Eardisland, Herefordshire – black and white but full of colour!

Our Arrow Bank Country Holiday Park sits on the edge of the ‘chocolate box’ village of Eardisland, Herefordshire. Quintessential and quite beautiful.

When you conjure up, in your mind’s eye, the perfect English village, with black and white cottages, a babbling river running under a little humped bridge, bells ringing from the church bell tower and pints being drunk outside the pub – you’re thinking of Eardisland in North Herefordshire!

The word ‘quintessential’ aptly describes the village today. There’s a brilliant historic back story whilst the modern version of Eardisland exudes community

The History of Eardisland Bronze Age earthworks around the area suggest early settlements, whilst the fact that a Roman road forms the eastern boundary of the village suggest the Romans bypassed it completely!

At the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 the lands were owned by Morcar, the Earl of Northumbria. The Earl must have made quite an impact as the name Eardisland appears to stem from his time there – ‘Earl’s (Morcar) Lene (the Arrow river valley).

After the Battle of Hastings William the Conqueror took over ownership of the manor and estate, this was handed to his son who gave it to William de Braose. The manor then came into the ownership, by way of marriage, of the powerful Mortimer family of Wigmore. There are lots of mentions of the Mortimers across Herefordshire to the present-day: Mortimer Road, Mortimer Cross, Cleobury Mortimer, Mortimer Forest, Mortimer Trail – a real Herefordshire bigwig family!

Later on, the area passed through the hands of other local families including the Kinnersley’s, Smithies and Hardings.

Black and White Trail

Eardisland is part of the 40-mile Black and White Village Trail in Herefordshire, taking in the historic town of Leominster and includes, among others, the black and white villages of Lyonshall, Pembridge, Dilwyn, Eardisley and, of course, Eardisland.

Modern-day Eardisland probably bears a striking resemblance to its much older self. It’s still full of timbered cottages, many dating from the 15th-17th centuries. One of the oldest buildings is the Staik House, of which some windows and the door still survive and was originally built around the 1300s.

On the main street you can see part of the original 17th century manor house which is now attached to a brick extension built later in that century.

Old and new

As you approach the river bridge, you’ll see the stunning Dovecote on the banks of the picturesque River Arrow. It’s where past meets present. With origins dating from 1469 with later additions from the 17th and 18th centuries, it originally formed part of the manor house grounds when dovecotes were seen as a sign of wealth and privilege.

The Eardisland dovecote was fully restored in 2000, it’s looked after by the Eardisland Dovecote Trust and is now the home to the community-run village shop and visitor centre. Eardisland Community Shop
You can find out so much about an area with a visit to the local church, so a look around St Mary the Virgin is a must. A place of worship was recorded here before Saxon times, and the church that stands now was probably built around the 1060s to 1070s. It was upgraded in Victorian times by Herefordshire architect of the time Henry Curzon. The church’s bell tower is a real feature, not least because it houses, what the church website says are, ‘the eight of the best bells in Herefordshire’.

Not far from the churchyard is a moated castle mound thought to date from the Saxon period. This is all a bit of a mystery as very little is documented about the Eardisland Castle that may have stood here. Although a document from 1213 instructs: ‘arm the castle at Hordisland’. You can’t access the castle mound as the moat is fed by the River Arrow but you can get a really good view from St Mary’s Walk cul-de-sac.

A surprising historical artefact in the village that we do know a lot about is its AA Kiosk. Thought to be the oldest one still in existence, these yellow and black boxes – a cross between a telephone kiosk and the Tardis – used to be dotted across the country from the 1910s to the 1960s. Each kiosk had a unique number so when the caller rang and gave it to the operator, a mechanic could be despatched to the correct location – very modern!! The Kiosk is next to the Cross Inn, which brings us on to pubs……

Eating and drinking in Eardisland

Good news….Eardisland has two pubs and a tearoom, and they’re all dog friendly.

The White Swan is housed in a Grade II listed building that dates back to the 17th century in the main. Inside there’s plenty of beams, real fires and a timber that is thought to have come from Ludlow Castle. The pub is home to the local cricket club and also to Simpson Fine Ales Brewery.

The Cross Inn, Eardisland is also in a Grade II listed building and is positioned by the AA Kiosk. It’s an old drover’s inn with a split-level layout. The Cross Inn’s unique selling point is its pure-breed steaks which are cooked over charcoal in a Bertha oven!

If it’s too early for the pub(s) head to Rita’s Tearoom. It’s a family run cake and coffee emporium. Situated in one of the many black and white buildings. All day breakfasts, traditional cakes and puddings are served inside or out in the pretty gardens. It’s closed on Tuesdays.