Category: Places.

Local places with historic interest.

Families., Industry, Local characters., People.

Mr George Webb and the Ganarew Motorcycle Company.

Peter Hunt

So far as the advent of motor cars and motorcycles were concerned, Britain was at least a decade behind France and Germany. In 1896 there were only ten cars in the whole of the UK.* Mr George Webb of Crockers Ash had probably been in business before this selling conventional pedal type cycles from his shop… Continue reading Mr George Webb and the Ganarew Motorcycle Company.

Families., Local characters., People., Places.

ELIZABETH POSTHUMA GWILLIM From Whitchurch.

Peter Hunt

ELIZABETH POSTHUMA GWILLIM.  (Abridged by Hilary Stratford from ‘The Extraordinary Lives of Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim and John Graves Simcoe’ by Ann Gwillim Parker) Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was the daughter of Elizabeth (a widow, her husband having died in 1721). At the time of her birth in September 1762, her mother was living with her grandmother… Continue reading ELIZABETH POSTHUMA GWILLIM From Whitchurch.

Buildings., Industry

The Industrial History of Whitchurch. Iron Ore Smelting and Forging.

Peter Hunt

Old Iron Works in Whitchurch Parish. Iron smelting and forging was a big business during the 17th, 18th and 19 centuries. Iron masters were usually wealthy, very important persons often holding high positions in society and politics. The Foley family is a good example. Richard Foley of Stourbridge  (1580 - 1657) was a prominent ironmaster.… Continue reading The Industrial History of Whitchurch. Iron Ore Smelting and Forging.

Places.

Hollow Ways or Sunken Roads.

Peter Hunt

The geology of our area of South Herefordshire, with its rich soil overlaying bedrock, seems to have given us many hollow ways or sunken roads. They were considered to be of medieval origin, before the common use of wheeled carts and carriages, when traffic consisted of a walking traveller, horseback rider, pack animals, and drovers… Continue reading Hollow Ways or Sunken Roads.