Abbey Dore, is a parish, Union place, and village, 2 miles north-west from Pontrilas railway station, 11 south-west from Hereford, 14 west from Ross, and about 138 from London, in Webtree Hundred; petty sessions are held here, and it is a Union of 28 parishes and townships; it is in Hereford archdeaconry and bishopric; it is situated on the river Dore, which is celebrated for its trout, and from which the parish derives its name; it is also in the Golden Valley, and near the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford railway. Here was formerly an abbey of White Monks, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; it was built by Robert de Ewias, youngest son of Harold, lord of Ewais. At the time of its suppression, it consisted of an abbot and eight religious, and was valued at £101 5s. 2d. per annum; soon after this the chapter-house, cloisters, and other buildings of the abbey were pulled down, and the materials sold, together with part of the church, it was built in the cathedral form, and its architecture was very elegant; during the reign of Charles I, John, Viscount Scudamore obtained a license to re-build this fabric, and though it was not entirely re-built, it underwent considerable repairs, and in the year 1634 was re-consecrated by Theophilus Field, bishop of St. David’s. The church is a very large and handsome old stone building, with fine square tower, in the Norman style; it has a spacious nave and chancel, north and south aisles, porch, font, clock, three beautiful stained glass windows, a monument to Robert Ewais, the founder, one to General Clifford, and one to a knight templar and several other monuments and tablets, and a remarkable stone coffin, which was found under the church. The living is a rectory, worth £680 yearly, with residence. There is a united National and Free school, for boys and girls, endowed with £7 10s. yearly. The population, in 1851, was 588, and the acreage is 5,390. The soil is sandy and loamy; the subsoil is clay and sandstone. There are charities of about £40 yearly value.
Letters received through Hereford, which is the nearest money order office.
Miscellaneous
James Rev. Josiah
Blossett Thomas, superintendent of police
Davis Samuel, mason
Davis Thomas, mason
Davis Thomas, shoemaker
Giles Edward, carpenter and builder
Gough William, Red Lion
Grice Mr. and Mrs., mastr and matron of Union
Higley James Barnett, schoolmaster
Higley William, parish clerk
Rutland Mrs., schoolmistress
Woodhill Thomas, blacksmith
Farmers
Barnett Eunice, Lower Jury
Collins Samuel, Blackbush farm
Davis John, Lower house farm
Dean Josiah, Upper Jury
Gwillim John, Blackmoor
Hopkins Richard, Tanhouse
Matthews William, Newbrook
Morgan James, Carey’s gate
Price Clement, Woodward’s farm
Price John, Hill farm
Sayce Theophilus, the Grange
Wood George, Cockyard
Public Officers
Board of Guardians, Archer Clive, Esq., chairman; Rev. Charles Probert, vice-chairman; Nicholas Lanwarne, clerk.
Registrars to the Union, N. Lanwarne, superintendent, Hereford; (births, deaths, and marriages), John Price, Longtown; (births and deaths), James Jones Madley & Thomas Lewis, Boar’s hill, St. Devereux
Parish Clerk, William Higley
National School, James Barnett Higley, master, Mrs. Rutland, mistress
Petty Sessions, are held at the Police station
Union Workhouse, Rev. William J. Jenkins, chaplain: James Lane, Esq., house surgeon
Source: Edward Cassey & Co.: History, Topography, and Directory of Herefordshire. Printed by William Bailey, 107, Fishergate 1858.
