Hereford Times - 28th January 2016 - Page 31
Hereford Times - 28th January 2016 - Page 31
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| Date | 28/01/2016 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Language | English |
| Area | Hereford Times |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date of Publication | 28th January 2016 |
| Transcription |
herefordtimes.com Thursday, January 28, 2016 THE HEREFORD TIMES 31 HUDSON the farm la bourer was working near a hedge beneath Capler Camp when he heard a noise which sounded like a hailstorm in the distance. A few moments later, he felt the ground starting to rock under his feet; then it dawned on him that the trees of Capler Wood were slipping inexorably down the steep slope towards him. For the next sixteen hours, six acres of earth and a load of huge boul~ ders toppled south-west to- wards Ballingham Church on the other side of the River Wye, leaving gap- ing caverns in their wake. Some trees were thrown down, but a large old yew tree stayed upright about’ sixty feet from where it started. When last spotted, on that Thursday evening in April 1793, Hudson was hot footing it down a nar- row meadow in the general direction of the river. Our walk starts beneath Capler in rather more measured fashion from quintessentially English Brockhampton. Its fo- cal point is the thatched church of All Saint’s, a charming Grade 1 listed building dating from 1902. We follow the information posts down the fine valley in front of it, with no sign of the bull these days who used to nuzzle up to people. A very big hit up to the left is Brockhampton Cricket by Garth Lawson Q So qultessentlally English All Saint’s Church, Brockhampton - the start of the walk Club, who are members of the Birmingham League. They also play a major role in knitting together the local community. The cricket ground, known as “The Parks”, is part of the Brockhampton Estate and it has been owned by the Foster and Clay families since 1897. G. L. Clay, an accom— plished batsman and slow bowler, was club president and captain of the team be— tween 1937 and 1940. Once playing at Longhope, he managed to hit a six into a passing coal train, and the ball later turned up in Gloucester. His brother J. C. Clay played county cricket for Glamorgan and a test match for England against South Africa at the Oval in 1935. In recent seasons lots of players from the upper reaches of the game have played at the beautiful, tree-fringed Parks. Sadly, there’s no longer a public house in the par ish, and the football club stopped playing more than 30 years ago. They had three grounds: opposite the Village Hall, on the sloping pitch behind the church, and towards Faw- ley on the other side of the road from Brinkley Hill Farm. There was a time when every Brockhampton defender looked like the village blacksmith; as well as that barrier, there was usually a lady lying in wait on the touchline to hamper a winger with her sneaky umbrella. Above the village, a very BALLINGHAM "TO FAWLEY TO FOWNHOPE CAPLER CAMP PEARTREE \ XEOCKHAMPTON KET GROUND Brockhampton and Capler Village, pasture, Wye Val- ley Walk, viewpoint and views. Easy 21/2 mile walk. Good terrain. 4 stiles. Map: OS Explorer 189. Hereford & Rosson-Wye. The Route. 1. All Saints Church, Brockhampton. With your back to the lych— gate, TR for 20m and TL through gate straight down the middle of the fine pasture (Brock- hampton Cricket ground is up to l_,eft then the ruins of the old church). Pass two information posts, go through gate, pass two more posts out on to country lane via gate. TR along lane and wind uphill to junction. TR be- low buildings, go steadily up lane for 240m. 2. Wye Valley Walk. TL 211 ng signed wide footpath begween hedges. (Views open up south to the hills above Ross, then Coppet Hill). Keep ahead at first path junction, but at second, TR by stump along L nearside edge of hedge. (Brockhampton’s third old football ground was to L). Funnel between hedges behind council houses to minor road at “Lucky No 1" residence. steady climb takes a route through some ancient woodland of oak, ash and lime; it forms a canopy - above field maple and ha~ zel on a lofty stretch of the Wye Valley Walk. Opposite Capler Lodge a spectacular viewpoint overlooks the river's course downstream through Ballingham. Car- ey and Hoarwithy. From there, the easy walk takes a scenic route beneath the hill-fort of Capler Camp. Some have connected the name Capler with Ostorius Scapula who fought with British chief- tain Caractacus against the Roman occupation; the Romans themselves prob— ably occupied it at some point because a coin of the Empress Lucilla was found on its southern slopes at Peartree Green. Another theory links Capler with the Latin capitulanius. re- ferring to early owners of the manor, the Deans and Chapter of Hereford. In- deed, much of the stone re- quired for one reconstrue tion and repair at Hereford Cathedral was obtained from a quarry at the foot of the hill. near the river. By the time Hudson got round to telling Tom Spring‘s regulars in the Green Man Inn at Fown- hope about his rather so- bering experience at Ca- pler, he was a very old man. Some concluded that drink had got the better of him. TR for 20m. then go L on your original line, still on WVW to L of (what is) Luiten House, between hedges to pass West Cot~ tage. (Sneak a view back to L to Ballingham Church), toreach road just below in- formation board. 3. Capler Viewpoint Seat. (From the position Capler hill occupies in the Wye valley the views from it are varied and extensive. It is the only place from which the spires of Hereford and Ross can be seen from the same spot). When ready. facing away from the river, with Capler Lodge up to your L. TR and walk 20m back along road. TL on footpath along pleas- ant R edge/hedge. (Capler Camp up to L. and wave to May Hill at 3 o‘clock). Cross 2 stiles ahead and. 15 paces beyond 2nd one, TR across stile and go half R down through crop field. Head for stile witlrinfor- ination post. cross. and keep same line through next crop field towards R side of house with con- servatory. Go through gate at Brand Oak and down hedged drive to telephone box. (If you want to visit the line cricket ground, it is signed and about 300m along the road ahead). TR along lane at Parks Pitch to the church. it 2016 NEW YEAR SALESHI ... 3‘ ‘ EXTRA DISCOUNT OFF ALL KITCHEN BATHROOM, APPLAINOES & STOVES POIITTIIlIIS TIIEIIEIIIIIITS HITEIIEII UOIIEHEII OFEEII' : NW ' fSPEIIO llOOO OII IIIOIIE I. GET IO'II OEE llll m g Aztec Kitchen , Crown Kitchen ' We sell Bosch. Nett. Hotpoint Rangemaster Belling and many more Appliances ....... i e We have a choice oi Granite. Quartz. Solid Wood Laminate and l many more worktops ...... a We can otter a separate quote for our professional Installation service ..... - We will help and support from start to finish ...... 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| Newspaper name | Hereford Times |