Ewyas Harold
An interesting Welsh-Mercian name as ewyas derives from the Welsh for sheep district. This indicates that the landscape must have been fairly open pasture here despite the Trivel Forest (where King John hunted) around Kilpeck.
Harold is from Harold, son of Ralph, Earl of Hereford, nephew of King Edward the Confessor. As was the custom young Harold was brought up in another noble household, and for him this was the household of Queen Edith. Earl Ralph died in 1057. Harold survived the Norman Conquest of 1066 and was later reinstated to part of his father's lands including Ewyas Harold.
- A Herefordshire dialect of Welsh was the local language in Ewyas Harold into the latter half of the 18th century.
Ewyas Harold Castle
- Built by the Normans followed by English squires
- This castle is one of the 4 castles in England built before the 1066 Norman Conquest. It shows the importance of this border area, known as the Marches.
- The castle was built c.1050 by Sir Osbern Pentecost, probably over the existing foundations of a Saxon / Mercian burgh , or fortified settlement. Excavation has shown that he built the keep on a motte / mound and the wall on the earth ramparts surrounding the lower bailey.
- Later, when Harold of Ewias (see above) regained ownership he added the Chapel of St. Nicholas, the chaplain being one of the local monks of Gloucester Abbey.
- His son Robert founded Dore Abbey.
Church: St. Michael & All Angels
- (now coupled with Dulas)
- Although the precise relationship between the Priories of Dulas and Ewyas Harold is unclear (see above) it does appear that the Priory of Ewyas Harold became the more important of the two. They were endowed with lands and tithes.
- Church and priory: When founded, in the early 12th century, this priory was also attached to St. Peter's Abbey in Gloucester which supplied the monks and kept an eye on its activities. The priory was suppressed in 1358 on the grounds that the monks lacked sufficient funds, had gone native (they were probably speaking Welsh) and were bringing bad habits back to Gloucester. No trace of the priory remains, though it may have been on the same site as this Church.
- The massive 13th century Church tower was originally detached and is evocative of the need for a secure refuge in troubled times along the English–Welsh border. It was only linked to the c.1300 chancel through the sympathetic restoration and additions of the 19th century.
- The earlier dedication had been to Saint James and Saint Bartholomew. When, in 1359, Gloucester Abbey appointed a Vicar for Ewyas Harold he also served St Michael's church at Dulas and this eventually resulted in the change of dedication at Ewyas Harold to the more popular St Michael.
- The Church builders were the Tregoz family, lords of Ewyas, who held the nearby castle, with its Chapel of Saint Nicholas. Over the next 200 years the priory received additional grants of land including some from the Tregoz family, who also endowed a chantry in the Church.
- The early 14th century effigy in the chancel is reputed to be of Clarissa de la Warr, daughter of John Tregoz and grand-daughter of the sister of Saint Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford.
- 16th century carvings from Flanders and 17th century panels were preserved in the restoration.
- There are six bells. The stained-glass is among the features added in modern times.
- The cross base and shaft in the graveyard are medieval.
- The attractive Church in Ewyas Harold still dominates the village and is the central Church of this group, or benefice. See: Bannister, includes a summary of the surviving priory documents.
Ewyas Harold Common
- The common covers 125 acres and in medieval times was part of the Lords Wood, an extensive area used for hunting.
- At the start of World War II (1939–1945) a part of the Common now known as the Burning Ground was used for burning waste explosives from a nearby munitions depot.
- The Common is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora including beautiful displays of meadow saffron in autumn. In 2020 the Common was gifted to the community and is now owned and managed by a community trust. It is open to the public and has an excellent website.
- St. Martin's Well on Ewyas Harold Common has supplied water to people living in the area for generations. Originally collected in pails, the water has been piped since 1894.
Temple Bar, Ewyas Harold
- Appears in directories in 1858.
- 1890s until 1914 – licensee Alfred Prosser ‐ he was a busy man – baker, corn dealer and farmer.
The Dog, Ewyas Harold
- Name has changed: 1509 / The Bell .. 1750 / The Dog .. 1844 / The Castle .. 1950s / The Dog again !
St. Michael's Hall
Ewyas Harold, was the old primary school.
