Bredwardine

The village of Bredwardine sits close to the River Wye near to Hay on Wye on the Welsh border

Up on the hill between Bredwardine and Dorstone can be found a large stone structure resembling a table, and although it has a legend connected to King Arthur and knights, it was actually a tomb for locals some 5,000 years ago and has simply lost its protective layer of earth and grass.

Churches of Bredwardine

• St. Andrew's Church - Bredwardine

  St Andrew’s church at Bredwardine is an early Norman church with many interesting features and sits in a glorious position near to the River Wye.

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News from the past of Bredwardine

• News from the Past - Bredwardine

  1905 – Bredwardine Vicarage

  Described as charmingly situated on the right bank of the River Wye, with a glorious view of the countryside including a stretch of the river spanned by the Bredwardine Bridge.

  In moonlight, this scene was said to be enchanting.

  The grounds abounded with wonderful trees, including Pinus Cephalonica;  Adiantifolia;  Salisburia;  Magnolia and a weeping oak.

  The Cedar of Lebanon at Bredwardine Vicarage

  In 1821 the Rev. N.D.H. Newton came to Bredwardine as curate;  he was a wealthy man who loved trees and botany, and he happily set out the gardens, including the planting of a Cedar of Lebanon.  The vicar himself dug the huge hole, and together with his servant Thomas Parsons, he planted the tree which flourished and grew over the years to the delight of successive occupants of the vicarage.

  The tree was regularly measured, and on 25th August 1891 the circumference had increased by 22 inches in thirteen years which was some vigorous growth.

  In 1895 the weather was exceptionally dry, and the tree began to wither and decay;  large trenches were cut around the trunk and gallons of water were poured in but to no avail.   The tree  finally died in 1896 – coincidentally the same year that the last surviving child of the Rev. Newton died.

  The tree was left standing  for a couple of years before it was reduced to a stump whereby the ivy took hold.

   

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