The Oak of Raggedstone

At the southern reaches of the Malvern Hills on slopes at the base of Raggedstone Hill, a wise old woman lived with her two children. So beautiful was her smile, so wondrous her stories and so deep her wisdom, that people would come from far and wide to visit and spend time at her hearth, just listening, singing and relaxing.

She relished the attention and the love and warmth her extended family brought. Friends would come with gifts that covered every inch of her home; sparkling with ornaments, trinkets, ribbons and gems.

Image credit unknown

Much as she welcomed the company and love of the many visitors, as she grew ancient she also grew tired. One evening, she had been entertaining her family just as she always would, but then that night, she was gone.

Image by Ledbury Fire Station

The wise old woman who lived at the foot of Ragged Stone Hill never lost her spirit. She didn't fall on a windy night and lie prone on the hillside, slowly returning to the earth. No, The Magic Oak left in a moment so powerful that all that was left behind for us to learn from were the ash and memories in the earth and air.

Image credit unknown

Eastnor Castle

Moving further west from the southern peaks of the Malvern range and Bronsil Castle, Eastnor castle and its Deer Park dominate the village. This fairytale castle remains hidden from most roadways behind its lush arboretum, but if one is to stroll up onto the hills or toward the obelisk in the Deer Park it can be seen gloriously nestled betwixt trees and lake. Though it may appear at first site to be of medieval age it was in fact built between 1810 and 1824 by the 2^nd Baron Somers (later 1^st Earl) in a Norman Revival style as proposed by his architect Robert Smirke. The castle is truly massive and a statement and assertion of power and family wealth rather than a military fortification. The family’s original house, Castleditch, now lies submerged beneath the current castles lake, with part of the old structure forming a small island on its surface.

Eastnor Castle across the lake

I was fortunate enough to have spent much of my early childhood exploring and adventuring in the castles extensive grounds, dark winding stairways, forgotten attics and grand halls, or playing toccata and fugue very poorly on the chapels harmonium. The castles main rooms much of which are now open to the public have been redecorated many times through the castles life. In 1849 the 2^nd Earl commissioned AWN Pugin to decorate the Gothic Drawing Room which he did after completing work at the House of Lords. The 3^rd Earl Somers, Charles, undertook many of the embellishments of the castle during the 1860’s and 70’s and was at the forefront of contemporary taste. Charles also collected many classical antiques and art including the extensive collection of medieval armour and was also responsible for the planting of the beautiful arboretum.

The arboretum summer house

During the agricultural depression of the 1930’s the estate began to struggle financially and in September 1939 traditional aristocratic life at the castle came to an end and it was offered to the Australian High Commission in case they needed to leave London during the Blitz. The family moved first to a cottage in the grounds before returning to smaller private rooms of the castle where they lived quietly, directing their energies into agriculture and modernizing estate properties. The castle began to fall into disrepair and life proceeded in relative discomfort, trekking 50 yards from the bedrooms to the nearest bathroom, patrolling for roof leeks with buckets when it rained, collecting wood and clearing the roofs of snow.

Eastnor Castle from Ragged Stone Hill

When Hon. Elizabeth Somers Cocks died in 1986 her eldest son James wanted to live there and his then wife Sarah put unimaginable effort and thought into restoring the castle to its former glory, much of which is exactly as found today. With its intriguing history, expansive grounds and lake, great halls, dining room, drawing room, libraries, saloon, chapel and plethora of grand bedrooms Eastnor castle is a fascinating and beautiful stately home to visit and enjoyable for all the family, young and old alike.

As well as being open to the public Eastnor Castle is now also home to a number of high profile events, many of which take place in the Deer Park. The grounds and castle have also been used extensively in the filming of The Box of Delights (A BBC film by John Masefield), The Canterville Ghost, Rumpole of the Bailey and more recently the period drama Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Still not an abandoned site...

Hello,

This is another quick note to let any regular visitors no that this site has not become a forgetten corner of the internet. My University degree is nearing completion and I'm sure you can appreciate these are hectic times, which is why I'm all the more looking forward to continuing this blog as spring and summer unfold.

I'd also like to thank anyone who might be a regular visitor and everyone who's left nice and inspiring comments so far. I'll try to continue searching for interesting tales of the hills to bring you and am really yet to even touch upon the village of Eastnor itself.

I'd also like to point out an error on the 'Names & Heights...' diagram; Pinacle Hill is clearly taller than its neighbours, reaching 357 metres not 257 as shown.

Until further update here is a photoshop from a photo taken looking toward the Worcestershire Beacon from Broad Down, adjacent to the British Camp.

Between the two Camps

Moving northward from Midsummer Camp we first pass through The Gullet, between Eastnor Deer Park and the infamous gullet quarry, amongst beautiful natural woodland. The next peak is that of Swinyard (or Swinyerd) Hill and takes its name from the times of Edward I when it was granted to the citizens of the nearby town of Ledbury as grazing for their pigs.

The Gullet & Swinyard Hill

Rising from the Silurian pass moving northward toward the Herefordshire Beacon is the sinisterly titled Hangmans Hill, once the location of a gibbet originally constructed by the Red Earl. The Red Earl of Gloucestershire married the daughter of Edward I, Joan d'Arce, and in doing so received the rights to the Malvern chase upon which he made sure no one encroached.

Beyond Hangmans Hill the ridge turns slightly westward and rises sharply toward the ancient ramparts of the British Camp on Millennium Hill and the towering Herefordshire Beacon whilst to the east the fern covered Broad Down slopes gently into woodland.

Northward from Midsummer Camp

On the western slopes between Hangmans Hill and the British Camp a small cave can be found in an outcrop of rock near the ridge. The caves most common names are Clutters Cave, Walm's Cave or the Giants' Cave. Though to children the stories of a giant in the cave may be exciting, there is actually little room for someone of average size to live comfortably, let alone a giant! However that name may stem from a story involving the Collwall Stone, that currently lies a few feet from it's original location as a centerpiece to a road junction near the centre of the village. The story goes that the giant saw his wife with another man in Collwall and in anger, ripped the stone from the hillside and hurled it at her, killing her on the spot. The resultant hole from which the stone originated being the Giants Cave.

Clutters Cave

The name Walms Cave comes from that of St Walms (or Waums) Well, which is on the slopes below the cave. Henry Somers-Cox suggested that this name could originate from a hermit or missionary that lived nearby, perhaps in the cave. It is thought that the cave may actually have been built by the Druids. There was once a panel, now barely visible, cut into the back wall of the cave, into which light was said to fall at 3 p.m. on the winter solstice. At the equinoxes the upper edge of the illuminated area coincides with the angle between the floor and back wall of the cave.

Autumn sunset from inside Clutters Cave

The Circle of Perpetual Choirs

There are many different notions surrounding the concept of the Circle of Perpetual Choirs of Britain. It seems most commonly suggested that choirs of Druids would maintain perpetual chanting at a number of key points across the country, and that this was intended to maintain a permanent spell of enchantment or peace across the land.

The Magic Oak (Pagan Oak) is disputably at or near the centre of one such circle of choirs. There is so much contradicting information and speculation surrounding the Circle of Perpetual Choirs that I dare not venture into even attempting to provide factual information on this topic.

Below is a map by a local resident Madan (also a commenter on this weblog) that was left in the gnarled roots of the oak tree near Ragged Stone Hill.

Map depicting the 'Circle of Perpetual Choirs'

For further information I would also highly recommend Awugabunnies, which features a wealth of information and detailed research into sacred geometries, including the Circle of Perpetual Choirs.

I would like to thank both Geoff and Madan for there comments on this post, and urge you to take a look.

Writers Note...

Hello,

I'd just like to point out the posting on this thread has merely paused and not stopped entirely. There's is still far more for me to publish concerning Eastnor and the Malvern Hills. After that perhaps I will increase the locality to include the quaint market town of Ledbury.

However I'm rather tied up with University now, and have little opportunity to rome the shire taking photos and generally being inspired. Rest assured though that posting will resume just as soon as possible though.

The treasure at Bronsil Castle

When heading toward Eastnor from the Hollybush pass, in a secluded spot off the main road is Bronsil (or Bransill) Castle. It is the elder of two castles in the small village, the other being the more famous but modern Eastnor castle. Bronsil Castle was built by Lord Beauchamp in the 15th century, and legend has it that hidden treasure remains unfound near the ruins. Lord Beauchamp hid his fortune somewhere in the grounds of the castle so that his family would not spend it unwisely whilst he was away fighting the Crusades. However he assured them that, should he be killed whilst fighting in the Holy Wars, their inheritance would be easily located so long as all his remains were returned to the castle for burial. He left a familiar spirit in the form of a Raven, to guard over the treasure whilst he was away. Sadly Beauchamp was killed tragically in Italy but as requested his bones were returned for burial in the grounds of the castle. However it is thought that some of his bones were lost in transit and so the family fortune remained hidden forever. It is said that the Raven can still sometimes be seen or heard guarding Lord Beauchamps hidden fortunes to this very day.

The stone bridge over the inner moat

A related tale tells of the Reede family who lived in the castle in the reign of James I. They found themselves frequently troubled by a restless spirit, perhaps even that of Lord Beauchamp himself. Desperate to find a solution they employed the services of a famous Wizard from the University of Oxford. The Wizard advised them to locate some of the late Lord Beauchamps bones and to keep them safe within the walls of the castle. So long as this was done the ghostly spirit would trouble them no more. They followed the Wizards advice and sure enough they were no longer haunted by the ghost. The bones were kept safely in a small cedar box labeled "Lord Beauchamps Bones" and over the decades became a family heirloom. So much so that when the castle burned to the ground the small wooden box was rescued from the inferno and moved to the Reedes new home, New Court near Lugwardine.

The north east tower

The castle was not huge but had four octagonal towers and was surrounded by two large moats, the inner of which still remains and contains water to this day. There is little left of the structure itself though, save the stone arch bridge across the inner moat, now shrouded in brambles and ivy, and small sections of two of the towers. The north east tower is a tall, narrow slither of stone, and the south east a low, wide section of wall with a handful of steps still visible and reasonably well preserved. The vast majority of the historic castle though, has regrettably toppled into the depths of the moat.

The south east tower

The Spirit of the Oak

The Oak grew over a hollow
A hollow of rock and root
And there beneath its shady bows
N'er a cruel path was trod
N'er a cruel path was trod
N'er a cruel path was trod
And there beneath its shady bows
They gave praise to the new Sun God.

In the winters darkness
When all life seems to pass
By the light of the flames they keep for warmth
The Spirits seem to dance
The Spirits seem to dance
By the light of the flames they keep for warmth
The Spirits seem to dance

As sure as spring will follow
The Oak will live again
And there they bring their gifts to hang
From the branches knarled and strong
The branches knarled and strong
The branches knarled and strong
And there they bring their gifts to hang
And join together in song

Of Earth and wood and stone
And all things of the land
By the light of the flames they keep for warmth
The Spirits seem to dance
The Spirits seem to dance
By the light of the flames they keep for warmth
The Spirits seem to dance

(Writtain by the Author 'The Glynch Bull'. Lyrics to a modern folk song concerning The Magic Oak)

The Pagan Oak (The Magic Oak)

The existence of the Pagan oak, as well as its supposed location is the subject of much debate and uncertainty. It is quite possible that the ancient oak tree has only in more recent years become one of legend. There is however, without a doubt, an ancient oak tree situated in farmland on the lower western slopes of Ragged Stone Hill, between the hamlets of Hollybush and White Leaved Oak. The gnarled old oak must have a diameter of around 2 meters [edit 30/09/2012 - That was a massive under-estimation. The girth given on ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk is 7m 70cm! http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/tree.htm?tree=f14b60ec-cc95-4a8f-883c-7c45e9da386f], and grows remarkably atop a large flat rock on the north ridge of a sizeable, deep hollow in the ground. To the north east of the hollow is an entrance passage that one could reasonably assume is man made, and two other younger oaks grow on the south eastern and south western corners to form a triangle.

The Oak in Spring

It is said that the Oak marks the very centre point of a geometric formation of leylines that can be plotted across the west of the country, the outer points of which include locations such as Stonehenge and Glastonbury Abbey (See 'Circle of Perpetual Choirs' for more info). Regardless of the trees’ authenticity, it is clearly considered an important spiritual place to many even in recent times. There is a well used hearth where fires are burnt late into the night (until very recently there were two hearths but these have wisely been consolidated to create one larger fireplace) and at the solstices gifts are left hanging from the sacred oaks sturdy branches. At the summer solstice the oak was left strewn with blossoms and flowers and decked with brightly coloured ribbons, feathers, pentagrams and other trinkets and crafts. Until recently there was even a makeshift ‘visitors book’ left in a sheltered hollow in the trees’ trunk that was rapidly filled with signatures, poems and blessings, but this has since become damaged and been removed. The trunk and many branches of the tree have become hollowed with age, and it is now possible to climb down inside the trunk of the oak and stand on the rock upon which it grows (I'd suggest removing footwear if you plan to climb the tree so you can grip better and not add to the tree damage that sheep, deer and nature can incur). The inside of the tree is also lined with trinkets, gemstones and jewels left as gifts for the Oak King.

The Oak in Autumn

There is rumour that the original tree was in fact not at the location of the current tree at all but some distance away nearer the hamlet of White Leaved Oak. The story goes that it was blown down in a storm many years ago and residents planted a new oak in its place. It was said that this “original” tree did in fact have white leaves, thus lending its name to the neighbouring hamlet. A local resident living in White Leaved Oak claims that the story of the leaves is untrue, and that the name in fact originates from a disease of oak trees which causes their leaves to turn white; a disease which I have since seen for myself on a local oak. However, the same resident also claimed the tree currently worshiped is not in fact the correct location or tree. Regardless of the trees authenticity it is without a doubt a remarkable and beautiful tree, and it is quite possibly the Malvern Hills themselves that mark the centre of the mysterious leylines across the country. The tree and its surroundings are a very tranquil and special place and it must surely be the devotion and worship of the people who go there that defines the location, and not its exact geography to within hundreds of metres.

Midsummer Camp, Hollybush Hill & Dyn Mawr

Moving northward along the Malverns from Raggedstone Hill, the next peak encountered is that of Midsummer Hill or Midsummer Camp. The two hills are seperated by a pass known as Hollybush. According to a local resident, the late Mr. Watkins, Hollybush may have been named after a tree marking a main track way between Eastnor and Tewkesbury. To the east of Midsummer Camp is a considerably lower peak known as Hollybush Hill, and it is upon these two peaks that an Iron Age hill fort existed.

Midsummer Camp seen from Hillend House

The time of the earliest encampment of Midsummer Hill is debatable, but it is quite plausible that it may have been enhabited prior to the Bronze Age, around 2000B.C., by pre-Aryan man bearing similarities with the Basques or Eskimos. At this time the rolling hills of Herefordshire would have been entirely covered with forest stretching westward to meet the Forest of Dean and as far as the Black Mountains in south Wales. It would have been safer to brave the elements on the exposed peaks of the Malvern ridge than to reside in the dark and unforgiving forests, which in the past would have been the home to many wolves and perhaps even mammoth, cave lion and bears.

However for the most part the camp would have been inhabited by Celtic Druids or “Ancient Britons” in the Iron Age. There are a number of clearly visible earthworks to this day. The fort ramparts are still clearly visible and encompass the top of both Midsummer Hill and it’s neighbour Hollybush Hill. In various periods of history it has been thought that the camp had a total of four entrances, however it has later been found that the other possible entrances are cut by the path of the Red Earls’ Dyke, made in a later period. There are in fact two gates; the north gate was the chariot gate, and is still clearly visible on the northern slope of Midsummer Hill. This would have been the main access route for those approaching the camp along the ridge of the Malvern Hills.

North Gate seen from the exterior of the rampart

North Gate seen from the interior of the fort

The south gate is situated in a narrow valley between the two hills and would have covered the old road from the Severn. At both of these gates the ramparts turn inward to create a narrow corridor through which attackers would have to pass, adding to their defensive nature. Many slopes on the interior of the fort are terraced and would have been the location of many dwellings. Man made hollows in the ground and sunken trenches from previous archaeological explorations can be seen in various locations across the two hills.

South Gate seen from exterior of the fort

When the Druids took possession of the camp they both rebuilt and enlarged it and called it Dyn Mawr – in Celtic the “Great City”. It is thought that the city itself lay outside of the fort ramparts, lower in the valley below the south gate and in the pass now known as Hollybush. There were two springs to provide water, one within the fort itself and one within the city which would have fed four large reservoirs and dams, signs of which can still be seen today. Estimations at the number of inhabitants in the camp vary from early estimates of “at least 6000 men, entirely leaving out the ‘procestrium’ adjoining”, however later archaeological excavations have led to more believable estimates of between 1150 and 3460.

Possible remains of a structure on the peak of Midsummer Hill

Upon the eastern flank of the fort upon Hollybush hill a long rectangular earth mound surrounded by a shallow trench is of debatable origin. Known as the ‘Pillow Mound’ it has been thought by some to be a Roman burial mound, and relics from both the Bronze and Iron Age have been found in excavations. However it is though more likely to have been an artificial rabbit warren constructed in the Medieval era or later.

The Pillow Mound

The Ancient Britons were finally driven out of their encampments by the invading Roman army. It is possible that, having defeated Caractacus the Romans may have advanced southward attacking and finally defeating both the British and Midsummer Camps. These two camps may claim the honour of the last two British strongholds to fall to the Romans.

Western rampart on Midsummer Hill

Eastern rampart on Hollybush Hill

Ragged Stone Hill

At the southern end of the Malvern ridge the hills trail off into rolling hills and fertile valleys. Chase End Hill is the southernmost hill and is also sometimes known as the Gloucestershire Beacon. Moving northward along the ridge the next hilltop that is encountered are the rugged twin peaks of Ragged Stone Hill, so called for it’s exposed and rocky hilltop.


Ragged Stone Hill seen from Clenchers Mill Lane

There is much folklore and superstition that surrounds the ‘Accursed Shadow’ of the Ragged Stone Hill. One tale tells of how the curse was said to befall the family who at the time resided at Birtsmorton Court in Worcestershire. It was said that were the shadow to fall upon the house then the eldest son of the household would die within twelve months. There have even been numerous mysterious or unusual deaths and accidents attributed to the shadows curse.

One story entitled “The Shadow of the Raggedstone” by Charles F. Grindrod tells the tale of a monk who lapsed from his vow of chastity. He lived in the vicinity of the Ragged Stone Hill and his punishment was to climb unceasingly to the top of the hill on his hands and knees and descend in the same fashion. This sentence he was to serve every day and throughout every season, asking forgiveness of his sins with each step. After many months of this torment he reached the summit of the hill and rose up, outstretching his arms to the heavens exclaiming: “My curse be on thee, thou Heaven-blasting hill, and on those which laid this burden on me, and on all that be like as they are. May thy shadow and my shadow never cease to fall upon them, and upon this place which holdeth them.”

Immediately after proclaiming the curse the monk died and it is said that a strange dark column of dust clouds arose from the hilltop, seemingly to issue forth from the earth itself. It swelled to a vast size resembling in form the image of the monk, and slowly the huge dark cloud advanced across the hillside and over the valley that cowered below it.

A more probably origin of the legendary curse may stem from a much earlier period when the Druids encamped on the British and Midsummer Camps fought against the advancing Roman armies. Defeated and forced from their encampments the Druids made a last stand on the twin peaks of the Ragged Stone. In final despair they raised their voices and the brave and noble-souled men accursed all those who would fall under the shadow of the great hill, on which they were to imminently meet their end.

Though it may be impossible to be certain of the form and nature of the accursed shadow, for it is only present at certain points of the year and dependant upon the cloud layer, it would not be considered wise to find oneself sat in the shade of the mighty hill on a summers day. However, Rector Henry Somers-Cocks comfortingly reassured his parishioners that the shadow does not fall or does not hold sway upon the western, Herefordshire side of the hill. Fortunate this may be for the residents of Eastnor and neighbouring hamlets, but of little comfort to those who reside on the Severn plain in Worcestershire!


Ragged Stone from the summit of Midummer Camp

Names & heights of the hills and passes on the Malvern ridge

For a diagram depicting the entirity of the Malvern ridge, giving the names and heights of each summit and pass, please click the link below:

The Malvern Hills seen from the Severn plain

Geology

The following article discusses the geology of the malvern ridge and surrounding landscape. To see a west-east cross section diagram to accompany the explanation click the link below.

Geological Cross Section of the Malvern Hills

A division between Herefordshire and Worcestershire is created by the ancient granite rocks of the Malvern Hills, separating the rolling hillsides to the west from the flat Severn plain on the east. This creates three unique landscapes each with different geological origins.

The Malvern ridge - Malvernian Granite

The granite of the Malvern Hills was formed more than 600 million years ago during the Precambrian period, prior to the appearance of animals with hard parts and thus, no fossils exist. It seems that around 400-500 million years ago, during the Silurian period, the area was covered by a warm sea sheltering coral reefs and the vast myriad of life and organisms that such an environment sustains. Towards the end of this period this part of the world became unstable and tremendous pressures in the Earth’s crust forced the Precambrian granite upwards, taking the sea bed with it, and formed the ridge of the Malverns. The softer sediments of the sea bed were eroded away over time leaving the harder Malvernian granite ridge as we know it today. It was another phase of earth movement during this period that thrust the Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp) westwards.

There are a number of fault lines across the Malvern hills and these mainly run east to west creating several passes between the peaks, for example at the Gullet Quarry to the north of Midsummer Camp. To the east the hills are bounded by a fault line which runs from north to south.

To the west – Herefordshire - Limestone & shales

The Herefordshire landscape to the west of the hills consists of sedimentary rocks that are much younger than the granite of the hills themselves. They are formed by the sediment of the creatures coral and mud that were present when the area was covered by water. During periods when the sea was shallow mud was the main deposit and this results in shale. Deeper, clearer areas of the sea allowed for shelly deposits and coral reefs which later have formed limestone. Over hundreds and thousands of years limestone and shale have alternated and become tilted and twisted during the rise of the granite ridge and the formation of the Herefordshire Beacon. If one is to survey the scenery to the west of the hills at this time, the softer shales are mainly farmland while the harder limestone ridges and hilltops remain for the most part wooded.

To the east – Worcestershire – The Severn plain

During the periods following the Silurian it is probable that other layers were formed which have since been eroded away, with the exception of the eastern side of the ridge. Some 200 million years ago during the Triassic period Mercia mudstone (formerly Keuper Marl or Trias Marl) was deposited in inland lakes. Also during this period there was a continuing accumulation of red desert sandstones deposited by rivers and dunes. This has left flat beds of soft red sandstone across the plain.

Fairies in the Malverns

As I walked over Hollybush Hill
The Sun was low and the winds were still,
And never a whispering branch I heard
Nor even the tiniest call of a bird.
And when I came to the topmost height
Oh! but I saw such a wonderful sight,
All about on the hill-crest there
The fairies danced in the golden air,
Danced and frolicked with never a sound
In and out in a magical round;
Wider and wider the circle grew
Then suddenly melted into the blue.

As I walked down into Eastnor Vale
The stars already were twinkling pale,
And over the spaces of dew-white grass
I saw a marvellous pageant pass –
Tiny riders on tiny steeds
Decked with blossoms and armed with reeds
With gossamer banners floating far
And a radiant queen in an ivory car.
The beeches spread their petticoats wide
And curtsied low upon either side;
The rabbits scurried across the glade
To peep at the glittering cavalcade.
Far and farther I saw them go
And vanish into the woods below;
Then over the shadowy woodland ways
I wandered home in sweet amaze.

But Malvern people need fear no ill
Since fairies bide in their country still.

R.F. – in ‘Punch’, Aug. 28, 1918.
(Taken from ‘Eastnor and its Malvern Hills’ by Henry L. Somers-Cocks, M.A. – 1923)


Eastnor Deer Park

Introduction

The Malvern Hills, known to the Celts as Moel-Bryn and to some folk as the 'English Alps', form a dramatic ridge running from north to south and spanning the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Throughout history they have provided a home to pre-Aryan man and later the Celts and Druids, and down the centuries have inspired writers, musicians and scientists alike.

Many of Edward Elgars compositions were inspired by the hills beauty and sensational views. William Langland, the medieval poet, was probably born on the western slopes and drew inspiration from the hill top views to write his epic poem, Piers the Plowman. By the mid-nineteenth century many well known men and women were drawn to the Malverns by the Water Cure, including Charles Darwin, Charles Dickins and Florence Nightingale. The famous nineteenth century soprano Jenny Lind known as the 'Swedish Nightingale retired to Wynd's Point near the Herefordshire Beacon.

The lush countryside that surrounds them is rich and varied. To the north and south the narrow ridge is seen as a series of rugged peaks, yet to the east the hills fall rapidly to the Severn plain which stretches away in gentle undulations towards the heart of England. The view to the west however is quite different. Rolling hills and ridges with varied woodlands and forests separated by small fertile valleys stretch out into the distance where the Black Mountains of south Wales can be seen upon the horizon. At the south west tail of the Malvern Hills nestles the vale of Eastnor a picturesque estate which boasts many points of interest and history.

In this Weblog I intend to share the local knowledge that I have and research further into the history and tales of this green and pleasant land tucked quietly away in the corner of the West Midlands. From the geology and geography of the hills, the structures, ruins and earthworks that can be seen, to the many tales and superstitions of giants, faerie folk, witches, and Druids. Whatever knowledge I can impart I shall put here for all to see.

I hope that the information I present here will be of interest to people near and far.


Southern tail of the Malverns seen from the Edge of the Frith Wood, Ledbury

References

The following list of references have been supplemented in my writing by my own local knowledge. The books named here also make a good 'further reading' list for those with a great interest in the topic.

This list shall be added to as the web log progresses.

SOMERS-COCKS, H.L. (1923) Eastnor and Its Malvern Hills. Hereford: Wilson & Phillips

MALVERN MUSEUM ASSOCIATION (1992) Ancient Hills. Malvern

LEATHER, E.M. (1912) The Folklore & Witchcraft of Herefordshire. Hereford: Jakeman & Carver

LEATHER, E.M. (1912) The Folk-lore of Herefordshire. Hereford: Jakeman & Carver

ANDERE, M. (1974) Herefordshire – The Enchanted Land. Hereford: Express Logic Limited

STANFORD, S.C. (1981) Midsummer Hill an Iron Age hillfort on the Malverns. Hereford: S.C. Stanford

RAVEN, M. (1996) A Guide to Herefordshire. Michael Raven

PALMER, R. (2002) Herefordshire Folklore. Woonton: Logaston Press

HERVEY-BATHURST, J.F.S. & S. (2003) Eastnor Castle. Derby: Heritage House Group Ltd.

Copyright Notice

The writing contained within this web log is my own work. I have made every effort not to infringe upon copyright laws and have attempted to take source information from references without plagiarising them.

If you hold the copyright for any of the source materials that I have referenced and feel I have infringed upon your copyright please, do not hesitate to inform me and the offending material shall be removed swiftly and without question.

Please ask permission before using any of the images or text from this site for your own purposes. I'm happy to give permission to people to use my work but like to know where and how it is being used and appreciate a credit and return link to this site.

Contact moggzmail@gmail.com or leave your comments here.

Many thanks.