Bromyard, Herefordshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BROMYARD, a parish and market town in the hundred of Broxash, in the county of Hereford, 14 miles to the N.E. of Hereford, the same distance S.W. of Worcester, and 125 miles from London by road, or 134 miles by the Great Western and West Midland railways. It is situated in a beautiful country, on the banks of the river Frome, and contains the chapelry of Brockhampton, and the townships of Linton, Norton, and Winslow. In the reign of Edward I. this town sent representatives to parliament, but the franchise was afterwards given up by the inhabitants. Charles I. was here with his court in September, 1645, when on his way to relieve Hereford, besieged by the parliament. There are hop-grounds and many orchards in this parish.

The town is irregularly built, and many of the houses are very old and timber-framed. It is, however, gradually improving, and is now lighted with gas, introduced in 1856. There is a convenient market-place and a police station, the latter erected in 1844. Petty sessions are held once a week. Bromyard is the seat of a Poor-law Union, and contains the Union house. It is also the head of a County Court district, and a polling place for the county elections. There is a savings-bank and a dispensary. The trade of the town is chiefly in agricultural produce, a little being done in malting and tanning.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Hereford, worth £600, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, has been recently repaired and redecorated. It is a large ancient building with a Norman doorway on the south side, and contains an altar-tomb with the effigies of a knight (one of the Baskervilles), a monument to Phineas Jackson, vicar, who died in 1681, and a handsome painted east window, as well as three painted memorial windows. There are chapels belonging to the Independents and Primitive Methodists. The free Grammar school, founded and endowed by Queen Elizabeth, was further endowed by Alderman John Perryns, of the Goldsmiths' Company, and in 1850 this company munificently augmented the original endowments, and appointed an efficient master.

An almshouse for seven women was endowed by Phineas Jackson with property producing about £60 a year. There are some other charities, and National and British schools. A new line of railway has been marked out between Worcester and Bromyard. About 4 miles from the town is an old Roman encampment, situated on Walls Hill. The principal seats in the vicinity are Clayter Park and Buckenhall. Monday is the market day. Fairs are held on the Thursday before the 25th March, the 3rd May, the Thursday before St. James's Day, the 24th October, and the second Monday in December."

"LINTON, a township in the parish of Bromyard, hundred of Broxash, county Hereford, 3 miles S.E. of Bromyard. The village is small and wholly agricultural. Clater Park, the principal residence, is situated near the turnpike road leading from Bromyard to Worcester. It commands a view of the Ankerdine hills and the river Teme. The Bromyard union poorhouse is situated in this parish. R. B. Phillips, Esq., is lord of the manor."

"NEWTON, a hamlet in the parish of Bromyard, hundred of Broxash, county Hereford, 2 miles S.W. of Bromyard, and 14 N.E. of Hereford."

"NORTON, a township in the parish of Bromyard, hundred of Broxash, county Hereford, 3 miles N.E. of Bromyard. It is situated near the river Frome, and contains some well-built houses. Part of the land is laid out in hop-grounds and orchards."

"SALTMARSH, an extra-parochial place in the hundred of Broxash, county Hereford, near Bromyard."

"WINSLOW, a township in the parish of Bromyard, hundred of Broxash, county Hereford, 2½ miles S.W. of Bromyard."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]