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Ross-on-Wye

Local Monuments

John Kyrle's Gate

PMSA: HEheRWxx010

John Kyrle's Gate is a grade II listed gateway between the south side of the Prospect and church yard. It was built by John Kyrle in 1700 and it is also known as 'Kerles' or 'Kyrles' Gateway.

John Kyrles Gate, Ross
John Kyrles Gate
(Click for a larger image)

Medallion of Charles II

PMSA: HEheRWxx009

The portrait bust of Charles II in wig was originally commissioned by locals during the 1700's but it was replaced in 1959 when it crumbled away during the course of repair work in 1955. Geoffrey Gwatkin was commissioned to replace the bust and, due to the the state of the original one, based his design on various representations of the king, primarily he used the terracotta bust by John Bushnell which is in the Fitzwiiliam Museum, Cambridge.

Medallion of Charles II, Ross
Medallion of Charles II
(Click for a larger image)

John Kyrle's Logogram

PMSA: HEheRWxx012

John Kyrle's Logogram is composed of the letters F and C, with a heart interlinked. It was commissioned by John Kyrle because he could not see the bust to Charles II on the east end of the market house and apparently it means 'Faithful to Charles in heart' as John Kyrle was a committed Royalist.

John Kyrles Gate, Ross
John Kyrles Logogram
(Click for a larger image)

Plague or Corpse Cross

PMSA: HEheRWxx006

The Plague Cross, also known as the Corpse Cross, was erected in the church yard of St. Mary's Church in 1637 as a memorial to 315 people who died in Ross during the plague in 1637 and who were buried at night nearby without coffins.

The Plague Cross, Ross
The Plague Cross
(Click for a larger image)

Sculptures by Walenty Pytel

PMSA: HEheRWxx003, HEheRWxx001 & HEheRWxx002

The sculptures, made by local sculptor Walenty Pytel, can be seen beside the Wye at Ross and outside the "Man of Ross" pub and were commissioned in 1997 by South Herefordshire District Council.

Swans in Flight, Ross
Swans in Flight
(Click for a larger image)

Mallards in Flight, Ross
Mallards in Flight
(Click for a larger image)
Salmon of the Wye, Ross
Salmon of the Wye
(Click for a larger image)

The Phoenix

This sculpture of The Phoenix can be found outside the Phoenix Theatre at the top of St. Mary's Street. It was made by Robin Brown and was unveiled in July 2003.

The Phoenix, Ross
The Phoenix
(Click for a larger image)

The Snail

PMSA: HEheRWxx008

This sculpture of an ammonite in a technical drawing/model style can be seen outside the Ross Community Hospital on Alton Street. It was sculpted by Simon Thomas as part of the Ross on Wye Community Hospital Art Programme in 1999.

The Snail, Ross
The Snail
(Click for a larger image)

Dennis Potter's Memorial Wall

This is Dennis Potter's Memorial Wall which is outside the swimming pool. It was designed and built by staff and students from the John Kyrle High School which tries to capture some of Potter's most famous and recognisable creations in a permanent way.

Dennis Potter Memorial Wall
Dennis Potter's Memorial Wall
(Click for a larger image)

Ross Wild Connections Sculpture

The wood for the Ross Wild Connections Sculpture came from one of the oak trees felled by Herefordshire Nature Trust during 2008's coppicing at Lea and Pagets Wood Nature Reserve. Once it had been felled, the oak tree was set in concrete so that it could be used as the basis of the sculpture1.

The sculpture was created as part of the Ross Wild Connections work and depicts the wildlife that lines the route of the group’s wildlife walk project.

Sculptor Tom Harvey worked on the piece in situ outside the swimming pool. He used a chainsaw to start the carving and did the fine detail using hand tools. Harvey, who is also responsible for the sculpture of peregrine falcons at Symonds Yat, started work on the piece on Monday, 7th April 2008 and finished on around Friday 18 April 2008.

Ross Wild Connections Sculpture
Ross Wild Connections Sculpture
(Click for a larger image)
Ross Wild Connections Wooden Sculpture
Ross Wild Connections Wooden Sculpture
(Click for a larger image)

James Wallace Richard Hall Fountain

PMSA: HEheRWxx011

James Wallace Richard Hall was a local solicitor and banker and a major player in the creation of the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway Company, and he died suddenly in 1860 and local donations were used to erect a fountain in his memory in 1860. The remaining parts of the fountain are currently located on the corner of Smallbrook Road and 'Station Approach'. It was originally located on the junction of Cantilupe Road, Smallbrook Road and Station Street, close to where the roundabout is today, but had to be moved to allow improved access to the Ashburton Industrial Estate. Ross-on-Wye Civic Society helped to raise funds to dismantle it in 1980 and rebuild it in 1992.

Fountain for James Wallace Richard Hall, Ross
Fountain in memory of James Wallace Richard Hall
(Click for a larger image)

Edde Cross Socket

PMSA: HEheRWxx007

The Edde Cross Socket is built into the Blake Memorial Garden in Wye Street, and is reputedly the socket from the preaching cross that gave 'Edde Cross Street' its name. It was found at the junction between New Street and Edde Cross Street in around 1910.

Edde Cross Socket, Ross
The socket from the 'Edde Cross'
(Click for a larger image)

Ferry Cross at Wilton

PMSA: HEheWTxx001

About 50 meters below Wilton Bridge, opposite the Wilton Court Hotel, are the remains of the Ferry Cross. This cross marks the site of the former ferry across the River Wye and may well have been erected to commemorate the ferry sinking although the exact reason for it is unknown.

The top of the cross is now missing and only the socket stone and shaft remain.

The Ferry Cross, Wilton (11-08-06)
The Ferry Cross below Wilton Bridge
(Click for a larger image)

Sundial on Wilton Bridge

PMSA: HEheRWxx005

The sundial was commissioned by Jonathan Barrow of Monmouth and was added to the north side of the bridge in 1718 but was moved to its present position when the bridge was widened during the Second World War.

It had an inscription around the top part of it saying:


Esteem thy precious time
Which pass so swiftly away
Prepare thee for eternity
And do not make delay

which was where Ross County Secondary School took its motto.

The sundial is unusual as it has a cube dial with four gnomons and each face is inscribed with hour lines.

More details on sundials can be found at the British Sundial Society homepage.

Wilton Bridge near Ross-on-Wye (11-3-06)
The sundial on Wilton Bridge
(Click for a larger image)

Wayside Cross, Old Gore

PMSA: HEheOGxx001

The Wayside Cross at Old Gore is a medieval socket stone to a former wayside cross. To this, has been added new steps, a shaft and a Calvary head as a war memorial.

The Wayside Cross at Old Gore
The Wayside Cross at Old Gore
(Click for a larger image)

Preaching Cross - Brampton Abbots

This preaching cross can be found in the Brampton Abbots church yard. It appears to be an ancient base and socket with a newer shaft and cross in it.

Preaching Cross at Brampton Abbots
Preaching Cross in Brampton Abbots church yard
(Click for a larger image)

Interestingly the socket has a cut-out in it possibly for leaving items in possibly like a small shrine or similar.

Preaching Cross socket at Brampton Abbots
Preaching Cross socket at Brampton Abbots
(Click for a larger image)

Preaching Cross - Bridstow

This socket and base of the preaching cross can be found in the Bridstow church yard. The socket is positioned on a sandstone base.

Preaching Cross at Bridstow
Preaching Cross in Bridstow church yard
(Click for a larger image)

Greytree War Memorial

Greytree War Memorial
Greytree War Memorial
(Click for a larger image)

The War Memorial on 2nd Avenue, Greytree reads:


For God, King and Country

It lists the names below.


  • J. Aspinall
  • W. Aspinall
  • A. Clarke
  • M. Clarke
  • T. Cooper (T)
  • C. Davies
  • N. G. Davies
  • T. Davies
  • W. Davies
  • St. H. Evans
  • J. Freeman (T)
  • M. Freeman
  • W. Freeman
  • A. Frost
  • J. Frost
  • W. Frost
  • R. Frost
  • F. Gwynne
  • H. Huckson
  • W. Hastings
  • W. Hughes
  • A. Llewellyn
  • A. C. Llewellyn
  • A. J. Llewellyn
  • A. W. Llewellyn
  • E. Llewellyn (T)
  • F. Llewellyn
  • J. Marshall
  • T. Neville
  • C. Pound
  • W. Trigg (T)
  • T. Trigg
  • C. Tyler
  • H. Verschoyle
  • H. Williams
  • F. C. Davies


  • PMSA - Public Monument and Sculpture Association [ here ]
1 - Mighty oak bears really wild icon Ross on Wye Journal, 16th April 2008

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[Page updated: Aug 11 2011 21:01:34]






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