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Ledbury Historic Town Walk

Ledbury is a market town in the east of Herefordshire. It is named after the river Leadon, which runs through the area. In the Domesday Survey of 1086 it is recorded as ‘Ledeberge’.

In the 12^th century Ledbury had a Bishop’s Palace and the bishops were formally lords of the manor of Ledbury. For some time Ledbury was the most valuable of all the manors held by the Bishop.

One important trade carried out in Ledbury in the 16^th and 17^th centuries was cloth-making, which had been profitable here since the reign of Elizabeth I. Tanning was also a significant trade and there were numerous tanning pits in the town. Glove making was also carried out by the women of Ledbury who worked on machines in their own homes and sold their products at Worcester. Unfortunately this industry went into decline and had more or less ceased by the end of the 19^th century.

In the post-medieval period the principal trade of Ledbury was dependent on the produce of the surrounding orchards and hop fields.

It was hoped that trade and commerce in the town would be improved by the opening of the Hereford and Gloucester Canal, which was also hoped would decrease coal prices. The section of the canal from Over in Gloucestershire to Ledbury opened in 1798 but it wasn’t completed to Hereford until 1845. The canal no doubt increased the movement of good sin and out of Ledbury but unfortunately it was never the commercial success that was hoped. The first railway to stop in Ledbury town was the Ledbury and Gloucester Railway, which opened in 1885. This would have opened up Ledbury to the world outside and would have increased goods and tourist traffic both in and out of the town.

Start at John Masefield High School and head into town along Southend. Along here on your left you will find:

The Old Girl’s School

This school was founded by Elizabeth Hall in 1708.
It was intended to teach domestic crafts such as sewing, knitting, washing and cooking as well as the basics of reading, writing and numbers.
When Miss Hall died she left enough money to provide for a school mistress and 24 children and a schoolmaster to teach 8 of those to write.
In the 19^th century for half a penny pupils could receive school dinners. On Mondays this was pea soup, Tuesday rice pudding, Wednesday Irish Stew, Thursday boiled beef and suet pudding and Friday pea soup again.
The School was rebuilt in 1910 and was now known as the ‘New School of Domestic Economy’.

From here carry on into town and at the junction with Upper Cross on your right you will see:

Ledbury Park or Southend

This was once known as ‘New House’ but the name was changed in 1820.
The house dates to 1590 and was built by the Biddulph family.
The close set timbers of this building are a sign of wealth as wood was expensive.
During the English Civil War Prince Rupert had his Headquarters at the house.
Queen Victoria is also said to have stayed here.

Cross the road into High Street and on your right you will find No.17 High St. This has interesting sidelights for the first floor window which are not normally found in Herefordshire but are frequently found in Ledbury.

Continue along the High Street until you come to:

The Market House

This building is said to have been constructed in 1653 by John Abel, the King’s Carpenter.
It is of 2 storeys with the lower storey open to the public.
The posts are either Spanish Chestnut or English Oak and legend has it that the posts were once part of the Spanish Armada but as the Armada didn’t set sail until 1588 this appears unlikely.
Originally the upper part of the building was used as a grain store and the underneath for public markets.
It was modelled on the impressive Market Hall, which once stood in Hereford’s High Town.
There was also provision made for one or two shops underneath and it was hoped that the rent from these would pay for any maintenance.

From the Market House take Church Lane and almost immediately on you left is:

No.1 Church Lane

Today this building is used as Ledbury Registry Office.
During construction work in one of the rooms upstairs in 1988 a beautiful 16^th century painted room was uncovered.
The images painted on the walls show Tudor knot gardens, fruit (possibly strawberries) and texts from Psalms 15 & 111 and Proverbs 15.
All the colours used in the room would have been created from natural pigments.
It is thought that the painted room was once used as a courtroom and was particularly used for the punishment of wayfarers, vagrants and those who had come to the fairs and markets.
It was known as the court of ‘Pye Powder’ from the French ‘Pied Poudre’ (dusty feet) as those who appeared here often had dirty feet from travelling.

(Guided tours of the room are available, but it may be best to phone ahead to determine group sizes and timings.)

From No.1 Church lane continue towards the church, nearly every house along here is Tudor in date and one excellent example of this is:

Ledbury Heritage Centre

This building dates to the late 15^th century (probably c 1500).
It is a nice example of Tudor building with the projecting first floor (jetty) overhanging the town drains – useful for emptying chamber pots!
This building was originally a school of chantry foundation (meaning that is was a place for prayers to be said and masses sung, especially for the benefit of the donor). It was refounded in the 16^th century.
It was once the King Edward VI Grammar School.
The school ceased to function in 1862 but by 1857 the school had moved to Oakland House in the Homend.
Inside are exhibits on timber framing, schooling, railways & canals, the town gaol and shops.

Open Easter to October: 10.30am – 16.30pm
Tel: 01531 636 147

From the Heritage Centre continue on to:

The Church of St Michael and All Angels

In a document of 1354 the churhc is referred to as St Peters and it still was in 1830.

A church was in existence on this site from Saxon times but the present building dates to 1140 with Norman portions and Saxon fragments.

The Norman church was built around 1042 and existed until it was replaced in 1140.

The chancel arcade, round pillars, the old door south of the chancel, the round clerestory (upper level of the nave) and the west doors all belong to the Norman period.

The tower of the church is detached and the base dates to 1300 (There are 7 detached bell towers in Herefordshire and only 15 in England).

The spire of the tower has twice been struck by lightning.

The church was formerly collegiate and the college was begun in 1400 by Bishop Trevenant.

In the norht porch is the ‘Consecration Cross’ carved in c1270 and pitted with numerous bullet marks from the 1640’s English Civil War.

From the Church head down either Church Street or Church Lane and turn right at the Market House and into the Homend. Along here on your right you will find:

Abbey House

This used to be a girl’s school and it was run by Miss Ballard.
The school continued up to the beginning of the Second World War.

Continue along the Homend and on you right is the:

Methodist Chapel

This was built in 1849 and refronted in 1884.

On the opposite side of the road is:

The Baptist Chapel

This was built in the 1830’s for a newly formed church in the area.
It was designed to seat 300 worshippers.
Inside the chapel is a lead lined baptism tank for full immersion adult baptisms.

Carry on until you come to the pedestrian crossing near Tesco’s. Cross over and walk down Orchard Lane and opposite the turning for Belle Orchard you will find:

Ledbury Union Workhouse

This was built in 1836 on what was then called Union Lane.
The architect was George Wilkinson who also designed Leominster and Weobley workhouses.
It was built to the standard cross shape popular with workhouses as it enabled the segregation of the different classes of inmate.
It was designed to house 150 people and included innovations such as water closets.
It opened in 1837.

Workhouses were created to provide relief to those who were too poor to provide for themselves. They were not designed to be a permanent form of handout but a way of helping in desperate times. To gain entry to the workhouse you would have to have an interview to establish that you were in need of state help.

Once you entered the workhouse you were stripped, bathed and handed a uniform. Inmates were housed in the workhouse in four different sections: The elderly or infirm, Males, Females and Children. You would sleep in huge dormitories and eat your meals in one large dining room. During the day there were work tasks to ensure that nobody learnt laziness and there were strict rules to instil discipline.

The diet in the workhouse was poor and the portions often on the small side, although children appeared to have eaten better than the adults. You could leave the workhouse when you felt able to look after yourself and it was hoped that the conditions within would encourage people to make better provisions for themselves and their families.

Walk on from the Workhouse and soon the road will cross the disused railway track.

The Ledbury and Gloucester Railway

This railway was originally designed to go from Ledbury to Ross and then on to Gloucester.
By the 1920’s there were 5 trains each way on weekdays.
In 1959 the line closed between Ledbury and Dymock.
The route is no used as a cycle path.

From here turn into Belle Orchard and continue until you come into The Homend. Turn right and immediately on your right is:

Ledbury Cottage Hospital

This purpose built hospital was opened on the 29^th December 1891, although it didn’t accept patients until June 1892.
The hospital was funded by Mr Biddulph of Ledbury Park.
It was built opposite an earlier hospital situated in a three-storey house.
The new hospital had three wards, rooms for the matron, and operating theatre, bedrooms, a mortuary, laundry and separate apartment for a parish nurse.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s the hospital complex was extended.
In 2002 the hospital was replaced by a newer NHS facility.

From the hospital walk up The Homend until you come to:

Ledbury Library

This was built as the Barrett-Browning Institute at the suggestion of Mr William Russell in 1895.
Elizabeth Barrett-Browning was a famous Ledbury poet who lived at Hope End near Ledbury between 1809 and 1832.
One of her most famous poems was Sonnet 43 which begins’ How do I love thee, let me count the ways..’
This was formerly the site of the town’s tanning pits for the treatment of leather.
It cost £3,000 to build, which was raised by public subscription, and it included readibng rooms, a library and meeting rooms.
The architect Brightwen Binyon chose a Tudor revival style to complement the Market House opposite.
It was Mr Russell’s idea to include a clock tower in the design, but unfortunately he died before it was finished, and his widow donated £150 for a four-dial striking clock.
The Institute was opened on Januray 16^th 1896 by Mr Henry Rider Haggard, a famous novelist – writer of ‘Allan Quartermain’ and ‘King Solomon’s Mines’.
In 1938 the Barrett-Browning Institute also became home to the public library and John Masefield, another famous Ledbury poet (Sea Fever: I must go down to the sea again…) performed the opening ceremony.

Next to the library is:

St Katherine’s Hospital or Almshouses

There are two wings to the Almshouses – the right hand side was built in 1822 by Robert Smirke and the left hand side in 1866.
The first hospital on this site was founded by Bishop Hugh Foliot in 1232 and then rebuilt in the 14^th century.
The purpose of Hugh Foliot’s hospital was to remind those who visited the market opposite of the constant need to pray and carry out works of charity.
In the 16^th century buildings were erected which provided individual accommodation for the brethren and sisters.
In 1821 the old buildings were demolished and the buildings on the right hand side erected in their place.

Next to St Katherine’s Almshouses is:

St Katherine’s Chapel and Hall

This chapel was founded in 1232 by Bishop Hugh Foliot.

It appears to have been rebuilt in c1330.

Within the chapel is a beautiful tiled original floor and some impressive stained glass windows.

End of Walk