Fownhope church in the mid 19th century (courtesy of Hereford City Library)

Fownhope had been a manor of Thorkell the White in 1066.  In Domesday it was one of the manors of Hugh l’Asne, a follower of William fitz Osbern.

Fownhope was a sizable manor of 15 hides of which 10 paid tax.  There were 3 ploughs in lordship.

The villagers included 14 villeins, 10 bordars, 2 priests, a reeve, a smith and a carpenter together having 25 ploughs.  There were also 18 male and 8 female slaves.

There was a mill which paid 5 shillings and 3 fisheries which paid 300 eels.

James Wathen’s view of Fownhope on 17th September 1798 (courtesy of Hereford City Library). 

The house in the centre was that of Nathaniel Purchas, liquor dealer and brewer.  On the right is his brewery.

Nathaniel obtained his wines and spirits from Bristol. They were brought by boat up the Wye to Fownhope.

At this time Tom Winter, a three-year old butcher's son lived in Fownhope. As Tom Spring he would become the Champion bare knuckle fighter of all England.

Nathaniel Purchas's house still stands.

Links

Visit Fownhope village website at www.fownhope.org.uk which has a history of the village.

Archaeological records from Fownhope are held by Historic Herefordshire On Line

See also www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Fownhope/

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