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Lying 2 miles south of the Herefordshire market town of Ross-on-Wye, the parish of Walford is one of the largest in south Herefordshire. It comprises the settlements of
Bishopswood, Walford, Hom Green, Coughton and Deep Dean. The parish is partly located in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and adjoins the Royal Forest of Dean and to the west lies alongside the
River Wye. The slopes of Chase Wood, Penyard Park and Howle, Leys and Bulls Hills frame the east of the parish. The ancient mediaeval monument of Goodrich Castle is visible just across the river from the
Kerne Bridge. The name is thought to derive from the name 'Wales-ford' where the old turnpike road to Wales crossed the River Wye. There were iron works in the parish back in Roman times and more recently
lime burning was carried out. The forests at Bishopswood were used for hunting in the mediaeval period. Today the main occupation is farming but there is a range of businesses, many operated on a
self-employed basis. The parish has a population of around 3000 residents and, typical of many small rural communities these days, has few facilities. There is a primary school with around 175 pupils in Walford
but only one shop/Post Office at Bishopswood so that residents have to travel for most services. There are bus routes serving different parts of the community. The mobile Library service from Ross-on-Wye
visits the area on a regular basis. The 2 churches in the parish, All Saints at Bishopswood and St Michael and All Angels at Walford, lie in different dioceses. The Reverend Owen Williams is resident in
Walford. There are 2 village halls, located in Bishopswood and Walford, and one public house, the Spread Eagle, in Walford. There is one hotel, the Inn on the Wye near the Kerne Bridge, and several Bed and
Breakfasts. The Walford Parish Council has 13 members and the Clerk is Mrs Jackie Perry. Meetings are held are held in either of the village halls on the second Wednesday evening every alternate month from
January. The parish is part of the Hereford Unitary Authority local government area and is in the Kerne Bridge District Ward. The Ward District Councillor is Mrs Ruth Lincoln of Whitchurch. The parish
is in the Parliamentary Constituency of Hereford and the MP is Paul Keetch, Liberal Democrat. He can be contacted at his constituency office in Hereford and holds regular surgeries in the public library in
Ross-on-Wye. Philip Bradbourn, Conservative, is the Herefordshire MEP for the West Midlands European Parliamentary Region. There are a range of rural leisure facilities available : the Wye Valley Walk passes
through the parish, there are over 25 miles of footpaths and bridleways, fishing and shooting is available and there is a public canoe launch near Bishopswood Village Hall. In addition there is a range of clubs
and associations in the parish, operating from each of the village halls :
- in Bishopswood; Bridge Club, Community Association, Rainbow Guides, Short Mat Bowls' Club, Village Hall Committee, Women's Institute, groups such as Jumpstart, Martial Arts and Mature Movers and a
range of Adult Community Learning Classes - in Walford; Churchwomen's Fellowship, Green Colley Grove Residents' Association, Kerne Bridge Mother and Toddler Group, South Herefordshire Cottage Garden
Society, Village Hall Committee, Walford Dance Group, Walford Parish Residents' Association, Walford Pre-School Playgroup, Walford Royal British Legion – Women's Section, Women's Institute. The 3 sections of
the Scout Group (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts) meet at the Scout Hut next to Walford church
Three village magazines are available in the parish :
- theVillage News (edited by Malcolm Littlewood, Whitchurch) serves Bishopswood, Doward, Ganarew, Goodrich, Llangrove, Symonds Yat, Walford and Whitchurch
- the Walford Flier (editor Brian Phillips, Ross) is a newsletter circulated free to all Walford residents - the Borders for Bishopswood residents now in the Borders group parochial parish area.
For a list of groups and organisations in the Parish please see this link |
