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{{Short description|Market town in Herefordshire, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2009}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|coordinates = {{coord|51.914|-2.587|display=inline,title}}
|population = 10,700
|population_ref = (2011)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128029&c=Ross&d=16&e=62&g=6386104&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1448021422951&enc=1 |title=Town population 2011 |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>
|official_name = Ross-on-Wye
|label_position = left
|unitary_england = [[Herefordshire]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[Herefordshire]]
|region = West Midlands
|constituency_westminster = [[Hereford and South Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford and South Herefordshire]]
|post_town = ROSS-ON-WYE
|postcode_district = HR9
|postcode_area = HR
|dial_code = 01989
|os_grid_reference = SO597241
|static_image_name = Ross-on-Wye2.jpg
|static_image_caption = Town centre,<br />looking north from Market House
}}
'''Ross-on-Wye''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in [[Herefordshire]], England, near the border with [[Wales]]. It had a population estimated at 10,978 in 2021.<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/county_of_herefordshire/E34000710__ross_on_wye/ City Population. Retrieved 2 January 2022]</ref> It lies in south-east of the county, on the [[River Wye]] and on the northern edge of the [[Forest of Dean]].
==History==
[[File:Market Hall, Ross-on-Wye, England-LCCN2002708080.jpg|thumb|left|The Market House in 1890 ([[photochrom]])]]
The name "Ross" is derived from the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] or [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] for a "promontory". It was renamed "Ross-on-Wye" in 1931 by the [[General Post Office]], due to confusion with other places of the same or similar name (such as [[Ross, Scotland|Ross]] in Scotland).<ref>[http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_010The_Town&pg=1 Ross-on-Wye: History, ''Ross-on-Wye.com'']. Retrieved 23 November 2019</ref>
Ross-on-Wye promotes itself as "the birthplace of British [[tourism]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk/wyetour/content-30114.php |title=Birthplace of British Tourism |work=wyevalleyaonb.org.uk}}</ref> In 1745, the rector, [[John Egerton (bishop)|Dr John Egerton]], started taking friends on boat trips down the valley from his rectory at Ross. The [[Wye Valley]]'s attraction was its river scenery, its precipitous landscapes, and its castles and abbeys, which were accessible to seekers of the "[[picturesque]]". In 1782, [[William Gilpin (clergyman)|William Gilpin's]] book ''Observations on the River Wye'' was published, the first illustrated tour guide to be published in Britain. Once it had appeared, demand grew so much that by 1808 there were eight boats making regular excursions along the Wye, most of them hired from inns in Ross and [[Monmouth]]. By 1850, more than 20 visitors had published their own accounts of the [[Wye Tour]], and the area was established as a tourist destination.
===Parish church===
[[File:St. Mary's church, Ross-on-Wye - geograph.org.uk - 1356004.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Church, seen from the north-east]]
The 700-year-old [[Church of England parish church]], [[St Mary]]'s,<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/347879 St Mary Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> is the town's most prominent landmark. Its tall pointed [[spire]] is visible when approaching the town from all directions.<ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/467880 Ross-on-Wye from the Bypass:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 Ross, 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 Ross'', 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>
===United Reformed, Methodist and Baptist churches===
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.
Ross [[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 Ross marked its 200th anniversary.<ref>''Ross Gazette'' [https://www.rossgazette.com/news/celebrating-the-history-of-ross-on-wye-baptist-church-319043]</ref>
===Plague Cross===
[[File:Plague cross.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Plague Cross]]
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>
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>
===The Prospect===
The Prospect was created by John Kyrle, who rented the land from the [[Marquess of Bath]] in 1696 and turned it into a garden and walkway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_060-The_Prospect&pg=1 |title=The Prospect – The Garden |publisher=Ross-on-Wye |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> In 2008, heavy rain uncovered Roman remains that were excavated under the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=rdev_720-Prospect&pg=7 |title=Ross-on-Wye Development – Prospect – Summary |publisher=Ross-on-wye.com |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>
The Prospect provides a public garden opposite the church, containing trees dedicated to local people, a [[Victory in Europe Day|VE Day]] Beacon and a War Memorial. It offers a view of the famous horseshoe bend in the Wye and as far west as the [[Black Mountains, Wales|Black Mountains]].
==Present day==
[[File:Ross Market Hall.JPG|thumb|250px|The Market House]]
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.
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>
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.
==Politics and representation==
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]].
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]].
==Transport==
[[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 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.
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>
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>
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.
[[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>
==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>
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]].
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>
==Climate==
Ross-on-Wye experiences a typically British [[maritime climate]], with mild summers and winters. A Met Office [[weather station]] provides long-term climate data for the town. Meteorological readings have been taken in Ross since 1858; the [[Ross-on-Wye weather station]] holds some national records.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ross-on-Wye - Weather Station |url=http://www.ross-on-wye.com/index.php?page=ross_250-Weather_Station |website=www.ross-on-wye.com}}</ref>
{{Weather box|location = Ross-on-Wye 41m asl, 1991-2020
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 8.0
|Feb high C = 8.7
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 14.2
|May high C = 17.5
|Jun high C = 20.3
|Jul high C = 22.3
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 19.1
|Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 10.9
|Dec high C = 8.3
|year high C =
|Jan low C = 2.2
|Feb low C = 2.2
|Mar low C = 3.3
|Apr low C = 5.0
|May low C = 7.8
|Jun low C = 10.7
|Jul low C = 12.7
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 10.3
|Oct low C = 7.7
|Nov low C = 4.6
|Dec low C = 2.4
|year low C =
|Jan precipitation mm = 75.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 55.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 53.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 51.9
|May precipitation mm = 56.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 56.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 51.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 64.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 56.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 83.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 79.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 80.1
|year precipitation mm =
|Jan sun = 54.6
|Feb sun = 77.1
|Mar sun = 119.1
|Apr sun = 166.0
|May sun = 203.7
|Jun sun = 200.5
|Jul sun = 210.5
|Aug sun = 189.4
|Sep sun = 143.7
|Oct sun = 103.6
|Nov sun = 63.0
|Dec sun = 47.1
|year sun =
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcnpm68t8 |title=Ross-on-Wye 1991-2020 averages |access-date=17 December 2021|publisher=[[UKMO]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}
==Notable people==
People who were born in Ross, or have lived in the town, include:{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
*[[John Kyrle]] (1637–1724), philanthropist known as "the Man of Ross"<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-03-02 |title=Herefordshire Through Time - Welcome |url=https://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/herefordshires-past/the-post-medieval-period/architecture/buildings-1500-1750/town-houses-and-inns/john-kyrle-the-man-of-ross/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Herefordshire Council}}</ref>
*[[James Cowles Prichard]] (1786–1848), scientist prominent in [[biological anthropology|anthropology]] and [[psychiatry]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Cowles Prichard {{!}} Artist |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/james-cowles-prichard |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Royal Academy of Arts}}</ref>
*[[Frederick Gordon (hotelier)|Frederick Gordon]] (1835–1904), hotelier<ref>{{Cite web |last=Board |first=The Stanmore Tourist |title=Frederick Gordon |url=https://www.stanmoretouristboard.org.uk/frederick-gordon.html |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Stanmore Tourist Board |language=en}}</ref>
*[[William Partridge (soldier)|William Partridge]] (1858–1930), soldier prominent in the 1879 [[Zulu war]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardens (en) |first=Parks and |title=Bishopswood House - Ross-on-Wye |url=https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/bishopswood-house |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Parks & Gardens |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Arthur Pugh]] (1870–1955), President of the [[Trades Union Congress]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=PUGH, Arthur |url=https://rowntree.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/194 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=The Rowntree Business Lectures and the Interwar British Management Movement}}</ref>
*[[William Henry Squire]] (1871–1963), [[Royal Academy of Music]] member, cellist, composer and music professor<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Artists and bands from Ross-on-Wye, England |url=https://www.allmusic.com/birthplace/ross-on-wye-england-mz0000316246 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Frank Andrews (rugby)|Frank Andrews]] (1886–1944), international [[rugby union]] (Wales) and professional [[rugby league]] player{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
*[[Frederick Burrows]] (1887–1973), Governor of [[Bengal]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title=Blue plaque tour of the town - Visit Ross On Wye |url=https://visitrossonwye.com/heritage-trail-2/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*[[Juxon Barton]] (1891–1980), Governor of [[Fiji]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
*[[Noele Gordon]] (1919–1985), actress<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-02 |title=Nolly tells story of Wye Valley soap star's rise and fall |url=https://www.rossgazette.com/news/noeles-star-shines-again-592366 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=The Ross Gazette}}</ref>
*[[Yvonne Littlewood]] (1927–2023), television producer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |date=2023-07-19 |title=Yvonne Littlewood obituary |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/19/yvonne-littlewood-obtituar |access-date=2023-09-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Dennis Potter]] (1935–1994), dramatist<ref>{{Cite web |date=1994-06-07 |title=Obituary: Dennis Potter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-dennis-potter-1421167.html |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Roger Whittaker]] (1936–2023), singer-songwriter<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-09-18 |title=Roger Whittaker, giant of easy listening whose wistful ballads included The Last Farewell and Durham Town – obituary |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/09/18/roger-whittaker-singer-last-farewell-durham-town-whistling/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
*[[Pete Overend Watts]] (1947–2017), member of the [[Mott the Hoople]] band<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-16 |title=Thanksgiving service for a rock star – Pete Overend Watts |url=https://www.rossgazette.com/news/thanksgiving-service-for-a-rock-star-pete-overend-watts-317886 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=The Ross Gazette}}</ref>
*[[Dale Griffin]] (1948–2016), member of Mott the Hoople<ref name=":0" />
==Twin towns==
Ross-on-Wye has three [[twin towns]]:
*[[Betzdorf, Germany]]
*[[Condé-sur-Noireau]], France (since 1978)
*[[Namutumba, Uganda]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Twinning |url=https://www.rosstc-herefordshire.gov.uk/twinning/ |website=Ross-on-Wye Town Council |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Man of Ross.jpg|''The Man Of Ross'' inn
File:Market House from West.jpg|The Market House from the west
File:Ross St Marys spire.jpg|St Mary's Church spire
File:Ross-on-Wye by W.A. Call.jpg|View of the town from the banks of the [[River Wye]]
File:Interior of St Mary's Church, Ross-on-Wye, England arp.jpg|Interior of St Mary’s, the parish church
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Archenfield]]
*[[John Kyrle High School]]
*[[Ross Rowing Club]]
*[[The Chase Hotel, Ross-On-Wye]] (now closed)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*Town Council [http://www.rosstc-herefordshire.gov.uk/ Ross-on-Wye Town Council]
*{{wikivoyage-inline}}
*Littlebury's Directory, 1876–1877 [https://web.archive.org/web/20051112152806/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Ross/History1876.html.]
*{{curlie|/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Herefordshire/Ross-on-Wye/}}
{{Herefordshire}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross-On-Wye}}
[[Category:Ross-on-Wye| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Towns in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]
[[Category:River Wye]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Herefordshire]]

Revision as of 13:30, 27 April 2024

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox UK place Ross-on-Wye is a market town and civil parish in Herefordshire, England, near the border with Wales. It had a population estimated at 10,978 in 2021.[1] It lies in south-east of the county, on the River Wye and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.

History

The Market House in 1890 (photochrom)

The name "Ross" is derived from the Welsh or Celtic for a "promontory". It was renamed "Ross-on-Wye" in 1931 by the General Post Office, due to confusion with other places of the same or similar name (such as Ross in Scotland).[2]

Ross-on-Wye promotes itself as "the birthplace of British tourism".[3] In 1745, the rector, Dr John Egerton, started taking friends on boat trips down the valley from his rectory at Ross. The Wye Valley's attraction was its river scenery, its precipitous landscapes, and its castles and abbeys, which were accessible to seekers of the "picturesque". In 1782, William Gilpin's book Observations on the River Wye was published, the first illustrated tour guide to be published in Britain. Once it had appeared, demand grew so much that by 1808 there were eight boats making regular excursions along the Wye, most of them hired from inns in Ross and Monmouth. By 1850, more than 20 visitors had published their own accounts of the Wye Tour, and the area was established as a tourist destination.

Parish church

St Mary's Church, seen from the north-east

The 700-year-old Church of England parish church, St Mary's,[4] is the town's most prominent landmark. Its tall pointed spire is visible when approaching the town from all directions.[5] The church holds several distinctive tombs, one of which – that of William Rudhall (who died in 1530) – is one of the last great 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 Ross, 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 Ross, and there is a fine painting of him, by an unknown artist, in the Corn Exchange in the High Street.[6]

United Reformed, Methodist and Baptist churches

The Methodist Church in Christ Church in Edde Cross Street has closed permanently.[7] The United Reformed Church congregation, part of the Herefordshire Group, likewise was at Christ Church.[8] The former United Reformed Church in Gloucester Road has now been converted into housing.

Ross Baptist Church is in Broad Street.[9] 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 Ross marked its 200th anniversary.[10]

Plague Cross

The Plague Cross

The 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 the plague and were buried nearby in a plague pit – at night and without coffins.[11]

By 1896, the Plague Cross had fallen into disrepair and the top was missing. It was later restored. Since 1952, it has been listed as a Grade II* edifice, and since 1997 it has been a scheduled monument.[12][13]

The Prospect

The Prospect was created by John Kyrle, who rented the land from the Marquess of Bath in 1696 and turned it into a garden and walkway.[14] In 2008, heavy rain uncovered Roman remains that were excavated under the site.[15]

The Prospect provides a public garden opposite the church, containing trees dedicated to local people, a VE Day Beacon and a War Memorial. It offers a view of the famous horseshoe bend in the Wye and as far west as the Black Mountains.

Present day

The Market House

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.[16][17] This was built between 1650 and 1654 to replace a probably wooden Booth Hall. The upper storey now houses an arts and crafts centre.

The town's small theatre, The Phoenix, shows films once a month, along with plays and other arts events.[18]

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.

Politics and representation

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.[19] The Mayor is Councillor Louis Stark. Ross Rural was merged into the civil parish on 1 April 2015.[20] Since the May 2023 local elections, the town council has a majority of Liberal Democrats (twelve), with one Conservative and five Independents.

The town is part of the Hereford and South Herefordshire parliamentary constituency, currently represented in the House of Commons by the Conservative MP Jesse Norman.

Transport

Ross-on-Wye station, with Hereford – Gloucester train in 1958

The former Ross-on-Wye railway station was at a 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 in 1856, but never built.

Under the Beeching cuts, the lines to Ross closed in stages up to 1964.[21] The brick station has been demolished and the site redeveloped into an industrial estate, on which the brick goods and engine sheds still stand.[22]

The nearest railway stations are in Ledbury on the Cotswold Line and Gloucester on the Birmingham & Gloucester Railway.[23]

To the east is the end of the M50, sometimes called the Ross Spur or Ross Motorway, which links with the M5.

Stagecoach West and Nick Maddy Coaches provide regular bus services. Stagecoach West operates hourly route 33 through Ross between Gloucester and Hereford,[24] while Nick Maddy Coaches operates hourly route 40 serving residential streets across town.[25] National Express also operate a twice daily service to and from London on its 445 route.[26]

Media

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Ridge Hill and the local relay transmitters.[27][28]

Local radio stations are BBC Hereford and Worcester, Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Sunshine Radio.

The town is served by the local newspapers The Ross Gazette and Hereford Times.[29]

Climate

Ross-on-Wye experiences a typically British maritime climate, with mild summers and winters. A Met Office weather station provides long-term climate data for the town. Meteorological readings have been taken in Ross since 1858; the Ross-on-Wye weather station holds some national records.[30] Template:Weather box

Notable people

People who were born in Ross, or have lived in the town, include:Template:Citation needed

Twin towns

Ross-on-Wye has three twin towns:

Gallery

  • The Man Of Ross inn

    The Man Of Ross inn

  • The Market House from the west

    The Market House from the west

  • St Mary's Church spire

    St Mary's Church spire

  • View of the town from the banks of the River Wye

    View of the town from the banks of the River Wye

  • Interior of St Mary’s, the parish church

    Interior of St Mary’s, the parish church

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Commons category

Template:Herefordshire

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ City Population. Retrieved 2 January 2022
  2. ↑ Ross-on-Wye: History, Ross-on-Wye.com. Retrieved 23 November 2019
  3. ↑ Template:Cite web
  4. ↑ St Mary Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!
  5. ↑ Ross-on-Wye from the Bypass:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!
  6. ↑ Template:Cite web
  7. ↑ Template:Cite web
  8. ↑ Group churches [2]
  9. ↑ Template:Cite web
  10. ↑ Ross Gazette [3]
  11. ↑ Template:Cite web
  12. ↑ Template:NHLE
  13. ↑ Template:NHLE
  14. ↑ Template:Cite web
  15. ↑ Template:Cite web
  16. ↑ Ross on Wye, Market hall:: OS grid SO5924:: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!
  17. ↑ Market House, Ross-on-Wye:: OS grid SO5924 :: Geograph British Isles – photograph every grid square!
  18. ↑ Template:Cite web
  19. ↑ Council powers [4]
  20. ↑ Template:Cite web
  21. ↑ Template:Cite web
  22. ↑ Template:Cite web
  23. ↑ Herefordshire transport. [5]
  24. ↑ https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/west/33/hereford-ross-on-wye/xseo033.i
  25. ↑ Template:Cite web
  26. ↑ Template:Cite web
  27. ↑ Template:Cite web
  28. ↑ Template:Cite web
  29. ↑ Template:Cite web
  30. ↑ Template:Cite web
  31. ↑ Template:Cite web
  32. ↑ Template:Cite web
  33. ↑ Template:Cite web
  34. ↑ Template:Cite web
  35. ↑ Template:Cite web
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Template:Cite web
  37. ↑ Template:Cite web
  38. ↑ Template:Cite web
  39. ↑ Template:Cite news
  40. ↑ Template:Cite web
  41. ↑ Template:Cite news
  42. ↑ Template:Cite web
  43. ↑ Template:Cite web
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