In 1986 the BBC launched The Domesday Project to record a snapshot of everyday life across the UK for future generations and a million volunteers took part. In 2011 on the 25th anniversary the BBC published the survey online and six months later the website was added to The National Archives’ UK Government Web Archive.
GAZETTEER
The name Bosbury is derived from the Saxon word “Bosanberrig” meaning Bosa’s Town. Bosa was a member of the household of Witlaf, King of Mercia around 800. Bosbury’s rural parish occupies 4769 acres and has a population of around 800. The village centre is comprised largely of half-timbered houses, some of which date back to medieval times. The surrounding district is almost entirely farmland. The majority of farms in this area are small, approximately 100 acres, with mixed farming, ie.wheat, dairy cattle, sheep and fruit. Hops are grown at several farms. Most of the population work on the land or commute to the neighbouring towns of Malvern, Ledbury or Bromyard.
The Slatch
This farmhouse (714434) dates from 1700. In 1980 the present owner started growing grapes and now has a vineyard covering 8 acres. In 1983 6000 bottles of wine were produced and in 1984 30,000 bottles.
Old Court
Old Court was originally the Old Bishop’s Palace. The palace was built in 1445. The front of the palace was burnt and rebuilt in red brick. The palace grounds are 36O acres. Mr. Lane does hop farming and dairy farming. The Lane family has been at the palace for 159 years. Mr. Lane spends his free time playing golf. At the weekend he watches T.V. and plays golf. Mrs. Lane does the shopping once a week in Ledbury, Malvern or Worcester.
Mrs. Bunn
She owns 12 acres of land she also grows cider apples, she has about 30 trees altogether. She has 12 sheep. This is called a small holding. We asked her how she spent a typical day. First of all she does her house work then she sees to the animals which means feeding them. She has chickens, a cat and a dog. Three mornings a week she goes to Bosbury house to work. She does quite a lot of shopping at Bosbury post office and from the baker who comes around 3 times a week and sometimes she goes to Ledbury to do her shopping. She hasn’t joined any local clubs but she does go down to the coffee mornings in Bosbury.
Mr. Hawkins
The vicarage is quite a large house and 4 to 6 people live in it the house is almost new it is only 15 years old. Not many people liked the look of the house; they said it looked like pavements going up the wall, the porch looked rather odd. As long as Mr Hawkins is vicar of Bosbury he owns the house and the land that goes with it which is about quarter of an acre altogether. The vicar said he likes living in Bosbury because it is peaceful and it is a nice area to live in. If he had a chance to move to another house in Bosbury he said he would rather stay in the vicarage. We asked him if he would like to stay in Bosbury or would he rather move to another village he answered he would like to stay in Bosbury. Bosbury church does not have very many weddings it only has about 6 weddings a year. Where he was previously he would have 6 on Saturday alone - that’s a lot. He only goes to Bosbury post office for stamps. He goes to Ledbury once a week for shopping and then he goes to Worcester once or twice a month for main shopping.
Mr. Hone - Bosbury House Farms
Mr. Hone was interviewed on 3rd July. The thing that he had noticed changed in Bosbury was that everyone had a motorcar. He would like to see the Youth Club doing better. He joins in most of the organisations. Six people live in the house. The property is over 200 years old. They own 800 acres of land. They spend their free time growing cherries, shooting, T.V., cards, fishing and digging the garden. In the morning, he goes to the office, goes through the post, writes letters, and then visits his farms. He is the chairman of the Parish Hall, Chairman of the Parish Council, Chairman of the School Governors and chairman of the committee that fundraises for the church.
Women’s Institute
Bosbury W.I. has around 30 members who meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. They have a varied programme for 1985 which includes, traditional American patchwork, travel talk on Thailand and the History of Bosbury. A competition is held at the end of the meeting for all members to enter, for example the making of wholemeal rolls. A patchwork quilt is being made by members to be sold and the money raised will go to this year’s charity - The British Heart Foundation. Every Friday morning the Ledbury area W.I.s hold a market in St.Katherines Hall where members can sell cakes, produce etc. This year members helped with catering and floral arrangements at The Bosbury Flower Festival.
Mr and Mrs Parry
Mr & Mrs Parry have lived in this area about 18 to 19 years. Mr. Parry said the property was about 200/300 years old. Mr Parry is a dairy farmer. He gets up every morning to milk the cows. All the fields are growing grass. Mrs Parry told us that the farm was not always a dairy farm. It would have had hops and some sheep cattle and other animals. We asked Mr Parry what his wife did; he said cause trouble. Mrs Parry said she liked living here because it is a nice village and a nice school. Mr Parry said there were plenty of females around!.
Mrs. Bunce
Mrs Bunce said that she had lived in this area for 9 years and that her property is 100 years old. Her family has lived in this area for 9 years and love it here very much. They moved from Kent because we heard that Bosbury was lovely and quiet and that the people were friendly. They spend their free time visiting trust property and gardening. We shop every week in Ledbury and Malvern.
Mrs. Footman
Mrs. Footman has lived in Bosbury all her life. Her husband built the house 20 years ago. It looks much older than 20 years though. She was born in Bosbury and has lived in three houses. Everyday she gets up at 6’oclock and does her house work, and then she does some gardening. She is a keen gardener, she has three green houses and a very big garden. Mrs. Footman has her own car, and she shops in Malvern, Worcester, Ledbury and in the local shop. Mrs.Footman says she would like to see a lot more employment in Bosbury. She also thinks cars go far too fast through Bosbury.
BOSBURY SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION
This organisation was formed in 1981 under the name of Bosbury School Parent/Teacher Association by a group of Parents of children attending Bosbury School and the then staff. The name was later changed. Membership was automatic to all parents of children attending the school. The principle aim was to raise funds to buy additional educational material, equipment and facilities for the benefit of pupils. Funds were raised by means of Jumble Sales, Bingo, Raffles, Dances etc.
BOSBURY ROUNDERS CLUB
Bosbury W.I. have a ladies’ rounders team. They play every Monday evening against other local W.I. teams. The pitch they play on is marked out in one of the farmer’s fields. They have two sides of eight. The idea is to score as many rounders as possible. To do this you must hit the ball and run a clear round with out stopping. The pitch consists of four posts set out in a square. To get a runner out you must hit the post they are running to with the ball. They also play many friendly mixed matches, which are good fun for getting everyone together.
CRICKET CLUB
Bosbury C.C. was re-formed in 1981 after a long interval. In 1985 it has 30 playing members 17 vice presidents, and 10 committee members. The president is Mr.T.S.Hone, chairman Mr.C.Minton and secretary Mr.W.Rees. The previous cricket club originally played on the ground that was taken over to build the school. This became the school playing field. The re-formed cricket club now uses this playing field as its ground. They raise funds to provide money for equipment, re-seeding the square and hopefully rebuild the old pavilion. The club entered the Hereford and District league in 1982 in division 6 and gained promotion to division 5 in its first year in division 4. They also field a team of under 16s to compete in the colts league. The practice night for the colts is Tuesday and for the adults is Thursday.
BOSBURY YOUTH CLUB
Bosbury has a long-established youth club in a rural area where there are few alternative outlets for young people. Although the club has had more than its fair share of difficulties not the least of which have been connected with their need to maintain their own premises behind the village hall, their experiences should sound some familiar notes amongst other village clubs in the county. Mr. & Mrs. Clutterbuck, who now run the club, became involved several years ago during a time of crisis; the number of members had fallen and the County Youth Service had just withdrawn its payment of a youth worker. Luckily the facilities include, a games hall (large enough for Badmington), sitting room, kitchen and a room with a pool table and table tennis table. They started with one session a week for the 10 to 18 year age range, but this was later split into two sessions - 10 to 14 and 15 to 18. Problems with vandalism led to the closure of the session for older children. The younger ones are clearly appreciative of the facilities. The youth club is an asset which many villages do not have, but the leaders must have more support if the club is to flourish.
EDNA LYALL
Miss Edna Lyall was a Victorian novelist. Her brother was Reverend Robert Berchess Baily who was vicar of Bosbury church in 1897.She is buried by the Bosbury Cross in the Churchyard Bosbury just to the right of the South porch. She wrote several successful novels one called “In Spite Of All”, about the civil war. It was set in Bosbury. Her brother was still vicar when she died and he buried her. Her ashes were spread in her grave. On the grave is written
Ada Ellen Baily
(Edna Lyall)
February 8th 1903
My trust is in the tender mercy
of God for ever and ever.
Her real name was Ada Ellen Baily but the name she used for her publications was Edna Lyall. She died February 8th 1903. In Bosbury church there is a screen, at the bottom of the screen there are sections of beautifully carved wood. This is the memorial to Edna Lyall.
SIR ROWLAND MORTON
The first Grange was built by the Mortons. Sir Rowland Morton lived at the Grange and he was given the farm at the time his brother was Archbishop of Canterbury. The Grange was knocked down in 1889 and a new one built. Sir Rowland Morton founded the Morton chapel in 1530 when he founded the Grammar School. Sir Rowland Morton endowed a teacher to work in the Grammar school. At the moment Mr. Andrews owns the Grange. He has lived in Bosbury since 1932 which is 53 years ago. He was two when he came to Bosbury. Mr. Andrews’ Father moved to Bosbury from Malvern because it was better Land. At The East End of The South Aisle is a Chantry Chapel built about 1530 by Sir Rowland Morton and Thomas Morton. It was to be used for saying masses for the souls of Sir Rowland’s wife Lady Elizabeth, who died in 1528, and for the family. It has perpendicular windows (a Rare example of this period of architecture in Herefordshire) with richly groined fan vaulting.
CELTIC BELL
A Pre-Christian bell, rectangular in shape, was dug up in a field in Bosbury and bought by Mr. Joseph Baker in 1888 and later sold to the Horniman Museum (London) in 1895, where it still remains.
FLOWER FESTIVAL 8th. & 9th. June 1985.
More than 700 visitors flocked to Bosbury for the village’s “Bosbury Looks Back” Festival to raise funds to restore the 455 year-old Morton Chapel. Throughout Saturday and Sunday the church was filled with flowers, and with the sound of bells and organ music. Mr. John Keatley’s two-bedroomed cottage was visited by more than 750 people viewing the exhibition of lace. Mr. Llyn Wright of Stourbridge played the old barrel organ originally installed in Bosbury Church in 1850. Flower displays portrayed:-
The Bakery, The Bell Inn, The School, The four seasons of the farming year, Edna Lyall, The Knights Templars, Clissett Chairs, and Bishop Swinfield. They were organised by Mrs. Gill Andrews and a team of 12 helpers. Other crafts exhibited included glass engraving, a display of old farm machinery, and slaughtering tools. An evening concert in the church attracted an audience of over 70 and there were dancing displays on both afternoons by children from Bosbury school. Visitors could also walk around the following gardens:-
The Cross - A warm welcoming country garden, Bosbury House - Lovely views and wood and walk by a lake,
Old Court - a garden built on the original courtyard of the Old Bishop’s Palace. Of the
£75,000 needed to restore the Morton Chapel, the government has given £50,000 leaving
£25,000 to be raised by the village. The Bell Tower, which has been newly renovated, was on show
to visitors with demonstrations of bell ringing and a slide show.