Yarkhill
Encyclopedia
Yarkhill is a village in Herefordshire
, England
located about 9 miles (14.5 km) from both Hereford
and Ledbury
.
The village is Anglo-Saxon in origin and is a much dispersed parish, with no definable nucleus, of approximately 145 homes spread over some 8 square miles (20.7 km²), comprising about 300 people. It borders the villages of Ashperton
, Stoke Edith
, Stretton Grandison
, Tarrington
and Weston Beggard
. Yarkhill lies in the valley of the River Frome; in 811 the name of this settlement was Geardcylle, meaning enclosure with a kiln. In 1066 it was held by a Knight of King Harold called Arkell and the present name of Yarkhill may have derived from that or from the Saxon word Yarcle meaning slope of the hill. The sister churches of Tarrington and Stoke Edith can be seen on the other side of the valley. Yarkhill was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087 and has been a farming community around the River Frome since that time. Yarkhill once had a school but that has been converted into a village hall.
Yarkhill Church is the oldest intact building in the village. Close to the river but high enough to be safe from flooding, it dates from circa 1200 with many extensions, alterations and repairs. St John the Baptist Church is a grade two-listed building. The church is typical in design with a nave, chancel, vestry, and western tower and seats about 120 people at full capacity. In the churchyard there is an ancient and very large yew tree and a war memorial.
Yarkhill Church is important to campanologists for the "Father of Change Ringing" Fabian Stedman was born in the village and baptised at St John's church on 7 December 1640. Fabian's father Francis Stedman was Rector of Yarkhill from 1625–1671. Francis's time as Rector saw the installation of the current ring of four bells seen today.
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
located about 9 miles (14.5 km) from both Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
and Ledbury
Ledbury
Ledbury is a town in Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and south of the Malvern Hills.Today, Ledbury is a thriving market town in rural England. The town has a large number of timber framed buildings, in particular along Church Lane and High Street. One of Ledbury's most outstanding...
.
The village is Anglo-Saxon in origin and is a much dispersed parish, with no definable nucleus, of approximately 145 homes spread over some 8 square miles (20.7 km²), comprising about 300 people. It borders the villages of Ashperton
Ashperton
Ashperton is a small village about twelve miles east of Hereford, in Herefordshire, England.- Location :The village is on the A417 road, the route of a Roman road from Gloucester, in typical rolling Herefordshire countryside. Villages nearby include Monkhide, Tarrington and Canon Frome.-...
, Stoke Edith
Stoke Edith
Stoke Edith is a village in the English county of Herefordshire, situated on a road leading from Hereford to Ledbury. The manor belonged formerly to the Wallwynes, Milwaters and Lingen families....
, Stretton Grandison
Stretton Grandison
Stretton Grandison is a hamlet and small civil parish in Herefordshire, England. It is situated on the A417 road to the northeast of Hereford. The River Frome flows along the parish's southern boundary....
, Tarrington
Tarrington
Tarrington is a small village in Herefordshire, England located half way between Ledbury and Hereford on the A438 road.-The village:The village has approximately 225 residences and a population, according to the 2001 census, of 506. The village has three main meeting places, the Lady Emily...
and Weston Beggard
Weston Beggard
Weston Beggard is a small parish and hamlet in Herefordshire, England located between the villages of Shucknall and Bartestree and lies approximately 6 km east of Hereford. It is on the north bank of the River Frome....
. Yarkhill lies in the valley of the River Frome; in 811 the name of this settlement was Geardcylle, meaning enclosure with a kiln. In 1066 it was held by a Knight of King Harold called Arkell and the present name of Yarkhill may have derived from that or from the Saxon word Yarcle meaning slope of the hill. The sister churches of Tarrington and Stoke Edith can be seen on the other side of the valley. Yarkhill was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087 and has been a farming community around the River Frome since that time. Yarkhill once had a school but that has been converted into a village hall.
Yarkhill Church is the oldest intact building in the village. Close to the river but high enough to be safe from flooding, it dates from circa 1200 with many extensions, alterations and repairs. St John the Baptist Church is a grade two-listed building. The church is typical in design with a nave, chancel, vestry, and western tower and seats about 120 people at full capacity. In the churchyard there is an ancient and very large yew tree and a war memorial.
Yarkhill Church is important to campanologists for the "Father of Change Ringing" Fabian Stedman was born in the village and baptised at St John's church on 7 December 1640. Fabian's father Francis Stedman was Rector of Yarkhill from 1625–1671. Francis's time as Rector saw the installation of the current ring of four bells seen today.