Church Recording for Putley Church (Dedication unknown), Putley, Herefordshire (in the diocese of Hereford)
| Post Code HR8 2QP | Grid Ref. SO 646073 | Church Code 618183 |
THE ARTS SOCIETY Record of Church Furnishings 2019 by the ROSS-ON-WYE CHURCH RECORDERS' GROUP commenced in 2017 during the incumbency of Reverends Howard Mayell and John Rhodes and was completed in 2020.
Putley lies off the A417 Ledbury to Hereford road, 4 miles West of Ledbury.
Roman remains found close to the church and in the foundations of the north wall suggest Putley's early occupation. Putley or Poteslepe is mentioned in the Domesday Book as land owned by the powerful de Lacy family, taken from the Saxon Tosti, held by William D’Everaux. It is William who is thought to have built the church in 1100, eventually granting the living to Hereford Cathedral and becoming part of the Greytree Hundred.
The church is listed in the Taxatio de Ecclesiastica Anglais et Walliae of 1297, but despite a Rector and Rectory it is deemed too poor to record. The church’s fortunes had grown sufficiently by 1552 for Commissioners on behalf of Edward V1, to list items of value. Fluctuating fortunes continue over the following three centuries but despite several gifts to the church from prominent local landowners, by the middle of the 19th century the church was said to be in a dilapidated state.
In 1872, the whole estate including the land on which the church sits, was purchased by a 24 year old Yorkshire textile merchant John Riley, for £27,875 (£2.25 m. at today’s prices). With Thomas Blashill of London as architect, they almost completely rebuilt the Parish church in 1876, creating a church in the High or Anglo-Catholic style. Today, Putley's church stands reflected in a small pond surrounded by tall trees and apple and pear orchards.
Putley is part of Ledbury Group Ministry. Together with Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Pixley, Wellington Heath and Yatton they form the Cider Churches Group.
The Record has been sponsored by The Arts Society Ross-on-Wye.
View from South West
Interior Looking East
Interior Looking West
Church Plan