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. A notable vicar was the Victorian diarist, Francis Kilvert who held the position from 1877 until 1879.
  The beautiful wooden Reredos behind the altar is a memorial to Caroline Broome-Giles, the daughter of a local doctor
   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  The tower of this church is in a somewhat strange position, and it encroaches on the nave on the north side, which looks a little odd from inside.  However, it is thought that the tower is perhaps of an age before the rest of the church, and it could have been a watch tower for the nearby castle (now non existent), with a small chapel attached.

  Font

  The font at St. Andrews is late 12th century  is huge and is carved from a single block of stone.  The oak cover is of a later date, around 17^th century

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Memorials

  Walter Baskerville

  A damaged effigy, dating around late 14th century, thought to be Walter Baskerville (Lord of the Manor) who died in 1369 and would seem to have been huge!

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Sir Roger Vaughan

  Alabaster effigy, believed to be Sir Roger Vaughan who died defending King Henry V at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Henry Davies

  Henry Davies, died 30th November 1770 aged 73; also Margaret his wife who died 11th March 1788 aged 87, and Catherine their daughter who died 7th July 1762 aged 29

   

   

  

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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.

   

  Read More >

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.

The tower of this church is in a somewhat strange position, and it encroaches on the nave on the north side, which looks a little odd from inside.  However, it is thought that the tower is perhaps of an age before the rest of the church, and it could have been a watch tower for the nearby castle (now non existent), with a small chapel attached.

Font

The font at St. Andrews is late 12th century  is huge and is carved from a single block of stone.  The oak cover is of a later date, around 17^th century

Memorials

Walter Baskerville

A damaged effigy, dating around late 14th century, thought to be Walter Baskerville (Lord of the Manor) who died in 1369 and would seem to have been huge!

Sir Roger Vaughan

Alabaster effigy, believed to be Sir Roger Vaughan who died defending King Henry V at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Henry Davies

Henry Davies, died 30th November 1770 aged 73; also Margaret his wife who died 11th March 1788 aged 87, and Catherine their daughter who died 7th July 1762 aged 29