Eardisland, The Black and White Villages, Herefordshire.

The Black and White Trail was developed as a means of encouraging visitors to take a closer look at the beautiful countryside and villages between Leominster and Kington in the north-west of Herefordshire. The trail, as the name suggests, is characterised by the large number of timbered and half-timbered houses in the area some dating from medieval times, others from more recent periods.

This house, typical of the area, is in Eardisland which lies on the River Arrow.

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The Nave of the present church was built in the 12th century (probably being the total extent of the Church at that time) then the Chancel, Vestry and South Porch were added in the 14th Century.

The original Tower (of probable 15th century origin) collapsed in 1728 and was replaced by the present one in 1760.

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Eardisland is about 6 miles due west of Leominster and the bridge in the background carries the B4529 road to Leominster over the river.

Eardisland grew around a castle which has long since vanished although the great moated mound where the castle once stood can still be seen. The castle was built to guard the road between England and Wales where it crosses the River Arrow.

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This house is next to the bridge over the River Arrow shown above. The stone wall that you can see is actually the bridge parapet.

The oldest houses in Eardisland date from the 14th Century.

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