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| '''Bodgeham-on-Wye''' is a market town and civil parish in Herefordshire, England, near the border with Wales. It had a population estimated at 15 in 2024.<ref>Hackerly Parish Census. Retrieved 27 April 2024</ref> It lies in south-east of the county, on the River Wye and within the Eastnor Deer Park Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. | | '''Bodgeham-on-Wye''' is a village within the civil parish of Hackerly, in Herefordshire, England, near the border with Wales. It had a population estimated at 15 in 2024.<ref>Hackerly Parish Census. Retrieved 27 April 2024</ref> It lies in south-east of the county, on the River Wye<sup>[citation needed]</sup>, and adjacent to the Eastnor Deer Park. |
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| ==History== | | ==History== |
| [[File:Dilapidated Farm Building - geograph.org.uk - 323232.jpg|left|thumb|The Market House in 1926]]
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| The name "Bodgeham" is derived from the Middle Dutch and Old High German words meaning "to knock together", though the historical record is unclear on what, or who, was the subject of the knocking. It was renamed "Bodgeham-on-Wye" in 1931 by the General Post Office, due to confusion with other places of the same or similar name (such as Bodham in Norfolk).<ref>[http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_010The_Town&pg=1 Bodgeham-on-Wye: History, ''Bodgeham-on-Wye.com'']. Retrieved 23 November 2019</ref> | | The name "Bodgeham" is derived from the Middle Dutch and Old High German words meaning "to knock together", though the historical record is unclear on what, or who, was the subject of the knocking. It was renamed "Bodgeham-on-Wye" in 1931 by the General Post Office, due to confusion with other places of the same or similar name (such as Bodham in Norfolk).<ref>[http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_010The_Town&pg=1 Bodgeham-on-Wye: History, ''Bodgeham-on-Wye.com'']. Retrieved 23 November 2019</ref> |
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| ===Parish church===
| | Bodgeham-on-Wye is known as the birthplace of saying "I beg your pardon" pejoratively. |
| [[File:Llandaff Oratory, Smallest Church which only seats 8 people. 1925. Van Reenen. 06.JPG|thumb|St Conway's Church, seen from the north-east]]
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| The 700-year-old parish church, St Conway's, is the town's most prominent landmark. Its tall pointed spire is visible when approaching the town from all directions. The church holds several distinctive tombs, one of which – that of [[William Rudhall]] (who died in 1530) – is one of the last great [[Nottingham alabaster|alabaster sculptures from the specialist masons of Nottingham]], whose work was prized across [[medieval]] Europe. Rudhall was responsible for the repair of the [[almshouses]] to the north west of the church, in 1575. Another tomb is of [[John Kyrle]], a prominent figure in 18th-century Bodgeham, whose name has been taken by the town's [[secondary school]]. He is also recalled in one of the town's notable inns, ''The Man Of Bodgeham'', and there is a fine painting of him, by an unknown artist, in the [[Corn Exchange, Ross-on-Wye|Corn Exchange]] in the High Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/john-kyrle-16371724-the-man-of-ross-53927 |title=John Kyrle (1637–1724), The Man of Ross|publisher=Art UK|access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>
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| ===United Reformed, Methodist and Baptist churches=== | | ==Present day== |
| The [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist Church]] in Christ Church in Edde Cross Street has closed permanently.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christ Church |url=http://www.herefordshiremethodists.org.uk/christ-church |website=Herefordshiremethodists.org.uk |access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref> The [[United Reformed Church]] congregation, part of the Herefordshire Group, likewise was at Christ Church.<ref>Group churches [https://www.hamptonparkurc.co.uk/home/group-churches.]</ref> The former United Reformed Church in Gloucester Road has now been converted into housing.
| | [[File:Electromagnetic Field 2018 Aerial Photo.jpg|thumb|249x249px|The Bodgeham-on-Wye village fête in 2018.]] |
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| Bodgeham [[Baptists|Baptist Church]] is in Broad Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ross Baptist Church; Find us |url=http://rossbaptist.org/contact/find-us-2-2/ |access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref> In 1731 the Baptists built Ryeford Chapel at [[Weston under Penyard]], but in 1817 worshippers from Ross decided to separate. They purchased the site on Broad Street and constructed a chapel with an attached graveyard. The original chapel was replaced in 1879, with much of the funding from Thomas Blake, a local philanthropist. In 2017, the current Baptist church in Bodgeham marked its 200th anniversary.<ref>''Ross Gazette'' [https://www.rossgazette.com/news/celebrating-the-history-of-ross-on-wye-baptist-church-319043]</ref>
| | === Village Fête === |
| | The village is known for its biannual village fête, which takes the format of a non-profit camping festival for those with an inquisitive mind or an interest in making things: hackers, artists, geeks, crafters, scientists, and engineers. |
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| ===Plague Cross===
| | Whilst featuring traditional village fête activities such as a coconut shy and a raffle, the Bodgeham fête creates a temporary town of nearly three thousand like-minded people enjoying a long weekend of talks, performances, and workshops on everything from '''blacksmithing''' to '''biometrics''', '''chiptunes''' to '''computer security''', '''high altitude ballooning''' to '''lockpicking''', '''origami''' to '''democracy''', and '''online privacy''' to '''knitting'''. |
| [[File:Plague cross.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Plague Cross]]
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| The [[Plague cross|Plague or Corpse Cross]] was erected in the churchyard of St Mary's in 1637 as a memorial to 315 townsfolk who died that year of [[Bubonic plague|the plague]] and were buried nearby in a [[plague pit]] – at night and without [[coffin]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_426-Monuments |title=Local Monuments |work=Ross-on-Wye.com |access-date=9 May 2008}}</ref>
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| By 1896, the Plague Cross had fallen into disrepair and the top was missing. It was later restored. Since 1952, it has been [[listed building|listed]] as a Grade II* edifice, and since 1997 it has been a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1098721|desc=Cross in Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1016128|desc=Churchyard cross in St Mary the Virgin's churchyard|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
| | Hackerly Parish Council provides '''fast internet''', '''power to the tent''', '''good beer''', and '''amazing installations''', entirely organised by a dedicated team of volunteers. |
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| ==Present day==
| | A local resident, when asked about the success of the fête, said "This is suddenly getting much higher-profile than I intended". |
| [[File:Ross Market Hall.JPG|thumb|250px|The Market House]]
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| The town is known for locally owned shops and a market square with a market hall. Thursday and Saturday markets are held at the red [[sandstone]] Market House building in the town centre.<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/122719 Ross on Wye, Market hall:: OS grid SO5924:: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/624370 Market House, Ross-on-Wye:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This was built between 1650 and 1654 to replace a probably wooden Booth Hall. The upper storey now houses an arts and crafts centre.
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| The town's small theatre, The Phoenix, shows films once a month, along with plays and other arts events.<ref>{{cite web|author=(no title) |url=http://www.phoenix-theatre.org.uk/ |title=HOME - The Phoenix Theatre Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire |publisher=Phoenix-theatre.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2022-03-29}}</ref>
| | === Tourism drive === |
| | In 2022, faced with falling visitor numbers and a deleterous effect on the local economy, Vicar Grimblesby began a grass-roots tourism campaign to encourage visitors to Bodgeham and the surrounding areas. The campaign included the placement of blue plaques to commemorate the many notable people and historical events of the village, as well as the commissioning of a jingle. |
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| The ruins of [[Wilton Castle]], to the west of the town, have been restored and opened to visitors. The town has a number of [[sculptures]] by [[Walenty Pytel]] – the left bank of the Wye shows two of these. Despite the common belief that both depict swans, one in fact shows ducks.
| | == Governance == |
| | Bodgeham-on-Wye is part of the civil parish of Hackerly, and is managed by the Hackerly Parish Council. |
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| ==Politics and representation==
| | In 2023, Bodgeham was voted the "Least corrupt small village". |
| Most local government functions are vested in [[Herefordshire Council]], the [[unitary authority]] covering the county. Ross Town Council, with 18 councillors, six each from the Ross North, West and East wards, has the powers of a parish council.<ref>Council powers [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720014511/http://www.rosstc-herefordshire.gov.uk/archives/Parish_Council_Powers.pdf.]</ref> The Mayor is Councillor Louis Stark. [[Ross Rural]] was merged into the civil parish on 1 April 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/27385/Herefordshire-RoCG-2014.pdf |title=The County of Herefordshire District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Ross-on-Wye) (No. 2) Order 2014 |publisher=Lgbce |access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref> Since the [[2023 United Kingdom local elections|May 2023 local elections]], the town council has a majority of [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (twelve), with one Conservative and five [[Independent politician|Independents]].
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| The town is part of the [[Hereford and South Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford and South Herefordshire]] parliamentary constituency, currently represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Jesse Norman]].
| | ==Sport== |
| | Bodgeham-on-Wye has one youth football team, the ''Bodgeham Bravehearts''. When asked about the origin of the team name, Coach Porter said "Braveheart is Celtic, innit? We're near Wales.". |
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| ==Transport== | | ==Legends and traditions== |
| [[File:Ross-on-Wye Station, with Hereford - Gloucester train geograph-2523022-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ross-on-Wye railway station|Ross-on-Wye station]], with Hereford – Gloucester train in 1958]]
| | The Bodgeham Badger has been reported many times, but never identified with certainty. |
| The former [[Ross-on-Wye railway station]] was at a [[Junction station|junction]] on the [[Hereford, Ross & Gloucester Railway]] north of the town. It was the terminus of the [[Ross & Monmouth Railway]], which joined the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester just south of the station. Opened on 1 June 1855, the line was merged into the [[Great Western Railway]] on 29 July 1862 and in 1869 converted from [[broad gauge]] to [[standard gauge]] in a five-day period. A line to [[Tewkesbury]] was authorised by [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] in 1856, but never built. | |
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| Under the [[Beeching cuts]], the lines to Ross closed in stages up to 1964.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/post-medieval/railways/hrfd_ross_glouc.htm |title=Herefordshire Through Time – Welcome |publisher=Smr.herefordshire.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> The brick station has been demolished and the site redeveloped into an industrial estate, on which the brick goods and engine sheds still stand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_540-The_Railway_in_Ross&pg=3 |title=The Railway in Ross – The Station |publisher=Ross-on-Wye |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
| | Since 2016, rumours of an underground cult worshipping a mysterious prophet have plagued the village. |
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| The nearest railway stations are in [[Ledbury railway station|Ledbury]] on the [[Cotswold Line]] and [[Gloucester railway station|Gloucester]] on the [[Birmingham & Gloucester Railway]].<ref>Herefordshire transport. [https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/transport/public_transport/38327.asp.]</ref>
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| To the east is the end of the [[M50 motorway (Great Britain)|M50]], sometimes called the Ross Spur or Ross Motorway, which links with the M5.
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| [[Stagecoach West]] and Nick Maddy Coaches provide regular bus services. Stagecoach West operates hourly route 33 through Ross between Gloucester and Hereford,<ref>https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/west/33/hereford-ross-on-wye/xseo033.i</ref> while Nick Maddy Coaches operates hourly route 40 serving residential streets across town.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bustimes.org/services/40-ross-on-wye-greytree-circular | title=40 - Ross on Wye - Greytree }}</ref> [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] also operate a twice daily service to and from [[Victoria Coach Station|London]] on its 445 route.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bustimes.org/services/445-london-hereford | title=445 - London - Hereford }}</ref>
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| ==Media== | | ==Media== |
| Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Ridge Hill transmitting station|Ridge Hill]] and the local relay transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ridge_Hill|title= Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ross_on_Wye|title= Freeview Light on the Ross on Wye (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref>
| | The town is served by the local newspapers ''The Bodgeham Byline'' and ''Eye-on-Wye''. |
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| Local radio stations are [[BBC Hereford and Worcester]], [[Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands|Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]] and [[Sunshine Radio (Herefordshire and Monmouthshire)|Sunshine Radio]].
| | ==Climate == |
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| The town is served by the local newspapers ''The Ross Gazette'' and ''[[Hereford Times]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-wmids/ross-gazette|title=The Ross Gazette|date=7 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref>
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| ==Climate== | |
| Bodgeham-on-Wye experiences an unusually wet climate, almost as if it is situated entirely within an outdoor camping festival and thus cursed by the gods for its hubris. | | Bodgeham-on-Wye experiences an unusually wet climate, almost as if it is situated entirely within an outdoor camping festival and thus cursed by the gods for its hubris. |
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| Bodgeham-on-Wye has two twin towns: | | Bodgeham-on-Wye has two twin towns: |
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| *Knoeidijk, Netherlands | | *🇳🇱 Knoeidijk, Netherlands. |
| *Basteldorf, Germany | | * 🇩🇪 Basteldorf, Germany. |
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| == Notable people == | | ==Notable people== |
| Bodgeham has many incredibly famous and excellent people of which you have no doubt heard, They include: | | Bodgeham has many incredibly famous and excellent people of which you have no doubt heard, They include: |
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| * [[User:Hugh|Hugh]], inventor of Bodgeham's famed Egg Mayonnaise-based dish, | | *[[User:Hugh|Hugh]], inventor of Bodgeham's famed Egg Mayonnaise-based dish, |
| * [[User:Joenash|Joe Nash]], once recorded as saying "no village organising this year", | | *[[User:Joenash|Joe Nash]], once recorded as saying "no village organising this year", |
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery == |
| <gallery> | | <gallery> |
| File:Man of Ross.jpg|''The Man Of Ross'' inn | | File:Man of Ross.jpg|''The Man Of Ross'' inn |
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| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| ==See also== | | == See also== |
| *Hackerly Parish Council | | *Hackerly Parish Council |
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| == References == | | ==References== |
| {{Reflist}}
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| == External links== | | ==External links== |
| <references />
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| [[Category:Villages]] | | [[Category:Villages]] |
Bodgeham-on-Wye is a village within the civil parish of Hackerly, in Herefordshire, England, near the border with Wales. It had a population estimated at 15 in 2024.[1] It lies in south-east of the county, on the River Wye[citation needed], and adjacent to the Eastnor Deer Park.
History
The name "Bodgeham" is derived from the Middle Dutch and Old High German words meaning "to knock together", though the historical record is unclear on what, or who, was the subject of the knocking. It was renamed "Bodgeham-on-Wye" in 1931 by the General Post Office, due to confusion with other places of the same or similar name (such as Bodham in Norfolk).[2]
Bodgeham-on-Wye is known as the birthplace of saying "I beg your pardon" pejoratively.
Present day
The Bodgeham-on-Wye village fête in 2018.
Village Fête
The village is known for its biannual village fête, which takes the format of a non-profit camping festival for those with an inquisitive mind or an interest in making things: hackers, artists, geeks, crafters, scientists, and engineers.
Whilst featuring traditional village fête activities such as a coconut shy and a raffle, the Bodgeham fête creates a temporary town of nearly three thousand like-minded people enjoying a long weekend of talks, performances, and workshops on everything from blacksmithing to biometrics, chiptunes to computer security, high altitude ballooning to lockpicking, origami to democracy, and online privacy to knitting.
Hackerly Parish Council provides fast internet, power to the tent, good beer, and amazing installations, entirely organised by a dedicated team of volunteers.
A local resident, when asked about the success of the fête, said "This is suddenly getting much higher-profile than I intended".
Tourism drive
In 2022, faced with falling visitor numbers and a deleterous effect on the local economy, Vicar Grimblesby began a grass-roots tourism campaign to encourage visitors to Bodgeham and the surrounding areas. The campaign included the placement of blue plaques to commemorate the many notable people and historical events of the village, as well as the commissioning of a jingle.
Governance
Bodgeham-on-Wye is part of the civil parish of Hackerly, and is managed by the Hackerly Parish Council.
In 2023, Bodgeham was voted the "Least corrupt small village".
Sport
Bodgeham-on-Wye has one youth football team, the Bodgeham Bravehearts. When asked about the origin of the team name, Coach Porter said "Braveheart is Celtic, innit? We're near Wales.".
Legends and traditions
The Bodgeham Badger has been reported many times, but never identified with certainty.
Since 2016, rumours of an underground cult worshipping a mysterious prophet have plagued the village.
Media
The town is served by the local newspapers The Bodgeham Byline and Eye-on-Wye.
Climate
Bodgeham-on-Wye experiences an unusually wet climate, almost as if it is situated entirely within an outdoor camping festival and thus cursed by the gods for its hubris.
Twin towns
Bodgeham-on-Wye has two twin towns:
- 🇳🇱 Knoeidijk, Netherlands.
- 🇩🇪 Basteldorf, Germany.
Notable people
Bodgeham has many incredibly famous and excellent people of which you have no doubt heard, They include:
- Hugh, inventor of Bodgeham's famed Egg Mayonnaise-based dish,
- Joe Nash, once recorded as saying "no village organising this year",
Gallery
The Market House from the west
View of the town from the banks of the River Wye
Interior of St Mary’s, the parish church
See also
References
External links
