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WELCOME TO ROSS-ON-WYE
The 16th century Market House, Ross-on-Wye, focal point of the riverside town.
One of the oldest buildings in Ross-on-Wye, the Market House, was built between 1650 and 1654 replacing the older, probably wooden Booth Hall. It has its origins in the 12th century when King Stephen granted Ross the right to hold a market in the area which stimulated the economy and encouraged trade.
On the second floor, the Market House now houses Made In Ross, high-quality arts and crafts made by local people. There is a wide range of affordable items ranging from cards to large paintings, with much more in between such as wooden pieces, mosaics, knitted items, jewellery and of course pottery. Everyone is welcome to come in and have a browse. The Market House is now open from 10am to 4pm every day of the week.
Markets
As befits an ancient market town, twice-weekly markets are held in and around the Market House where local traders come to sell their goods and produce. The markets are very popular and well attended by shoppers attracted by the wide variety of items on sale.
Town Ambassadors welcome visitors
A team of volunteer ambassadors, some with their dogs, recognisable by their distinctive purple waistcoats, are on hand to show visitors around, distribute information and tell people about the town’s history and what to do and see, including the historic buildings, picturesque riverside and glorious views from The Prospect.
Visitors have been asking about the vintage shopping trail, the Augmented Reality of the ambitious Museum Without Walls and the town’s rich and colourful history. Eleven ambassadors, all of whom love of the town, can be found normally in the vicinity of the Market House and concentrate on a route in and around the town centre and Rope Walk most days of the week from around 10 am till 2pm. Disabled visitors are welcome as are dog lovers. In fact, Ross-on-Wye may be the first town in Britain to have canine ambassadors to go walkies around the town with tourists and visitors.
See them in action
Out and about
Ross-on-Wye is rightly regarded as being the ideal holiday centre to explore the Wye Valley, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and as far as Monmouthshire in Wales. From cider making to arts and crafts, from the industrial legacy of the Forest of Dean and its woods and hills to its towns and villages- all are within striking distance of the town.
There are castles, abbeys, adventure experiences, walking and cycling routes, museums, a film trail (Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Game Of Thrones, for example) and a host of things to do and explore.
To find out more about the region check with the neighbouring tourism association websites.
HRH The Prince of Wales pays a visit
To launch the Gilpin 2020 celebrations, which recognises Ross-on-Wye’s position as the birthplace of British tourism, HRH The Prince of Wales came to the town to meet local people, associations, volunteers, artists and craftspeople and light the torch that would be used to ignite the beacon at The Prospect. He made a point of dropping into Made in Ross, the artists collective on the first floor of the Market House.
Watch Prince Charles’s visit on video
GILPIN 2020
Ross-on-Wye Tourism Association has now joined forces with Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. It collaborates with other organisations that promote the town and the county.
Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism
Tourist information sites in the town
The Ross-on-Wye Tourism Association (RTA) has set up Tourist Information Sites (TIS) inside existing businesses located around the town. The strategically positioned TISs mark a major initiative to attract holidaymakers, visitors and business travellers to the riverside town.
Window posters will identify the locations within which visitors will find a town map, leaflets, information about where to go and what to do to make the most enjoyable use of their time and a list of accommodation.
Ross Information Service at Made in Ross (situated on the first floor of the Market House); Truffles, 46 High Street and Larruperz Centre, Grammar School Close (near Morrisons).
Vintage shopping trail puts town on collectibles map
Eighteen specialist independent shops and one ‘old-world’ tea room have formed a ‘trail’ around Ross-on-Wye. It provides visitors looking for antiques, collectibles, interesting bric-a-brac, vintage clothes and jewellery, furniture and a host of quirky objects with fascinating tour.
The Vintage Shopping Trail is expected to attract serious buyers and casual shoppers keen to browse and acquire eclectic, bespoke, quality and imaginative vintage equipment, products, objets d’art for home and business.
And after a exhaustive day shopping, they can relax with a cuppa and cake at Miffy’s Tea Room in an atmosphere redolent of times gone by.
Leaflets can be picked up at any of the Tourist Information Centres (see article above).
BBC Hereford & Worcester interview
Lizzie Lane of BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Breakfast Show interviews some owners of businesses on the Vintage Shopping Trail: Space/Inside, Lot 47, Waterfall Antiques, Vintage Virtu and Miffy’s Tea Room. Play the broadcast below. Click photo..
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