MOST famous feature of the old-world town of Ross-on-Wye is the market hall built in 1670 of local sandstone and standing right in the heart of the town.

It will become even more prominent soon as it is to be transformed into a Heritage Centre with a European grant of £120,000 and a further £20,000 from the Rural Development Commission.

The old hall will provide a centre for local history, community traditions and cultural heritage and a venue for local exhibitions. Worth seeing in the east wall is a bust of Charles II. And there is a monogram carved in stone for John Kyrle, a local benefactor, who was born at near-by Dymock in 1637. The emblem, comprising a heart and two letters, was an expression of his loyalty to the Crown.

Visitors have usually enjoyed good travelling routes to Ross. There has always been travel on the River Wye, the town was in an important position on the country's coaching route and then the railways really opened up the area.

And in 1960 the opening of the Ross Spur motorway accelerated the development of the town as a thriving tourist area with excellent hotel facilities in a position of outstanding natural beauty.

The town has never looked back, and besides its many attractions is the ideal base for touring the Wye Valley and beyond.