User:OPaul/Much Marcle

Much Marcle is a small village in rural Herefordshire, England, located between Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury.

History
In the Domesday Book, Much Marcle is stated as being a wealthy manor owned by Earl Harold, better known as King Harold Godwineson or Harold II.

"(Much) Marcle. Earl Harold held it. 17 hides which pay tax. In lordship 4 ploughs; 36 villagers and 10 smallholders with 40 ploughs. These villagers plough and sow with their own seed 80 acres of wheat and as many of oats, except for 9 acres: 6 of these belong to William son of Baderon, 3 to St.Mary’s of Cormeilles.

In this manor is a reeve, 1 Frenchman and 1 riding man; they have 3 ploughs. 8 slaves, 1 ploughman and 6 female slaves. A mill which pays nothing, except sustenance for its keeper. Woodland which pays 5s which are given to Droitwich for 60 measures of salt...Value before 1066 £30; value now as much." (Domesday Book Herefordshire 1,7)

Hellens Manor
Hellens Manor was built in the late 11th century by French monks sent by William the Conqueror to educate the land on Christianity. In 1096 Sir Walter de Balum, who was married to Isolt de Mortimer, passed the house onto the Mortimer family. By 1301, Hugh Audley, soon to be Earl of Gloucester in 1337, had possession of the house.

The house eventually came into the ownership of the Helyon family (to whom they gave the house its name) when Walter Helyon leased the building from James Audley, nephew to Hugh Audley. Walter Helyon’s daughter, Joanne Helyon, married Richard Walwyn and the Manor fell under the control the Walwyn family, where it remains today.

Hellens Manor featured in the TV programme Most Haunted.

St. Bartholomew Church
Much Marcle is home to the 13th century Anglican church of St Bartholomew with historic carvings and an ancient hollow yew tree.

The tower, built from the ruins of Mortimer's castle (the remains of which lie 50 yards from the church) in the 15th century, is one of the only centrally situated towers in Herefordshire.

In the main chapel are both the unidentified 14-century tomb of a knight and a lady and in the centre is the Kyrle Tomb, a 16th century black and white marble tomb. In the Chancel lies the Grandison Tomb, containing the remains of Blanche Mortimer, daughter of the first Earl of March. The church also has a depiction of the "Green Man", a pagan symbol, thought to represent fertility.

Westons Cider
Westons Cider has been selling cider commercially in the area since 1880. Henry Weston, the founder, had been producing cider in Much Marcle since 1878, but when he saw the threat from overseas markets, he opened the business to the public.

Notable mentions
Much Marcle attracted notoriety as the birthplace of serial killer Fred West and the area used for the burial of two of his victims.

The village once again came to national attention when the Daily Express reported in April 2006 that a road sign had been erected that encourages drivers to "race past a school at 60mph".