JOHN MOOREHERITAGE SERVICES - Archaeology Data Service

John Moore HERITAGE SERVICES Cobrey Farm, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment
8. Bill Mills (SMR 10999 - MHE4720). On the Castle Brook. The earliest mention of
this mill is in deeds of 1418. (SO 6249 2161)
9. Lynchets (SMR 6617 - MHE2639) on N bank of stream at Castle Brook Farm.
Five terraces extending for c. 220yds (SO 608 216).
10. Bill Mills (LBSUID 155503). Flour mill and paper mill, now soft drinks factory.
Mid-C18, early C19 and late C19, on site dating from at least 1572. Sandstone rubble
and timber-framing with slate roofs. Buildings grouped on north and west sides of
mill pond. At the west end of the north range is the gable end of a timber-framed
building with painted brick infill. Grade II listed. (SO 62537 21635)
11. Castle Brook House (LBSUID 155463). Squared sandstone rubble with hipped
slate roof. Two storeys, three bays. Mullion and transom cross windows have
casements. Two gabled attic dormers. Plaque under eaves inscribed: "1750". (SO
60997 21650)
12. Site of Iron Works (SMR 12571 - MHE5074). Among state papers petition
20.10.1631 from Henry E of Kent begging that John Kyrle to whom Penyard Park has
been leased might be restrained from felling timber trees. These amounting to 20000
had been reserved by the lease, but notwithstanding Sir John "has felled and
converted into coal for making iron above 1800 trees & still continues". (SO 62 22)
13. Historic Farm (SMR 12672 - MHE5528) recorded as part of the Herefordshire
Historic Farmsteads Characterisation Project. Present on the Ordnance Survey First
Edition, Pre-WW2 and Modern maps (SO 60739 21376).
14. Landscape Park (SMR 31246 - MHE16251). Cobrey has been an estate since the
Middle Ages. It was bought by Henry Barnett in 1813; he built the present mansion.
The estate covered 324 acres in 1849; no park was laid out, but there were many
trees. Coughton Brook runs through the estate, widening into a mill pond two fields
away from the house. The 1840 tithe map names the area in front of the house 'The
Lawn'. Neither the tithe map nor the 1831 OS 1" map shows a park, so the trees must
have been planted after 1840. An 1849 sale plan shows a walled garden SW of the
house. The gardens are described in an 1890 sale catalogue. They included:
flowerbeds; tennis and other lawns; shrubberies; orchards; a well-stocked walled
kitchen garden; tool houses; and forcing pits. The OS 25" map (c. 1886) shows the
land between the house and road as parkland. A further sale catalogue of 1927
describes the gardens as having lawns, tennis court, flower beds and borders,
specimen trees, a detached conservatory, and a kitchen garden with greenhouse and
vinery. (SO 6080 2140).
15. Hollow Way (SMR 37259 - MHE17766). Aligned NE-SW, 3m wide, 0.5m deep.
(SO 6062 2199).
16. Hollow Way (SMR 37260 - MHE17767). Aligned N-S, 1m wide, 1m deep. (SO
6059 2187).
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