BRIDGE SOLERS, otherwise BRIDGE SOLLARS, is a small parish
situated on the Hereford and Hay turnpike road, having Offa's Dyke
for its western and the river Wye for its southern boundary. It is
distant 6 miles W of Hereford, the same distance S. of Weobley, and
14 E. of Hay; is in Grimsworth hundred, Weobley union and petty
sessional division, Yazor polling district, and Hereford county court
district. The population in 1861 was 62; in 1871, 48, inhabited
houses, 11; families or separate occupiers, 11; area of parish, 768a. 1r.
36p.; annual rateable value, £1,175. Sir Henry Geers Cotterell, Bart.,
of Garnons, is lord of the manor and chief owner of the land. Mr.
Thomas Springett Large is also a landowner here. The soil is stiff loam
upon gravel: and old red sandstone; chief produce, wheat, barley; peas,
and roots. In the reign of Henry III., Sir Simon de Brugge was lord of
this manor, and being a partisan of Simon Montford, incurred a forfeiture.
He was succeeded by another Simon, M.P. for Hereford (16th Edward
II.) in the Parliament held at York. Sir John de Brugge served at Agincourt.
He was sheriff four years, and M.P. for Hereford in the eighth year
of Henry V. The poet Phillips (author of "Cider", a poem, in which he
mentions much-loved "Geers's Marsh") was a frequent visitor at the
Marsh, in this parish, in the time of Anne. The parish paid £11 8s. 5d.
ship-money to Charles I. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese and
archdeaconry of Hereford and rural deanery of Weobley; value; £110,
with 15 acres of glebe; patron, the Lord Chancellor; vicar, Rev. Richard
Hayward Williams, B.A., of Magdalene College, Cambridge, who was
instituted in 1866, and resides in Byford parish. The church (St.
Andrew's) has been recently restored, the cost being defrayed by a rate
granted in 1868, with assistance from the impropriate and appropriate
rectors. It is in the Norman and first and second Pointed styles of
architecture, and consists of nave, chancel, north aisle, and square tower
with two bells. An east window by Powells, of London, was inserted
in August 1874. The earliest register is dated 1615. This parish being
divided by the Wye, the children attend the schools at Bishopstone,
Blakemere, or Madley, as most convenient.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.- Letters arrive from Hereford at 8 a.m.; despatched
thereto at 6 p.m. Hereford and Madley are the nearest money
order offices. Hereford is the nearest telegraph office and post town.
Parish Church (St. Andrew's).- Rev. Richard Hayward Williams, B.A.,
Vicar; Mr. William Blashill, Churchwarden; James Evans, Parish Clerk.