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Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire
Extract from Littlebury's Directory and Gazetteer of Herefordshire, 1876-7
with Private and Commercial Residents
Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie, © Copyright 2004
STRETTON SUGWAS,
WITH THE HAMLET OF SWAINSHILL.
STRETTON-SUGWAS is a small parish and village situated on the
main roads leading from Hereford to Hay and Kington; is distant 4
miles N.W. of Hereford, and about 1½ S.E. of Credenhill station on
the Hereford, Hay, and Brecon branch of the Midland railway. It is
in Grimsworth hundred, Hereford union, petty sessional division, county
court district, and polling district. The population in 1861 was 209; in
1871, 272; inhabited houses, 54; families or separate occupiers, 71;
area of parish, 767 acres; annual rateable value, £1,826. The Governors
of Guy's Hospital, London, are lords of the manor and principal landowners.
The Rev. H. Cooper Key, M.A., F.R.A.S., and the Exors. of the
late Edward Russell, Esq., are also landowners here. The soil is loamy;
subsoil, gravel; chief produce, wheat, barley, beans, fruit, and excellent cider
and perry. Stratton-Sugwas is in the diocese and archdeaconry of Hereford
and rural deanery of Weston. Living, a rectory; value, £250, with
residence and 24 acres of glebe; patrons, the trustees of the Rev. H.C.
and Mrs. Key; rector, Rev. Henry Cooper Key, M.A., of Christ Church,
Oxford, who was instituted in 1846.
The church, dedicated to St. Mary
Magdalene, was restored in 1847, but wants repair and enlargement. It
is a plain edifice, consisting of nave and chancel, with a wooden tower at
the west end containing four bells. It contains some interesting Norman
carving; also a Norman font. The register begins with the year 1733.
The churchyard is planted with evergreens and other trees, and is kept in
very nice order. There is a national school, for boys and girls, under
government inspection. It has a certificated mistress, and an average
attendance of 50. Swainshill is a hamlet, situated on the Hereford and Hay road,
about 1 mile S.W. of the church. At Sugwas, which is near this parish, was
a palace and chapel belonging to the Bishops of Hereford. This was the
principal residence of Bishop Cantilupe, and was last inhabited by Bishop
Ironsides, at the conclusion of the 17th century. Sugwas Pool formerly
occupied an area of 7 acres; it is now nearly dried up, and there are a
few cottages in its neighbourhood.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.- Mrs. Eliza Stevens, Sub-Postmistress, Swains-
hill. Letters arrive by mail-cart from Hereford at 7.15 a.m.; despatched
thereto at 6.10 p.m. There is a wall letter-box at King's Acre, which is
cleared at 6.15 p.m. Hereford is the nearest money order and telegraph
office and post town.
Parish Church (St. Mary Magdalene).- Rev. Henry Cooper Key, M.A.,
Rector; James Powell, Churchwarden; James Jones, Parish Clerk and
Sexton.
National School (boys and girls).- Mrs. Maria Stodart, Mistress.
Carriers to Hereford (passing through).- William Watkins and Mrs.
Catherine Taylor, every Wednesday and Saturday, returning the same days.
STRETTON SUGWAS,
WITH THE HAMLET OF SWAINSHILL DIRECTORY.
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
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Edwards Edwin Edward, Esq., Stratton house
Guthrie Mrs., Edgcombe ho., Swainshill
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Hawkins Mr. T., The Elms, Swainshill
Key Rev. Henry Cooper, M.A., F.R.A.S. (rector), The Rectory
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COMMERCIAL.
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Badham Alfred, farmer, The Lakes
Bowen Sarah, shopkeeper
Hill Mrs. Ann, Kite's Nest Inn
Jones James, parish clerk and sexton
Parry William, blacksmith
Parsons James, carpenter
Powell James, churchwarden
Preece William, Travellers' Rest Inn, wheelwright, and thrashing machine proprietor
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Stevens Mrs. Eliza, sub-postmistress and shopkeeper, Post office, Swainshill
Stodart David, plumber, painter, & glazr.
Tristram John, builder, crpntr. & joiner
Wall James, builder and stonemason
Watkins John, blacksmith and shopkpr.
Yeomans Mrs., farmer Stretton court
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OCR/Transcription by Rosemary Lockie in July 2004.
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