Pictures of England

Search:

Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Battle

Battle

in the county of East Sussex

Pictures of Goodrich

in the county of Herefordshire

About Goodrich

Everyone loves a castle, especially a ruinous castle, haunted by the romantic ghosts of two lovers fleeing the rampageous armies of the Civil War.

The dramatic red-sandstone ruins of Goodrich Castle stand on a grassed rocky mound close to the River Wye. This once mighty stronghold was built about 1160 by Godric Mappestone, to guard against attack from the Welsh.

During the day's of the Civil War, the Castle was a Royalist Bastion and the last castle in the County to hold out for Charles I, King of England, against the parliamentarians. Following a brave fight by the King's men the garrison was forced to surrender to a Colonel John Birch. Cromwell's army raised the castle to the ground, all that is left today is the immpressive 13th-century corner towers, the hulk of the Norman keep and a deep moat.

Legend surrounds the castle and we are told that Colonel John Birch had a niece who had eloped with her lover, they took refuge there and as they tried to escape they drowned in the turbulent waters of the Wye. It is the ghosts of this tragic couple that are said to haunt the castle to this day.

Goodrich is in a pretty area, surrounded by rich meadows and farmlands. In and around the village are several old cottages and houses. These are built in grey stone and are mostly gothic in design. Not too far away from Goodrich is the market town of Ross-on-Wye, here the magnificent spire of the 13th-century St.Mary's church soars to a splendid 208ft above the rooftops of the town. Another important feature of this attractive town is the 17th-century market hall at the top of the High Street. The river wye meanders on it's journey through some fine countryside in this area and there are many places where you can stop to picnic on the river bank. Close-by the lush Forest of Dean offers many attractions and these include - an RSPB site, Clearwell Caves and the Dean Forest Railway. This is a part of England to visit at any time of year for there is much to explore and enjoy.
GOODRICH information submitted by Terri Walton

Recommended towns & villages near Goodrich

Walford church, Herefordshire

Walford (5 Pictures) in the county of Herefordshire

(1.1 miles, 1.7 km of Goodrich)

Walford lies in the rural countryside about 4 miles from the old market town of Ross-on-Wye...

Symond's Yat, Herefordshire.

Symonds Yat (42 Pictures) in the county of Herefordshire

(2.2 miles, 3.6 km, direction SW of Goodrich)

From whichever vantage point you choose all around Symonds Yat are scenes of incredible beauty...

Rudhalls Almhouses

Ross-on-Wye (32 Pictures) in the county of Herefordshire

(3.4 miles, 5.4 km, direction NE of Goodrich)

Ross-on-Wye is a beautiful market town, with a rising main street culminating at the well worn stone slabs beneath an ancient market house...

Kilpeck Church

Kilpeck (14 Pictures) in the county of Herefordshire

(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NW of Goodrich)

Hidden away in one of England's most glorious little medieval villages, lies what is without doubt, the finest small Norman church in Britain...

Sunday afternoon by the Canal.

Frampton on Severn (61 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Gloucestershire

(13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction SE of Goodrich)

An ancient interesting village with a village green surrounded by beautiful half timbered properties..

All towns & villages in Herefordshire
Complete A to Z of towns & villages in England

Nearby attractions..

Symond's Yat, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire

The Royal Forest of Dean (7 Pictures)

(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SE)

The Royal Forest of Dean is sandwiched between the borders of England and Wales, it covers some 35,000 acres of spectacular.....

Flaxley Abbey, Flaxley, Gloucestershire. - Once a Cistercian Abbey now a private dwelling

Flaxley Abbey (3 Pictures)

(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction E)

Flaxley Abbey has a long and illustrious history, it was originally built to house a Cistercian order by Roger, Earl of Hereford.....

St. Briavels Castle, Gloucestershire

St. Briavels Castle (9 Pictures)

(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction S)

St.Briavels Castle stands in an outstanding scenery high above the River Wye. It is an evocative setting, reminiscent of early.....

Westbury Court Gardens.  A National Trust property in Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire

Westbury Court Garden (24 Pictures)

(9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction E)

Only restored Dutch water garden in the country, and reputedly home to England's oldest evergreen oak...

Raglan Castle, Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales

Raglan Castle (38 Pictures)

(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction SW)

..

Frampton Court Rear

Frampton Court (4 Pictures)

(12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction SE)

Designed by Bristol architect John Strahan and built between 1731 and 1733, Frampton Court is built from Bath stone in the.....

A picture of Frampton Manor

Frampton Manor (1 Pictures)

(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction SE)

This is a magnificent timber frame property dating back to the 12th-century, with alterations from between its inception and the.....


All attractions in Goodrich
All attractions in Herefordshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England