How Caple

How Caple is a village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire. The population of this civil parish at the 2011 census was 118.[1]

How Caple church

To the east of the village, on the main B4224 road, is the hamlet of Crossway. How Caple is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

How Caple Church

How Caple church is more than 800 years old. The earliest parts of the church date to around 1210 but Roman artefacts suggest the existence of an even earlier temple.  Rebuilding of the nave, chancel, and tower happened in 1693[2]

The church’s features include an alleged plague stone outside, chancel corbels dating to the 1200s, a 14th century lavacrum, a reredos from 1918 depicting the last supper, and a diptych, possibly made in Germany, depicting eight religious scenes and acquired for How Caple church in 1870 from the Netherlands.

1918 reredos depicting the last supper

Between the chancel and the body of the church is a rood screen attributed to Grinling Gibbons.

The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner includes How Caple church in his “ The Buildings of England” Series,[3] noting the acanthus decoration of the font that is now in the entrance, and confirming the main font as “Late Norman with haphazard vegetable and geometrical motifs”

The church has become popular for weddings.[4]

The Gregory Chapel

The southern transept was built in 1693 by Sir William Gregory the lord of How Caple manor. Sir William, a local man, rose to become Speaker of the House of Commons. He helped to bring in the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679.

The chapel has a stained glass window made by Frederick Preedy.

How Caple Court and the Lee Family
How Caple Court

One of the main benefactors of the church and village in the last hundred years have been the Lees, owners of How Caple Court. Changes they have made to the church include a reordering of the main entrance from the southern porch to the west door.

Notable people

Quentin Letts, writer and journalist. Lives with his family in How Caple.[5][6]

References
  1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  2. "How Caple Church | History, Photos & Visiting Information". Britain Express. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. Pevsner, Nikolaus (1973). Herefordshire (The Buildings of England). Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 9780140710250.
  4. "Country house wedding venue in Herefordshire | How Caple Court". www.howcaplecourt.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  5. "Herefordshire journalist Quentin Letts attacks Britain's elite in new book". Hereford Times. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. "Frank speaking Quentin Letts talks issues big and small with Joanna Hilditch, High Sheriff of Herefordshire – High Sheriff Herefordshire". Retrieved 7 October 2023.
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51.9715°N 2.5764°W / 51.9715; -2.5764


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