How Caple
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
How Caple is a village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire. The population of this civil parish at the 2011 census was 118.{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124854&c=How+Caple&d=16&e=62&g=6386064&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1446302343562&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=31 October 2015}}
To the east of the village, on the main B4224 road, is the hamlet of Crossway. How Caple is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
How Caple Church
How Caple church is more than 800 years old. The earliest parts of the church date to around 1210 but Roman artefacts suggest the existence of an even earlier temple. Rebuilding of the nave, chancel, and tower happened in 1693{{Cite web|title=How Caple Church {{!}} History, Photos & Visiting Information|url=https://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=3916|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Britain Express|language=en}}
The church’s features include an alleged plague stone outside, chancel corbels dating to the 1200s, a 14th century lavacrum, a reredos from 1918 depicting the last supper, and a diptych, possibly made in Germany, depicting eight religious scenes and acquired for How Caple church in 1870 from the Netherlands.
Between the chancel and the body of the church is a rood screen attributed to Grinling Gibbons.
The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner includes How Caple church in his “ The Buildings of England” Series,{{Cite book|last=Pevsner|first=Nikolaus|title=Herefordshire (The Buildings of England)|publisher=Penguin Books Ltd|year=1973|isbn=9780140710250}} noting the acanthus decoration of the font that is now in the entrance, and confirming the main font as “Late Norman with haphazard vegetable and geometrical motifs”
The church has become popular for weddings.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Country house wedding venue in Herefordshire {{!}} How Caple Court|url=http://www.howcaplecourt.co.uk/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=www.howcaplecourt.co.uk}}
= The Gregory Chapel =
The southern transept was built in 1693 by Sir William Gregory the lord of How Caple manor. Sir William, a local man, rose to become Speaker of the House of Commons. He helped to bring in the Habeas Corpus Act 1679.
The chapel has a stained glass window made by Frederick Preedy.
How Caple Court and the Lee Family
One of the main benefactors of the church and village in the last hundred years have been the Lees, owners of How Caple Court. Changes they have made to the church include a reordering of the main entrance from the southern porch to the west door.
Notable people
Quentin Letts, writer and journalist. Lives with his family in How Caple.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-19 |title=Herefordshire journalist Quentin Letts attacks Britain's elite in new book |url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/15668545.herefordshire-journalist-quentin-letts-attacks-britains-elite-in-new-book/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Hereford Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Frank speaking Quentin Letts talks issues big and small with Joanna Hilditch, High Sheriff of Herefordshire – High Sheriff Herefordshire |url=https://www.highsheriffherefordshire.org/frank-speaking-quentin-letts-talks-issues-big-and-small-with-joanna-hilditch-high-sheriff-of-herefordshire/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |language=en-GB}}
= References =
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Category:Civil parishes in Herefordshire
Category:Villages in Herefordshire
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