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Whitchurch (St. Dubritius)

WHITCHURCH (St. Dubritius), a parish, in the union of Monmouth, Lower division of the hundred of Wormelow, county of Hereford, 6½ miles (S. W. by S.) from Ross; containing 897 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the bank of the river Wye, and on the road from Ross to Monmouth; and comprises about 2000 acres, including an extra-parochial district of the same name, which consists of 130 acres. The surface is finely diversified, and the soil fertile. In the Great Doward Hill are large deposits of rich iron-ore of a peculiar quality, belonging to R. Blakemore, Esq., who attempted to work it, but relinquished the operations in consequence of the vast expense. Limestone is quarried for the supply of the adjacent district. The living is a rectory, with that of Ganerew annexed, valued in the king's books at £6. 0. 2½., and in the patronage of Joseph Pyrke, Esq., with a net income of £300, and a good parsonage-house, lately erected by the Rev. G. Pyrke; the glebe comprises 6 acres. The church is chiefly in the decorated style, and is skirted by the Wye. There are places of worship for Independents, Primitive Methodists, and Wesleyans. A tessellated pavement has been discovered, which is supposed to have been part of a Roman bath; and several Roman coins have been found in the neighbourhood. On the slope of the Great Doward is a cave distinguished by the name of Arthur's Hall; and in a meadow in the parish is a well called the Dropping Well, whose waters have a petrifying quality.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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