Peter-Church (St. Peter)

PETER-CHURCH (St. Peter), a parish, in the union of Dore, hundred of Webtree, county of Hereford, 11½ miles (W.) from Hereford; containing 745 inhabitants. The parish is situated on the river Dore, and comprises 7000 acres, part arable, part pasture, and 100 acres woodland: the soil is various, principally a rich loam, partly a stiff clay, and a little gravelly; the chief produce is wheat and oats. The village, which lies in the "golden valley," is surrounded by lofty hills and woods. There are several good stone-quarries. A wool-fair is held at Midsummer. Urishay Castle, here, belonging to the Delahay family, one of the most ancient families in the county, is much dilapidated, but retains some features of feudal times; its chapel and other portions remain, and its moat and drawbridge are not entirely extinct. Snodhill or Snowdle Park is also in the parish. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £5. 6. 8.; net income, £327; patrons, the Governors of Guy's Hospital, London; impropriator, W. Built, Esq.: there are two acres of glebe. The church is partly in the Norman style. Here are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans; and also two schools, one of which is endowed with £50 per annum, from funds bequeathed by Edward Goff in the year 1813. A spring in the parish, called St. Peter's Well, is supposed to have great virtue in curing diseases of the eye.