Little Cowarne

The parish of Little Cowarne lies to the south of Pencombe and is bordered by Ullingswick and Stoke Lacy. It is one of the smaller parishes in the county covering approximately 693 acres with 46 dwellings and around 100 residents.

The rich fertile ground makes it ideal for grazing the dairy cows, beef cattle and sheep. This along with patches of woodland, ancient hedgerows and orchards form the backdrop of the parish.

Little Cowarne has a rich history much of which has been collated by Jean Hopkinson in her book, Little Cowarne A Herefordshire Village. Here she tells us that the parish incorporates part of the Medieval Broxash Hundred and the name Little Cowarne is derived from two Old English place name elements cu and oern meaning Cow House.

Little Cowarne is a close knit community proud of its own identity. At the same time it has strong links with Pencombe. Children attend Pencombe School and representatives from the village serve on the Group Parish Council and as trustees of Pencombe and Little Cowarne Parish Hall

Pub

The Three Horse Shoes has been the only pub in the village since 1861. It has undergone many transformations since its time as a blacksmiths shop and now has a popular restaurant as well as bed and breakfast accommodation.

Church

The Church, which was dedicated to St Guthlac by The Bishop of Hereford in 1992, is in the centre of the community. Part of the building is undoubtedly 12th Century. The Font, with its typical Norman bowl could also be 12th Century, although the stem is much younger and the base appears to be the trough stone of a cider mill. The Tenor Bell probably dates from the first part of the 17th Century and the Treble Bell was cast by Abraham Rudhall I of Gloucester in 1699.