Ross-on-Wye
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ross-on-Wye (Welsh: Rhosan ar Wy) is a small market town with a population of approximately 10,000 in Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the edge of the Forest of Dean. The town is known for its antique shops, and high number of public houses. Regular Thursday and Saturday markets are held at the sandstone 'Market House' building in the town centre, which was built between 1650 and 1654 replacing an older, probably wooden building. The 700 year old parish church of St. Mary's is the town's most prominent landmark and its spire is visible when approaching the town from all directions.
In the front of the church is a large and rare Plague Cross, commemorating the 315 townsfolk who were buried here by night without coffins during a savage outbreak of the plague in 1637. Inside, the church holds several distinctive tombs, one of which – that of a certain William Rudhall (d.1530) – is one of the last great alabaster sculptures from the specialist masons of Nottingham, whose work was prized right across medieval Europe. Another tomb is of John Kyrle, a prominent figure in Ross-on-Wye, whose name is now given to a High School. Opposite the church, The Prospect is a neat public garden offering pleasant views over the river. Ross on wye now belongs to a new skate park which was finished in November 2006. The park was donated the money by barclays. Barclays invested £54,000 into the park as a part of the £30,000,000 youth sport project.
The ruins of Wilton Castle lie to the west of the town.
[edit] Plague Cross
The Plague Cross, also known as the Corpse Cross, was erected in the church yard of St. Mary's Church in 1637 as a memorial to 315 people who died in the town during the Black Death in 1637. These people were buried nearby in a pit, at night and without coffins.
By 1896, the cross had fallen into disrepair and the top of the cross was missing. Sometime after this, it was restored back to its former state.
[edit] External links
- Larruperz Centre - a community centre serving the community of Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding district. The centre is named after the Larruperz.
- St. Mary's Church.
- Ross Rugby Club - Official website for the Ross-on-Wye Rugby Club.
- Ross-on-Wye and District Cycling Club - Official Web site for Ross-on-Wye's cycling club
- RossonWye.com - The Tourist web site for Ross-on-Wye and Rural South Herefordshire with guides for accommodation, restaurants, pubs and the area's history and attractions.
- The Church of St Mary the Virgin
- Ross-on-Wye - A comprehensive photographic tour of Ross-on-Wye and the Wye Valley particularly covering Ross-on-Wye and with both archive and recent photographs.
- Ross-on-Wye.com - Contains many photographs, postcards and historical details about the town.
- A traditional local shop based in Ross on Wye since 1970 - Also has pictures / information on fishing spots in Ross on Wye
- Ross Online - Comprehensive source of online information about local businesses, places to stay, shops, leisure and recreation facilities, restaurants, pubs, transport and more, much, much more besides.
