Llangrove

The village of Llangrove has had many names and spellings, Langrove, Longrove, Longgrove, Longuegroue, Long-grove, Long Grove.

From the south one can see Symonds Yat and the Doward, round to Welsh Newton Common, then westwards to Garway and the Brecon hills.

[7] On 7 July 1942, a Wellington bomber (T2962) on a training flight from Edgehill, near Banbury, crash-landed in Llangrove after two of its engines failed.

The Revd Frank Easton, who had been the Vicar since 1936, rushed to assist the crew, but had a heart attack and died as he cycled home afterwards.

Sarah Watkins, the church organist, also collapsed and died of heart failure on the way to the crash scene.

Built between 1854 and 1856, it is the first complete church building to be designed by George Frederick Bodley (1827–1907) who went on to become one of the major architects of the Victorian Gothic revival.

Four-bay nave: three windows with 2-trefoiled lights to south aisle; lean-to roof east of gabled porch.

Open wagon roof to chancel; south arcade: three bays, simple chamfered piers without capitals.

Built of coursed and squared sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings and a hipped slate roof.

Rectangular shaped building adjoining Llangrove Cottage to west, north entrance, moulded cornice and string course, cast iron canopy supported on four pillars to entrance, semi-circular headed doorway with fanlight and panelled doors.

Llangrove Cottage was bought by the Reverend John Jones who added a large room which was used for public worship and it became known as the Langrove Congregational Church.

The village consists of a number of old cottages, small farmhouses, bungalows and modern housing; much of the building has taken place in the last few years.

Cobblers Cottage is an example of the typical small dwellings that originally existed in the village, built probably around the middle of the 18th century,.

Two rooms deep with rear service wing forming T-plan with former congregational chapel (qv) adjoining to west.

It is listed at Grade II for the following two principal reasons, firstly historic interest as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact on the local community of the events of the First World War, secondly for architectural interest since the memorial is a dignified and sombre Celtic-style cross, neatly made and well-proportioned.

[10] The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England.

One such memorial was raised at Llangrove as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial stands in a prominent roadside location in front of the primary school and a short distance from Christ Church (Grade II).

THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS[11]The village has several published authors: Simon Jones - The transit of Mercury[12] Julia Sutherland - The Tug of War[13] Karen Wren - The Forest of Dean,[14] The Wye Valley[15] -, The Best of Herefordshire's Golden Valley & Welsh Borderland,[16] The Elan Valley - a Photographic Tour,[17] Caring for your Companion Pet Rabbit - a Guide for Grown-Ups: The ultimate rabbit-owner's manual to help you provide the best for your furry friend.

Caroline Davis Hayward - My Garland of Verses, A Selection of Poems[18] Catherine King,[19] mezzo-soprano, studied at Trinity College Cambridge and the Guildhall School of Music.

Air Commodore (Retired) Vivian (Viv) Warrington OBE - learnt to fly during National Service with the RAF from 1952 to 1954.

His postings have included CO of No 617 Squadron (The Dambusters), Station Commander of RAF Scampton and Deputy United Kingdom Military Representative at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

[20] Brigadier (Retired) Martin Vine OBE served in the Gloucestershire Regiment and was their last Commanding Officer before amalgamation in 1994.

Mrs. Wendy Price,[21] Manager and Supervisor, Llangrove Leapfrogs Childcare and Girl Guide Leader, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.

She undertook the delivery of the daily and Sunday newspapers in the village and surrounding area while her children were at school and a neighbour looked after her baby son.

For 54 years, come rain, sun, wind or snow, Mrs Lawrence never failed to deliver the mail, still on foot.

After her death her daughter, Mary, recalled the times during the dreadful winters of 1940 and 1946 when the snow was as high as the hedges, but still she and her mother got the mail and newspapers delivered.

During his occupancy of nearly 30 years he changed the pub's name to The Royal Arms in 1881 to commemorate Queen Victoria's long reign.

[25] The village supported several nurseries in the past: Llangrove is within the electoral ward of Llangarron which stretches towards Ross-on-Wye with a total population taken at the 2011 Census of 3,357.

Stained glass in Christ Church
Chapel remains
Lavender Close
Great Trewen Farm
Memorial by the school
Celtic details on the cross
The Royal Arms
Entrance to Llangrove Nurseries