cobrey (Cokebury)<br />
lies on ground at the base of Chase Hill on which a prehistoric camp is known to<br />
exist. The name Cockbury has been recognised as a specific name applied to<br />
prehistoric camps elsewhere, for example the large prehistoric camp on Nottingham<br />
Hill in Gloucestershire (Smith 1964, 90), where the name was recorded Coccanburh<br />
in 769-85. The etymology given in this case is Cocca’s fortification. The name may<br />
be part of a series of names with a wider use (Yeates 2008, 102-6).<br />
The camp is first illustrated on Taylor’s map of 1754 at Chase Wood. The first<br />
description is by Fosbrooke, a renowned antiquarian whose main works were on<br />
Gloucestershire, but who also provided an important account of sites in southern<br />
Herefordshire in his Ariconensia (1821, 20, 33). Here the description is of a camp on<br />
the Penyard in Chase Wood, claimed as a Roman station. The finds described as<br />
coming from the site at this early date include beads. Fleeting descriptions occur of<br />
the texts in Playne (1875, 234) and Lines (1877, 11), but it is the RCHME (1932,<br />
167) that provides the first detailed account and survey of the camp. Here the camp is<br />
described as oval and in poor condition with steep defences due to the natural fall of<br />
the hillside. From the 1960s accounts of further finds occur including middle Iron-<br />
Age pottery and later Roman coins of the 3 rd -4 th centuries (Leach 1969, 479-80). The<br />
bead from the site has been given a date of 210-90 BC (Halliwell 1993, 376), while<br />
recent accumulative accounts of the material the 12.5ha, scarping, berm, outer bank,<br />
and original northeast entrance are available (HER 904, 4143, 7144; Yeates 2006,<br />
1141-2).<br />
Riverside settlement of the late Iron Age and early Roman periods has been noted<br />
during excavations at the Welsh Water Depot at Coughton (SO 596 213). Here two<br />
ditches were identified one with Iron-Age and Roman pottery, and another substantial<br />
ditch containing Severn Valley ware (Shoesmith 2004, 106). No structures were<br />
found but significant quantities of pottery indicative of settlement nearby. This<br />
indicates that settlement of a later prehistoric and Roman nature occurred along the<br />
course of the Coughton Brook.<br />
The present belief is that a settlement located in Weston-under-<br />
Penyard parish was first recorded historically in the 2 nd century AD. A large Roman<br />
6
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
settlement has been identified in the area of Bury Hill (the hill with the fortification)<br />
and Bromsash (the earliest known hundred name). The name ARICONIO is recorded<br />
in the Antonine Itinerary XIII (Rivet and Smith 1979, 257-8). The name is associated<br />
with that of Archenfield an area on the west of the River Wye (Coplestone-Crow<br />
1989).<br />
Horseley (1732, iii.468) was the first antiquarian to claim that Ariconium lay in the<br />
vicinity of Ross-on-Wye. A description of c. 1750 described the location of extensive<br />
walls and roads covered with dense thickets (Bull 1882, 249-50). The camp at Bury<br />
Hill is marked on Taylor’s Map of 1754. In 1785 Hopkins Meyrick provided<br />
information on this Roman station (Fosbrooke 1821, 22-38; Bull 1882, 249-50), he<br />
had carried out ploughing on the site and disturbed vast quantities of stone, a<br />
description of a building is given along with other walls and tesserae finds. The finds<br />
included building fragments, tufa blocks and arches, a vault, statues, urns, finger and<br />
earrings, broaches, and Roman coins. The iron slag spreads were extremely extensive<br />
and early descriptions are of a site covering 20 acres. Among the early descriptions is<br />
that of a large cast bronze head with ram’s horns that was melted down, but must<br />
have been part of a cult statue. In 1788 a description of Diana is recorded as being<br />
recovered from the Roman town (Bevan and Haverfield 1896, 13). In 1804 the<br />
remains of a further impressive building was described, perhaps a temple, around<br />
which human burials were described (RCHME 1932, 209). The first synthesis of the<br />
site occurred in 1844 (Jack 1922, Additional 1-44, 36-37). The earliest discoveries at<br />
Weston-under-Penyard were from random finds.<br />
The British Archaeological Society visited the site and observed the collections of<br />
finds in 1870 (Palmer and Hills 1871, 203-18). Their field walking first determined<br />
that the site covered 100 acres. The locations included Bollitree, Upper and Lower<br />
Hask Fields, Cinder Hill, and Bury Hill. It was also noted at this time that there was<br />
probably an Iron-Age predecessor to the site. The vast majority of coins came from<br />
Upper Hask Field, suggestive of a temple site or at least a market area.<br />
The first systematic excavations carried out on the site took place in 1922 when six<br />
locations were investigated (Jack 1922 Additional 1-44, 1-53). These identified the<br />
remains of a substantial building with tufa masonry and cinder deposits. In 1928<br />
cropmarks were observed that marked the road layout of the town, on investigation<br />
these were constructed of slag deposits (Watkins 1928, 228-31). A second synthesis<br />
of the site was produced by the RCHME (1932, 209). In 1932 the remains of a cinder<br />
road was identified running towards the Forest of Dean (Watkins 1932, 184-91). In<br />
1955 a trench was cut across a Roman road in Wig Meadow (Cohen 1955, 66-72). In<br />
1963 excavations were carried out on bloomer slags of the settlement (Bridgewater<br />
1965, 124-35). Further excavations have commenced on the site that show that the<br />
later Roman layers have been truncated by ploughing. In 1995 excavations took place<br />
on the line of the Ryeford bypass, some 1km from the Weston site, which identified<br />
the remains of a road with various structures and cobbled surfaces built along the<br />
road (White 1994, 47-8, 1995, 45). These excavations show that considerable<br />
activity, either sporadic satellite settlement, or more likely Roman cemetery activity<br />
continues for some distance along the line of the Roman roads outside this extensive<br />
Iron-Age to Roman settlement.<br />
7
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
0<br />
2 m<br />
Bridstow<br />
Wilton<br />
Walford<br />
Major Royal Manor<br />
Major Ecclesiastical Manor<br />
Sub-Royal Manor<br />
Sub-Ecclesiastical manor<br />
Nucleated Roman Settlement<br />
Cleeve<br />
Coughton<br />
Brampton Abbots<br />
Ross-on-Wye<br />
Chase<br />
Wood<br />
Cobrey<br />
Kingstone<br />
Westonunder-Penyard<br />
Ruardean<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment<br />
Bury Hill<br />
Linton<br />
Eccleswall<br />
Lea<br />
Hope Mansell or Sutton<br />
Figure 2: The interlinked Medieval Manorial and Parochial system of Ross-cum-Linton<br />
8<br />
Aston Ingham
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
Historically, as we shall see below, the manors of Walford and<br />
Weston-under-Penyard had a complicated arrangement with other manors located at<br />
Ross-on-Wye and Linton (near Ross). The first historical reference any of these<br />
manors is in 1016 when Edmund Ironside is reputed to have granted the manor at<br />
Ross-on-Wye to the bishop of Hereford (Finberg 1964, no.420). The grant is lost,<br />
probably destroyed by in a Welsh attack on Hereford, when the cathedral and its<br />
library were destroyed. Ross was the centre of a large and complicated estate (see<br />
below) and an early medieval parochial system (see below). The ecclesiastical land<br />
(church of Saint Mary, Priory, other ecclesiastical lands, and outlying burials) covers<br />
a large rectangular area of Ross, suggesting the plan is determined by earlier<br />
archaeology. This has been confirmed recently by excavations in the Prospect<br />
Gardens where substantial Roman masonry was uncovered (Shoesmith 2009, 149).<br />
The place-name Weston, first recorded in 1086 as Westune, indicates<br />
the west settlement (Coplestone-Crow 1989, 202). It is a directional estate name, and<br />
is counterbalanced by Aston Ingham and Aston Crews, the east settlements. The two<br />
names are directional names pinpointing an earlier estate centre of the Roman or early<br />
medieval period; hence the centre is the Roman settlement of Bromsash or the royal<br />
manor at Linton.<br />
The name of Walford also shows possible early medieval origins, in that its first<br />
recording in 1086, Walecford, is considered to have an etymology of the Welshman’s<br />
ford, and is considered to apply to a crossing of the river Wye (Coplestone-Crow<br />
1989, 197). A name of this type could date from the reign of Athelstan when an<br />
agreement was drawn up between the king and the Welsh princes to recognise that<br />
river as the boundary between the two territories.<br />
The earliest surviving references to Walford and Weston-under-<br />
Penyard are to be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. Here we also have to be<br />
aware of other manors such as that at Linton (near Ross) and also Kingstone (a part of<br />
Weston-under-Penyard). The combined manor of Ross, Walford-on-Wye and Upton<br />
Bishop were assessed as a multiple manor to which an estate at Whippington was<br />
included (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 2.22-25). The combined manorial system is evident<br />
in later recognised manorial arrangements. Each of the main manors accounted for 7<br />
hides, while Whippington contained 3 hides. Some of the manor at Walford was<br />
waste as the record refers to an area of 2 further hides that could be brought back into<br />
cultivation. The village contained 6 villagers, 4 smallholders, meadow, and 3 hedged<br />
enclosures or haiæ. The hedged enclosures are not located but could include Bishop’s<br />
Wood on the Forest of Dean escarpment to the south of the village and Chase Wood<br />
Hill to the north of the village. The bank and ditches may also refer to the hill-fort<br />
located on Chase Hill. The third area is not located but presumably was also located<br />
on the Dean escarpment to the south.<br />
The manor of Linton was retained by the king, being ranked as his first manor in<br />
Herefordshire, and accounts for 5 hides (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 1.1). There are 10<br />
villagers, 5 smallholders, 6 slaves, a mill, 1 Frenchman with ½ hide, with the manor<br />
paying £10 in white pence. The church of the village had been awarded by the<br />
Norman king to Saint Mary’s of Cormeilles, along with a priest, the whole tithe, and<br />
a villager with 1 virgate of land. A further 2 hides of the manor with 9 villagers and a<br />
9
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
virgate of land are identified but not fully located (see below). The past importance of<br />
the manor is hinted at by this manor having rights to dues of honey and sheep in<br />
Archenfield. This can be identified as coming from Bridstow (Yeates 2006), a parish<br />
on the west side of the Wye from Ross-on-Wye. The church at Linton is a<br />
complicated structure and predated the Norman Conquest, a pair of reused Roman<br />
tufa arches have been recognised in the building, which must come from the Roman<br />
settlement at Bury Hill, Weston-under Penyard (Yeates 2005, 21-32).<br />
A further royal manor was located at Cleeve with its outlier Walton covering 14 ½<br />
hides (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 1.8). This manor was located in the modern parishes of<br />
Walford and Bridstow. There were 20 villagers, a reeve, 11 smallholders, 9 male and<br />
5 female slaves, a ploughman, 2 mills and a fishery. The numbers of Welshmen that<br />
belong to this manor are not numbered. The church of the manor is held by the Saint<br />
Mary’s of Cormeilles, along with a priest the tithe and 1 villager. This could be a<br />
repetition of the Linton holding but is more likely a reference to the church at<br />
Bridstow or less likely Walford. Woodland and tithes are also mentioned with tithes<br />
of honey and sheep, besides another 2 hides, half a fishery (presumably the other half<br />
is tithe free or belongs to another manor), and 2 hides less 1 virgate at Ashe Ingen in<br />
Bridstow parish.<br />
The Abbey of Cormeilles is also recorded in the Domesday Book as holding a manor<br />
at Kingsone, which was located in the later parish of Weston-under-Penyard (Moore<br />
1982, 1.11; Thorn and Thorn 1983, 3.1). This estate covered 2 hides, but tax and<br />
service was paid in Gloucestershire, by they lived and came to pleas in the hundred of<br />
Bromsash. The manor probably originated as part of the manors of Linton and<br />
Cleeve, a series of dispersed estates throughout the earlier parochia of Ross-cum-<br />
Linton (see below), but was in 1086 accounted as part of the royal manor of<br />
Westbury-on-Severn (Moore 1982, 1.11) along with a number of other diverse<br />
holdings up the Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire borders.<br />
The manors of Pontshill and Weston-under-Penyard where held by Durand of<br />
Gloucester in 1086 (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 22.2-3). Bernard Newmarch held these<br />
estates from Durand, while Gunnar held them in 1066. Pontshill was accounted as an<br />
estate of 1 hide with 6 small holders. The manor of Weston had 2 hides had 2<br />
smallholders.<br />
An account of the manor of Hope Mansell and the other lands held by William son of<br />
Baderon also has to be provided as will be evident in the later accounts of the<br />
manorial holdings (Area C). All of William’s land holdings mentioned here were<br />
located in the hundred of Bromsash (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 15.1-3), the hundred in<br />
which was dominated by the parochial system of Ross-cum-Linton. The manor of<br />
Hope Mansell was divided into two manors of 4 hides, with 1 villager and 1 small<br />
holder with 1½ ploughs. A further third part of the manor was held by the abbey<br />
church of Saint Peter’s at Gloucester. The village of Hope Mansell contains a house<br />
called Sutton House, and it is likely that one of these manors may have been known<br />
as Sutton, a directional estate name that would match Weston and Aston and thus<br />
start to combine the parish and manor into the larger early medieval estate. William<br />
also held Ruardean, which Hardwic held from him, with the land assessed at 4 hides.<br />
The last holding was 1 virgate in the manor of Linton, the king’s manor, which<br />
10
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
Leofstan held from him. The later manorial associations here may mean that this part<br />
of Linton Manor could be part of Hope Mansell parish, as later data indicates that<br />
isolated parts of Linton manor lay along the Coughton valley.<br />
As indicated above the churches of Ross-on-Wye and<br />
Linton appear to have had a previous importance as implied through textual sources<br />
on chapels and land holdings. The parochial arrangement has been discussed<br />
previously by Yeates (2005, 21-32; Yeates 2006, 1137-49), although broadly correct<br />
there is room for refinement of the points in these arguments. The place-name<br />
Eccleswall contains the Brittonic word eclēs, a loan word from Latin, which has an<br />
early formation date, and is suggestive of early medieval Christianity occurring in the<br />
area (Cameron 1987, 1-7). The place lies near the parish boundary of what was Ross<br />
and Linton, and may not refer to a church at that location but a well on the boundary<br />
of the ecclesiastical establishment.<br />
The chapels of Ross are identified as follows: Bampton in 1356 (Parry 1912, 228),<br />
Weston-under-Penyard over tithes in Kingstone in 1290 (Capes 1909, 239-40), burial<br />
rites granted at Walford in 1321 (Bannister 1908, 174), burial agreement at Wilton in<br />
1163 x 86 (Barrow 1993, no. 127), Ruardean a chapel of Walford in 1200 (VCH<br />
1996, 244), a chantry at Rudhall in 1307 (Cooke 1882, 123), a chapel at Pontshill in<br />
1321 (HER 12578), a chapel at Hom Green or Cleeve in the 12 th century (Cooke<br />
1882, 118), and a chapel at Coughton in 1610 on Speed’s map. Those churches tied to<br />
the church at Linton include Bridstow in 1086 (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 1.8; Duncomb<br />
1812, 392), in Kingstone in 1168 (Atkyns 1712, 570-1), and at Lea in 1418 (Parry<br />
1918, 35-7).<br />
Accounts of the manorial descent of these estates are to be found in<br />
Duncumb’s History of Herefordshire (Cooke 1882), though this is dated. Here it is<br />
apparent that the parishes of Ross and Walford formed the manors of Ross Borough<br />
and Ross Foreign (at Walford). Here the large manorial system was split between<br />
town and country as at Ledbury and Wotton-under-Edge. The manor of Walford as<br />
part of Ross Foreign remained part of the episcopal manor (Cooke 1882, 179-80) and<br />
formed part of a knight’s fee. Historically Hugh de Walford held the knights fee in<br />
1182, and Thomas de Walford and heir when 5 hides is recognised as being under<br />
ancient feoffment. In 1282 John de Walford held the manor, he is recorded as<br />
accompanying the king’s forces into Wales. Henry de Walford is accounted as a<br />
witness to a deed in 1336, concerning the transfer of a house from Adam Wodelaw to<br />
Henry Tulle. The de Walford family had lost the manor by 1441 when bishop<br />
Spofford granted the manor to a relation John Chambers for a rent of 12d.<br />
The bishop of Hereford’s register contains some accounts of the extensive woods that<br />
were under the protection of members of the bishop’s household (Cooke 1882, 180-<br />
1). In 1523 there was a directive from the see of Hereford through the incumbents of<br />
the parishes of Walford, Goodrich, Bridstow and Foy to the parishioners not to carry<br />
away the eggs of Hawks. This would cover the woods of Bishop’s Wood and Chase<br />
Wood. The Bishop’s Wood was an area of 2000 acres, which in 1614 was formerly<br />
declared wasteland of the manor of Ross Foreign. These woodlands had seen<br />
surreptitious enclosure in the 1600s, and presumably Bishoip’s Wood and Chase<br />
Wood could have been far more extensive in the past.<br />
11
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
The statement of the location of Bishop’s Wood was probably as a result of the<br />
manors of Ross Foreign and Ross Borough being sold 1602-3 (Cooke 1882, 180-1).<br />
The purchaser of Ross Foreign was William the 7 th Earl of Clainricarde, and his wife<br />
Frances, and Robert the Earl of Essex.<br />
The manor of Coughton or Coketon was given by Richard I to<br />
Richard Talbot, and was at that time recognised as a subordinate manor to the manor<br />
of Eccleswall and Linton (Cooke 1882, 183). This indicates that Coughton Manor<br />
formed part of the Domesday royal manors of Linton and Cleeve, the territory or<br />
which was distributed over a number of parishes. In the reign of Edward III Gilbert<br />
Talbot is recorded as the holder of the manor of Coughton, and that he was<br />
responsible for the conveyance of the manor to the priory of Wormsley. Initially they<br />
were awarded the rent of the mill but the priory eventually obtained the whole of the<br />
manor.<br />
The suppression of the monasteries saw the manor being purchased by George<br />
Chaldecote (Cooke 1882, 183-4), who sold this to Richard Warnecombe. The<br />
daughter of Richard, Joanne, married Walter Kyrle, and their eldest son Robert<br />
inherited the manor of Coughton. By 1758 the manor of Coughton had passed to<br />
William Nourse.<br />
The Kyrle family obtained the manor of Walford Court in<br />
the reign of Edward IV (1461-83), but the earliest mention of the family in the area is<br />
in 1289 when a Robert Ceorl/Curl was resident at Homme Farm in Ross and was<br />
bailiff of the larger manor of Ross (Cooke 1882, 184-9). William Crull obtained Hill<br />
Court c. 1318. In 1483 it is apparent that Walter Kyrle holds the mesne land of<br />
Walford Court and Hill Estate. The youngest son of Walter, James, inherited the<br />
manor of Walford Court. This manor also obtained land at English Bicknor,<br />
Ruardean, Hope Mansel, and Colbrey (Cobrey in Walford). The Kyrle family<br />
continued to inherit the manor into the early 1600s, and the present Walford Manor<br />
was built in the 16 th century by Thomas Kyrle.<br />
The farm of Colbury Coughbury or Cobrey is first<br />
recorded as being owned by John Markey, who was the second husband of Alice<br />
Kyrle (Cooke 1882, 189-90). Alice Kyrle was the daughter of Walter Kyrle of Hill<br />
Court, whose first husband was Christopher Clarke. A Thomas Kyrle held Cobrey,<br />
who sold the land in 1718 to the Bond Family.<br />
A message of land in the area called Castlebrook is considered to be the land recorded<br />
in the 11 th century as Chalceburge covering 1 hide, which belonged to a Saxon named<br />
Gunner (Cooke 1882, 190). The identification is far from assured.<br />
The manors of Weston and Ponshill in 1086 were held by<br />
Bernard Newmarch from Durand (see above). In the 12 th century the manor of<br />
Weston passed to the de Brett family, and from them to the Nourse Family (Cooke<br />
1882, 210-1). In 1531 William Wylles married Johanna Nourse. The manor contained<br />
the farms of Brooke, Walton and Woodend.<br />
12
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
The manor of Kingstone formed a large part of the<br />
parish of Weston-under-Penyard parish (Cooke 1882, 218-20). This included the area<br />
that later became Penyard. The first holders of this manor after Domesday are the<br />
Talbot family, when they held the manor it is known to have been subordinate to the<br />
manor of Eccleswall and Linton. The estate was later vested in the 1 st Earl of<br />
Shrewsbury. In 1631 many of the trees across Penyard Park were felled for the<br />
purpose of iron smelting. In the 1630s the holder of the manor was the Earl of Kent<br />
who died in 1639, his widow who inherited the estate held this until 1647 and it<br />
continued to descent in the family. In 1792 the estate was sold to William Partridge of<br />
Bishop’s Wood. The site of the old manor house or castle is considered to be that of<br />
Weston-under-Penyard old rectory, which is considered to be the location of an older<br />
fortification that commanded the defile between Penyard Hill and the Forest of Dean.<br />
The abbey of Cormeilles had a priory cell at Newent in Gloucestershire; it was this<br />
priory that was responsible for the holding of the manor at Kingstone in the parish of<br />
Weston-under-Penyard (Area A). The priory like others produced a cartulary (HRO<br />
AS 85/1-3) this provides an account of the land holdings of the Kingstone Manor, and<br />
shows the payments received by the priory and also some of the field names. There<br />
are various quitclaims between the abbot of Cormeilles and the abbot of Gloucester<br />
accounted in the texts, suggesting that some of the estate bordered lands held by the<br />
abbey of Gloucester (in the area of Hope Mansell). The field names recorded include<br />
Benmede or Benmedw, Hurland, Redale, Hent Tessparoc, Rudarsmede and Belawe.<br />
The only name identified to date is Redale, considered to be an early form of Rudhall,<br />
located on the northern boundary of Weston-under-Penyard parish. The name Belawe<br />
is also worthy of some assessment as the final component is undoubtedly Old English<br />
hlæw or hlāw, a mound or tumulus (Gelling 1976, 880). The word transforms into a –<br />
lowe and ultimately –low. Only one regional name in the parish contains this name<br />
Wallow, now a farm located to the south of Area A. It is possible that the first part of<br />
the name may be corrupted. The extract in the cartulary refers to this place as a<br />
location where horses were bought and sold. A barrow in the Wallow area may be<br />
suspected, it could be Roman, located along the line of a Roman road leading from<br />
the large Roman settlement to the south into the Forest of Dean. The cartulary (HRO<br />
AS 85/1-3) also mentions wood and forest named Yarkeldone in the Forest of Dean<br />
(Smith 1965, 192); this is located on the parish boundaries of Aston Ingham and<br />
Newent and shows that some of the holdings of the manor were detached.<br />
The manorial arrangement of the lands around Walford-on-<br />
Wye and Weston-under-Penyard are complex and it is not simply the case that a<br />
straightforward line of descent can be described for Cobrey Park or the area around<br />
Frogmore in Weston. The manors of the king, which were originally focused on<br />
Linton, and the ecclesiastical manors, focused on Ross-on-Wye, formed a large<br />
cohesive territory (see the parochial arrangements below). The division of this<br />
territory between lay holdings and ecclesiastical holdings must have originally<br />
occurred in the early medieval period, for which we can only start to appreciate the<br />
complexity of the arrangement through the catalogue of manors in the Domesday<br />
Book. Though Coughton and Cobrey Manor and Penyard Park lay in the parishes of<br />
Walford and Weston it is apparent in the later medieval records that these lands must<br />
have originally been catalogued in the estate holdings of the king at Linton, Cleeve<br />
(to the southwest of Ross) and Kingstone. Post the dissolution of the monasteries the<br />
13
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
interrelationships of the owning families means that various parcels of land change<br />
hands between the original manorial holdings.<br />
<br />
<br />
(by Stephen Yeates)<br />
Inspection of the tithe maps for the area around Cobrey shows that there was<br />
previously a complicated arrangement of land holdings and that the parish boundaries<br />
have been altered. Field names were sought on four parochial maps: Walford,<br />
Weston-under-Penyard, Ross-on-Wye and Hope Mansell. The field names across<br />
Penyard Hill on the Ross-on-Wye tithe award were given no other names than that<br />
they were in Penyard Park (WNFC-Ross).<br />
The western field (Area B) was located in the parish of Walford (HRO BD87, BR79,<br />
WNFC-Walford), a reproduction of this 1840 map showing its field boundaries is<br />
produced in Fig 3. The field names listed are as followed: Cobrey Meadow (314,<br />
340), The Yelds and Meers (317-318), Cinqfoin (319), Clump of Firs (320), Ruffett<br />
(321), The Near Cockstone Field (322), Middle Cockstone Field (323), Ruffett and<br />
Road to Ross (324), Twelve Acre Piece (325), The How Pits (326), Trbandy (327),<br />
The Horn Meadow (328), The Near Ridding (329), Tuck Mill Meadow (330), The<br />
Inage (331-332), The Old Roadway (333), Mansion and Buildings (341), The Lawn<br />
(342) and Wood Croft (345). The name Old Roadway is suggestive of the course of<br />
the road between Chase Wood and Penyard Park of having its course altered<br />
previously.<br />
The eastern field (Area A) was located in the parish of Weston-under-Penyard (HRO<br />
B9/16-17, M35/24-7, WNFC-Weston), a reproduction of the 1838 map showing the<br />
field boundaries is produced in Fig. 4. The following field names are located in the<br />
vicinity of Frogmore and Wallow Farms: Wig Meadow (171, 172, 174. 324-326),<br />
Craw Bridge (330), The Moors (331), Marsh Meadow (332), The Butts (333),<br />
Slaughtern (334), Wall House Meadow (335), Draw Bridge Orchard (335a), Draw<br />
Bridge Common Field (336), Colling Bill (336a), Plantation (337), Birches (338), 339<br />
(Five Acres), Frogmore Homestead (340), Long Meadow (341), Six Acres (342), Part<br />
of Penyard Park (343), Wall Field (345), Wivington Piece (347), Bill Mill (359),<br />
Lawns (360), The Moors (361), Wallow Pleck (362), Moors (363), Tim Hill (390),<br />
Wallow Meadow (391), Wallow Orchard (392), Wallow Farm (393), New Croft<br />
Orchard (394), Old Field (395), The Meadow (396), and The Marsh Close (397).<br />
The central field (Area C) was located in a detached part of Hope Mansell parish<br />
(WNFC-Hope Mansell), a reproduction of the 1840 map showing the field boundaries<br />
is produced in Fig. 5 The following field names are recorded in the northern part of<br />
the parish: Twenty Acres (1), Lower Weavington (2), Upper Weavington (3), Brook<br />
(6), Bonners Meadow (7-8), Road from Hope Mansell to Ross (9), Upper Redding<br />
(10), Hen Grove (12), while nos. 4-5 and 11 are not named.<br />
The surviving inclosure map for Walford covers the area of Coughton Marsh in 1860<br />
(HRO Q/RI/47), while the surviving inclosure map for Hope Mansell in 1808 (HRO<br />
Q/RI/20), see Fig. 6. The 1808 map was a reworking of the original inclosure map,<br />
14
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Cockstone Fields, indicating Prehistoric monument<br />
Names indicating Medieval Monuments<br />
Names indicating possible sites of medieval origin<br />
Post-medieval buildings marked on the Tithe Maps<br />
Undated Road, Roman to Post-Medieval<br />
Figure 3: A reproduction of the Tithe Map of Walford (Field 326 contains Area B)<br />
15<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Name indicative of<br />
Prehistoric site<br />
Name indicative of<br />
Medieval Settlement<br />
Names with some<br />
indication of Medieval<br />
activity<br />
Post-Medieval Buildings<br />
Name of interest<br />
but not fully explained<br />
Figure 4: Reproduction of Tithe Map of Weston-under-Penyard (Area A covers fields 334 and 335)<br />
16<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Field-names derived from Medieval Settlement names<br />
Figure 5: A Reproduction of the Hope Mansell Tithe Award (Field 8 is Area C)<br />
17<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
with further fields being inclosed to the south, consequently the names listed 193-200<br />
in the detached part of Hope Mansell do not have their names surviving, but one can<br />
presume that they probably correspond to the field names recorded on the tithe maps.<br />
A map for the Cobrey Estate (Areas B and C) survives for 1849 (HRO BE34, C17/1),<br />
Fig. 7. Here the fields are catalogued as followed: Mansion and other buildings (1),<br />
Cobrey Meadow (2), Far Cockstone Field (3), Middle Cockstone Field (4), Near<br />
Cockstone Field (5), The Sainfoin later Near Cockstone (6), How Pits (7), Trebandy<br />
(8), Twenty Acres or Mill’s Piece (9), Lower Weavington (10), Upper Weavington<br />
(11), The Far Riding (12), The Near Riding (13), Bonnor’s Meadow (14), Horn<br />
Meadow (15), Tuck Mill Meadow (16), The Inage (17), Buting (18), The Yelds and<br />
Meers (19-20), O’Croft or Great Orchard (21), Wood Croft (22), New Field (23),<br />
New Field Wood (24), Upper Meadow (25), Middle Meadow (26), Lower Meadow<br />
(27), The Three Acres (28), Howell’s Orchard (29), Messuage, Cyder Mill and<br />
Garden (30), The Upper Firs (31), The Lower Firs (32), Mill House and Garden (33),<br />
Mill Orchard Pleck (34), East or Great Pigs Nash (35), West or Small Pigs Nash (36),<br />
Mill House Meadow (37), Mill House Orchard (38), Near Barn Piece (39) and Far<br />
Barn and Fold (40). A number of these field names are repeated in a variation of<br />
those already accounted. The names also occur on other documents relating to the<br />
farm such as the valuation of 1831 (HRO D37/1) and the deeds of 1773 (HRO AK<br />
57/1), where some of the field names are reproduced and others occur in a slightly<br />
different form: Two Pitts, Trebandy, Tuck Mill Meadow, Cowbry, Woodcroft, Innage<br />
Mill, Bill Mill, and Upper Lawn. The use of the name Coleraine is derived from a<br />
family name, while the deed refers to the lands as messuages and tenements in the<br />
parish and manor of Hope Mansell.<br />
There are a number of names of interest in the area that could refer to sites of<br />
archaeological significance: -<br />
Discussed in text above.<br />
A group of field names refer to a probable stone monument, possibly<br />
prehistoric in date, presumably in the location of Middle Cockstone Field (SO 608<br />
220), to the north of Area B. The name of Coughton and Cobrey may be associated<br />
with the name of this stone, perhaps Old English the pointed stone, or Welsh the red<br />
stone.<br />
A number of names using the Old English word croft can be<br />
recognised in the recorded place-names. Woodcroft (SO 212 607) and O’croft<br />
(Orchardcroft) are recorded amongst the names around Cobrey Manor to the<br />
southwest of Area B. The word croft in some forms referred to an enclosed piece of<br />
land, in other cases it referred to a dwelling in an enclosed piece of land. These<br />
enclosures may represent early forms of assating in the medieval period or even some<br />
of the freehold tenements accounted in the Domesday Book.<br />
Coleraine Farm (south of Area B and west of Area C) is not marked<br />
on any of the maps of the early 19 th century; rather there is an open series of lands<br />
alongside the Coughton Brook. The term Hom or Home was often applied to<br />
buildings or a farm at the centre of a large estate, quite often resulting in the<br />
18
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
formation of a name such as Home Farm. Alternatively the term can become<br />
confused with ham a water meadow.<br />
The field name of Area B (SO 612 219) refers to pits, one should consider<br />
that these are quarry pits. The first part of the name How is presumably derived from<br />
an Old English word for a spur of land, an apt topographical description, or in its<br />
alternative form Two Pits a reference to the number of quarry pits in the field.<br />
The reference to the field-name Inage is well attested, such names use the<br />
term in- that refers to the inner fields of a manorial holding (SO 612 217). It thus<br />
obtained its name from its proximity to Cobrey Park or to an earlier medieval centre<br />
closer to it.<br />
Is derived from a plant name.<br />
The field name of Area A is Slaughtern, a recognised name derived from<br />
the blackthorn or slow.<br />
The name Trebandy (SO 615 221) also requires older forms to confirm its<br />
origin. Tre- names are common in Wales and the Marches where it is often<br />
recognised that they are derived from tref, a settlement (Owen and Morgan 2007,<br />
463-74). Often in these names the –f– is dropped.<br />
The field to the south of Area B and to the west of Area C,<br />
which has now already been graded for a caravan park, was previously known as<br />
Tuck Mill Meadow (SO 613 216). The name has not been associated with other mills<br />
in the area and it is highly likely that the field represented the location of an earlier<br />
medieval mill.<br />
The field names recorded on the tithe map to the northwest of<br />
Area A are also of interest. Field 335 refers to Wall House Meadow (SO 632 222);<br />
the name could refer to a vallum and a house that took its name from the vallum. The<br />
house may have been located elsewhere and the reference may be to one of<br />
ownership. Adjoining these fields are the equally intriguing Draw Bridge (330), Draw<br />
Bridge Orchard (335a), Draw Bridge Common Field (336). The latter group of names<br />
refer to a bridge, but it is not altogether clear what type of bridge this is. A fortified<br />
site with a proper drawbridge would be expected to leave recognisable remains, none<br />
have been noted to date. It is possible that there was a bridge located on the brook<br />
here or that an earlier structure lies under Frogmore Farm, and even the possibility<br />
that Wall House could be located under Frogmore Farm.<br />
Discussed in text above, the location is immediately to the south of Area A.<br />
The name Old Field (SO 635 218) occurs to the southeast of the site, the term Old<br />
often indicates a relict feature, which may be the location of the barrow.<br />
Wig field names require older records to determine exactly what<br />
source they have derived from. The name could be associated with various forms of<br />
wic, in its simplest forms it could be a reference to a medieval dairy farm, in its more<br />
complicated forms it could be derived from vicus, a Roman settlement or town.<br />
19
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Figure 6. Inclosure Map for Hope Mansell Parish 1808<br />
20<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Figure 7. Cobrey Estate Map of 1849<br />
21<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
The Roman road runs across Wig Meadow, and near Ryeford cobbled areas and<br />
structures were noted in excavations (see above). The Roman settlement may have<br />
extended south along the line of this road across Wig Meadow. A further possibility<br />
is that it is derived from Welsh gwig, a moor or marsh, as equivalent English names<br />
occur to the south.<br />
: The names, though no early recordings have with this quick<br />
survey been identified, may be of significant. The fields lie to the north and east of<br />
Area C. The Domesday Book refers to a manor associated with Walford and Ross at a<br />
site called Wiboldingtvne (Thorn and Thorn 1983, 2.22, notes), which is mentioned<br />
above, is listed as 3 hides that are waste, but contain a fishery. The manor has been<br />
associated with Whippington Brook at Staunton in Gloucestershire (Smith 1964b,<br />
213), some 10 miles away. Whippington Brook, first recorded as Wybaltunesbroke in<br />
1282, does contain other medieval forms that would enable the manor to be<br />
associated with it (1996, 101-17) and it is likely that the manor was on the site of<br />
Bracelands. However, the forms of the field-names Wivington (SO 617 221, SO 620<br />
219, and SO 622 216) are indicative of a similarly formed name and there could be<br />
some confusion over the records and locations. The name Wall Field (SO 622 218)<br />
may also be associated with these names, the term wall often refers to a vallum, and<br />
this may refer to earthworks associated with the Wivington settlement or to a bank<br />
around Penyard Park.<br />
(by David Gilbert)<br />
In 1831 Area A is depicted as an orchard on the first series Ordnance Survey (OS)<br />
map (Fig. 8). The 1:2,500 OS map of 1889 shows the main boundary of the field as it<br />
is at present, however it is subdivided in two. It is not marked as an orchard on this<br />
map. There is no change recorded until the 1:2,500 OS map of 1969 which shows the<br />
western area, closest to the stream, marked as a marsh. The 1:10,000 OS map of 1972<br />
shows the same, however on that of 1992 the internal division is removed and the<br />
pond has been excavated.<br />
Figure 8. Area A on the 1831 OS map<br />
22
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
Area B is within field 304 on the 1:2,500 OS map of 1889. This field is one of several<br />
large fields to the north of the stream. These fields are depicted on the 1:10,560 OS<br />
map of 1968, but the field boundaries are not present on the 1:2,500 OS map of 1969.<br />
The 1:2,500 OS map of 1889 shows the main boundary of the field for Area C very<br />
similar to its present state. There is a slight variation to the western field edge, which<br />
has relatively recently been altered to accommodate farm buildings. The first of these<br />
buildings are depicted on the 1:2,500 OS map of 1969.<br />
(by David Gilbert)<br />
A study of all known archaeological sites in the Herefordhire HER within 600m has<br />
been carried out; these have been listed by chronological period.<br />
<br />
1. Find spot (SMR 38497 - MHE16482) a Neolithic greenstone macehead was found<br />
at Coleraine Farm. (SO 616 219).<br />
<br />
2. Structural material and pottery (SMR 840 - MHE379, Event: 840). Trenching by N<br />
P Bridgewater in 1958 revealed area of structural material beside road, 15" below<br />
ground level: flue tile, roof tile (stone), glass and pottery of 2-4 century. Several<br />
sandstone blocks, one being shaped, lay on floor and outside of, but did not form<br />
recognisable wall. (SO 634 225)<br />
3. Find spot (SMR 49938 - MHE22806). Pin of 1 st -3 rd century date (SO 63 22)<br />
4. Road (SMR 5322 - MHE2002). Cobbled surface observed on line of Roman road<br />
from Ariconium to the southwest. Excavation in 1959 S of Weston located the course<br />
of the road metalled with slag & quantities of slag charcoal & pottery. It lies on the<br />
correct alignment for the course of this road but the cobbled surface does not match<br />
that of the road excavated by Bridgewater. (SO 6332 2213)<br />
<br />
<br />
5. Building Probably late medieval (LBSUID 155513). Timber-framed, now with<br />
rendered stone walls and a slate roof. One storey with attic. Grade II listed. (SO<br />
63956 22076)<br />
6. Site of Chapel (SMR 12578 - MHE5081). Baisham Manor Customal 1750 of the<br />
manor here states "there is still the remains of a chapel at Ponshill now converted into<br />
a dwelling house & granted by lease to Henry Palmer, where in ancient times divine<br />
prayers were want to be said on St George's day" (SO 638 218)<br />
7. Fishpond (SMR 8556 - MHE3693) recorded on the 1840 Hope Mansel Tithe<br />
Award (SO 6291 2179).<br />
23
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Figure 9. Prehistoric and Roman Sites<br />
1<br />
24<br />
4<br />
2<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
3<br />
0 m<br />
1000 m
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong><br />
Figure 10. Medieval Sites<br />
9<br />
25<br />
8<br />
7<br />
Cobrey Farms, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
6<br />
5<br />
0 m<br />
1000 m
John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
8. Bill Mills (SMR 10999 - MHE4720). On the Castle Brook. The earliest mention of<br />
this mill is in deeds of 1418. (SO 6249 2161)<br />
9. Lynchets (SMR 6617 - MHE2639) on N bank of stream at Castle Brook Farm.<br />
Five terraces extending for c. 220yds (SO 608 216).<br />
<br />
10. Bill Mills (LBSUID 155503). Flour mill and paper mill, now soft drinks factory.<br />
Mid-C18, early C19 and late C19, on site dating from at least 1572. Sandstone rubble<br />
and timber-framing with slate roofs. Buildings grouped on north and west sides of<br />
mill pond. At the west end of the north range is the gable end of a timber-framed<br />
building with painted brick infill. Grade II listed. (SO 62537 21635)<br />
11. Castle Brook House (LBSUID 155463). Squared sandstone rubble with hipped<br />
slate roof. Two storeys, three bays. Mullion and transom cross windows have<br />
casements. Two gabled attic dormers. Plaque under eaves inscribed: "1750". (SO<br />
60997 21650)<br />
12. Site of Iron Works (SMR 12571 - MHE5074). Among state papers petition<br />
20.10.1631 from Henry E of Kent begging that John Kyrle to whom Penyard Park has<br />
been leased might be restrained from felling timber trees. These amounting to 20000<br />
had been reserved by the lease, but notwithstanding Sir John "has felled and<br />
converted into coal for making iron above 1800 trees & still continues". (SO 62 22)<br />
13. Historic Farm (SMR 12672 - MHE5528) recorded as part of the Herefordshire<br />
Historic Farmsteads Characterisation Project. Present on the Ordnance Survey First<br />
Edition, Pre-WW2 and Modern maps (SO 60739 21376).<br />
14. Landscape Park (SMR 31246 - MHE16251). Cobrey has been an estate since the<br />
Middle Ages. It was bought by Henry Barnett in 1813; he built the present mansion.<br />
The estate covered 324 acres in 1849; no park was laid out, but there were many<br />
trees. Coughton Brook runs through the estate, widening into a mill pond two fields<br />
away from the house. The 1840 tithe map names the area in front of the house 'The<br />
Lawn'. Neither the tithe map nor the 1831 OS 1" map shows a park, so the trees must<br />
have been planted after 1840. An 1849 sale plan shows a walled garden SW of the<br />
house. The gardens are described in an 1890 sale catalogue. They included:<br />
flowerbeds; tennis and other lawns; shrubberies; orchards; a well-stocked walled<br />
kitchen garden; tool houses; and forcing pits. The OS 25" map (c. 1886) shows the<br />
land between the house and road as parkland. A further sale catalogue of 1927<br />
describes the gardens as having lawns, tennis court, flower beds and borders,<br />
specimen trees, a detached conservatory, and a kitchen garden with greenhouse and<br />
vinery. (SO 6080 2140).<br />
15. Hollow Way (SMR 37259 - MHE17766). Aligned NE-SW, 3m wide, 0.5m deep.<br />
(SO 6062 2199).<br />
16. Hollow Way (SMR 37260 - MHE17767). Aligned N-S, 1m wide, 1m deep. (SO<br />
6059 2187).<br />
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John Moore HERITAGE <strong>SERVICES</strong> Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire<br />
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment<br />
17. Hollow Way (SMR 37262 - MHE17769). At SO 60675 21780, aligned SW-NE,<br />
5m wide,
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Figure 12. Early Modern Sites<br />
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