Much Marcle

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Much Marcle is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire, located at grid reference SO658327 between Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury.

Much Marcle is home to the 13th century Church of England parish church of St Bartholomew with historic carvings and an ancient 'hollow' yew tree. There is also a Church of England primary school next to the church's property and a local cider and perry mill producing Weston's brands.

Nearby Hellens Manor featured in the TV programme Most Haunted. The other principal seat is Homme House, surrounded by ancient parkland. There are also two ruined medieval castles in the parish.

Principal farms include The Bounds, home of Weston's Cider and the multi award winning Scrumpy House restaurant, Chandois, Street Farm, Great Moor Court, Bickerton, Gammage Ford, Caerswall, Upper Woltan, and Walls End, all of which are of ancient origin but with buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the ancient cottages that appear in the 18th century maps no longer exist, although there are several good examples of "black and white" that have survived, especially in the village's main street.

Much Marcle attracted notoriety as the birthplace of serial killer Fred West and the area used for the burial of at least two of his victims.

The village once again came to national attention when the Daily Express reported in April 2006 that a road sign had been erected that encourages drivers to "race past a school at 60mph".

[edit] External links

• Much Marcle website
• Weston's Cider Visitor Centre
• Hellens Manor