English Heritage sites near Upper Sapey Parish
EDVIN LOACH OLD CHURCH
4 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
The ruins of an 11th century and later church built within the earthworks of a Norman motte and bailey castle, with a Victorian church nearby. The site of hundreds of years of worship.
WITLEY COURT AND GARDENS
5 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
A hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England's great country houses, hosting many extravagant parties. Today it is a spectacular ruin, the result of a disastrous fire in 1937.
LEIGH COURT BARN
9 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
An outstanding display of English medieval carpentry, this mighty timber-framed barn is the largest cruck structure in Britain.
WIGMORE CASTLE
17 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
One of the most important castles in the history of the Welsh Marches and major centre of power for over 500 years, hosting royalty on several occasions. Deliberately demolished during the Civil War.
ROTHERWAS CHAPEL
18 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
Family chapel of the Bodenham family. The originally simple medieval building has a fine Elizabethan timber roof, 18th century tower and striking Victorian interior decoration and furnishings.
STOKESAY CASTLE
19 miles from Upper Sapey Parish
Stokesay Castle is quite simply the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England.
Churches in Upper Sapey Parish
Upper Sapey: St Michael
Church Close
Upper Sapey
http://www.whitbourne.org.uk/ushome.shtml
This church is one of four in the Greater Whitbourne parish in Hereford Diocese.
The boundary between Herefordshire and Worcestershire seems to have been somewhat fluid over the centuries, and parishes have, confusingly, moved between the two Dioceses. In 1919 a large group of parishes were moved from Hereford to Worcester Diocese. At present, Upper Sapey is firmly in Hereford Diocese and Lower Sapey (whose church, used only once or twice a year, is also worth seeing) is in Worcester Diocese.
The church has an impressive Norman arch at the West end, a simple but effective screen and a pulpit which, we are told, contains carved panels from Tedstone Delamere church. After several years of inspired planning and fund-raising (including substantial grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, National Churches Trust and several others, plus major local donations), in 2016 the church was repaired and made safe and "Olly's Friendship Room" built inside the church. This is a warm and comfortable community room, glass-screened but fully visible from the church nave, a great addition to the community facilities in this small village. At the same time, the church heating and lighting has been upgraded to modern standards, and the porch restored and fully glazed.
Upper Sapey is a relatively obscure parish, consisting of just a few farms. But now, as well as a good pub (the only ‘Baiting House' in the world) it has a popular golf course and cross-country and point-to-point course. There is also a modern village hall.
Pubs in Upper Sapey Parish
Baiting House
An impressive refurbishment has transformed this small, stone-built country inn into a first class venue. The rear entrance leads to a public bar, beyond which are a snug, a lounge bar and a restaurant all on different levels. To the side...
Sapey Golf Club
Upper Sapey, WR6 6XT
(01886) 853288
sapeygolfandcountryclub.co.uk/