BOSBURY is a parish and village in Radlow hundred, Ledbury union and county court district, rural
deanery of South Frome and archdeaconry and diocese of Hereford, 4 miles north from Ledbury, 14 east from Hereford,
and 145 from London, situated on the river Leadon. The parish is divided into three townships—Bosbury,
Upleadon and Catley. The church of the Holy Trinity is an ancient building, consisting of chancel, nave and aisles;
a square tower of great thickness and strength, was erected in the 13th century, it is detached from the church:
there are six bells, and a clock was presened by the late vicar, the Rev.John Edmund Cheese, in 1878: the chancel
is separated from the nave by a fine oak screen; the nave has been partially restored, and the roof opened;
the restoration of the chancel and repewing of the nave was completed in 1871, at a cost of £3,000, under the
superintendence of Ewan Christian, esq. architect, Whitehall place, London: there are some ancient monuments to the
Harford family, also some fine specimens of old carving in the pulpit: there is an organ. The register dates from
the year 1558.
The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value £400, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Hereford, and held
by the Rev. Samuel Bentley, M.A. of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. There is a Free Grammar school
for boys, with a yearly endowment of the value of £107 per annum. Bosbury House, the seat of the Rev. Edward
Higgins, M.A., D.L. for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is an Italian structure of red brick and stone, with balustrades
and portico; it contains a fine collection of curiosities, ancient and modern. Old Court, which is now a farm, was
formerly a palace of the Bishops of Hereford: the refectory is used as a cider cellar; the doorway and wicket are still
perfect. Temple Court, the residence of John Pitt, esq. was formerly occupied by the Knights Templar. There is also an
ancient panelled room in the Crown Inn, bearing date 1571, with the arms of different members of the Harford
family: over the fire-place four shields are placed in a line and three bosses remain in the ceiling, the first and second,
coats of arms of Skipp, Bishop of Hereford; third, the paternal coat and quarterings of William Paulet, first Marquis of
Westminster, with the garter and coronet: the room is now used as a lodge room of the Bishop Swinfield Lodge of Oddfellows
(M.U.) The Ecclesiatical Commissioners are lords of the manor of the whole parish. The Rev. Edward Higgins and John Pitt,
esq., are the principal landowners. The chief crops are wheat, beans, hops and barley. The area is 4,769 acres;
rateable value, £8,043; and the population in 1871 was 1,005;
CATLEY township is half a mile north-west.
UPLEADON township is 1 mile west-by-south.
Parish Clerk, Edwin Townsend.
POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE & Savings Bank.—Mrs. Sarah Kendrick, sub-postmistress. Letters are received
through Ledbury at 8.30 a.m.; dispatched thereto at 3.55 p.m.
Police Station, Robert McDonald, officer in charge
Assistant Overseer, John Shaw
SCHOOLS:—
Free Grammar School for Boys, Samuel Morgan, master
National (girls), Miss Mary Ann Arrowsmith, mistress
CARRIER TO WORCESTER.— Walter Bullock, every saturday, returning same day
Bosbury in
Post Office Directory of Herefordshire 1879
Andrews William, Shin’s croft
Barrett James, Staplow House
Bentley Rev. Samuel, M.A. Vicarage
Bury Edward, New house
Hodges Joseph, School house
Pitt John, Temple court
Pitt Thomas, Stanley house
Shayle George, Upleadon court
COMMERCIAL
Barrett James, farmer & landowner, Stapelow house
Bettington William, farmer, The Brook
Bosley Thomas Edwin, farmer & landowner, Bentleys
Brazier James Herbert, Crown inn
Bullock Walter, carrier
Burgwin Charles, farmer, Shillo
Bury, Wm. frmr. & landowner, The Verne
Cale John, carpenter, Palace [Farm]
Collett William, grocer
Cooper Hannah (Mrs.), frmr. Fox hill
Cotton Allan, wheelwright & smith, New house
Cotton Robert, farmer & hop grower, The Hill
Crouch Thomas, miller (water), Lower mill
Cummings Joseph, farmer, Slatch
Dodd James, machinist
Edwards William, farmer, Woodlow
Fidoe Anne, (Mrs.) carrier
Gardiner Joseph, farmer, Paddles
Gardiner Thomas, farmer, Townend
Greaves John, farmer & hop grower, Catley Cross
Green Thomas, farmer & hop grower, Upper Catley
Green Wm. butcher & farmer, Lower ho
Hall John, farmer, Merrings
Hall Thomas, farmer, Long acre
Harding John, farmer & hop grower, The Green
Harford Richard, farmer, Swinmore
Hawkins Thos. farmer, Holly mount
Hickox Thomas, blacksmith
Hill John, farmer & hop grwr. Noteho
Hoar Wm. farmer, Little Noverings
Hodges Charles, farmer & beer retailer, The Brook
Hodgetts John, boat owner & coal merchant, Staplow
Holder Joseph, beer retailer
Homes Henry, farmer & hop grower, Swinmore
Homes Robert, farmer & hop grower, Old Court
Homes William, farmer & hop grower, Gold hill
Jackson William, farmer & hop grower, Orchards
Jennings William, cooper
Kendrick Edward, farmer & hop grower, Hill house
Lane William Sivell, farmer & hop grower, The Farm
Lloyd Charles Edward Audley, farmer & hop grower, The Grange
Matthews James, farmer, Sugar croft
Morgan Samuel, schoolmstr. & organist
Mutlow John, farmer & hop grower, Cold green
Newman Joseph, farmer & hop grower, Upleadon farm
Nott George, farmer & hop grower, Catley court
Orgee Kenelm, farmer & beer retailer, Old country
Palmer John, Bell inn
Palmer William, farmer & miller, Upper mill
Parsons James, sawyer, Long acre
Parsons Jas. jun. sawyer, Upper house
Pearson Joseph, farmer & hop grower, Nash end
Pitt John, landowner, farmer & hop grower, Temple court
Powell William, farmer & hop grower, Little Catley
Preece Charles, haulier, Pow green
Preece John, farmer & carpenter, Gospel Yew
Price William, farmer & hop grower, Woodlow
Rogers Thomas, farmer, Nelmes
Shaw John, beer retailer & farmer
Shayle George, farmer & hop grower, Upleadon court
Smith Wm. mason & farmer, Briercrft
Thomas Charles, farm bailiff to the Rev. E. Higgins, Broadoak
Tibbatts Henry, shopkeeper
Townsend James, blacksmith
Townsend William, cider retailer & blacksmith, Staplow
Vobe William, farmer & landowner, Hill park
Wilks Thos. crpntr. & joiner, Southfield
Winter John, shoe maker
Source: Post Office Directory of Herefordshire. Published 1879.
