Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Wednesday 29 September 2021

Return to Herefordshire - Part 1: Bromyard

 

E was on holiday from work last week and wanted to go to the caravan for a few days. We were so lucky with the weather as it was dry, sunny and warm without being too hot.

Usual click and collect on the Tuesday and then on Wednesday E said she wanted to have a look round the market town of Bromyard often referred to as The Jewel in the Downs and The Town of Festivals.

Bromyard is a historic market town first recorded in 840AD. It is situated in the valley of the River Frome and near the county border with Worcestershire.  It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and the name Bromyard is derived from the Old English "an enclosure covered or fenced with broom or gorse"  It contains a number of half timbered buildings.

The Old Vicarage converted to an office in 1967.








The Visitor Centre and Art Gallery near the car park were open and I made a rare excursion these days into a building! Sadly, the visitor centre contained far fewer books for sale than I remembered. 








The almshouses were constructed in the early 17th century to provide for "poor women of good character" from the ancient township of Bromyard.  In 1962 the almshouses were modernised and converted from the original seven houses to four flatlets.




The front of the Queen's Arms was rebuilt in the late 19th century and there is late 16th century timber framing at the side and rear.






The Falcon Hotel is 16th/17th century with close studding on the lower two floors and 18th century timbering above.










17th century timber framed house formerly the Lamb Inn



Flowerdews is a lovely tea room where we have had two lovely lunches in the past.  It seems to be for sale so I do hope the tearoom isn't closing - it wasn't open when we visited last week.




The Hop Pole Inn (still closed by the look of it) is late 18th century.



The Old Post Office from 1852-1910.

























Unsurprisingly, I couldn't persuade B and E to visit St Peter's church which is so interesting and lovely but if you want to read the post on a previous visit  please see St Peter's Church Bromyard .

There is also a very good Science Fiction museum full of Dr Who Memorabilia which D and I visited some years ago. To read the post please see Science Fiction and Dr Who Museum


I did suggest we visit the nearby Ralph Court Gardens in the afternoon but again no-one else was keen!


We picked some cooking apples to bring home from the small tree at the caravan - its a much smaller crop this year compared to last!





I hope everyone is staying safe and well

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.

Reference: Buildings of England - Herefordshire by Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner (2012)



9 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

What a lovely town it is. There was a lovely cottage for sale up on the Downs, which we liked the look of but was hopelessly too small. It reminds me of Ledbury. One of these days we will visit when we go to Malvern, but normally we are absolutely shattered when we leave the Fleamarket and just want to get home soonest.

What a shame you didn't get to visit the lovely church there. You'll have to give yourself some outings on your ownsome so you can indulge yourself!

Ragged Robin said...

Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. We've been on the downs once and it looked lovely. I've still not managed to get to Ledbury - probably one to visit on way to caravan or way back.

I've been to the church before thankfully while son and OH looked round Dr Who museum and I had already been there. Church is superb! To go to churches outings on my ownsome will be necessary!!

CherryPie said...

Bromyard looks like a lovely place for a visit.

I shared your previous post about the Dr Who memorabilia with Mr C. One of his friends, who he met and looked after through a young carer's scheme loves anything Dr Who.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Glad you were able to get a away for a few days and in very good weather. What a lovely town to visit and I loved looking at all your photographs

Rustic Pumpkin said...

Such a lovely town to visit. I'm not sure what to make of that highly decorated milk churn. Mine were prone to rusting badly, despite treating regularly. I suppose if it's kept inside it wouldn't deteriorate as mine did.
My apple harvest was poor this year, as was my neighbour's. We lost all our blossom in the peculiar Spring weather. Yet, another neighbour is away for three weeks and her garden is now full of windfalls that just lie rotting on the ground.

Rosie said...

Bromyard looks a lovely town. I seem to think we passed through it once on the way home from a holiday but didn't stop. I love those windows on Flowerdews and The Hop Pole you have captured some lovely small features around the town. You were lucky with the weather too:)

Ragged Robin said...

CherryPie - Thanks so much. Lovely to know the Dr Who post may give pleasure to someone :)

Margaret Birding for Pleasure - Thanks so much - it is good to have somewhere to escape too as we haven't had a proper holiday now for over two years seaside wise anyway!

Rustic Pumpkin - Thanks so much. At the price of that milk churn I think it would need to be kept inside!! So sorry to hear about yours rusting. I blamed poor apple crop on OH over pruning it earlier in the year but it sounds as though it could have been due to the strange Spring weather then. Such a shame about the windfalls going to waste.

Rosie - Thanks so much. We had passed through it several times without stopping until son discovered the Dr Who museum there and we had a special trip. Flowerdews is a lovely building and the tea room so lovely - do hope it isn't closing permanently.

Millymollymandy said...

It must be delightful driving through Herefordshire with all those beautiful villages! Shame about the apple crop but that is so often the way. Bravo for going into a building! I wouldn't be so keen here in France if people were not all wearing masks. We went to a restaurant (sat outside) but were not happy that the server and ?cook? who also helped (looked like a middle aged married couple who were probably the owners) were not wearing masks at all and didn't ask us for our Covid passes.

Ragged Robin said...

Millymollymandy - Thanks so much. I am that in love with Herefordshire have started to read the Merrily Watkins books again that are set there :) Sadly masks in shops etc no longer mandatory over here (stupid stupid decision) and less and less people are wearing them. No idea if people who cook and serve in pubs still wearing masks - may depend on pub chain??? No wonder cases so high over here!