The chapel was probably built by the Brockhamptons around 1180. The octagonal font was carved from a single block of stone about the same date. The Domultons inserted the large east window, probably at the time they were building Lower Brockhampton House. The graveyard contains numerous burials – perhaps the remains of the inhabitants of the lost village. The gravestones that are still legible commemorate Richard Barneby (d.1719) and his wife Isabella (d.1726). The chapel had been abandoned by 1799, when Jon Barneby built a new estate church by the drive to his father’s new house. The old chapel was swallowed up by the adjacent farmyard, being relegated the status of a barn.*

*From Brockhampton Estate guide book (revised 2015)

Nestled at the heart of a 1,700 acre estate this picturesque medieval manor house is the ancient centre of the estate. Surrounded by a moat and borders of colourful flowers, tucked out of sight in the rolling Herefordshire landscape. The house is entered through the charming, unique 15th century timber framed gatehouse.

The manor house has been lived in for most of its history. The building has been adapted and shaped by the people who lived there and still speaks to us today of rural lives and the rich productivity of the Herefordshire landscape. *

*From Welcome to Brockhampton leaflet

We abandoned our household duties and set of towards the Brockhampton Estate in time to enjoy lunch in the tea room. The sun shone as we traveled towards Brockhampton and we were treated to some spectacular countryside views, but as we neared the Brockhampton Estate a large dark cloud appeared overhead!

We arrived at the top car park and made our way to the tea room for lunch, just before the heavens opened. We enjoyed lunch and waited until the rain had stopped before making our way to the entrance Kiosk, where we were told that the best way to get to the house was to drive down to the bottom car park. We drove down and walked to the ‘Old House’ which is quite unexpected and stunning set in the surrounding countryside.We dodged the raindrops and enjoyed both the inside an outside of the property.

A special treat as we sheltered in an outbuilding to allow a shower to pass over was seeing two tiny frogs (a few millimeters in size), obviously newly born. Wow!! Then whilst we were in the house one of the room guides told us about the resident bats in the roof space and the need to cover up the furniture in some rooms overnight to stop it being fouled. This reminded me that  couple of days ago I noticed that my bat is back, I hadn’t seen him since ‘my oak tree’ got trimmed. I was thrilled to see him in the twilight catching insects over my garden

We made our way home we calling into the Ludlow Food Centre to pick up something for our evening meal, we were not inspired… Leading me to have my own inspiration (chilli/white wine coated salmon), coriander potatoes and green veg), so we picked up the fresh ingredients in a local shop before we returned home.

The meal was delicious