Ratlinghope
The small village of Ratlinghope lies against the lower slopes of the western side of the Long Mynd.
Ratlinghope is a small village, with very few
buildings - so small, in fact, that it is said once to have been
described as "... a bit blowed off a village".
It lies alongside the Darnford Brook which originates at Wildmoor Pool in the hills above, and includes a number of houses spread over several hamlets ranged over a relatively wide area.
In the graveyard of St Margaret's Church at Ratlinghope is the grave of Richard Munslow, said to have been the last 'sin-eater' of the area - a sin-eater being one who attended the funeral of some unfortunate who had not recanted his sins so that he (the sin-eater) could take on that burden. Further details are shown on one of the photographs linked below.
A millennium yew tree in the church yard was planted in 2000, propagated from a tree said to be over 1000 years old.
It lies alongside the Darnford Brook which originates at Wildmoor Pool in the hills above, and includes a number of houses spread over several hamlets ranged over a relatively wide area.
In the graveyard of St Margaret's Church at Ratlinghope is the grave of Richard Munslow, said to have been the last 'sin-eater' of the area - a sin-eater being one who attended the funeral of some unfortunate who had not recanted his sins so that he (the sin-eater) could take on that burden. Further details are shown on one of the photographs linked below.
A millennium yew tree in the church yard was planted in 2000, propagated from a tree said to be over 1000 years old.
 Ratlinghope through the gate |
 St Margarets Church - 1 |
 St Margarets Church - 2 |
 Sin eater's grave |
 Millennium yew tree |
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