Ross-on-Wye Town Council celebrates town’s history with new blue plaques
18 May 2026
Ross-on-Wye Town Council continues to commemorate important figures in the town’s history with the installation of two new blue plaques in the town. This follows the installation of a plaque at The Hope and Anchor’s Pavilion in honour of founding members of Mott the Hoople, Dale “Buffin” Griffin and Pete Overend Watts.
The first of two new plaques honours Reverend William Gilpin and is situated in a flowerbed at the top of Thomas Blake Memorial Gardens, overlooking the riverside. Gilpin was known for mentioning the ‘Wye Tour’ in his book, in which visitors would journey down the Wye by boat. Shortly after, Ross-on-Wye became known as ‘the birthplace for British tourism’.
The second plaque is situated on The Corn Exchange, on High Street, to recognise Bernhard Molique Carrodus, a talented violinist, as the location was formerly used as a venue for his many, popular smoking concerts. Carrodus was summoned to Balmoral to play for Queen Victoria in 1899 before relocating to Ross and later chairing Ross Music Society and Ross Rowing Club.
The Council encourages locals and visitors to explore the town’s rich history through the heritage trail, found on the free Ross-on-Wye Trails app, and the Museum Without Walls app, made by CreateRoss.