Brampton Abbotts used to be a small village, but now it has almost merged with Ross on Wye .

The Brampton part of the name means “broom settlement”,  and Abbotts relates to the Bishop of Gloucester who owned land in the area.

Admiral Lord Nelson once visited Brampton Abbotts!

Churches of Brampton Abbotts

• St. Michael & All Angels Church - Brampton Abbotts

  This delightful church is of Norman origin and is located in the centre of the village.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  An account of the condition of Brampton Abbotts Church before restoration,  dated 1907 from the Ross Gazette

  “the date of this church is about 1,100 and considerable architectural features of the early Norman structure still exist, such as the nearly complete doorway in the south wall;  the internal arch of the east window, and the moulded jambs of the chancel arch.

  There exists also the ancient bowl of the piscina which was discovered 50 years ago built into the wall of the church.

  14th century renovations

  “The original Norman chancel arch was dealt with some time in the first half of the 14th century, and built up as we see it now.  At the same time, the walls of the nave were raised and covered by a new roof.

  Perhaps also the chancel was enlarged;  previously its arch had either been as wide as it is now, in which case it may have been in danger of collapse the span being somewhat large – or else as is more likely, it was a much narrower arch, too narrow for the enlarged chancel, and a wider one was made to which the moulded jambs were set back as they now appear.  The rest of the Norman work was cut down to a 14th century guise.

  Anyway, the character of the arch was completely altered, while the stones of the Norman builders were used for the new arch as far as they would go, and new ones were inserted in long lengths as required.

  The shape of the present arch is interesting but somewhat peculiar, and it seems to have become more depressed since it was originally built, from the weight of the masonry above.  As has been stated, the walls of the nave were raised at this time about three feet, the old wall plate not being removed but built into the wall, where some of it has been lately found.  As the workman remarked who discovered it, it is a very long time since that oak was an acorn.  Of the same date, about 1350, is the pretty two light square headed window in the south wall, which took the place of a small Norman window.

  Lastly, as regards fourteenth century work, we have the remains of the porch.  This was originally a wooden structure but for a long time its ancient character has been completely hidden and it was difficult to realise what it had once been.  The roof only remained of the old structure and some of the woodwork of the front was very decayed.  The sides were built up with stone and the whole had been rendered absolutely tasteless and uninteresting.

  15th century renovations

  “In the 15th century the following additions were made to the church;  the small doorway which is now in the north wall of the vestry, having been moved, in all probability, from the north wall of the chancel, and the four light window in the chancel.  At this date also, the rood screen was erected, the doorway to which at the head of the stairs has been lately revealed, the staircase itself having been solidly built up and therefore completely obliterated.

   

  A later addition of interest is the bell turret which rises from the west end of the church, a very common arrangement in small country churches.  This is the time of Charles I, say 1640.  The date inscribed outside (1686) with the names of the churchwardens of that year, may refer to a subsequent restoration.  There is also the pulpit, now much decayed, of which the panels are Jacobean, if not the whole structure.

   

  In the chancel a single light window on the south side has been blocked up for a considerable period.  It has unfortunately been sadly abused and mutilated;  but part of the work of restoration is to reopen and restore it to its original use.  Its date is around the middle of the 13th century.

  The font is interesting being of late perpendicular design dated around 1480.  That is to say, the upper portion is this date and the rest is of very inferior and unsuitable design and workmanship.

  When the thick coat of plaster was lately removed from the interior walls of the church, a single light window was revealed in the east end of the north wall of the nave, which had been so built up that outside it did not appear at all.  Underneath this window has been discovered a very curious recess about five feet six inches high, the meaning of which no one has as yet been able to explain.  Within it, remains of fresco work can be discerned on the plaster, and adjoining it was once a small doorway.  Of the north doorway at the west end of the north wall, all traces have been obliterated.

  It may be mentioned that a hundred years ago, considerable traces of fresco work were discovered on the east wall of the chancel, when some of the plaster was removed, and the existence of the east window which before that time was quite hidden, was made known.

  There was once a dial somewhere on the church but it has disappeared as has the ancient door.

  The bells are three in number and were cast by William Evans in 1764.  Their gearing is in bad order.  There is no room for any more bells in the tower.”

  1857 Restoration of Brampton Abbotts Church

  “In 1857, the third year of the Rev. W. Hulme’s incumbency, a general and much needed restoration was carried out.  The galleries, said to have been three in number and the high pews were removed and open seats substituted for them.

  The floor was covered with encaustic tiles and the tower was made safe with new and massive woodwork.

  Two windows were added on the north side.  The tower was shingled;  on the work in the nave, more than £240 was spent, of which all but about £47 was raised by voluntary subscription, the Rector and principal parishioners giving liberally.

  In addition, the Rector and his family defrayed the expense of the restoration and refitting of the chancel, and of the erection and subsequent enlargement of the vestry and organ chamber.

  Restoration in early 1900s

  The church was formally re-opened on 12th February 1908

   

   

   

  Read More >

News from the Past of Brampton Abbotts

• Brampton Abbotts - News from the Past

  A varied collection of news snippets

   

  1789 – A Suicide at Brampton Abbotts

  A Carpenter was discovered hanging from a tree in an orchard at Brampton Abbotts – he had been rather depressed for some time, so the jury at the inquest gave their usual verdict for the age…….Lunacy.

  1844 – Tragic Drowning of Boy at Brampton Abbotts

  A six year old boy by the name of George Shaw fell into the River Wye whilst playing on the bank with friends.

  He drowned before anyone could help him.

  1849 – Brutal Assault on Orphan Boy

  David Powell, a farm labourer, was charged with having assaulted a 9 year old orphan boy whose resulting injuries made him unable to walk or stand.

  The little lad had been employed by Mr. Burgum to watch his pigs one afternoon, and as he played with some straw by the barn David Powell became annoyed by the harmless actions.  He lifted the lad up by his ears and threw him over a board across the doorway.  Then he picked him up by one leg and arm and tossed him into the fold, where the poor lad fell on stones on his back.

  The boy tried to get away, but was caught by Powell again and again.

  When eventually he escaped and went home, he went to bed and was unable to rise again.  The surgeon kept going to see him, and told the court that the condition was getting worse rather than better.

  David Powel was remanded in custody, but was later bailed out.

  1851 – Cruelty to Horse at Brampton Abbotts

  The details of this are too upsetting to be honest, but suffice it to say that Samuel Price of Brampton Abbots, employed at the time by James Barrett of the Royal Hotel, at his farm at Brampton,  mistreated an old horse so badly with a whip that it died.

  Witnesses, and those who examined the dead horse, were in no doubt of the brutal attack, but Samuel Price claimed that it “would be a poor job if waggoners were not allowed to exercise a moderate punishment when their horses required it”.

  The Bench eventually decided on a fine of £2 and Price was given a week to pay.

  Just to take the nasty taste of this case away, I noticed on the same page that a chap was fined quite heavily for allowing his stallion to expose itself at the Ross Wool Fair!!  Deary me, how on earth do you prevent such a thing, or even rectify it once it has happened……my husband helpfully suggested a cricket bat.

  1879 – Man fined for being Drunk on the Road at Brampton Abbotts

  Arthur Chamberlain, a labourer from Upton Bishop, pleaded guilty in court to being drunk on the highway at Brampton Abbotts.  He was fined 5s plus 9s costs.

  1898 – Fatality on Railway Line

  Thomas Magness was an 82 year old widower of Brampton Abbotts, who was last seen alive one Saturday afternoon.  When he failed to return home a search party set out, and his body was found on the railway line the next morning.

  The poor chap was horribly mutilated, his arms, head and legs all having been cut off and strewn for several yards along the track, and the unpleasant task of gathering up his remains and putting them in a box was left to P.C. Barnett and P.C. Tuckett.

  It was assumed that the old man was trying to get home by walking along the line when he was knocked down by the passenger train heading for Gloucester, and that since then several trains must have passed over the body.

  1904 – Tragic Death of Rector of Brampton Abbotts

  The Rev. H. St. Helier Evans, 47, Rector of Brampton Abbotts , died whilst saving the lives of two children in the River Wye.

  He was born in Birmingham and was the son of a Barrister.  On the afternoon in question he had been swimming in the river near Backney Bridge with his children;  he was a very good swimmer but had not bathed in the River Wye before – the only reason that he went in this time was to give a swimming lesson to his 13 year old daughter Miriam;  her friend Katharine Malton  also 13; another daughter and his son Martin aged 8.

  After about five minutes, Katharine Malton found herself in deep water along with Martin who became caught in a current.  The Rev. gentleman quickly waded out and managed to catch both children,  then struggled back to the bank, placing his son on a rock before handing Katharine to his daughter Miriam who got her to safety.

  When Miriam looked back at his father, she saw that he had gone under the water, and she and her sister managed to wade out to him and drag him back to some shingle where he lay unconscious.

  Young Martin was sent for help whilst the three girls desperately tried to rub life back into the body, but when aid arrived, despite artificial respiration being carried out for nearly an hour,  it had to be declared that life was extinct.

  At the inquest it was heard that Dr. Cutfield thought that the excitement of saving the children and the exhaustion of doing so brought on an attack of syncope.

  Read More >