GOODRICH Ferry was once a main thoroughfare between England and the Welsh Marches. The ancient road between Ross and Monmouth, dating at least from Roman times, crossed the Wye immediately below Goodrich Castle.

Also known as Goodrich Boat, it connected Goodrich to the parish of Walford, which derives its name from “Wales Ford”.

The castle sits on a lofty precipice at a point where the Wye gracefully bends around it. In fact the castle was built here in the 13th century to guard the river and its crossing, which was 700m upstream from where Kerne Bridge is now.

It was while using the ferry that Henry IV, then Earl of Derby, learned from the boatman of the birth of Prince Hal at Monmouth in 1386. He granted all the rights of the ferry to the lucky boatman and his successors, and for many years, there was a small derelict cottage below the castle which may have belonged to the ferry people.

When the Royalist cause in the Civil War was waning, Colonel John Birch based himself at Walford Court to deal with one of its few remaining strong-holds in Herefordshire.

Henry Lingen, holding Goodrich Castle for the King with 200 men and 90 horse, persisted in harassing Parliamentary forces in the region.

On March 9, 1646, Birch orchestrated a stealthy night attack on the stables at the castle’s north-west aspect. Having succeeded in turning loose most of the horse, he set about the outer guard at the ferry point, just a pistol shot away from the castle. The wall of the boat-house wall was dug through and the commanding officers, fifteen gentlemen and troopers surrendered after two hours’ stubborn resistance. This attack on the riverbank put a temporary end to Lingen’s aggressions.

The subsequent main siege of Goodrich Castle lasted for six weeks. Birch shot 19 of the 22 shells from an enormous mortar with his own hand. So well directed were Roaring Meg’s 190lb missiles that every room in the castle was damaged, and much of the interior beaten to the ground. There is proof that Lingen’s less effective artillery was made to respond as best it could; one of the Royalist balls, which must have overshot Parliament forces, was ploughed up on the other side of the road from Ross to Monmouth.

There was, however, a “forgotten” river crossing just upstream from the shadow of the castle and the old ferry. The boys of Felsted School were evacuated to two Herefordshire outposts during the Second World War.

The Junior House went to Canon Frome Court which, curiously, also received a battering in the Civil War, and those aged 13-18 came to Goodrich Court. The temporary school also had outposts at Hill Court, adjoining our route, and Pencraig Court. Since it was necessary to use Kerne Bridge, which in wartime also charged a toll, the boys decided to do something about the four-mile journey with which they were presented.

Selecting a point about 500m up from the castle, at SO 573 204, the boys hung a rope bridge to some trees on the Goodrich side. Stretching 167 feet across the river, which is perversely rather wide at that point, they attached it to some kind of support structure on the Walford bank. It was originally a single plank’s width but this didn’t stop a resourceful boy from successfully cycling across it.

The bridge was later widened to two planks’ width and built above the known flood level. On the Walford side the boys then crossed a meadow to join the road at our walk point no. 2.

By this means they reduced their walking or cycling distance to just over a mile in a manner which might, however, attract the Health and Safety adherents of today!

1. Walford Church of St Michael and All Angels.

Set off (back) along the The Road of Remembrance – an unusual form of War memorial, one lime tree planted for every local man lost in the First World War.

Go through the white gates and TL along the road (for Old Pine), between Walford Court and The Vicarage.

Go through the arch of the old railway bridge and follow road past Warryfield Barn and first junction, down to crossroads.

2. “Felsted School Short Cut to Hill Court”. (The left turn led to and from the rope bridge across the Wye to Goodrich Court).

TR along road. 55m beyond the larger lodge leading to Hill Court (private drive), TR through the gate up the f/path along the L edge/ hedge of the field. Pass up to L of trees, out through “Ross Round” gate onto road. TR along road past back of Old Hill Court. At newer residence, TL along footpath towards pylon.

3. Ross and Monmouth Line. Caravans. Reach and cross old railway. (Chase Wood ahead left, and Howle Hill ahead right). Go down to where path seems to go slightly L through gateway, but kink slightly right ahead along tree-lined L edge to stile in L corner. Go left here and ahead along enclosed path. Keep ahead to B4234 road. Cross road on to pavement and TR under power line for 150m.

4. Bull’s Hill Turn. TL along road (as if for Bull’s Hill), over brook, and 130m beyond last house TR off road over stile into field.

Cross field straight ahead (Lower Wythall up to left).

Cross stile in offset corner. Go R along R edge/ hedge of crop field. Cross 2 stiles, L of house, ahead on to lane. TL and bend R at barns, following surfaced path which leads up stiffly for about 120m to front of house and Wye Valley Path coming in from left.

5. The Rock. Join the WVW and go ahead for 65m. TR across stile, quite steeply down wooden steps, and next stile. Go 75m down over double stile, then stile by gate to road. Cross road on to pavement at Old Bakery, and TR for church.