Herefordshire Past » turnastone

News from the Past – Turnastone

sally — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 18:07:16 +0000

Earthquake and scarlet fever

1843 – Scarlet Fever at Turnastone

In February 1843 Scarlet Fever was rampaging through Turnastone and Vowchurch, with more than forty children being confirmed with the disease.

Ten children died alarmingly quickly and the villagers were understandably in a state of panic.

In some households, every child had caught the disease and many families had lost more than two children.

1863 – Earthquake shakes Turnastone

In October 1863, in the early hours of the morning, inhabitants of Turnastone as well as neighbouring villages were woken from their sleep by a violent shaking of the houses.

It was reported that “beds were rocked like cradles, and earthenware and glasses rattled on the shelves”.

Some people were thrown out of their beds, and furniture was tossed about. People were on the verge of panic thinking that it was Judgement Day.

Whilst the quake lasted, there was a deafening roaring noise and shaking of the earth which terrified the animals, and many houses were damaged.

St. Mary Magdalene Church – Turnastone

sally — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 18:22:04 +0000

Inside this simple church the King James Bible of 1611 is still in regular use.

In 1883 it was reported that the church was in a deplorably neglected state, but that it must have seen better times as there was a sculptured gravestone on the floor showing a knight in plate armour, with his wife alongside, and showing the date of 1535.

In 1849 it was described more kindly, as a “curious little church – an object of truly primitive simplicity”

Behind the church, in a field called “The Bloody Field” is a sepulchral mound – thought to have been the burial site of ancient Britons killed during a skirmish.

Turnastone

sally — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 18:20:21 +0000

The tiny village of Turnastone has remained remarkably unchanged and unspoilt over the centuries, although some beautiful barns are now being converted into houses, and the old cottages have been modernised.

It lies nestled in the Golden Valley with the Black Mountains as a backdrop, and is one of the smallest villages in Herefordshire; it boasts just 12 houses and 3 farms, with a total population of around 25. Many of the farms were tenanted from around 1900, by Welsh families from just over the border, but most of the workers were from Herefordshire.

In the early 19th century, the whole parish was owned by just two families – The Robinsons and the Woods, who held the estates of Poston and Whitehouse respectively. Henry Herbert Wood was notable for his kindly nature and generosity, and when he inherited the estate he bought back Dolward Farm which had been sold 60 years earlier and which was tenanted by Thomas Powell. Thomas died during the flu epidemic of 1918 leaving behind his wife Clara and eleven children all under 14. Henry Herbert Wood not only offered to sell Clara the farm in order to secure her family’s future, but when she was unable to raise enough money to do so he gave her the money himself.

The rectory was rebuilt in 1837, transforming it from a mere mud cottage to a decent house!

The Legend of Turnastone

There is a legend which many have heard (but none can prove!) that there were two sisters who were each set on building a church. One said “I vow my church shall be on this side of the river”, and the other replied “I’ll build mine on the other side before you can turn a stone”. Thus the villages Vowchurch and Turnastone were born!