Foy is actually split by the River Wye, with East Foy (or English Foy) on one side and West Foy ( or West Foy) on the other.   In the long ago past crossing from one part to the other was only possible by ferry or ford, but in 1876 a suspension bridge was built;  this was washed away by floods and rebuilt in 1919, however it is not big or strong enough to carry cars.

The politician Lord Mandelson for reasons only known to himself decided to adopt the title “Lord Mandelson of Foy”, much to the chagrin of the locals who wanted nothing to do with him.

Admittedly he did once own a cottage here in the 1980s, probably as a result of fond memories of childhood holidays spent in Foy, but he didn’t really use it and quickly sold it again.

Churches of Foy

• St. Mary's Church - Foy

  The present church dates from the early 13th century, with additions in the 14th century, but a much earlier one once stood on the site – all that remains of this are the old broken font and stoup which lie in the churchyard.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Font

  The font at St. Mary’s boasts the largest bowl in Herefordshire, and also is unique to Herefordshire in that it is decagonal.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Memorials

  Ann Sybella Martha Clive

  Plaque for Ann Sybella Martha Clive, died 1907

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  John Abrahall

  Underneath lie the bodies of John Abrahall who died March 23rd 1702, also of Markey Abrahall who died January 16th 1715, also of John Abrahall who died March 25th 1734 – Father, brother and husband of Benedicta Abrahall by whom in memory of them this monument was erected in the year of our Lord 1736. And also of the said Bendicta Abrahall who died November 25th 1742

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Dorothea Abrahall

  Dorothea, sister of George Abrahall. Died 1690 aged 27

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Pauly Abrahall

  Pauly Abrahall, died 13th November 1675 aged 34

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  There is also an altar tomb which is believed to be that of Sir Hugh Waterton, Chamberlain to the last Duke of Lancaster, Earl of Derby and Hereford

  Read More >

News from the Past Foy

• Foy News from the Past

  Tales of the consequence of drink – again – and other things

  1853 – Policeman killed by own Nephew

  The last meeting of a mismanaged club in the parish of Foy took place at the end of May in the form of the annual club feast, which was always attended by people from far and wide.

  Unfortunately, part of the allure was the drinking and amusements, and on many previous occasions there had been scuffles and incidents.  This time, several men stayed on to drink at the Anchor and Can pub until late at night when Mr. Hardwick the landlord tried to throw them out.  The men refused to go, and became abusive.

  Mr. Hardwick had retained the services of two brothers who were both Constables, George and Charles Davis, and he called on their help to remove the abusive men, which eventually they managed to do.  However once outside, the drunken louts started smashing the windows of the pub with stones and sticks, and although Mr Hardwick tried to restrain the two Constables, they went into the affray to try to stop the men.  They were instantly turned on and beaten with the stones.

  Managing to escape, the two brothers went into the pub bleeding profusely from head wounds, although George was the more severely wounded and before too long his condition deteriorated.  Dr. Rootes from Ross was sent for, but despite all efforts, George died the next morning.

  Five men were arrested the next day, John Davis;  Thomas Russell;  Thomas Trilloe;  Thomas Adams and Thomas Wilkes, and it became dreadfully apparent that the man who gave the fatal blow was John Davis the nephew of George.  Actually, there were not all men at all, some of them were mere boys but all of them were agricultural labourers or farm servants.

  At their initial hearing, none of them seemed to be aware of the seriousness of what they had done, and in fact seemed to find it quite funny much to the disgust of the court.  However after all the witnesses gave their evidence, and they themselves had to give theirs, they became rather quiet.  they were fully committed for trial on the capital charge at Hereford Assizes.

  1859 – Drunk in charge of Horses

  David Powell of Foy was charged with being incapable through drink of being in charge of a team of horses in his care.  The was also charged with leaving them unattended.

  Superintendent Burridge reported that he found David lying beneath the wagon in such a position that he would have been killed if the horses had moved it forward by even one foot.

  He was fined 10s with 19s expenses.

  1859 – Child Dies on a Hot Day

  William Dobson, aged just 6, was in the hay field of Mr. Burgum, along with his brothers and his parents who were working.

  It was extremely hot, and by mid day William had fallen asleep in the sun;  he was awoken, and given cider to drink (but not too much apparently!), and it was stated that nobody threatened him or frightened him in any way.

  After drinking the cider he appeared “stupid”, but nobody thought that the drink had anything to do with it, as William’s 14 year old brother Thomas had also had cider and was none the worse for it.

  A little later, William collapsed and was unable to speak and at 10 o’clock that night was taken home.  He died early the next morning.

  After hearing inconclusive results from a post mortem, the jury returned a verdict of Death by the Visitation of God in a natural way.

  1861 – Desertion of Children

  Mary Pember was charged with deserting her illegitimate children, and leaving them chargeable to the parish of Foy.

  She was brought before the Magistrates but they discharged her from custody when she agreed to go back into the Ross Workhouse

   

  Read More >

1853 – Policeman killed by own Nephew

The last meeting of a mismanaged club in the parish of Foy took place at the end of May in the form of the annual club feast, which was always attended by people from far and wide.

Unfortunately, part of the allure was the drinking and amusements, and on many previous occasions there had been scuffles and incidents.  This time, several men stayed on to drink at the Anchor and Can pub until late at night when Mr. Hardwick the landlord tried to throw them out.  The men refused to go, and became abusive.

Mr. Hardwick had retained the services of two brothers who were both Constables, George and Charles Davis, and he called on their help to remove the abusive men, which eventually they managed to do.  However once outside, the drunken louts started smashing the windows of the pub with stones and sticks, and although Mr Hardwick tried to restrain the two Constables, they went into the affray to try to stop the men.  They were instantly turned on and beaten with the stones.

Managing to escape, the two brothers went into the pub bleeding profusely from head wounds, although George was the more severely wounded and before too long his condition deteriorated.  Dr. Rootes from Ross was sent for, but despite all efforts, George died the next morning.

Five men were arrested the next day, John Davis;  Thomas Russell;  Thomas Trilloe;  Thomas Adams and Thomas Wilkes, and it became dreadfully apparent that the man who gave the fatal blow was John Davis the nephew of George.  Actually, there were not all men at all, some of them were mere boys but all of them were agricultural labourers or farm servants.

At their initial hearing, none of them seemed to be aware of the seriousness of what they had done, and in fact seemed to find it quite funny much to the disgust of the court.  However after all the witnesses gave their evidence, and they themselves had to give theirs, they became rather quiet.  they were fully committed for trial on the capital charge at Hereford Assizes.

1859 – Drunk in charge of Horses

David Powell of Foy was charged with being incapable through drink of being in charge of a team of horses in his care.  The was also charged with leaving them unattended.

Superintendent Burridge reported that he found David lying beneath the wagon in such a position that he would have been killed if the horses had moved it forward by even one foot.

He was fined 10s with 19s expenses.

1859 – Child Dies on a Hot Day

William Dobson, aged just 6, was in the hay field of Mr. Burgum, along with his brothers and his parents who were working.

It was extremely hot, and by mid day William had fallen asleep in the sun;  he was awoken, and given cider to drink (but not too much apparently!), and it was stated that nobody threatened him or frightened him in any way.

After drinking the cider he appeared “stupid”, but nobody thought that the drink had anything to do with it, as William’s 14 year old brother Thomas had also had cider and was none the worse for it.

A little later, William collapsed and was unable to speak and at 10 o’clock that night was taken home.  He died early the next morning.

After hearing inconclusive results from a post mortem, the jury returned a verdict of Death by the Visitation of God in a natural way.

1861 – Desertion of Children

Mary Pember was charged with deserting her illegitimate children, and leaving them chargeable to the parish of Foy.

She was brought before the Magistrates but they discharged her from custody when she agreed to go back into the Ross Workhouse

Font

The font at St. Mary’s boasts the largest bowl in Herefordshire, and also is unique to Herefordshire in that it is decagonal.

Memorials

Ann Sybella Martha Clive

Plaque for Ann Sybella Martha Clive, died 1907

John Abrahall

Underneath lie the bodies of John Abrahall who died March 23rd 1702, also of Markey Abrahall who died January 16th 1715, also of John Abrahall who died March 25th 1734 – Father, brother and husband of Benedicta Abrahall by whom in memory of them this monument was erected in the year of our Lord 1736. And also of the said Bendicta Abrahall who died November 25th 1742

Dorothea Abrahall

Dorothea, sister of George Abrahall. Died 1690 aged 27

Pauly Abrahall

Pauly Abrahall, died 13th November 1675 aged 34

There is also an altar tomb which is believed to be that of Sir Hugh Waterton, Chamberlain to the last Duke of Lancaster, Earl of Derby and Hereford