English Bicknor
| English Bicknor | |
|---|---|
 Village sign |
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 English Bicknor
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| English Bicknor shown within Gloucestershire | |
| Population | 408 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SO581156 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Coleford |
| Postcode district | GL16 7 |
| Dialling code | 01594 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | www.englishbicknor.org.uk |
English Bicknor is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean district of west Gloucestershire, England. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 the population is 406, increasing marginally to 408 at the 2011 census. The village is close to the county border with Herefordshire, opposite which is the village of Welsh Bicknor. The two towns lie on different sides of the River Wye.
The existence of Bicknor is documented as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was known by the name Bicanofre. The second morpheme of this name, ōfer, is thought to refer to a river bank in Old English, which jibes with the towns' river-straddling site. Various hypotheses have been put forward regarding the origin of the first morpheme in the name.
English Bicknor is one of the ancient villages of the Forest of Dean, situated at the top of a hill overlooking the Wye Valley, and once the site of a motte and bailey castle, the remnants of which can still be seen. Close to the village is Bicknor Court, an imposing house some 400 years old. Situated between Symond's Yat and Lower Lydbrook on high ground opposite its namesake Welsh Bicknor. English Bicknor is first recorded as a hamlet in 1066.
A primarily agricultural and industrial area, its main attraction today is the small Norman parish church dedicated to St Mary which has excellent internal stonemasonry and sculpture dating from the 12th century. The original tower was situated centrally but was built from the soft local sandstone which became unsafe. The church is also interesting because it is sited within the outer courtyard of the motte and bailey castle. Norman masonry has been found within the motte, suggesting at least part was built in stone and while nothing is left of the castle's actual structure today, its location is still identifiable. A typical early Norman defence work which is one of many along the Welsh Marches, it is thought to have been built in the reign of Henry I of England (1100–1135) or King Stephen (1135–54) and was demolished or destroyed by the late 14th century, but why and how is not known (possibly during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr).
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Wikipedia