PETERCHURCH is a very extensive parish and picturesque village, situated in the Golden Valley, on the river Dore, and on the main road leading from Hay to Ross and Monmouth. It is distant 12 miles west of Hereford, 9 S.E. of Hay, 14 south of Kington, and about 9 north, north-west of Pontrilas station on the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford branch of the Great Western Railway. An Act of Parliament has just been obtained authorising a railway to be constructed through the Golden Valley. The project was started a few months ago by Mr. C.E. Lane, and has been taken up with such spirit, that it now only requires time to complete the work, and to open to commerce and industry a fruitful and beautiful part of Herefordshire. The "Golden Valley Railway" will commence at Dorstone, and run parallel with the River Dore through the valley, joining the Great Western main line at Pontrilas. It is proposed to extend this railway from Pontrilas via Monnow Valley to Monmouth on the one hand, and from Dorstone to Eardisley on the other. The Golden valley is at the present time a terra incognita to the vast majority of the inhabitants of the country,. And yet, perhaps, a more beautiful valley is not to be found in the Kingdom. It is environed with hills and mountains, knolls and dells, watered by picturesque streams, and presenting to the traveller some of the most delightful scenery of which England can boast.

Peterchurch is in Webtree Hundred, Dore Union and Petty Sessional Division, Dorstone polling district, and Hereford County Court District. The population in 1861 was 710; in 1871, 665; inhabited houses, 153; families or separate occupiers, 159; area of parish, 5,089 acres; annual rateable value, £5,530. Mrs Sawyer, Miss Powell, and Mrs Hale are ladies of the manor; and Robert Henry Lee Warner, Esq., Rev. Sir George Henry Cornewall, Bart., E.L.G. Robinson, Esq., and Thomas Delahay, Esq., are the principle landowners. The soil is a rich loam; subsoil clay and sandstone; chief produce, wheat, barley, beans, oats, roots, etc. A fair is held here on May 16th, yearly for hiring. In this parish, about 2 miles north-west of the village, is the site of the demolished castle of Snodhill, which Leland describes as "somewhat in ruine" even in his days. The same writer mentions a Free Chapel and Park here. The earliest notice of this castle occurs in a record of the time of Henry III., as belonging, in the 30th year of the reign of Edward I., to Robert Lord Chandos, who was fourth in descent from Robert Chandos who came with The Conqueror. Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, in the time of Henry VI., held it in right of his wife Anne, who after his death at Barnet Field, settled it on King Henry VII.

Queen Elizabeth granted it to Sir Robert Dudley, Knight of the Garter; it subsequently came into the possession of Thomas Prosser, Esq., in whose descendants it still continues. At Urishay Castle, also in this parish, is a disused chapel, and portions of the moat which formerly surrounded the building. It is now a farmhouse, in the occupation of Mr. William Cleland. St. Peter's Wells are situated in this Parish. The water of these wells was formerly extensively used for the cure of rheumatism and sore eyes. Peterchurch is in the diocese and archdeaconry of Hereford, and rural deanery of Weobley; living, a vicarage; value, £384, with 2 acres of glebe; patron, Percy Davies Esq.; vicar Rev. Thomas Prosser Powell, B.A., of St. John's College, Oxford, who was instituted in 1875.

The church of St. Peter is an ancient edifice in the Norman Style, and was restored in 1869-70 at a cost of £1,760. It consists of nave, chancel, porch, aisle, and tower (with spire) containing six bells. The church ends with apse containing a curious old stone alter, with the five crosses on its surface perfect. The roof of the nave was blown down in September 18th 1869. There are several monuments; also a rude piece of stone sculpture, representing a trout with a gold chain round its neck, and which is said to have been taken in the River Dore, and from this circumstance the valley is said to have taken the name of "Golden Valley". In the churchyard is a fine old yew tree, about 9½ yards in circumference.

The charities belonging to the church amount to £15 yearly. The endowed National School for boys and girls is a neat building, erected in 1856; the average attendance is about 70. There is a free school in connection with the Baptist Chapel, founded and endowed by Goff's charity. The Primitive Methodist Chapel was erected in 1857, and the Wesleyan Chapel in 1862. There are Almshouses for six aged women, supported by Smith's Charity, and under the management of the Trustees of the Peterchurch and Clifford Charity. Even inmate receives seven shillings weekly.