England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Foy St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Foy lies in  southeastern Herefordshire roughly 4 miles north of the market town of Ross on Wye. Foy sits within a tight bend of the River Wye, almost totally enclosed by that river and several miles from any significant numbered roads, indeed the closest lies some 3 miles to its southeast, across the Wye, the A449 road linking Ross on Wye with Ledbury. Foy is a tiny place, a small linear run of properties paralleling the course of the Wye along its single access lane with subsidiary hamlets at Strangford and Ingestone. The whole area of the parish sits within the Wye's meander and there are extensive grazing meadows alongside that river with arable land on the higher central spine. Modern developments have come and gone, a branch railway line linking Ross on Wye to Hereford once passed through cutting through the spine in a deep cutting, it has now been closed and largely disappeared. The Wye drains the parish heading southwards to eventually reach the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Chepstow. Foy is sited at around 50 metres above the sea with the central spine rising to around 70 metres, across the Wye stands higher ground with Perrystone Hill standing at 195 metres dominating the eastern horizon. Foy parish covered just over 2,200 acres so was fairly typically sized for the area, that acreage would have supported around 250 parishioners. Whilst Foy is not mentioned in Domesday Book, a short entry of 2 ploughs exists for Strangford in the hands of the amusingly named Hugh the Ass.

The Church

St Mary's church stands just south of the main access lane together with some farms and close to the banks of the Wye. Two main eras and styles may be seen in the church with the main body of nave and chancel dating back to the 13th century whilst its western tower is slightly later and 14th. Lancet styled windows in the chancel confirm the Early English Gothic style of the main body but most windows were replaced in the early 14th century when the tower was constructed. That shows the early 14th century Decorated style especially in its bell-openings. The chancel arch and southern porch are contemporary with the tower albeit there is speculation the door itself is even earlier and possibly the earliest feature of the church. The style of the Perpendicular period is shown in the church's feature eastern window, however, this is use of an earlier style by the builders erecting it in 1673. A typical and fairly light restoration was overlaid in Victorian times, here it came in 1863 and re-roofed the chancel amongst other minor changes. The church is set back from the lane with a large gravelled parking area in front allowing an extended visit, the churchyard has a few trees, particularly at the eastern end but most aspects are available to the photographer.