Clifford, Herefordshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clifford | |
|---|---|
 Clifford Castle | |
  Clifford Location within Herefordshire | |
| Population | 511 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SO243457 |
| • London | 135 mi (217 km) |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Hereford |
| Postcode district | HR3 |
| Dialling code | 01497 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Clifford is a village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England, and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the north of Hay-on-Wye. It lies on the south bank of the River Wye, which here forms the border between Wales and England. The village sits on the B4350 road. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Priory Wood and Hardwicke.
In the 1870s, Clifford was described as:
The village stands on the river Wye, adjacent to the Hereford and Brecon railway, 2 miles NNE of Hay; and has a post office under Hereford. The parish includes also part of Vowmine township. Acres, 6, 522. Real property, £6, 209. Pop., 895. Houses, 207. A castle was built here by W. Fitzosborne; became the seat of the Cliffords of Ugbrooke; and was the birthplace of Jane de Clifford, "Fair Rosamond", the favourite of Henry II.[2]
Adventure and romance novelist Rafael Sabatini, whose works include Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk and Scaramouche, several of which were adapted to movies, lived in Clifford from 1931.[citation needed]
Landmarks
The ruins of the Norman castle of Clifford Castle are in the village. The castle is a "traditional motte and bailey castle" which stands next to the River Wye on the border between England and Wales, it "covers an area in excess of 4 acres".[3][4][failed verification] It was founded by Earl William Fitz Osbern between the time of his being made Earl of Heredford in 1066 and his death in 1071. "Clifford Castle is one of five castles mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086."[5][failed verification] The castle is alongside a steep drop to the River Wye close to a ford, therefore "this gave the site its later name, the cliff by the ford or Clifford".[6] Originally the castle protected a settlement housing up to 200 families, although today Clifford is only a small village.[6]
The village parish church, dedicated to St Mary, is built in Norman style. The interior contains a number of monuments.[7]
Clifford Primary School, a community school built in 1837, is 3 miles (5 km) miles from Hay-on-Wye and close to the Black Mountains.[8] The school's Ofsted report from 10 October 2012 states an attendance of 71 children aged 4 to 11 (Year R to Year 6); the school received a 'good' rating.[9] The school has been given the Eco Schools Green Flag Award.[10]
