Everything about Ross-on-wye totally explained
Ross-on-Wye (
Welsh:
Rhosan ar Wy) is a small
market town with a population of 10,089 (according to the 2001 census) in southeastern
Herefordshire,
England, located on the
River Wye, and on the northern edge of the
Forest of Dean. The
town is known for its
antique shops, market square with its market hall and high number of
public houses.
History
Ross-on-Wye was the birthpace of the British
tourist industry. In 1745, the rector, Dr John Egerton, started taking friends on boat trips down the Valley from the rectory at Ross. The
Wye Valley's particular attraction was its river scenery, its precipitous landscapes, and its castles and abbeys, which were accessible to fashionable seekers of the "
Picturesque". In 1782,
William Gilpin's book
"Observations on the River Wye" was published, the first illustrated tour guide to be published in Britain. Once it was published, demand grew so much that by 1808 there were eight boats making regular excursions down the Wye, most of them hired from inns in Ross and
Monmouth. By 1850 more than 20 visitors had published their own accounts of the Wye Tour, and the area was established as a tourist area.
Features and attractions
Regular Thursday and Saturday
markets are held at the
red sandstone (External Link
) Market House building
(External Link) in the town centre, which was built between
1650 and
1654 replacing an older, probably wooden building.
The 700 year old
parish church of
St. Mary's
(External Link) is the town's most prominent landmark and its tall pointed
spire is visible when approaching the town from all directions
(External Link). The church holds several distinctive tombs, one of which – that of a certain
William Rudhall (d.
1530) – is one of the last great
alabaster sculptures from the specialist masons of
Nottingham, whose work was prized across
medieval Europe. Another tomb is of
John Kyrle, a prominent figure in
18th century Ross, whose name is now given to the town's
secondary school.
Opposite the church, The Prospect is a neat public garden offering a view of the famous horseshoe bend in the River Wye as well as pleasant views as far as the Black Mountains. Ross now boasts a new
skate park which was finished in November 2006.
Barclays invested £54,000 into the park as a part of its £30,000,000 youth sport project. The ruins of
Wilton Castle lie to the west of the town.
Ross Town F.C. is the local
football club.
Plague Cross
The Plague Cross, also known as the Corpse Cross, was erected in the church yard of St. Mary's church in
1637 as a memorial to 315 people who died in the town of
the plague in 1637. These people were buried nearby in a
plague pit, at night and without
coffins.
By
1896, the cross had fallen into disrepair and the top of the cross was missing. It was later restored to its former state.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ross-on-wye'.
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