215 
Hereford, to which See it belonged. William the 
First gave it to Henry de Ferrers—a Norman Baron 
of great wealth and position—who fought at Hastings, 
and was one of the seven Commissioners who had 
charge of the great Domesday survey in the year 1086. 
His son, Robert de Ferrers, for valiant services at the 
battle of Northallerton in 1138, when King Stephen 
defeated David, King of Scotland, was created Earl 
of Derby. In the reign of Henry the Third, Robert 
de Ferrers, having displayed persistent animosity to 
the King, his Castles and lands were forfeited and 
given to Prince Edward. After he had been imprison- 
ed three years the Prince restored the Castles and 
Estates, on payment of £50,000, which sum was guar- 
anteed by eleven great Barons, to whom the Karl 
conveyed his Estates as a security. One of these 
friends was Sir Bartholomew de Sudeley, of Sudeley 
Castle, near Winchcombe, then High Sheriff of 
Herefordshire; and, as money was not forthcoming 
for the redemption of the Estates, they eventually 
became fully vested in the Prince, and some still form 
part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Sir Bartholomew 
was instrumental in conveying the Manor of Mordiford 
to Henry de Hereford, whose descendants, bearing the 
same name, still own the Manor and Estates; and 
therefore the Herefords have been in possession of the 
property for more than 500 years. 
“The Advowson of Mordiford Rectory was given to the 
Abbey of Gloucester, and to its Priory of St. Guthlac, 
by Henry de Hereford ; and on the suppression of the 
religious houses was granted to John ap Rice, a 
member of the Royal Household. At the close of the 
17th century it was purchased by Paul Foley, Esq., 
M.P., with whose successors at Stoke Edith the 
patronage has since remained.” 
The Rector, the Rev. Robert Hereford, met the members 
at the Church, and pointed out the place where the Dragon of 
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