HOW CAPLE is a small parish beautifully situated upon an eminence
overlooking the river Wye, and near the road leading from Ross to
Hereford, via Fownhope. It is distant 5 miles N. of Ross, 10½ S.E. of
Hereford, and about 2 E. of Fawley station on the Hereford, Ross, and
Gloucester branch of the Great Western railway; is in Greytree hundred,
Ross union, petty sessional division, and county court district, and
Fownhope polling district. The population in 1861 was 161; in 1871, 153;
inhabited houses, 24; families or separate occupiers, 34; area of parish,
1,020 acres; annual rateable value, £1,661. Mrs. Wood and her sisters
are the principal landowners. The soil is a rich loam on a red sandstone
formation; chief produce, wheat, barley, roots, &c. The scenery in this
locality is very beautiful; a delightful view is obtained from the eminence
on which the church stands, looking S.W. How Caple is in the diocese
and archdeaconry of Hereford and rural deanery of Ross, living, a
rectory, consolidated with that of Sollershope; joint value, £334, with
residence and 111 acres of glebe; patrons, Mrs. Wood and her sisters; rector,
Rev. John Norgrave Baker, B.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, who
was instituted in 1851.
The church of St. Mary is a handsome stone
building, probably erected in the latter part of the 14th or commencement
of the 15th century. It has a massive tower (containing two bells),
built by Sir William Gregory (who was formerly owner of the How Caple
estate) about the year 1693, and its west face bears his shield of arms.
The interior consists of nave, chancel, south transept, and on the north
side an ancient porch. The nave and south transept were built by Sir
W. Gregory; the latter is where many of the family are buried. In the
chancel may be seen a projecting piscina, having a drain which appears
to have communicated horizontally with the churchyard. Over the
chancel screen is a fine specimen of wood carving - the Royal Arms of
England - said to be of foreign workmanship, and carved from one block.
In the churchyard the pedestal and part of the shaft are all that remain
of the old stone cross. The earliest register is dated 1667. Here is a
joint school for the children of this parish and Sollershope; it is chiefly
supported by the rector, by whom it was built.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.- James Harris,
Sub-Postmaster. Letters arrive
by messenger from Ross about 9 a.m.; despatched thereto at 5 p.m.
Fownhope and Ross are the nearest money order offices; the latter is the
telegraph office and post town.
Parish Church (St. Mary's).- Rev. John Norgrave Baker, B.A.,
Rector; Mr. James Harris, Churchwarden; Henry Tomkins, Parish Clerk.
Parochial School (boys and girls).- ___ ___, Mistress.