Save our Tower
(For full details of Tower Appeal fund raising events, go to 'Jam Appeal Events' in the main menu)

                         
       The beauty                                                                                                                            The damage

For some time concern has been growing about the deteriorating stonework of the tower of our parish church, St John the Baptist. The tower was built in c 1400, in the perpendicular style, and is a beautiful and treasured feature of our village landscape.
Early in 2005 a team of steeplejack surveyed the stonework and found that the damage was much worse than we had thought. A survey report of May 2005 confirmed that "major restoration work is required; all the elevations, including the buttresses are in a very poor state; there are large areas of degraded pointing and stonework which has lost its front face."
The cost of the restoration work has been put at over £100,000. St John the Baptist church   is a grade 1 listed historic monument, and the recent County archaeological studies identified Saxon components of regional if not national importance.
We have applied for grant aid from English heritage but this has been refused for this year. We will re-apply, but it is clear that any offer of external support will fall well short of what   is required. It is clear that we must rely on the goodwill and hard work of the local community if we are to Save our Tower...

How can we help?
In general: Please send donations (cheques made out to "Upton Bishop pcc") to John Boyd, Appeal Treasurer, the Beeches, Upton Bishop, HR9 7UD
Please also support the programme of events which will be advertised separately over the next 18 months.
local puchases: A new publication entitled "Enigma in Stone, Archaeology at Upton Bishop", written by County Archaeologist Keith Ray, tells the story of a six year investigation into a Saxon stone carving discovered at Upton Bishop and an intensive study of associated archaeology in an area to the north east of Ross.
The 52 page book includes full colour pictures of the investigation and of key finds and a very readable account of settlement patterns and population development in this area of South Herefordshire.
Copies are available (£5 each) from Ross Heritage Centre and by phone on 01989 780285.
Upton Bishop - Who owned your plot in 1842?
For anywhere in Upton Bishop, it is possible to identify who owned the land, who occupied it, the landuse, plot size and rent due to the church in 1842. This is because a survey was carried out by the church to identify and better administrate church tythes. For example, plot 742 below was called "Little Piece" at that time, part of "Focle Farm", leased by Elizabeth Powell from Lord Ashburton, farmed as arable land of 1 acre, 1 rood (1 x quarter acre) and 6 perches (6 x 30.25 sd yds) in size. A map of your particular plot (paper or digital file) with all the relevant apportionment information, can be originated and sent to you.
A donation of £10 for the Tower Appeal is requested in return. Please call 01989 780534