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.

1 Historic Village
2 Norman Manor of 1096
3 Farming Traditions
4 External links

[edit] Historic Village

Much Marcle is home to the 13th-century Church of England parish church of St Bartholomew [1] with historic carvings and a very ancient 'hollow' yew tree. [2]. The church contains the tomb of Blanche Mortimer, of the dynasty of Marcher Lords, the Mortimers; the tomb bears the Mortimer arms. She married Peter de Grandison. 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. About three miles north-north-west of Much Marcle, on the eastern face of Marcle Ridge, a large landslip occurred in 1575. Named 'The Wonder' it was so large that full-grown trees were carried down the slope onto an adjoining property. In his book The Natural History of Selborne, Gilbert White (1720-93) quotes the words of John Philips:

    'I nor advise, nor reprehend the choice
     Of Marcley Hill; the apple nowhere finds
     A kinder mould; yet 'tis unsafe to trust
     Deceitful ground; who knows but that once more
     This mount may journey, and his present site
     Forsaken, to thy neighbour's bounds transfer
     Thy goodly plants, affording matter strange
     For law debates!'

In Victorian times people came from far and wide to view 'The Wonder'. It is shown on the Ordnance Survey map at reference SO6236, but on the site it is not easily discernible.

[edit] Norman Manor of 1096

Hellens Manor [3], which sits in the heart of Much Marcle, is a monument to much of England’s history since 1096 when the manor was granted to the Norman de Balun family, who were to witness the signing of the Magna Carta. It contains a wealth of period furnishings, paintings and decorations, as well as a budding Tudor garden. The Manor plays a strong role in the community - it is open to the public, and provides a venue for educational, musical and literary events the year round. The other principal seat is Homme House, surrounded by ancient parkland. There are also two ruined medieval castles in the parish, one is Mortimer's Castle, also known as Much Marcle Castle.

[edit] Farming Traditions

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" half-timbered buildings 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 60 mph".