News

The history group particularly needs help with two projects: scanning photographs and cataloguing the information about them.

They’re developing the software to make it as easy as possible for this to be done via the internet either in your own home or at meetings at the village hall – inputting will be led by drop down menus so avoiding typing where possible. The more people they have the easier the job will be. The aim of the archive is to stop the loss of information which is in danger of disappearing. If you would like to do something positive to keep this history alive, please get in touch and become part of the team, any time at all that you can give is invaluable to them!

Contact Sandra Board by emailing: Bishopswoodhistorygroup@outlook.com

The late Mrs Margaret Wilce (nee Morgan) was born and bred in Walford, Bishopswood and Howle Hill. Her mother’s immediate relatives were the Symonds and Ayres families. Her photograph collection was taken custody of by her daughters Sara Ayliffe and Judith Slaterley after she died, but did not really know what to do with them, so taking Margaret at her word when she had already told them that if they didn’t know what to do with her collection the best person to ask was her cousin through the Symonds side of the family – Mary Sinclair Powell – who is very well known as knowledgeable in local history. She would be able to look through them, collate them some more and make sure that as many people as possible would actually see them.

Mary took custody of them on behalf of her daughters, and has been showing people in history groups and others who are interested as this was what she had done for many years before she retired – relating tales about local history and showing illustrations such as old photos and postcards. Margaret had also done this many times at local history interest days and it seems fitting for Mary to do the same.

Mary will be eventually working with the daughters about where the collection should end up for wider audiences possibly in the county history archives for all to access, but in the meantime they will be displayed and copied as much as possible for wider awareness within the villages Margaret loved.

Any financial donations received for showing these archives at events are helping the Howle Hill War Memorial Garden Project and the permanent move of the memorial itself to a more suitable place within the garden on Sharman Pitch. Margaret always said that it seemed disrespectful to have the local boys being remembered at a bus stop (it was moved from St John’s Church in a rush when it was sold for development in 2004) – but thanks to some funds being raised from the sales of some of the archive (mainly the large picture and local book collections – with the family consent) she will be helping to make sure the boys’ memories will rest with respect ever more.

If anyone is interested in looking through the archive at a group event, please contact Mary who will be able to bring them along to chat with those interested. Her email is: msprosecottage@outlook.com and she will get back to you as soon as possible.

Coming up in April in and around Bishopswood:

Thursday 2nd April – 7.30pm – Ross-on-Wye Rock ‘n’ Roll Club Live Band Dance at Bishopswood Village Hall

Friday 3rd April – Good Friday

Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday

Saturday 11th April – 10:00am to 12:00pm Café Bishopswood

Sunday 12th April – Learn to dance with Jive By The Wye at Bishopswood Village Hall

Friday 17th April – 7.30pm Bishopswood History Group Talk ‘Beyond The Garden Gate’ by Graham O’Connell at Bishopswood Village Hall

PLUS! Don’t forget all the regular clubs, groups and classes that are on at the hall. Whether you want to learn to dance, play bridge, do yoga, play short mat bowls, are interested in art or local history, or you just want to make new friends, there is something here for you.
Please check out our Regular Events and Classes page by clicking here.

If you have an event or article that you would like publishing get in touch via the: CONTACT FORM.

For more information on local church services visit: Wye Reaches – The Wye Reaches Benefice