On the Monday we decided to go to Ledbury. E had discovered it by googling and to be honest I didn't realise it was a close as it was - just under 40 minutes. Good news as it was on my list of places I really wanted to visit!
We missed the turn to the long stay car park initially so I snapped this figure while B was trying to turn the car round.
I didn't walk round all of the town centre as I decided to have a quick 40 minute whistle stop tour of the church while the others looked round. But a few photos (actually there are a lot more than a few!) as we did explore for a while after my church visit.
Ledbury takes it name from the River Leadon. It belonged to the Bishops of Hereford who built an Anglo Saxon Minster and then created a town c1125.
The layout of the town's burbage plots can still be seen.
It was called a "poor town" in 1552 but had become wealthy by the late C16th. The cloth trade flourished under the Skynner, Skyppe and Elton families. Leather working was also important. Around 50 buildings have been dated c1580-1620. Many have closed studded panelling which was a sign of wealth and prosperity.
The market hall in the High Street dates back to ~1617 and was altered in 1688. It has been suggested it was the work of John Abell but there is no documentary evidence to support this. It has an open ground floor with moulded oak posts on stone bases. The upper floor is framed. After my church visit we sat at a table on the ground floor having a hot chocolate.
The Barrett Browning Institute with a tall clock tower was built 1894-6. Elizabeth Barrett Browning spent her childhood near Ledbury and the Institute commemorates her.
The Seven Stars pub was built in the late 16th century and is probably the oldest tavern in Ledbury. It overlooked the cattle market until 1887.
I bought some Woolhope Preserves here - apple chutney and the red pepper sauce.
A "classic" view of Ledbury looking up Church Lane to St Michael and All Angels. Church Lane is narrow and cobbled and contains some of the best black and white buildings in Ledbury.
Old Council House offices built c1500 and extended in the C17th. Used as a Poor Law Institute,the first town library and then council offices.
The 16th century Butcher Row House, now a museum but it looked closed, was originally part of a row running down the High Street. Most of the houses were demolished c1830 :( but this building was re-erected in a back yard and then moved to its present location in 1979.
Domestic Water Pumps from the basement kitchen of the Yews provided a choice of well water or rain water.
The Prince of Wales Inn built c1500 perhaps as a Guild Hall. Once a Grammar School then a pub and Heritage Centre I believe.
Old Magistrate's Court early C18th.
Church House c1600
War Memorial 1920
The High Street contains many independent and charity shops.
The Master's House. Now a library I think.
Insect House by the car park.
Ghostly Tales
Composer Jack Moeran lived with his mother in Ledbury and often walked around the town and surrounding countryside seeking inspiration. On 1st December 1950 a woman saw him walking around the town. She knew he was away in Ireland at the time and not due back until Christmas and she assumed initially he had returned early. But it turned out the apparition she saw was at around the time he died suddenly while away.
For the next two posts we will visit the church.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. I don't particularly rate most of my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful please for an email first.
Reference: Pevsner The Buildings of England Herefordshire by Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner Yale University Press
Haunted Herefordshire by Rupert Matthews, Logaston Press
