Ocle Pychard is a hamlet and parish near Burley Gate, in Herefordshire, England, 3.25 miles (5.23 km) northwest of Stoke Edith, 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest from Bromyard, and about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Hereford. The parish of Stretton Grandison neighbours Ocle Pychard to the east, while that of Westhide is to the south. Once a larger settlement, its population was 187 in 1801, 236 in 1831, 224 in 1832, and 299 in 1861.[1][2][3]
Ocle Pichard, a section of Ocle, derived its additional name from a family which arrived soon after the Norman Conquest. Roger Pichard was mentioned in the Book of Fees during the reign of Henry III. Miles Picard, knight of the shire, was High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1300–06. A Roger Picard, probably his son, served in the same capacity during the period of 1318-27, while the vicar John Pichard served Ocle Pychard's parish in 1446.[6]
George Carpenter, 1st Baron Carpenter (1657–1732) was born at Livers Ocle in Ocle Pychard into a family which had owned property in the area for over 400 years.[7] Its population in 1861 was 299; at the time the manor belonged to J. L. Harrison.[8] It later fell into the hands of the Cresswell family.
Landmarks
Sheep grazing near the church
The Church of St James the Great dates to the 14th century and became a Grade II* listed building on 9 June 1967.[9] Built of "coursed local sandstone rubble with freestone dressings", the tower is believed to date to the early 19th century with a spire late added by William Chick between 1869 and 1872.[9] The east window is Perpendicular architecture in style and the spire is of copper covering.[10]Ocle Priory was in the vicinity. The Hereford and Gloucester Canal traverses the southern part of the parish.[8] A primary school was located in Ocle Pychard in 1967, but it was replaced.[11]
