Canon Frome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canon Frome |
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Canon Frome Court and church from the west
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| General information | |
| Location | Herefordshire, England |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°05′20″N 2°31′12″W / 52.089°N 2.520°W |
| Construction started | 16th century |
| Completed | 1860 |
Canon Frome is a small village in Herefordshire, England. It's located by the River Frome, about 5 miles northwest of Ledbury. Around 139 people live there.
Its most famous building is Canon Frome Court. This is a large, old country house made of red brick. It's so important that it's a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected because of its history and architecture.
The house started as a manor house with a moat around it in the 1500s. It was rebuilt a lot in 1786 and again in 1868. For 300 years, the Hopton family lived there. Now, it's a cohousing community, where people live together and share spaces.
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History of Canon Frome
Long ago, the Romans built a fort near the river in Canon Frome. You can still see parts of it today! Later, in 1280, religious people called 'Canons' from Llanthony Abbey settled here.
The Hopton family became important in Canon Frome in 1591. This happened when Michael Hopton, a knight, married Martha Hareford. She was the owner of the Canon Frome estate.
English Civil War Events
During the English Civil War (a big conflict in England), Canon Frome Court was a fort for the King's army. About 120 soldiers were there under Colonel John Barnold.
In 1645, a Scottish army captured the house. They were on their way to attack Hereford. The house was badly damaged. About 70 of the King's soldiers were killed. Many were buried where they fell. People used to call one field nearby "Bloody Acre."
It's also said that Oliver Cromwell, a famous leader during the Civil War, rested at the house. This was before the Battle of Ledbury in 1645.
Canon Frome Court Building
The main part of the house you see today was built in 1786. An architect named Anthony Keck designed it for Richard Cope Hopton. It's a great example of late 1700s architecture.
The house was made even bigger and more modern in the 1870s. This work was done by architect John Middleton. In 1952, the house was officially named a Grade II listed building.
Inside the house, you can find some older decorations. In what used to be the Billiard Room, there's a carved wooden overmantel from the late 1500s. It has the initials I. H. and figures of women representing Prudence, Justice, and Wisdom.
Grand Gateway
The driveway to Canon Frome Court has impressive red brick pillars. They were built in 1905 and hold iron gates. On top of the pillars are unusual stone statues. One is a griffin's head with a bloody hand in its mouth. The other is a talbot hound (a type of dog). It's chained, wears a floral collar, and rests its paw on a saltire (a cross shape). These symbols are all part of the Hopton family's coat of arms.
Modern Use of the Court
In 1957, Hereford County Council bought the house and land. It became a state secondary school. The school closed in 1978.
After that, the house was bought by the Windflower Housing Association. This group created a cohousing community there. The house is now divided into 20 apartments. There are also common areas that everyone shares. The land around the house is worked on together by the community.
Parish Church of St. James
The parish church of St. James is very close to Canon Frome Court. It's the third church building to be on this spot.
The red brick West Tower of the church was built in 1680. However, most of the church was rebuilt in 1860 by architect George Bodley. It has an early English style. The chancel (the area around the altar) is very decorative, and there's an alabaster reredos (a screen behind the altar).
Today, the church is part of the Hop Churches benefice. This means it shares a priest and resources with six other nearby churches.
Famous People from Canon Frome
Colonel John Dutton Hopton (1858–1934) lived at Canon Frome Court. He was an Olympic sharpshooter, meaning he was very good at shooting targets. He was also a director of the Royal Academy of Music.
He is buried on a hill called Meephill, east of the village. His grave is marked by an impressive stone temple. This special building has amazing musical echoes inside. This spot is also where he once hit a bull's-eye target 1500 yards away!
How Canon Frome is Governed
The local government for Canon Frome is the Stretton Grandison Group Parish Council. This council also looks after the nearby villages of Stretton Grandison, Castle Frome, and Eggleton.
Canon Frome is part of an area called Frome for elections. In 2011, about 3,450 people lived in this larger area.
