A S H O RT H I STO RY

OF H EREFORD .

W I LLI AM COLLI NS ,

A utho of Mode n H e e fo d The An lican Chu che s r r r r , g r

" f H e e fo d The Ma o s o H e e o d o f f &c . r r , y r r r ,

H E R E FOR D

J AKE MAN AND CA RV E R . D E D I CATE D to the Memory of the su pporters of the principle of

l - se f government throughout the centuries of the past ; and ,

in particular , to the Memory of the late Alderman Charles

P al ll Anthony , J . . and his Municip Co eagues and successors , wh o by their marvellous achievements and noble devotion have laid the foundations of

OD O M ERN HEREF RD , upon which the happiness and prosperity of the citizens is now being built . ~ 157569 3

I NTROD UCTI ON .

The City of the Wye is a very ancient place ; and the centre of a district of which our knowledge dates back t o the days of J ulius Caesar ; or about fifty years before the birth of Jesus Christ . It was known to the old Britons as erf aw d d Ca y , which means the town of the beechwood ; 6 6 and in the year 7 , the date of the foundation of the bishop k n ric, the name was changed to Hereford , by which it is now to this day .

By position , it was a border city and for centuries was the scene of countless fierce border fights first between t i two British tribes , and later, be ween the Engl sh and Welsh

AD . 1 0 O peoples , until as late as 4 5, when wen Glendower the champion of the oppressed laborer— swept across it

. th with his French Allies , and was defeated North and Sou W h al ales were from t is time form ly annexed to England , as a n V I I I im conquered people , and a century later , Ki g Henry n 00 posed upo them the laws of England . So for 5 years Hereford has ceased to be the rallying point of two hostile races .

It is a charming spot geographically, enough , says Canon and Bannister to rej oice the heart of an antiquary , to hold d the fancy of a poet , as it is the gateway to steep woode ll u r hi s , to valleys narrow and secluded , and to inn me able ancient camping grounds . Forgetful of its past , it now reposes peacefully on the sloping banks of its life - giving mountain stream , described by Pope as

Clear and artless, pouring through the plain .

th e w . Health to the sick , and solace to s ain

I t is also enriched by its majestic Cathedral and pro tected h i l by its surrounding l s .

’ We n . have many interesti g stories of the city s past , ul - more or less fancif , which tradition and folk lore have w preserved to us but we have to deal ith sober facts only, I V O C O . . INTR DU TI N

and the lessons they may teach us . These sober facts we will try to weave into a sort of novel which may tell us something about the joys and the sorrows, the smiles and the tears ,

th . e triumphs and the failures , of our ancestors

Some day in the near future , there may arise in our l wh o midst , a veritable enthusiast of ocal history will relate to us in eloquent and simple language , all we desire to know about

Roman and Briton , Briton and Saxon , Saxon and Norman , r Yo kist and Lancastrian , Roundhead and Cavalier ; and later on , all about our spoiled children , like pretty witty

Nell Gwynne our great actors , like David Garrick and al later still , all about our prosaic municip doings ; and in this way w e may learn to take a deeper interest in the ‘ a f d ys o auld lang syne . ll Sti , history will not explain everything we may wish to know touching the rise and progress of the city , and this r t uth will bear itself upon us , more and more , as we proceed . Happy if w e learn that only that whi ch is of slow growth is of real service to the community The area in which our facts will be sought and found is t o a I limited its bound ry lines , which extend to 7 miles , and enclose acres of land . The main object of the writer of the following pages is to ’ set forth the city s long and uninterrupted course of events , so as to create a trustworthy picture of one of the most inter esting places of ancient and modern times and to inspire young people to take a more intelligent part in the manage ment of their own Municipal affairs . The history of our old town stands almost alone in many of its unique features , and in the stress and storm through which it has passed still it is fortunate , as just stated, in its geographical position , in the fertility and richness of the adj acent soil, and in the temperament of its inhabitants .

n At the same time , it is connected with many of the leadi g events which go to make up the Constitutional History of this great Country. PREFACE .

No originality is claimed in the method of treatment , or in the style of presenting this Short History of the City of Hereford . I t has been a pure labour of love to collect and arrange the matter under the various headings , which represent v the natural de elopments of the city , and which it is hoped will convey some information to youthful readers . Where can we find an obj ect that can demand higher qualities, or more lofty emotions than an interest and a ’ own ? pride , in one s city Not to take a personal interest and pride in its development , and in the progress of its di r civic ideals is a sadvantage to ou selves , and to those who will follow us . To be allowed to give but a summary of the facts and hi their interpretation w ch go to make up its history, is i indeed , a privilege not to be l ghtly esteemed . As an old border town , it was rich in romance , turbulent in character , and exciting in episode . Dull indeed must be the heart that is not moved by its past achievements , and modern improvements . As wide and grave responsibilities are being entrusted by P arliament to Municipalities, our first business , as good z u citi ens and loyal patriots , is to familiarise o rselves with the progressive steps of the history of the town in wh ich we live for progress is only possible on the lines of an educated de mocrac hi off y. It is education w ch marks a man from his l fellows , endows him with a persona ity and a pur pose in li fe ; and with additional powers to influence and s O erve his fellowmen . nly in the republic of knowledge can we find equality .

di a My sole apology, in ad ng one more book to our loc l i l terature , is the hope that it will help to deepen our interest in the common life of the good old city and stimulate our t al hought in things , municip and political . CONTENTS .

D edication Introduction Preface H ow our Knowledge of the Past came to u s t i How Hereford firs came into ex stence , and received its name

6 6 the 1086 - From 7 , the birth of City, to , the date of Domesday Book

d . Some of the Ancient Customs , or Laws of Herefor How the Hereford Customs came down to us Th e Herefordshire of Domesday Book The Feudal System explained TwoFamous Names in the Early History of Hereford How Hereford was first governed

of d 1 18 18 The Charters Herefor , 9 to 35 Hereford Merchant Guild Craft Guilds The Two Great Hereford Fairs Th e Black Death and afterwards The Civil War of 1642—6

‘ The Ej ection of I 662 Historic Ol d Hereford The Castle The Black Friars ’ Monastery The White Cross The Wye Bridge CO NTENTS . V I I

Butchers’ Row The Ol d House in the High Town The Ol d Town Hall The Cathedral

Municipal Government by Act of Parliament . From I 774 to 1854

18 1 12 Ditto . From 54 to 9 How Hereford has Grown The Garden City H ereford as a Heal th Resort The Chi ef Builders of Modern Hereford P arliamentary Representation Names of Present and former Hereford Streets Institutions of Hereford The Cathedral School The Three Choirs ’ Festival Herefordshire General Hospital The Working Boys’ Home The Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital

The Public Library, Museum , and Art Gallery The Town Hall

The Hereford Y . M . C . A .

Y . W . C . A . City Nursing and Maternity Society Secondary School for Boys Charity Organisation Society The Corn Exchange and New Theatre Chronological Table ILLUSTRATIONS .

Frontispiece— Modern Map of Hereford

I 1 18 Charter of Richard . , 9, Grant of Fee Farm ”

. 1 8 II , 3 3, Baili to Mayor

168 . 2 Charles II , Ol d City Wi d em arsh Gate Bye Street Gate Wye Bridge

Ol d H al l 1 Town , erected 597 Cathedral

’ St . Martin s Turnpike Gate O ’ St . wen s Above E ign Ayl st one Hill

Wi d em arsh Garden City New Town Hall Secondary School for Boys Exterior of Corn Exchange and Kemble Theatre

Interior do . do . do . ~ A SH ORT H I STORY OF H E REFORD .

H ow OU R KNQW LED GE OF T H E T O s PAST CAME U .

It may be interesting to know how our history came to be written and preserved . r In the old days , there were no printers or repo ters ; but only What we term Annali sts and Chroniclers ; that is u wh o , learned men , us ally monks , were employed by Kings to record events correctly, as they happened , without com ment .

Later on , as men grew wiser, a new and advanced order of c Chroni lers sprang up , and they not only recorded important e al i al ev nts in the politic and eccles astic world , but freel y commented upon them . These we call historians .

' a An. Ann li st otti n s , then , is one who gives us simple j g of unconnected events .

A Ch roni cl er is one who gives us a continuity of events .

A H i stori an is one who gives us a continuity of events o s uences wi th causes and c n eq .

The Annals are , so to speak , the ore and the chronicles r are the pu ified metal of the ore , out of which the histori an manufactures his perfect j ewel . ” The Chroniclers of the middle ages were Court O ci al s who had access to all public documents , and probably were f consulted on intricate a fairs . At any rate , they were known ’ to be writing the king s history . Among leading Chroniclers we may mention Roger B Gervasse i Mal mes oulden , , Ralph de Duclo , Will am of O O OF O 2 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

bury , Florence of Worcester , Henry of Huntington , and

M . atthew Paris , the greatest of them all

« To these men we are chiefly indebted for the main facts in the life of the country which Historians have invested m with a real live interest , and which contribute , al ost daily , a to our intellectu l enjoyment .

H ow O I RS O " NC HEREF RD F T CAME INT E ISTE E , AND

C I I T S RE E VED NAME .

The first recorded fact 1n our local history 18 the establish m th e r b th e ent of Bishopric of He eford y Theodore , great

i u . 6 6 c . . Ar hb shop of Canterbury, abo t A D 7 His grace carved it out of the wide and scattered Diocese of Li chfiel d ; and b then requested the Bishop of Rochester , Putta , y h ad ‘ been name , to take charge of it , as his own Cathedral d estroyed .

6 a i . 6 From th s date (A D . 7 ) or thereabouts , the regul r l s m a t h e service of p relates preserved . So it y be said that r as m d Bishopric made He eford , just the great monasteries a e the towns in which they were established . Cathedrals and nst i Mo a eries , in those early days , prov ded both temporal and spiritual refreshment for the people . The creation of the Hereford bishopric shews us adefinite si te ol d people , with a fixed boundary , established on the of an Caerf aw d d m British Camp , or town , known as , y , which eans t e i s the town in h beechwood . Beechwood a closely knit On wood which grows only marshland . So the city was o m a riginally carved out of a marsh , and by hu an hands m de

fit for habitation . At the same time , it changed its name Caerf aw dd 15 from y to Hereford , which supposed to mean , here - ford relating probably to th e p assage o f an a rmy ’ from one side of the river s bank to the other . Happily it has retained that name ever since .

b e It is fortunate to able to fix with certainty, the date of f or the birth of the city .; we claim to be a city , not because OF A SHORT HISTORY HEREFO RD . 3

“ t h e land on which it was formerly built belonged to th e 1 18 was king not because m 9, it made a corporate town by w as t h e purchase of that land , and thereby termed a Royal c i s s Borough , We are a city , be ause it the eat of a Bishop, and of a Cathedral Church .

1n l OurBishop Norman times , not by virtue of his spiritua al was Office , but by virtue of his feud rights , as a Baron ,

Ruler over a part of the city . l I t is important to note throughout the midd e ages , ‘ th e . 1 f middle ages ended on the death of Edward III , 377] how much greater was the civil power of th e Bishop i n a ci ty al like Hereford , where he had not to share his feud rights with a great monastery , like those which existed at St .

. Albans , Norwich , Worcester , and elsewhere For example , 12 th a I . Henry in the early part of the Century , gr nted a Charter to the Bishop of Hereford to hold a fair for three d ays at Whitsuntide , afterwards increased to nine days ; and one at Michaelmas . These privileges have been respect 00 18 e d over 7 years , and it was only m 39, they were annulled by Act of Parliament . r In many places , the Monasteries held these Charte s and derived great revenues from them .

The shadow of the ancient power of the Bishop is seen

On his appointment by letters patent , under the great seal t h e Bri ti an r e of United Kingdom of Great and I eland , wh n al l he swears egiance to the Sovereign and does homage . Hereford Cathedral was built on a part of the Bishop ’s M anor , which m ancient times , enhanced his privileges and H i s f powers . baili fs collected the rents in his fee , which t e S . xtended to a part of West , East St Broad St and th e Aubrey St also the tolls of fairs . The Bishop tried h i s wh o u 1m ri son tenants broke his laws , and if found g ilty , p e d hi s them in own prison , which was not demoli shed till r 1547 by Bishop Sco y .

’

- The Rev . Canon Capes i n his life of Bishop Cantil upe gives us a sad picture of unseemly stri fe wh ich existed be O O OF H R O A SH RT HIST RY E EF RD .

‘ :t \iVeen T a i s c the civic and c thedral authorit e , aused chiefly by ’ ‘ h e a c m t exacting demands of Bishop Aqu blan a , a quarrelso e

f ' Frenchman ; Even when an app eal was mad e d i rect to th e m nt h is f King , the judg e was given invariably in avour. The citizens strove hard from time immemorial both Wi th

“ s , ri piritual and lay lords to maintain their charter ghts , and only on complying with the conditions of the Merchant ’ Guild would they acknowledge the rights Of the Bishop s

e . t nants , to trade in the city

These simple facts shew how closelythe City was identified i a W th the Episcop cy from its beginning .

" A D 6 T H E T H E . 6 OF T A O . o . D . 1086 FR M 7 , BIRTH CITY , ,

T H E OF T H E O OO DATE D MESDAY B K .

- A . D 6 6 From the date of the birth of the city , . 7 , as given

by Mr . to the making of Domesday D 086 A . . 1 Book , there are a few facts , touching the history of the city “and district which we will just mention and p ass Of l fi On. course , there are gaps which wil never be lled up .

th s Towards the end of the 7 Century, when each tate e u d pended on the personal character and prowess of its r ler, ‘ ex the boundary of Mercia , of which Hereford was a part ,

‘

. a tended over all England , south of the Humber A glance t s an old map will shew how vast it was . War were common at 1 this p eriod , and in 75 Mercian supremacy was destroyed Cu th red Of r s by , and regained by fa in 779 and afterwa d ul strengthened by his successf raids into Wales . The Welsh were always troublesome neighbours and Of e to protect the counties bordering on their country, fa mad e i his famous Dyk , or what is more l kely , extended it out of D ee earth works , so that it reached from the mouth of the

to the mouth of the Severn . It entered the County of Here r n o n l a f ord nea Knighto , and j i ed the Wye near Bridge Sol rs . “ f ma th e l races of it y be seen to day at Moorhampton , near to O O F O A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . 5

" a l nd st tion , at Lyonshal , a elsewhere , but its best preserved h porti ons l i e outside t e county .

3 ' i s eri od h n . At th ¢ p , C urches with towers , and with exceptio e ally thick walls were built on the West frontier , which serv d

‘

l . . as refuges for the vil ages in the event of , a Welsh raid n m f Amo g the may be named Cradley , Bosbury , Cli ford , and O al thers . These are important facts which lend an addition interest to the old city .

8 0 A . D . 10 2 A . D . 8 h From to 4 , is one of the gaps to whic ‘ a We u st . j referred Even Canon Bannister, in his recent ‘ a e th e ddr sses , under the ausp ices of the Local Centre of Ox to ford University Extension Lectures , does not attempt fill it up . Florence of Worcester , one of our Chroniclers, m entions incidentally, one of the small wars , or raids , with Wales between these two dates and for the first time refers o t the City and County of Hereford by name . Here is evi d ence by an undoubted authority that we were a definite o w s pe ple, established ithin certain recognized limits , posses n i g certain legal rights and privileges , in the tenth and eleventh centuries .

' 4 11- 10 2 G f r ~ h 5 , ri fin , P ince of Wales , broke his alliance wit j th e ' n li sh tO E g king , Edward the Confessor , and commenced un e One of u pl d r the districts round the city . his favo rite h Strad d el e a aunts was , known century later, as the Golden

Valley of the Dore , a name given to it , not on account of i its fertile soil, and rich produce , but on a misunderstand ng of the Welsh word dwr (water) which afterwards was called ’ F V al - by the rench d or, or the valley of gold .

On O 2 th 10 — a be ctober 4 , 55 the ex ct date is recorded cause oi the awful consequences to lives and property which fOllOwed— e a things r ached a climax , and marked distinct e oc i n th e t Two i e p h the lives of inhabi ants . m les out , wheth r ’ ' at L l yde or Belmont , we do not know, the forces of the We sh n e met Of e a Not pri c the forces H reford under E rl Ralph , a man Frenchman . The soldiers of the Wel sh were on foot S l of ri o a the o diers the English were p ncipally on h rseb ck ,

w - _ e . reat d i sad vanta e h hich placed them at a g g , as t ey wer ‘ O O OF O 6 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

k fighting in a forest . A memorable battle too place , and a tremendous slaughter ensued . From fou r to five hundred men of the Hereford garrison were killed , and the rest tried to find their way back home , followed by the victors . No u q arter was asked and no quarter , was given The city Was t o plundered the Cathedral burned the ground, and ill n several Canons k ed in their defence of women , childre ,

and . d evotiOn aged men All honour to their courage , and , for they counted not their lives dear unto themselves , per v ad enture they might save others . The memory of this noble defence is not recorded i n sculpture nor given a place of n th e ho our in our Cathedral , nor yet does it find a place in

. th e calendar of the saints Nevertheless , it stands out in es o e pag of history, as one f its greatest and never to b for e u s t o gott n episodes , the remembrance of which inspires , r e grander action , and mo e self denying d eds day by day .

The central government now undertook to avenge t h e

. s injury inflicted on the city So Earl Haro”ld , afterward all King , gathered from very near England , a large army t o which mustered at Gloucester , and afterwards journeyed Strad d el e beyond now known as the Golden Valley . G f and a ri fin Alg r , his chief lieutenant , prudently retired, returning the following year (1056) on another foraging and h expedition ; later on , Harold took his revenge, whic l n f resulted the death of Gri fin .

O OF TH E C O OR OF S ME AN IENT CUST MS , LAWS

FO HERE RD .

Learned historians have given a great deal of attention to the beginnings and developments of our Ancient Customs but they do not Speak with a united voice , so we will only mention a few facts upon which there is more or less of agreement .

The first outstanding fact is that the distribut ion of th e lands of Herefordshire among the invading Nomans Was

. 8 A O OR OF R E OR D , . SH RT HIST Y HE F

was u a n l h Bo or there a French Boro gh and n E g is rough , whether the two were under one authori ty is not clear Traditionlocates th e French residents near to the A lms Ho u . t d O . a ses , in St wen S , outside the City Walls , an not f r from the Castle . We will now give those Ancient Customs or Laws which c a v i n ; _ me to us through the Domesday Sur ey Simple terms D Ubtl eSS a a s Q , _ a they refer to h rdships which had not alw y e xi t e f s d .

w e First of all , are told in this description of Hereford , t di I n 0 I n . 1 66 hat the time of King Edward who ed A D . (this book was compiled in there were 103 men dwelli ng m together within and wi thout the wall . This does not ean t 0 here were only 1 3 men in the city . It means that these men k Fi tz osbern k were at the bec and call of , in case of attac

d Secondly , if any one desired to leave the city , he coul ~

. SO w e only do ith the consent of the first man of the plac , after selli ng his house to another man willi ng to perform t h e s ervice due from him the thi rd penny of t h e sale would g o t o the Ch ief Officer for giving him the permission to sell his ' ' d vvelli n . . g and leave S uppose a man , through poverty or illness, was unable t o h i s th e serve King , then his house would be surrendered to ’ wh o n .King s representative , saw that the house did not remai ' a e m . . pty, and the King lack a serv nt

' dl d welh n u Thir y , within the wall of the city every g ho se l id t ax —d i d p a a of 7 , with the add tion of 4 , if a horse was k ’ ept . The householder had also to give three days mowing 1 M n and ri f . e at Marden , one day where the she f pleased wi h al m Of W orm el ow t horses so acco panied this ficer to Tump , where justice was administered . A Visit to the city from t h e King for hunting purposes , necessitated the presence of

’ . t o s each householder act as a beater in the adjoining wood ,

.noted for big game . Lodgers, or part holders of a cottage, were expected to do duty as guards inside and outside th e K n ’ i g s city residence . F O A SHORT HISTORY O HEREF RD . 9

ou rthl d O F y, when a tenant ied wning a horse , the King c . laimed the horse , and the tenant s weapons If a man died n s Wh o was not a tenant , but owned la d and a house or house , '

5 , then the king received 10 . If he died without making a

l . wi l, all his possessions went to the king Tenants inside e d wh o th wall paid 7% to the king , and tenants outside were

d u . frenchmen , only paid 3g . All other c stoms were equal

Fi f th l w al e hi , women brewers of wit n and without the y “ ”

10d c . city paid ea h , hence the word brewster

h - Sixthly, eac of the half dozen royal blacksmiths in the city paid one penny for his forge , and in addition each of t 120 h hem made horse shoes , or arrow heads , for w ich they

ll . re d . a ceived 3 each , and freedom from other service

i 185 Seventhly , the seven royal money coiners gave . ‘ e h ach for the use of the dies and from the day t ey returned ,

2 05 . . for one month , every one of them gave to the king

2 05 . The bishop also received . from his money coiner

- Eighthly, when the king came into the city, the silver h e b rought with him w as coined at his pleasure . These m en were granted certain exemptions from menial service , s w i l till if one died ithout a w l , his property went to the king t 05 2 . if wi h a will , then , only

f mih t ar r Ninthly, if the Sheri f visited Wales for y pu poses On with his army, then the coiners accompanied him . their

Wa s . fine o 2 05 . refusal a f inflicted , which the king received

‘ - Tenthly , in the days of Edward the Confessor , when Har ’ ol d w as 2 wh o , the King s Son , Earl , he had 7 burgesses h ad the same customs as the other burgesses .

’ f 12 Eleventhly , the king s o ficer also paid £ to the king and 6 c £ to Earl Harold , besides all the ustoms above men

t . ioned The king had also fines for breaches of the peace , f or house breaking , and for assault each one of these crimes

.was exp ati at ed on payment of the sum of 100 Shillings ; a nd no th e th e matter what the standing of man might be ,

fine - e was nforced . O O F I O A SH RT HIST RY O HEREFORD .

all Twelfthly, the king was the landlord , and exacted his dues from his Eng lish burgesses but the French resi t on m I 2d den s could compound theirs pay ent of the sum of , with the exception of those mentioned in the previous clause .

th e Thirteenthly, the City paid king in silver annually th e s m u of sixty pounds .

18 - Fourteenthly , the city , together with manor houses, ’ " with farms attached , paid into the king s exchequer, £335

185 . and this did not include the fines from th e various hundreds and county courts .

‘ ' I I OI Doubtless , some of these customs existed p to the Nor 10 8 man Invasion , say about A . D . 5 , because the new Norman Lord Wished to retain the goodwill of the existing townsmen ; s at any rate it was from the town of Breteuil , they as umed their present form and modified a century later by H - enry II .

It is worth while to mention that the lor ds of the Manor o s in the days of the Conquest did not keep t wn hou es , and reside here for a certain period of the year . In fact , they were in no way respons ible for the upkeep of the wall of th e l city . The town houses of the nobility of a ater period is a subject which has not received the attention it deserves .

T Us H OW TH E HEREFORD CUSTOMS CAME D OWN O .

I t seems necessary to prove that the Anci ent Customs f and e o Hereford were both authentic genuine , because th y throw a flood of light upon many things which otherwise we could not understand .

Needl ess to say that an auth enti c statement of the ancient customs and privileges of Hereford 15 of the utmost import ance , because those customs and privileges were the standard au th Ori ty for the customs and privileges of many towns in s Wales , and on the borders , upon which greater privileg e moth er were afterwards built . Hereford is known as the O OF O I A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . I

wn o Wizl es to f , as her customs were given to and adopted by l al f and some of the chief p aces in W es , including Cardi f

Carmarthen .

t e n w w e In h stro g room of the To n Hall , have a valuable n d manuscript book , stro gly boun , containing the Ancient i n Customs of Hereford . It is legibly written English , in

- s a i . t h e suppo ed h nd writing of the t me of Charles II , between d 1 1 and 1661 an 68 . the years The nature of the paper , the character of t h e handwriting are evidences upon which a a pal eographers , or students of ncient writings , base their conclusions .

1 From what source was the 7th century MS . copy taken al mo ra h er Mr . W . H . Black , honorary p g p to the a British Arch eological Association , and therefore , a great authority, believes that he has been able to trace it . Listen H e tells us that in the Library of the Benedictine Monastery of Belmont is a MS . copy in Latin of the customs of Here ford and assigns it to the days of Queen Elizabeth . Dr .

Gasquet , an equal authority on ancient parchments , assigns it to the time of Henry VIII . It is immaterial to our view whether the copy was transcribed in the beginning , th e 16 ri al or towards end of the th Century . What is mate is th e fact that the copyist informs us at the end of hi s manuscript that our ancient customs had been newly written , and 1 86 i renewed in 4 , by John Ch ppenham , then Mayor 16 of the city . So the th Century copy had been taken from the 15th Century copy .

1 86 Where did the 4 copy come from Either from a MS . 1 which is known to have existed in the 4th century , but which has since disappeared and cannot be traced or from the collection of customs put together by Gaunter , Chief f 1 Baili f of Hereford towards the end of the 3th Century , f 12 8 one copy of which was secured by Cardi f in 4 . An acknowledgment of its receipt to the burgesses of Here ford is preserved in its archives . So the fact that it received w as l 0 a copy of our customs , for which £5 paid , equa to £5 of m present oney , cannot be doubted . O : OF O 12 A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD .

’ 1 John G au nter s copy w as supposed to have been taken i f m o n th e ro the orig nal book of cust ms , compiled u der author 1 1 ity of Henry II . in 54 .

j S O we may feel quite sure that we have preserved to us the a d s b sum n u stance of the rules , orders , and ancient customs, o s me before , and some after the Conquest , and since used i n t e f h City of Hereford , and Liberties thereo , in the time

O oh n f . . fi j Gaunter, Baili f , in the time of King Henry II in 1 th e year of our Lord 1 54 .

TH E O OF O OO OR HEREF RDSHIRE D MESDAY B K , A

C O OF O DES RIPTI N ALL HEREF RDSHIRE .

OM C OU A D 1080 O O C MEN ED AB T . . AND C MPLETED AB UT

The Herefordshire of Domesday Book 15 not co- extensive with the present County . It included Caerleon on the Usk , “ and Monmouth on the Wye— a fact we must ever bear i n mind .

This great h i st orI C book of two volumes is regarded as One of the most precious documents in the possession of the n ri natio whose p ce is far above rubies . It is not so old , nor et 50 e s y minut as the one the French own , nor yet so curiou and pri mitive in manner and matter as the one the i nh abi tants of Iceland drew up still the variety of information it imparts , in small compass , is marvellous and unrivalled .

Ori W I n t ransl a ginally it was ritten Latin , but numerous ti OnS w e have been made , so are not in doubt as to its con

t . t ents The name is striking , and doubtless meant to hose h e e facts t book records , that they were as true

as the Day of Judgment .

“ Th e Instructions for taking the survey ran thus

’ The Kings barons (the Commissioners were all French men) enqui re by oath of the Sheriff o f the shire and of all O O O A SH RT HISTORY F HEREF RD . I 3

rn the barons (free tenants) , and of the French bo of them , and six of the whole hundred, of the priest , the reeve , and “ e copyholders from each manor . the nam of the manor who held it in the t I me of King Edward Con f essor wh o 108 6 , and held it now ( ) how many men , how many a villeins , how m ny cottars , how many bondsmen , how many wh o freemen , how many yeomen , (those paid a fixed rent h ow or gave service to his lord) , how many copyholders, much wood , how much meadow , how much pasture , what fish - ak mills , what ponds what had been added to , or t en away, What it was worth in the days of Edward the Confessor, ; and how much it was worth now how much each fre”e l holder held , and whether more cou d be got out of it now .

’ One of the early Chroni clers of the King s court was a m ri onk of Peterborough , and a personal and close f end of al l C accom a th e King . Usu y these hroniclers or historians p n ' i ed f ro e the Monarch on his journeyings to and , and wer really court officials and we have no reason to doubt that w what they rote was absolutely correct .

Of al l o was course , we kn w that the Duke of Normandy i n also King of England , and that he spent most of his time 108 his own country , eight months out of the twelve . In 4 10 u e or 85, King Can te of Denmark , threatened to invad S l ant England , and to i p William the Conqueror . When the king of England who was enjoying hi mself I n Normandy th e got news of this , he was very angry, and according to hi Peterborough Chronicle, sent over to t s country

SO great an host of horsemen and footmen out of France r and B ittany as never sought this land before , so that men wondered how this land might feed all this host . But the king let divide up this host over all this land among his men and they fed the host each according to his land .

AS soon as the King of Denmark heard of the acti on of th e e French or English king , he wisely decided not to invad

. w e i England Then , are told that after this, King W lham took much thought and held deep speech with his Wise d r Men , (known to ay as Members of Parliament) ove ‘ O O OF H E R E Fo RD 14 A SH RT HIST RY .

w as Or the land , how it settled established , and with what kind of men Then he sent over all England i nto eac h s h ow hire , and had it made out many hundred hides there I n were in the Shire , and what the king himself had lands , and o f live stock on the land , and What rights he ought to have e very twelve months off the land So very narrowly he had it enquired into that there was not one single h — i t ide , nor one yard of land,nor even , is shame to be telling ' — of - i t ox nor , but he did not think it shame to be doing one o ne cow , nor one swine was left out that was not set down in his record , and all the records were afterwards brought to m ” h i .

So Domesday Book may be regarded as the official r ecord of the names of all the landowners of England with t w s heir rent roll , together ith the names , holding , and e a obligations of the t nants . It lso served as a basis of t xa th e e of a tion , for the defence of the country , and upk ep l t h e monarchy . It was an exceptional y inquisitorial and f ar s n reaching scheme for raising money, worthy of a pre e t d ay Chancellor of the Exchequer . Only a master mind could e a s h ave conceived and carri d it oi 1t . The Victori H i tory of ' the County of Hereford tell s us that there Were about 36 e a o I n th e a d I n Arch enf el e larg l nd wners City n County , and d ,

' ‘ Th e h st - names of n a nd in Wales . is headed with the Ki g s William,then follows the Bishop , and member of the Church E of ngland , and others according to rank .

“ So the Norman Conquest marked a distinct epoch in h f e . 2 0 000 our National It introduced , new French Land o old l a wners in the place of Eng ish L ndowners , wh o had 1n ed either fallen battle , or fled into exile , or forfeit t heir estates by armed reSistance to the new and crowned n n n king . It saw the begin i g of the history of the E glish

l . race as one peop e , and of England as a great power in Europe T h e f new aristocracy, however, did not e fect a great change i n ou r local laws or customs , particularly touching land e o tenur and agricultural tenancy . The old man r courts , s and courts of hundred , with the old fines , fees , and forfeiture w " ere confirmed by the king . Nationally, a higher standard

“ “ 16 A SHORT HISTORY O F HER EFORD

' CO r s e w Or r e th ese u t . ar and wer held t ice th ic a year , to he criminal and civil cases each association bei ng responsible a members “ and to the great e rl for the good behaviour of its , e the payment of its dues . The heads of them act d as a sort n w as l of policema or sureties . No family a lowed to be out e side a tything , or peace pledge , and in this way a semblanc

’ w as mai nt ai n d w a of law and order e . If the town allo ed a f mi

- l . y to reside out of peace pledge , then it was fined

Now these courts were p resi d ed o ver by Norman French Fi tz osbern men , appointed by in the name of the king , and e hi s l w re responsible to the king in fact were feudal vassa s .

k r r, all The ing was the eal owne of the land , and the source of t ” political and administrative power , and allowed his grea

men the use of it , only so long as they kept up their hom

age to him .

The first Earl of Hereford after the conquest ( 1067) was Fi t z osb ern William , and he held the land of William to whom ’ ” h s e did homage . He was , therefore , the King man j and b y virtue of that office was possessed of legislative r powers , hence he modelled the customs of Hereford upo i

those of his own town in Breteuil , and gave special privileges

to French burgesses settled in the city, which privileges bore

fruit far and Wide .

w e o i Homage , read , is the most hon rable serv ce , and the most humble service of reverence that a free tenant may

do . ll t o its lord For when the tenant sha make homage , be his lord , he shall ungirt , and his head uncovered , and his lOrd S hi m hall sit , and the tenant shall kneel before on both e and his kn es , hold his hands jointly together between the

hands of his lord , and shall say thus I become your man o w h mh s ' fr m this day for ard of life and , and of earthly wor hip ,

and unto you shall be true and faithful , and bear to you Cl o faith for the holdings that I aim to h ld of you s”aving the faith that I owe unto our Sovereign lord the King .

k . And then , the lord so Sitting shall iss him

th e eud al s stem wi ll This system was called f y , which we l try to explain and simplify . It is a part in that gradua O OF A SHORT HIST RY HEREFORD . I 7

’ unfolding of the city s life which we call its development , or evolution , from stage to stage , each stage being a more com f i plex a fair than that wh ch went before . The catalogue of facts we shall mention , need not alarm us , because they are well authenticated , and have never been questioned .

108 0 We start then , with the fact that the king in was the dl Lan ord of England by conquest , and that he let it to the great earls of the shire in consideration of a Special service to

- be rendered to him and they sub let it again , as a retainer for services to be rendered to the King ’ s Man and this

- sub letting went on , till all except the serfs were brought into direct subjection to the Sovereign . It was a graduated scale of combined ownership or tenancy which ceased at di death , or until it was forfeited by sloyalty . The system was but the natural development of what was in vogu e during the Saxon period , so the change was not so great as to make di it inconvenient or irksome , notwithstan ng the kingdom al was under a foreign yoke . Let us apply this graduated sc e r of combined ownership du ing good behaviour , or the will ’ of the king , or the King s Man , as touching Herefordshire .

First was the King , the nominal owner of all the land ’ l th e owner and in law , we are told that the King sti l remains .

Fi tz osbern Second , came his great earl , George , a Norman ’ wh o frenchman , the King s direct representative , and spoke ’ and acted in the King s name , and therefore his authority w as supreme . He was a palatine Earl, and therefore could take from , or add to , the laws and customs of the district over which he had control in fact , he had the same powers u was as the king in his royal palace . His r le cut short 5 11 owing to the treachery of his 0 .

wh o Third , came the Nobles or Barons held large estates and the King ’ s claims upon them were in proportion to the extent of their land ; in kind , money, and men . We can scarcely call them the tenants of the Great Earl , because

w e . they did not pay rent , as understand the term They ’ ’ were the Earl s Men just as the Earl w as the King s Man

B 18 O O OF E O A SH RT HIST RY HER F RD .

indispensable to the machinery of the Commonwealth of

that day .

Fourth , came the Freeholders and Yeomanry who held

land under the Barons , and paid them personal taxes, and

often accompanied them to battle .

wh o Fifth , came the farmers , called villeins , held their 0 0 3 to 4 acres of common land , as copyholders .

bord ars Sixth , came the small farmers , called who farmed d from three to four acres of lan , and had a wooden thatched

house , hence the origin of the historic phrase 3 acres and a

COW .

l And , lastly, in the scale of civi ization came the serf , or dl wh o was lan ess labourer , nothing but a slave and in the

1 d . 13th Century was sold for 3s . 4 . with his family Slavery W meant dire poverty , and complete subjection to the ill of

their Master . Even Freeholders and Copyholders were under contract to send their corn to be ground at the lord ’ s ’ mill , and their bread to be baked at the lord s oven . The food of the lower classes w as prescribed and even the nature and cut of their clothes were all regulated by custom which

. was unalterable The . tailor or the shoemaker who dared w as to break through custom cursed by the priest , and fined

by his superior . So freedom , as we understand it to day , x s did not e i t . The Herefordshire of Domesday Book tells us what taxes each copyholder paid to freeholders and what they in their turn paid to the Barons , and the Barons to the King . ’ The copyholders gave three days mowing at Marden , and f one day where the sheri f pleased , in addition to their rents . They also provided him with men and horses when he held a Wormel ow Court Leet at Tump . Death duties were exacted then as now .

S o . h ttl e the farmers , large and small , were after all , off better than serfs . They lived in one story houses , foul and wi filthy, with no chimneys and no ndows a hole in the roof let out the smoke . These conditions bred a miser O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 19

k . able race , weak and sic ly , with no nerve or character Add ri m to this , the c me which existed everywhere , fro the highest to the lowest , and yo”u get a picture of the feudal times , are The good old times , as ignorant people fond of calling them .

Two FAMOUS NAMES IN T H E EARLY HISTORY OF

O HEREF RD .

H ere Mr . John Hutchinson in his interesting book on ord shi re M en ll e arh est f te s us that from the times , the county w as of which Hereford is the capital , the scene of the fiercest l s . truggle for political predominance Natural y, therefore , it attracted to its confines the boldest and most enterpri sing s Of pirits , and the Marches Wales became for a long period the training ground of English Knighthood .

Where shall we find ’ i Men more undaunted for their country s lack ng , More prodigal of life P

mih t ar e The two y names , tow ring high above the rest , as having contributed so much to make Hereford famous , are

OFFA AND HAROLD a nd we as only great men , says Carlyle , really make history , l wi l pause and say a few words about each of them .

Of w as A . D . fa a great king , overlord of all England in 8 7 4, and perhaps a greater warrior . He conquered Kent , own Sussex , and Surrey , and drove the Welsh into their s trongholds . He also built either out of new or old materials , w Of ’ hat is known as fa s Dyke , and made it the west boundaries of his domains . Welshmen if found trespass ing on his territory were summarily dealt with . Here is a little episode which reveals the worst side of O ’ ffa s character . Ethelbert , the young king of East Anglia , f that is , of Norfolk and Su folk , desired to marry one of his 2 0 A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREFORD .

daughters , and sent Ambassadors to request her hand . Of - fa readily consented , for he was comely in appearance , and di beloved by his people . A personal interview, tra tion says , at Sutton , four miles out , was arranged , and whilst it ’ Of u end red a was being carried out , fa s wife , Queen Q , sug ul h i s gested to her husband that he sho d be murdered , and al kingdom added to Mercia . So a feast was held in the P ace , and drugged wine was handed to him in a goblet by the Queen , which he drank and under its influence he fell asleep , and C mbert i n ' was murdered by y , the Warden , and buried a grave near the Palace and a hundred years later his body h i s was removed to the Cathedral , and a statue erected to memory . Shortly afterwards , it is said , sorrow after sorrow ’ l O 5 befe l the members of a family , as a consequence of that ” One O i n act . thing is certain , a deeply regretted it later life , and as an expression of it , heavily endowed the Cathedral with lands in fact , gave the land upon which it was built, w as by which the Bishop made a Baron , and thus increased to his powers in those days . The Cathedral was dedicated the memory of S . Ethelbert , and the Blessed Virgin .

O D— H E HAR L T BRAVE .

102 2 l He was born in and was said to be ta l of stature , handsome , and of great strength , temperate in his habits , i wise in counsel , and in action industrious , and full of v gour . was I n . the administration of justice , firm and equitable He loyal to his father , and loved power .

10 t In 55, he mustered a strong army at Gloucester agains f and Algar , Earl of Chester , and Gri fin , Prince of Wales , d e marched to Herefor . The Welsh forces deemed prudenc n the better part of valour , and retired into their mountai fastnesses . Afterwards , he made a treaty with his old foe . Tradition credits him with re - building and extending th e th e City Wall which Athelstan built . We have no record of b l d ui ding of the first wall , and none of the second . Harol all al in probability laid the foundations of the extended w l, t and left others to complete it . Excavations shew us tha O OF O 2 A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . I

’ H r arold s wall commenced at the Greyf iars , ran along Vic F ar toria Street , across ign Street , to New M ket Street ,

along Blue School Street , through Commercial Square , down O Bath Street , then across St . wen Street , down Mill Street l to the Victoria Bridge . Traces of it may be seen in Wa l

Street , at the bottom of West Street , near Victoria Street , and at the back of some of the houses in Bridge Street 16 and Berrington Street . Its height was feet with a

conning tower 34 feet high . Fifteen watch towers pro ect ed 1 0 j from the wall from 75 to 2 yards apart . Its

thickness was not given it probably varied in places , 8 One from 3 to feet , historian goes so far as to state that

it was as wide as the Wall of Chester . There were six gates i f prov ded for passenger and general tra fic , strongly fortified , and of considerable dimensions . These gates were taken down towards the close of the 18th century (after being allow

ed to go to ruin) , by order of the Town Council , at a cost of

100 . nearly £ each , and the material sold

H O A O ow HEREF RD W S FIRST G VERNED .

In the Saxon days , the head man of the place was called the Portreeve in Norman times the Bailiff and from the

Charter of Richard II the Mayor .

History is knowledge , but our knowledge of the govern th ment of the city in its early days , say from the 7 to the 1 th i 2 Century is very sl ght indeed .

P ortmanmote The , or Town Council , composed of the head

men of the place , was a quick and crude form of goverment adapted to a people wh o were more or less regul ar in their

movements . Their superiors were but one step above them up to the 13th Century the innocence or guilt of a criminal was supposed to be proved by the operations of a physical

law on his person . For example , if he plunged his arm into i a bo ling water, or picked up a bar of red hot iron , and c rried f eet wi th i n h en ou t ur t w as . it three , j y, he pronounced not guilty I f a blister , as large as half a walnut appeared , he was pro O O OF O 22 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Of nou nced . guilty, and lost his life course , we know in these days that natural laws are no respecter of persons , and that the sun shines on the evil and the good .

The Portreeve was followed in Norman times by a High f Baili f , who at first was an outsider appointed by the lord to look after his interests . Later on , he was elected by, and responsible to the citizens at large , aided by a Low Bailiff th e A e i Constable , l Connors or H gh Tasters , and Flesh

Tasters , or Low Tasters .

A D When we severed our connection with France about . . " 118 f w as was 9, the High Sheri f assisted by an o cer who as nominated from among the peasants , and acted the l representative of the vi lage community , as well as of the lord , on public occasions . These were assisted by a Steward H mf . . u r s and a Town Clerk , according to Mr W J . y , the o greatest living authority on old Hereford , s metimes supported and sometimes controlled by a Council of twelve , who from records of other towns , we may believe were chosen by some kind of popular election , to the rule of a governing body, composed of Alderman and men of the election who answered to the common council of later days .

di a Mrs . I . R . Green , a recognized authority on Me eval of Town Life , tells us that the makers and administrators local laws were yearly chosen for their work by the people whom they were called to govern and in some places , the unanimous consent of the whole town was given by public vote in a general assembly . The inference we may draw from these facts is that our 12th f f city was governed from the Century, by a baili f , sheri f”, and steward , assisted by twelve sworn Men of the election .

This elective body made the rules and regulations of the town , and then call ed together the people to give their approval to them . The King , it appears , did not sanction , or confirm i s f e . them . All we know that the Baili f enforced th m And in these ancient customs we find the germs of out Town Councils , which were of natural growth , and grew

O O OF O 2 4 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

C T own Li e i n th e Mrs . J . R . Green in her lassic work on f 15th Centu ry tells us that the Charter Period witnessed the foundation of our great Cathedral Schools of our agri cul tural and commercial supremacy ; and of the beginnings saw of our present democratic system of government . It h e t dl the rise of t grea mid e class community , and , as ’ through a glass darkly, the nation s obligations to the al re poor and needy . It so swept into oblivion the last f 16 m ai ns o feudalism in the th Century . .

Subjoined is the list Of Charters now in our possession

Grant of Fee Farm Grant of right to hold a farm Confirmation of previous charters Grant to use the term Mayor Confirmation of previous charters Confirmation of previous charters Grant of additional Municipal privi leges

James I . Ditto

Charles II . Confirmation of previous charters William Mary Defines constitution and duties of Common Council Confirmation of previous charters E st abh sh ed Quarter Sessions

Other documents and parchments . bring the number up to 32 .

A Royal Charter was an instrument or document formally reciting a transaction between the Sovereign and the City . It di d not necessarily create a fresh right or privilege but w as protected it , when it conferred , and gave it the authority of law .

What an Act of Parliament is to our present Town was Council , a Royal Charter to the inhabitants of the An B cient orough .

2 A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREFORD . 5

Kipling in an after dinner speech told us quite recently that our fathers created the State the State did not create our fath ers . The Ki ng and his council created charters our fathers applied the principles they embodied and thus made them an active power for good .

w as So it not a Charter , or a number of Charters which made Hereford a flourishi ng and healthy agri cultural town but what grew out of them or the wise administration of the powers and privileges they conferred .

D u ncu mb Two eminent local historians , and Johnson , assumed that historically , the Royal Charters created our i borough , and conferred on it , certain rights and priv leges . A closer investigation by municipal experts has proved that these rights and privileges were anterior to the Charters ; and that the Charters were merely parchment guarantees of the good faith with which kings would observe them on receipt of the usual charges .

wh o D . A The lost Charter of Henry II reigned from . . 1 1 1 18 Ol d 54 to 9, doubtless embodied some of the customs and u su ages which existed from time immemorial ; and o al custom in th se days was equiv ent to law, when twelve men , good and true , were invested with full power to h berti es govern and uphold the borough , with all its ; to render its judgments , and do all things necessary for the a Ch i ef l f maintenance of its honour, with Bai i f as their Exe cu tive w as - we . It a form of self government in which dis c over the motive power of civic progress .

TH E OF C 1 18 CHARTER RI HARD L , 9.

On O th 1 18 h an re ctober 9 , 9, the in abit ts of Hereford c eived w e a Charter from Richard I . hich converted th c ity into a Royal Borough with a Corporation , or Common C 50 l ouncil, that instead of being individual y taxed by the ’ fi al 0 King s of cer , a perpetu rent charge of £4 , payable to was the King annually, imposed upon the whole borough . O O OF 26 A SH RT HIST RY HEREFORD .

It was then said to be affirmed,or let in fee farm to the bur gesses , and their successors , for ever and ever .

a . th e Previously to this ch nge , the lord of the manor held town in his domain or keeping and was the legal proprietor of the soil and tenements , though the burgesses were not altogether destitute of certain rights which the Saxon period had conferred , and which even the Norman Conquest did not abolish .

The King by this Charter divested himself of his property, in return for the rent but he had power to impose land taxes 1 and did impose them , up to the 4th Century, when it was superseded by the subsidy system , or annual grant . We append the exact copy of the Charter granted by I Richard . , as translated by Mr . Richard Johnson , late Town

Clerk , from the abbreviated latin in which it was written . l and It was beautifu ly written , in an excellent state of preserv ation , considering its great age and the vicissitudes through — c - whi h it has passed . It measures 55inches by 45inches .

Richard by the grace of God , Duke of Normandy,

t . and Aqui ane , and Count of Anj ou To all archbishops, s f n bishops , abbot , earls , barons , justices , sheri fs , mi isters , all all and faithful subjects in France , and throughout ' w e rant England , health . Know ye , that g to our citizens of Hereford in Wales , the town of Hereford , to - hold in 0 perpetuity , upon their rendering £4 sterling per annum and also they shall afford their assistance in fortifyi ng that i k town . And for th s grant they shall give to us forty mar s in silver . Therefore we command that they hold the same town in perpetuity by the aforesaid rent of £40 per annum

" s with all its free liberties and free customs , and all thing f thereto belonging . So that no sheri f of ours shall intrude in any wise upon them concerning any plea or quarrel , or n : other thi g relating to the aforesaid town . Witnesses H .

Bishop of Durham W . de St . Johanne . Dated from West

fi th O . minster , the rst year of our reign , the 9 ctober , under the hand of W . de Lengo Camps , our Chancellor Elect of

Ely . O OF O A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . 27

Those of us wh o live in these days of comparative calm th e can scarcely realize significance of this Charter , and what it conferred on our fo”refathers and their successors . The terms free liberties , and free customs were very comprehensive and far reaching in fact , made Hereford a free borough , with the right to establish a Commonalty or Corporation make its own bye laws and collect i t s ’ ’ own taxes , without interference from the King s or Bishop s f l ri i of icers . It estab ished the foundation of a great p v lege upon which greater privileges were afterwards built . Muni ci all p y, it was the dawn of the morning of law and order, and good government , which , in course of time , brought with it the liberty and security of individuals , such as we enjoy

- w e to day . The more know of the true inwardness of the

Charter period , the more we shall appreciate the times in which they flourished .

TH E O OF L ST CHARTER KING JOHN .

A copy of the Charter of King John , granted to Here r 1 1 I 2 0 ce . fo d in 5 may be found in the Record , London It marked one more advance of the city towards its ultimate

al - go of complete self government . It confirmed the rights and privileges conceded by previous Charters , and at the same time , gave permission to the Corporation to found a

Merchant Guild , which in those days meant a great deal to All the trade of the place . masters of trades were members , not from choice , but necessity because membership carried h nes I n with it the right to buy and sell on wholesale , both and beyond the city and no man dared to trade without l his ticket of membership . The Hereford Merchant Gui d legal ly expired under the Charter of Incorporation granted 1 by Elizabeth in the year 597. So important was this Trade dl Guild in the Mid e Ag es , that we have devoted a chapter to natur and O explain its e bjects , and the large place it once filled in our industrial life and another chapter to Craft G uilds which succeeded it . H I SToRY F 2 8 A SHORT O HEREFORD .

OF 1 — 1 CHARTERS HENRY III 227 264 .

These instruments granted the right to hold a three ’ days fair in Summer , afterwards extended to nine days . A previous charter had been granted to the Bishop by H 50 was I n enry I . to hold a fair , a clause inserted the City Charters to the effect that the fairs coul d not be held to the financial injury of the Bishop and this caused perpetual friction between the ecclesiastical and civic authorities r 18 8 t ight down to the year 3 , when an Act of Parliamen was passed empowering the Corporation to buy out the ’ 15 ll Bishop s rights . This an i ustration of how Slow a vested fl interest is in dying . In another column , we deal brie y with the Hereford fairs .

F I TH E O . 1 0 CHARTER EDWARD I , 3 7,

was Simply a confirmation of former privileges .

T H E OF C 1 8 CHARTER RI HARD II . , 3 3, gave the Chief Baili the right to assume the rank and title of Mayor . The title was understood to carry with it greater dignity , and greater experience in Corporation ' all affairs . It has come to be synonymous with that is purest , and noblest , and best , in our Municipal life .

TH E OF 1 CHARTER HENRY IV . , 399.

’ i no cont a ns . is a very lengthy document , but new franchise Mr I t . confirmed all those charters , says Richard Johnson , whi ch had been previously granted to the Citizens by former Sovereigns .

TH E F 1 6 O . CHARTER EDWARD IV , 4 3,

was of the same nature .

F O A SHORT HISTORY O HEREF RD . 2 9

T H E OF U Z 1 CHARTER Q EEN ELI ABETH , 597, w as elaborately illuminated and there was al so a well exe cu t ed miniature portrait of the Sovereign , arrayed in State attire . Its five chief points were as follows

First It confirmed all former Charters .

3' Second It made Hereford a city incorporate for ever, with power to acquire land . Third It ordered that our city should be governed by a Mayor , Aldermen , and a certain number of the better and more approved citizens .

Fourth : It empowered the Town Council to plead i n

Courts .

Fifth : It al lowed the Council to continue to make i ts own bye laws . This was a decided advance in local government on all w as h of previous Charters , still it an age when the c ief men ” hi the place were more interested in t ngs than persons .

61 TH E OF I . 1 CHARTER JAMES , 9,

s was very lengthy , and beautifullyembossed , with a likenes of the king in the corner . The contents deviate from the rule observed in previous Charters for it is nothi ng less l than a command to elect the Mayor , A dermen and Com mon Councillors from the names mentioned . It would appear w as that government by law and not by custom introduced , whose chief points may be summarized as follows

First It renewed and confirmed by letters patent th e

Charters of previous Kings and Queens , together with the 0 rent of £4 per annum of the fee farm .

Second It ratified the existence of a Corporation .

Third : It ordained that there Shall be one Mayor and six Aldermen , and gave their names . 0 O O OF O 3 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Fourth It said that the Council shall consist of thirty one members , and then forthwith elected them by name .

Fifth : It declared that the Council Shall meet in the l Guildhal .

Sixth It laid down that on the first Monday in the month of August yearly a new Mayor shall be elected by the

Council .

: I t Seventh gave the Mayor , Aldermen , and Common “ Councillors powers to elect one famous and discreetest ' man to act as Chief Steward of the City . Eighth It required that one Common Clerk should be a ppointed during his natural life . Ninth It allowed one sword bearer and four serj eants t o be appointed to carry the mace , the sword, and the hat of maintenance . Tenth It demanded that there should be one prison or g aol .

n Eleve th It established three weekly markets , and two a al nnu fairs . Twelfth It prot ected the liberties against the encroach f ’ Of ments of the Sheri f s ficer .

Thirteenth : It safeguarded all rights and emoluments

b . elonging to the Bishop , Dean , and Chapter of Hereford

So We may take it that this Charter marked One more f orward step in the progress of Municipal government , besides clothing it with a dignity it would not have other wise possessed .

T H E OF 1682 CHARTER CHARLES II , c onfirmed all the rights and privileges the city already e nj oyed , with the addition of an Easter Fair ; but it was c alled in , and replaced by one which took away the power

F O T A SHORT HISTORY O HEREF RD . 3 of the Freemen to elect their own representatives to Par — l i ament an act which was bitterly resented .

6 T E OF . 1 H CHARTER WILLIAM III , 97,

confi rmed previous privileges .

TH E OF 16 CHARTER WILLIAM AND MARY, 99, was h the longest on record and contained 34 clauses , amp t w ying the po ers already conceded .

O And the final CHARTER F WILLIAM IV . also e st abh sh ed Quarter Sessions .

Ou r space will only allow the briefest summary of the ’ Charter Period touching the city s social and industri al d evelopments .

Grifli n ll , a Welsh prince , practica y wiped old Hereford out o f 10 a nl existence in 55, le ving o y one hundred men to defend

- - . was it It isolated , self dependent , and self reliant , and j ust o ne or two stages above barbarism . Its geographical position kept it in a constant state of ferment .

In th e 12 th and 13th Centuries the common people were

‘ sheltered in their wood or wood- framed huts with gabled h ned roofs of thatch and reeds , that its narrow lanes , and were di inured to mud , dirt , and sease , and to poverty and hard s i hip . Notw thstanding these terrible odds , there seems to r have been an impulse , irresistible in its nature , towa ds s - - elf preservation and self improvement , which took genera tions to find full expression .

1 16 From the 3th to the th Century and onwards, there were flowing through our arteries , not only a Borough and a n al was Ecclesiastic current , but a trade current , which was the strongest of all . It through this trade current that the broad rights of justice were granted to our fore own fathers , and enabled them to draw up their constitution , a nd own f manage their a fairs . O O OF O 32 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

1 From the 7th Century, owing to the Civil War , and to the c i keen competition of industrial town ommunit es , Hereford dl 1 th began to decline , and not till the mid e of the 9 Century i n did she begin to realize , what improved conditions and r c eased educational facilities might do for the future .

O HEREF RD MERCHANT GUILD .

The beginnings of the guild system can be traced to the . Saxon period ; but it was the Norman period which saw it app lied to trade .

1 1 In the reign of Henry II . ( 54 England was one great ) , pasture land devoted to breeding sheep on a great scale , in order to sell wool ; a century later it was the greatest wool growing country in the world and nearly a century a later , the great ordinance of the Staple was est blished . What made wool growing profitable in the Shire w as the small amount of manual labour it required . Further the texture Leomm st er was so beautifully fine , particularly of the Sheep , that it found a quick and ready sale among the merchants l a of F nders , whose countrymen possessed the art of weaving a fine cloth which found an European Market . Bristol w s the Staple town of the West of England .

Ou t o of the gr wing wealth of the country, through the W 0 01 industry mainly , sprang the Merchant Guild , which could only be established by Charter , and which licensed its l members to trade on wholesale ines . We have no documents in our possession to instruct us as to the exact place of the Hereford Merchant Guild in the e social structure and industrial developm nt of its Town Life . t Gross , an eminent and acknowledged authori y on Mer u chant Guilds , sums p the position of our Merchant Guild , — in the hey day of its prosperity , as follows

Theoretically , subj ect to the authority of the town , as part of its regular administrative machinery , but ruled over " own Of by its ficers , and exercising independent jurisdiction

O O OF O 34 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

On l f its receipt by the Chief Bai i f , the whole community met and walked in processional order to the Cathedral to a give th nks to God and then proceeded under its shadow, as was the custom in those days , to elect suitable officers to control its management . The principle which governed f w e the election of o ficers , know not . Probably the chief men of the place agreed to submit the name of a competent c i it zen , to act as Master , or Alderman of the Guild , together s w as with four a sistants . Then an appeal made to master traders to j oin and pay the fee . At a subsequent meeting , n rules and regulatio s were read , and formally approved . w as This mode of election simple , methodical , and democratic . 2 05 New members were elected annually upon payment of . ’ f 2 5. O and to the King s ficer , when an oath of allegiance

w as . administered The local Merchant Guild kept the gates , wall , and bridge in repairs , for which they levied certain taxes and the members frequently supped together . Convi vi ah t y and business were inseparable in those , as in these days .

How far the Common Council w as dominated by the l Merchant“ Gui d where the powers of the one began , and f w e the other ended in the management of local a fairs , Simply

— we f fi do not know , and have no o cial documents from which w e w e . are likely to find out This do know , that a Merchant ’

w as . Guild not a Trades Union , in essence , or in purpose i ’ It was a Capital sts Union .

’ ' - d a A Trades Union exists to y to”regulate the relations between Employers and Unemployed . A Merchant Guild existed to regulate the relations be tween Employers and Employers and to ” see that one did t o not get an undue advantage over the other . It seemed

Oi co - w e emphasise the principle , operation , not perhaps as — understand it to day . Modern Trades’ Unionism has always been a mixture of political and industrial action with an eye to improve al loc conditions , and increase the wage earning power of l the toi ers . 1575693

F A SHORT HISTORY O HEREFORD .

A Merchant Guild Was always a mixture of municipal a nd industrial knavery with a View of strengthening its

a . uthority , and adding to the wealth of its members It

‘ d evel op ed i nto a plutocratic Society .

’ The Trades Union stood for the betterment of the people . A 13th and 14th Century Merchant Guild stood for the en ri ch m ent th e x and of the many , at e pense of the few , its glu ttony was t h e cause of its death ; hence it w as super ' sed ed w ere i nf eri or by the Craft Guilds , which socially , poli tically , but not industrially .

’ Subjo ’ined is a copy of the Freeman s Oath which was used till the reign of Queen Elizabeth , when it became of f none e fect . First you shall swear to be true to your Sovereign ’ now Lord the King s Majesty that is , and to his heirs and l awful successors . l Secondly, that you shal defend and keep the laws and c ustoms of this City of Hereford , notified unto you by the sh all Mayor , and you from time to time preserve and main tain the liberties of this city of Hereford to the utmost of your power .

Thirdly, that you shall not discover to any man but to your fell ow citizens the secret things touching the estate of the said city, when they be by them made known and o pened unto you .

Fourthly, you shall be obedient in all things to the M ayor of the said city , and Commons of the said city .

all l Lastly , you shall be ready at times , as occasion sha l r al l equire , to do and perform such duties , as shall be requisite and befitting a freeman of the city .

So help you God . Like all aristocratic and exclusive societies which seek ’ t own rc t heir , and not another s good , the Hereford Me han G i s u ld quietlypassed into the shade of silence . O I F 36 A SH RT H STORY O HEREFORD .

The loss of the ancient MSS . of the city will for ever preclude us from giving full particulars of this once all - power? m ful and interesting guild , whose me bership was based on possession of a house and garden , and involved residence , with the privilege of engaging apprentices to their particular trade for a term of years .

HEREFORD CRAFT GUILDS .

The Age of the Craft Guilds w as an age whenthe people were governed by the few and not by the many, and when the few grew immensely rich , though not a vestige of their own wealth remains , except on the pages of history . In our no i city , we have outward and visible S gn of the wealth of th two Of e Craft Guilds , except the headquarters of them , vi z a . the old house in the High Town and the M idenhead t E i n . Inn , g Stree

Histori ans tell us that Craft Guilds sprang from a religious and social instinct rather than from industrial combines and that Craft Guild membership implied membership ' e With a religious Guild . The Craft Guilds Were a broth rhood arti z ans h e o of t Merchant Guild a br therhood of merchants . O o Of Charters defined the duties , rights , and bligati ns each and and as both were interested in trade , their aims pur l poses were identica . We have no documents in our Archives which explain w e sa their position and influence in the city . All can y with 1 th 16th 1 u certainty is that in the 5 , _ , and 7th Cent ries, the expansion of trade gave the Craft Guilds a position in the town community they had neverpreviously occupied ; in fact , so important that the Merchant Guild welcomed their leading men int o their ranks— evidence that the one w as a

. declining , and the other a growing body

ms Mr . John”son in his work on The Ancient Custo of Hereford , mentions the order for the pageant of local trades on Corpus Christi Day I n 1503 ; but w e are told that

m .1 it did not reach the di ensions of neighbou ring towns . OF O A SHORT HISTORY HEREF RD . 37

, , In a book entitled , The History from Marble compiled 168 in the reign of Charles II . (about 4) by Charles Dingley, e M gentl man , being Ancient and Funeral onuments in we 1 England and Wales, have the names of 4 trading com ani es wh o p . possessed Charters with headquarters in the 61 18 . Town Hall , taken down in We give them in the order in which the Charters were granted to them .

Corvi sors (Which included not only cobblers but those

engaged in varied leather work) . Charter granted in the 12 th year of Elizabeth 1 569 Cl oth workers 15th 1572 Mercers 15th 1572 Butchers 35th 1592 Tanners 36th 1593 Tailors 415t 1598 Weavers 415t 1598 Bakers 44th 1601 Goldsmiths z u d James I 1604 st I 16 G I . 2 lovers Charles , 5 6t h . 16 6 Haberdashers 3 Charles II , 9 2nd 16 Joiners William III . , 97

It is interesting to note that no Charter was given to th e

Grocers of this city .

The mottoes of several Guilds have been preserved , and li are worth recal ng , as shewing their close connection with a the Church of th t day . The Skinners t ook -these words Unto Adam also and‘ to his wife di d the Lord God make coats of skin and clothed them .

The Tanners Send therefore to Joppa , and call hither S imon whose surname is Peter , he is lodged in the house of one Simon , a tanner The Butchers : Thou hast put all things under h i s feet, sheep and oxen G v The lo ers They ”wandered about in sheepskins and k goats ins being destitute . 8 O O OF O 3 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

d a The Bakers Give us this y our daily bread .

“

- : God The Cloth Workers My trust is in alone .

s : The Goldsmith To God only be all glory .

There is no doubt that the closing Of the Cloth and Flour d Mills on the Banks of the Wye by Henry VIII , soun ed the death knell of an important industrial trade , so far as Here Was ford concerned . Add to this , its geographical p osition wh and the civil wars , and you get several good reasons y

Hereford was not a trade centre . However , it did not die but in its shoes , gave its undivided attention to encouraging agriculture and horticulture with magnificent results . Hereford to - day owns one of the best Cattl e Markets I n t h e country ; and may be numbered among the most flourishing

Agricultural towns in the country .

T H E Two O GREAT HEREF RD FAIRS .

There were two great Fairs held in the city in the Middl e Ages which correspond With our May and October Fairs ; and which awake within us two sets of ideas— one of intense

o of . j y and rollicksome fun , the other fines and robbery It was Will iam the Conqueror wh o first conceded the privilege of holding a fair in a town to which the people repaired period i call t a . y for he purpose of supplying their wants for the ye r ~ 1 t And it was Henry III . who granted in the 3th Century o ’ the Bishop of Hereford , a Charter to hold a three days fair, h i s afterwards extended to nine days , by way of adding to revenues ; his jurisdiction covered the whole area of the city d was . e during the time it held Private shops were clos , and prohibited from selling any goods , except at the fair , b fine under pain of the goods exhibited eing seized , and a ’ 5 equal to their value imposed . The Bishop Baili received f si x from the Mayor , baili fs and citizens , the keys of the C Of gates of the ity , and then placed his ficers in charge , and s they received the usual tolls on every load , or parcel of good that passed through them . Tents and booths were erected

at that time in the open field, so as to form streets , or rows O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 39

each trade had its own street , or row , a custom borrowed

- n from the Norman French Tow s . Every conceivable article was sold , and the returns were immense , as foreigners and l traders from all parts came to buy and sel . Towards the 1 end of the 5th Century , they began to decline , owing to the development of trade in big cities .

These great local fairs existed not only for trade purposes , but to provide amusement for the hol iday folk ; jugglers and tumblers , beggars and the whole of the catchpenny tribe were here galore "Here is a pleasant picture of the Ol d good days , How Pedlars ’ Stalls with glittering Toys are laid M The various Fairings of the Country aid ,

Long silken Laces hang upon the twine ,

And rows of Pins and amber Bracelets Shine .

Here the tight Lass , Knives , Combs , and Scissors spies ,

And looks on Thimbles with desiring eyes . l The Mountebank now treads the Stage , and se ls u l His Pills , his Balsams , and his Ag e Spel s ; ’ ’ Now o er and o er the nimble Tumbler springs , And on the rope the vent ’ rous Maiden swings ’ Jack Pudding in his party- col ou r d j acket Pa k Tosses the Glove and jokes at every. c et ’ - Here Raree Shows are seen , and Punch s Feats , ’ i ck d And Pockets p in Crowds and various Cheats .

It is only necessary to add that rioting and disturbances , and gambl ing and fighting were common occurrences at these

- owd er wh ere fairs , hence the establishment of Courts of pie p , justice was summarily administered before the cul prit coul d s and shake the dust of the city from off his feet . The e quick ready modes of administering justice are in vogue at Epsom , d uring the race week .

T H E C BLA K DEATH AND AFTERWARDS .

a 1 The terrible pl gue which reached Hereford in 349, r s a m a was by far the g eatest oci l event in the iddle ges , T H I ST RY F 40 A S HOR O O HEREFORD . and hastened a change in our agricultural system which had been simmering i n the minds of agricultural labourers f Or m any years .

Ou r s h i st orI ans u cla sic English , H me and Green , and our l Ocal h i st OI i ans D u ncu mb , and Price , without an excep tion , treat it as a mere episode I n their accOu nt of the agricultural Of 1 W o reforms the 4th Century , hich f llowed a century of “ .unusual prosperity . Yet an adequate realisation of its e ffects is of firSt rate importance for the right understanding o f the history of the county and of the city in the middle

’

. l ages It swept away during the 9 months it lasted , near y 2 00 beneficed half of the population , including clergy of the diocese of Hereford . So Church and State received a set back which took more than a century to recover . I”n al fact , this great pestilence , according to Soci England , changed the whole face of rural England by transforming i her agricultural system . Dr . Gasquet declares that t w as the turning point in the national life the beginning of a new modern age and the dawnof a new era . f f Now let us see how it a fected Hereford , because Here ord was always a centre of agricultural labour upon which its l prosperity has main y depended . The Lords of the Manor up to this date had absolute con l trol of the labour market , and the Agricultural abourers were his chattels , and could not be moved without his authority .

i - They were d vided into three classes villeins , bordars , and i wh o serfs . The ville ns , were allowed to farm a few acres of land on their own account were still at the beck and cal l of their Masters , and naturally desired to become rent paying s tenant The bordars , one grade below them , were also i v desirous of mpro ing their position and pay, whilst the serfs were clamouring for their freedom The Landl ords of those days regarded the increased

. m r demands of the labourers as distinctly im oral and w ong . l Still, land ords might grumble , Parliament might pass a l th e ‘ extent ‘ of d series of aws , even to bran ing the labourers with the l etter F (false) wi th a red hot iron and forbid

2 O O OF O 4 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

ating , awaiting the advent of a King , with the temperament

Of . i and predilections Charles I to bring to a head . It s expressed in the historic phrase known as the divine right of kings that is , as to whether king or people , Church w as or State , were greater . Carlyle says that it essentially o the struggle of Protestantism against Catholicism , of dev ut

Puritanism against dignified Ceremonialism . Charles him sel f d eclared to his soldiers at Wellington , near Shrewsbury, w as r that he fighting for the prese vation of their religion , their King , and their laws ; and at another place he said , l that the calling , sitting and dissolution of Par iament were accordi n o hi s w l l g t i . The Journals of Parliament recorded s that the liberties , franchises , privileges , and jurisdiction of Parliament are the ancient and undou”bted birthright and inheritance of the subj ects of England .

S O w as C the principle at stake simple , and learly defined .

It was the Sovereign rights of the king , versus the Sovereign i P r ghts of the people , whether King or arliament should ’ 16 . 2 we hold the strings of the nation s money bags In 4 , had arrived at that stage in our evolutionary development , when war w as thought to be th e b est and the only means of ‘

a n . settling great co stitutional question Fortunately , as a people we are just emerging from this barbaric custom , and i beg nning to learn that force is no remedy for a grievance . Of all wars , civil war is the most indefensible and the most reprehensible .

We will now summarize , under three heads , what our local historians and pamphleteers have collected and pre served o i the stress and storm through which the city passed 1 6 16 6 in the eventful years of 42 to 4 . By no stretch of the imagination can we say that Hereford passed through three

. e distinct sieges , as one writer would have us believe Pric and Reay only mention one siege . Gardiner in his history of the Civil War , and Green in his history of the English people , dismiss with curt brevity our heroic struggle . C Even anon Bannister , whose knowledge of Herefordshire a i history is cyclop ed c , passes it over as unworthy . of com ment still he inci dentally assures u s that the civil war be E F A SHORT HISTORY OF H RE OI D . 43 gan in Hereford shire with th e appearance of the Earl of f Of Stamford at the gates of Here ord . all places on th e m w as th e a w e W elsh arch , Hereford l st should have expected n and s to m ake a lo g defence , yet it lived , through four year d a . of treason,pill ge , and bloodshe

T H 6 T H E O C . O 1 2 . HIST RI SEPT 3 , 4

On th 16 2 was an July 5 , 4 , there open breach between On 2 2 nd king and parliament . August of the same year ,

Charles raised the Royal Standard at Nottingham , and within six weeks , the Earl of Stamford appeared before the gates of

. Hereford , demanding , on behalf of Parliament , free entrance w as There little or no opposition , as the defences of the city were bad , and the powder magazine nearly empty . Besides , w as 00 00 there no cover for the 3 to 4 soldiers inside the walls . So the Royalist leaders Simply took to their heels and fled O 2 nd 1 6 2 th e and on Sunday , ctober , 4 , Lord Stamford at Of head a thousand troopers on foot , and Sir Robert Harley at the head of a hundred on horseback , took possession . No human pen can depict the hardships infli cted upon the inhabitants , particularly the clergy, and those who had ’ openly espoused the King s Cause , including of course the m Ro an Catholics . Refinement of cruelty seems to have reached a climax in this Century .

On rd December 3 after a residence of eight weeks , the Earl of Stamford left the city for Gloucester ; because he had no money , no credit , no bread , no provender , and because the feeling of the citizens was against his remaining . He had robbed the city and county to such an extent , that his

- a was name became a bye word for all th t mean and despicable . and He spared the fabric of the Cathedral , that is the only good that stands to his credit . Thus ended the first Conquest of Hereford by the e Parliam ntarians or Roundheads .

C R D 16 2 1 0 2 TH 1 6 DE EMBER 3 , 4 , APRIL 5 , 43.

Lawd e and No sooner had Lord Stamford retired , than y his detachment took possession of the city in the name of O OF O 44 A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD .

T l the king . hen followed the usual pil age and violence

w ar . which always accompanies The Mayor , whose sym p ath i es were supposed to be p arl i am ent ari amw as shamefully

t . maltrea ed , and thrown into prison Cavaliers were not m I n one whit more hu ane than Roundheads actual warfare . Through the spectacles of war we see human nature at its — c v h onOI I r best and at its worst hi alry and on the one hand , and cowardice and treachery on the other hand

Of Sir Richard Cave , a subordinate ficer , a novice in the d w ar w as iplomacy of , left in charge of the city by Lord - i n Herbert , the Commander Chief of the Royal forces of O 00 e the South Wales district . nly 5 trained men w re at t his disposal ; and at the approach of the enemy , s rong, f e f lush d with victory , and led by two dashing o ficers , his

first impulse was to retire , and save the lives of his men . On second thoughts , however , he determined to face the of music the enemy . The Parliamentarians approached the 2 th city from Gloucester , on the early morning of April 4 , b , _ y fording the Wye at Hampton Bishop and then by driving ad in the outposts at Mordiford , and on the following day a vanced to the w ll .

‘ A striking confirmation of the date is supplied by an ’ entry in the baptismal register of S . Peter s Church . It : reads thus Edward Jones , ye sonne of Edward Jones and Was 2 rd 16 Elizabeth his wife borne ye 3 April , 43, and was 2 5th baptized ye of ye same month”which day came to ye City of H ereford Sir William Waller .

There was no pitched battle between the two combatants . ’ A feint attack was made on Byst er s Gate— the site of the present Comm eri cal Square— and also on th e Wye Bridge

Gate , whilst the real attack was being prosecuted at Wide I n marsh Gate by Massie . The first shot , fired at three the f v afternoon , killed an o ficer and se eral citizens, and struck i nt O terror the heart of the bravest . A bugle called for a parley, and a trumpeter advanced with the terms of sur ’ render . Sir Richard Cave s reply was dignified , if not de f fiant f .

T o f ace page 4 5

O 1 8 . A S H O . W I D E M R GATE , HEREF RD DEM LISHED 79

’ - M O 1 8 . - OR O O . 79 BYE STREET , BISH P S GATE , N RTH EAST DE LISHED O OF O A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . 45

wh o He held the town , said this bold loyalist , held li l it by commission from the king . If Sir Wil am Wal er could produce a better commission from the king , it Should be delivered to him otherwise he who had it by authority from the King would preserve it for the King . Brave words " We honour the man in the soldier and fi the parent in the of cer , and covet his human instincts in o subsequently agreeing to honourable terms , approved by L rd Si r C01 Scudamore , Sir William Croft , Walter Pye , and .

Price , the Governor . A ransom of was demanded , and paid probably by Lord Scudamore , whose subsequent treatment by Parliamentarians was scandalous in the ex D u ncu mb hi e treme . designates t s episod as a hasty ” surrender , Webb , as a Capitulation . Whatever we may e be pleas d to term it , Sir Richard Cave acted honourably ffi as a soldier and o cer throughout the negotiations , which a f O . court martial held at xford , afterwards a firmed

’ ’ One w ar w as of Waller s articles of , that a soldier s pay w as fine the justest debt in the world , so he levied a heavy upon the inhabitants in lieu of plu nder ; and practically denuded the farmers for miles round of all their cattle and w ar provisions . Such is the penalty of civil a fight ’ wn between one s o kith and kin .

On i n 16 the retirement of the Parliamentarians 43, d t the Royalists un er Barnabus Scudamore , bro her of the

first Viscount , took possession once more , and forthwith set H i s to work to put the city into a thorough state of defence . w as m w as personality agnetic . He the man for the hour . A ri l He anticipated the worst , and prepared for it . From p , 16 16 43, to July, 45, Barnabas Scudamore strengthened the w al l s and of the city , breathed his Spirit into the hearts of the p eople so he and th ey were prepared to meet

T H E GREAT HISTORIC S I E OE OF 1645

15t u This memorable siege commenced on the 3 J ly, W r d hen Lord Leven with his hi ed Scotch troops , emanded its S e tembei z u d th e sam e surrender , to p of year when he sud O OF 46 A SHORT HIST RY HEREFORD . d enl y, and almost ignominiously took his departure , a sadder , i f not. a wiser man .

Just a word as to what imme diately preceded the siege .

On 2 8 th th e C Of Monday , July , ommissioners the Scottish a rmy arrived at Gloucester and after dining with the 1 C0 . Governor and Morgan , agreed to attack Hereford .

n 2 th O Tuesday , July 9 , an advanced column moved to wards its Objective and on the following day reached Pown h and ope , where it received its baptism of powder Shot Of On from the guns Hereford loyalists . Thursday , the m “ Of ain body of the army , under Lord Leven , consisting Of troops , raw and rough , arrived at the gates the city , ' a nd eventual ly surrounded it ; and then in the name Of King and Parliament demanded its surrender from the hands

f . O Barnabas Scudamore , the Governor The iron in the blood Of an Englishman w as not likely to capitulate at the “ f first time O asking to a scotch laird . Listen to the manly and dignified letter —one Of the most precious documents

‘ i n ou r history— h e sent as a reply 2 M l I ’ y ord , am not to give up the King s garrison upon a ny summons or letter neither shall it be in the power of the Mayor or other to condescend to any such proposition m ade unto him .

’ I w as set here by the King s Command , and Shall no t q uit it , but by Special order from his Maj esty, or the Prince , I and with this resolution Shall persist in Hereford . This

l Of l 16 . ast Ju y , 45 A C O BARNAB S S UDAM RE .

Grand Words "the echoes Of which reverberate through the centuries , and can be heard to this day . The Scotch a laird with his rough untr ined levies , strong , vainly Of h oped that he had only to surround the walls Hereford , d an instruct his trumpeter to sound a few blasts , and down they would fall at his feet Ah , but he overlooked the f act that the stone with which the wall of Hereford was

. O O OF F 48 A SH RT HIST RY HERE ORD .

t m clo hed , and regularly paid , and a large body of Scotch en d One . r ill fed , ill clothed and irregularly pai week afte no another passed , and impression was left on the walls , or on the spirits of its occupants . Providence for once forsook i the strong battal ons . A final assault was made in th e fif th re week ; no result , and the King , with horsemen , were on w a f romWorcest er ported as their y to relieve the Situation . S O Leven deemed a retreat the better part of valour ; and on

th . September 4 Charles I entered the City , which had been e saved through the loyalty and devotion of his follow rs .

One of the first acts of the King was to create the Govern or a knight of the realm , and to confer upon the city itself a w an honour , in an ddition to its coat of arms , by allo ing e e it to use for all time , as a motto , th s words

I nvi cm Fi d eli mti s Prwmi u m

The reward of Invincible Loyalty, or unconquerable

constancy .

H u mf r s a Mr . W . J . y , an expert in medi eval history , ’ mournfully says that the only reward Hereford Obtained for its fidelity w as an addition to its coat of arms with its new ov f s motto , erlooking its e fect upon the thought and live th e and m i of future generations . Upon achievements emor es r of the past , let us seek as citizens to build a nobler se vice, a grander reform , and a greater commonwealth .

S . Just a sentence to give a completeness to the , tory i n 16 The Royal cause was lost June , 45, at Naseby ; and r Hereford was afterwa ds lost to the Royalists , by a ruse b conceived by Sir John Bridges , and executed y ’ b 1 16 men on Decem er 7th , 45, about six o clock in the morn e i a f f . n O ing Thes me'n attired themselves the g rb day r and ent ered Of laboure s _the city under cover a cart loaded h w a wit vegetables for sale ; Sle the watchmen , and fter s s f w a . s ward pos essed themselves O the keys . Col Birch d n 6 000 rewar ed for this Act with a parliame tary grant of £ , , e and the Governorship of the City . He made the Gat Wi d em arsh . House, in Street his Home O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 49

Bi rch ll ow ed m Sad to relate , a his men to deface the onu Of Cath e d ral and r ments the , to take away two hundred cu ious or brass plates , and sell them f old metal . He also rifled the palace , and took up his habitation there , and what is more had great part of the revenue s of the Bishopric for his re own use Finally, he retired to Weobley , where his mains are buried .

T H E C O OF 1 EJE TI N 662 .

FOUR HEREFORD CLERGYMEN E JE C’I ‘ E D FROM THEIR

LIVINGS .

What led up to , and what immediately followed the 1662 k expulsion of , ma es up one of the saddest chapters in the history of this county, relieved here and there by f heroic su ferings , borne with great fortitude and patience . It was one Of those irreparable D Ol i ti cal blunders which time can never condone , and which will for ever cover with Shame NO the face of its authors . blame for this great moral i n justice can be laid upon the Shoulders of the present historical Of r descendants the Established Chu ch , because they are not responsible for the character and acts of their forefathers . Without treading on controversial ground— for our sole Objt i s to bring out certain recorded happenings into the e and a light of the present day , to be stimated judged ccording w e i t— w e to the View point bring to may assume , with one of the Bishops of St . Asaph , that the existence of the Church of England , as a distinct body,and her final separation from o R me , may be dated from the period of the divorce . In the 1 7th Century , there was no alternative between the u Of n S premacy of the Pope , and that the Ki g in Church e Of . Government A church , ind pendent State control , w as an impossible idea in that age , and to many minds an

o . . imp ssible idea in this age So Henry VIII , with the assist

‘ Of d reW u Of i Si ance the Bishops , p a set articles of bel ef, x in number, and bluntly told his people that they must accept a them , whether they were Protest nts or Catholics . And on w as E this foundation the reformed Church built . fforts were made in the succeeding reign to abolish the Royal

D 0 O O OF O 5 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Supremacy in matters touching religion , and uniformity of worship , but the reformers were not strong enough

- to carry their point . The forty two articles , prepared by C si x ranmer , were substituted for the articles of Henry VIII . a nd Of a new prayer book , compiled by order Parliament 1 wi Of in 549, and later on revised thout the approval Con v i al l h ocat on , was ordered to be read in the C urches . The g randeur and Simplicity Of the Prayer Book I S due to Bishop wh o w as Hooper , martyred for his principles in the reign S O Of Queen Mary . it may be said that from the reign Of f ’ . o Of Henry VIII , to the reign Charles II one Henry s “ n atural successors in ecclesiastical polity , that the faith of the nation was t h e minds and hearts of the

‘ o l b u t i n We d p e p e , the What un erstand by religious toleration was practically unknown at this ' ” period to the wisest and most humane .

’ We pass over Mary S brief rei gn Wi th the Observation

‘ t hat she was under the influence Of minds stronger than her ' o wn t a e o s e as , and h t her p rsecuti n probably cam cleansing o fires , helping those of the ref rmed faith to greater unity among themselves .

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; the Independents a nd Baptists came into existence as a p olitical and religious e o w ' force to be r ck ned with bythe po ers that were . To the Baptists w e are indebted for their consi stent advocacy of the r and e principles of ch istian liberty willinghood . H rbert S o s l e keats , the N nconformi t historian , ca”ls th m the proto Of e vangelists the voluntary principle .

‘ ‘ ' ‘ I th e H am t on Cou rt C r Under James . , p onfe ence was held ' 0 r was d n -a i n 16 4 . Its pu pose to put ow puritanism ; as m Of e o n atter history , it nabled it to flourish more congenial s 2 0 of oil , and years afterwards , was the direct cause the ’ l 16 0 King S downfal . In this reign ( 2 ) the Mayflower with

Of 100 - her valuable cargo lives , forty one of whom were men , k as Th e - P i l ri m Fath ers fo r ' nown g , started America , and founded a new colony . Longfellow immortalises them in t hese lines OF O I A SHORT HISTORY HEREF RD . S

God had sifted threekingdoms to find the wheat f orthis planting

. Then , had Sifted the wheat , as the living seed of a nation

r Charles I . who held most tenaciously to the p inciple ri h t s of s e t o f the Divine g king , and ther fore had a s rong e w as antipath y to fre institutions , unfortunate in all his f Of p olitical e forts , and in the selection his instruments to carry on the government of the people . Scotchmen , as well as Englishmen , resisted his proposal to place Episcopacy Ook l upon the Statute b ; and united their forces , not on y a f or the extirp tion of Popery , but for the consolidation of e vangelical religion . He paid the penalty of death for his many political Shortcomings .

a u no Fuller , Ch rch historian , with bias towards Puritan i sI n t No w as I n , says hat nconformity conceived the days of W I n King Edward VI . hich the reign of Queen n t I n M ary was born at Fra kfort on the continen , which the rei gn o f Elizabeth w as nursed and weaned ; Which under ll King James grew up as a young youth , or ta stripling ’ b u t towards the end of King Charles rei gn Shot up to the full s h a n trengt and st ture of a man , able not o ly to cope with , r ” b u t . conquer , the h ie archy, its adversary

’ ’ CI omwell S brief reign and his son s briefer reign w e will d ismiss With this remark ; that they witnessed a distinct a o n dvance towards religi us toleration , as see in the establish d ment of the first Foreign Missionary Society, known to ay a s the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel I n foreign parts ; and I n the record of the Society of Friends with their e ight well known commandments .

now 2 th 1660 W We come to the 9 May , , hen Charles II . and l ascended the throne , amid the Shouts jubi ations of

the vast majority of the people , including the Puritans and

t h e Presbyterians . Hopes were entertained that a scheme

- might be propounded which would unite Presbyterians and Episcopalians into one body and make the Church of Eng t land more robustly protes ant . The efforts of Baxter and h i s . 1661 two colleagues failed Then followed , in , Acts of ” O 52 A SH RT HISTORY OF HEREFORD .

a u akers wh o re P rliament one was directed against the Q , we transported for not swearing the oath the other was d irected against all Protestant Dissenters of every grade , excluding f them from all civil corporations and ecclesiastical o fices .

University men as well as the humblest village schoolmaster,

‘ h ad a . r , to give up their te ching He e is the sum and sub of t r ranni cal r e stance the most y Act ever passed , which st ang ‘ t o say w as not abrogated till the year 1 8 2 8

be Every minister , in order to qualified to hold a living , a n ‘ -W as re or to conduct y public religious service legally , e o o be quired , if not piscopally rdained bef re , to submit to re - ordained ; to declare his unfeigned assent and consent to everything contained in the Book of Common Prayer , as consistent with the Word of God ; to take the oath of Canonical obedience ; to engage not to advocate any change Of o in the constitution either Church or State , and to h ld n s it unlawful upon any prete ce whatsoever , to take up arm against the King .

The Ejectment itself was indeed a supreme moment but w as i t not an act of revenge on t h e part of th e Royalist ’ S e party , in return for the Long Parliament Solemn Leagu Of 1 6 a t and Covenant Act 43, which ej ected the Roy lis ? Of clergy course , the honour of the Evangelical Clergy 1662 l of lies not in the .voluntary surrender of their ivings , but in the subsequent service they r endered to the cause i l of religious freedom , which Macaulay says , is the V ta

m and . . d breath of anhood the cradle of true , in ividuality

T the of ouching Hereford and Herefordshire , when Act y Cal am 16 n Uniformit was passed , y tells us that clergyme ' r h w e esigned t eir position , and may be sure there were many e d more than this . Among them w number four Herefor we i n clergymen , Whose names publish . We salute them

" the name of Liberty and our common brotherhood . “ S - Al l Rev. Dr . George Primrose , Vicar of . Nicholas and ’ l V l e a f . . o o S . Saints , Rev Wi li m y , Vicar Peter s , Rev am ‘ wCath ed ral William Law , and Rev . S uel Smith , dig i ni t ar es. O F O A SHORT HIST RY O HEREF RD . 53

The registers of th e Episcopal Churches of Hereford are s l n as t o O ; i e t ,their personal theological pinions and the , reasons which influenced them in leaving their cures .

n e w as ff 16 2 2 When the I dulgenc o ered in 7 , 3 houses u were opened as Conventicles , nder the license of the King P O ne a d . s in Hereford , n thirteen in the County So uritani m i found congenial soil n this district , m The, fight between Episcopalianism and Puritanis be tween 1662 and 1 672 w as fierce and bitter and between 16 2 168 fiercer 7 and 9 to the passing of the Toleration Act , ll ff not sti . And the su erings of the Roman Catholics were one whit less severe

' Mr i ch ard I n i . R a narrat ve of the life of Lyde of Hereford , ’ ' as 161 1 1 61 S h o w 2 . w born in , and baptized in at S Peter Of C . hurch , written by Mr Nehemiah Lyde, his son , at the age e and I n 1 1 h i s ighty , published by him 73 for the benefit of i s g randchildren , the following , interesting and illuminating.

. . R , . paragraph on the character of the ev ‘ Dr Primrose one o f s 1662 e the ej ected Minister of , with the names of his thre au a s th e c olleagues . The names may be taken as thentic, writer knew them personally.

- But as I have tired my old Hand and Head With writing and n i thinking , and my grandchildre With reading , w ll add no more But out of respect to the memory of my worthy a nd sometimes reverend Pastor a nd . Tu t or before mentioned, e w o Mr . George Primrose of Her ford h being a native of Scot

et . S o e land , y well descended to be nearly related to the th n

° Earl of Perth and his mother , Nurse to Prince Henry, o King James I . s eldest son , and had a good educati n in b accom his own country , but afterwards improved it y l panying Mr . Hollis , afterwards Lord Ho lis , into France , h i s perfected studies at Saumur , the only Protestant Univers I t y there ; and being related to Dr . Primrose , a famous d a ivine in th t country , Father (I think) to Mr . Primrose , one o f the ministers of the French Church in Th read needl e Street in London and afterwards applying himself to the ministry , a nd m li w marrying into a fa ily of the Hills , of Ul ngs ick in S O O OF O 54 A H RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Herefordshire , so settled in that County, and had the two All parishes of St . Nicholas , and Saints in Hereford a l ’ V o e . . Mr . y at St Peter s , and Mr Law and Mr . Smith at th e al Cathedr . And afterwards , when they were ej ected for onconf ormi t w as N y, he the only person that resided there till O t o the xford Corporation Act obliged him leave that city, o ortu ni t vi si t ed yet as he had pp y, them . He was both a solid and learned divine , and gave them his labours gratis , except some necessary expenses and was of so obliging demeanor , ’ that though very moderate , was in King Charles s reign excommunicated , and on that account under restraint , and ai though unacqu nted with Sir Herbert Croft , then Lord

Bishop of Hereford , yet hearing of it , and also his character , w as it not easy, till he had prevailed with the Chancellor and Register of the Diocese to release him ; and afterwards out r of gratitude , waited on the Bishop at his palace at Herefo d ; a e n o was treated with extraordin ry r spect , and enquiri g int Of S O the reasons his Nonconformity, satisfied him , that he wished the Church doors were opened wider to receive such and a al worthy persons , ttended him to the gate of his p ace , e rs called him Father and desir d his praye .

Inci dentally the writer tell s us that he completed his classical studies under the Rev . Mr . Primrose and the Rev . ' l e two e V o . Mr . y , worthy Nonconformist Minist rs He also tells us that he remembered when Sir Herbert Croft of O m Hereford rdained , took so e Ministers to be his assistants in the imposition of hands ; but having been educated a GoodInan B lo Romanist , contrary to , ishop of G ucester , who u t rned papist , was very moderate , as appears by his naked truth . Na Cal amy confirms the statements of Mr . thaniel Lyde

V o l e Mr Law Hereford . Mr . William y , . William , M Mr . George Primrose , Mr . Samuel Smith , sen . , . A . , Who were ’ all joint pastors , administered the Lord s Supper by turns , i n and lived great peace among themselves , and with great i unanimity carried on the work of the Gospel in that c ty . They ordained many ministers both for England and Wales in the Cathedral ; four mornings in every week they publicly

' 6 A SHO H O Y OF 5 RT IST R HEREFORD .

a t by a moat or mo ts , a running s ream , and the River Wye .

erone a re - Later on , aft of the Welsh r vages , it was built of s o e. i S u st n Nothing known of the tyle of the b ilding , or Of di a “ series buil ngs att ched to the fortress. Doubtless they were substantial and strong , for they were used to entertain Royalty when Hereford was made their head quarters for hunting purposes . Hay ood Forest in the ' w e or middl ages was a notable place f big game . In those days , kings were glad of beds of straw on which to rest . S O t of firSt safety and not comf or was the consideration .

' TH E CK A O BLA FRI RS M NASTERY . The founder of the Dominicans or Black Friars (Friar me ar e wh o i ans brother) was a Spani d , nam d Dominic l ved e n at the close of th 12 th Ce tury . The members of this order r i o was c a . were pre che s , and their miss n to onvert the heretic ' cOl ou r of was The their dress black ; hence their name , B k i lac Fr ars .

Tradition says that the preaching f riars first settle d in

Portfi l d s , S . the e , beyond Bye treet Gate about the year an il A D 1 2 76; mainly through the invitation of Bishop C t up e . fi Dif culties , however, arose between them and the , Cathedral

b od wh i ch . w as y, were referred to arbitration The decision adverse to the Friars , so they were removed from beyond Street and Wi d em arsh Bye , accepted a piece of land in Street ,

R ev . the gift of Edward II . The Canon Capes in his life of Bishop Cantil u p e tells us that an agreement was drawn i n 1 22 up 3 , by which the Friars were bound to pay a rent of i S d . a 3 . 6 for cert n premises beyond Froge Lane ; and were enjoined to do nothing to the prejudice of the rights of the

h . Cat edral Charters , and records of Hereford

It seems well nigh impossible to re - construct the Church ad and the Monastery as they originally stood , with the e Th e j acent stone pr aching pulpit . remains of the latter shew that it was once a Very ornate building , hexagon in S S i x hape , open on each side , and surrounded by a flight of s teps decreasing in Width as they ascend . The upper part is

O H I STOR Y 'OF O A SH RT HEREF RD. 57

'

. e mb attl ed . and each an l e b . , g is supported y a buttress Its ancient glory h as been much . impaired by the change of e nvironment .

The Monastery w as opened in the 14th Century by wh o Edward III was accompanied by his Son , the Black a Prince , three rchbishops , and many of the chief nobility of I t w as e the d ay. the r sting place of many of the great the families of aristocracy .

n i i n 1 th e Upo the dissolution of Monaster es 539, site and buildings passed into the hands of John Scudamore of ’ t o t h e e Wil n , King s receiver general for H refordshire , who ’ u of val ed the leads and the contents the Friar s house , d h e m all an t . took na es of the monks Later on , Sir Thomas ' ' Coni n sb of g y Hampton Court became the owner , and with m t r the a e ials of the dismantled Monastery and house , built 161 t h e in 4 , present almshouses and by an indenture 1 161 a dated July st , 7, he decl red the same Should be a hos ’ ' e Coni n sb s pital for ever and ever , und r the style of g y

‘ n Ol d of Compa y of Servitors , in the suburbs the city of Here ford .

TH E O WHITE CR SS .

I Ii 186 4, the Right Hon . and Ven . Lord Saye and Sele , one s h e a of the Canon of the Cat dr l, restored this ancient I nonu ment e Ho c o u Th re was r ss pon the original structure . ’ a It is an hexagonal panelled pedestal , elev ted upon eight S n teps . Traditio associates it with th e second visit of the

Black Plague , when it was recorded that the citizens deposited their money in basins filled with vinegar on the steps of this

Cross , and then retired , while the country people advanced , took up the money , and laid down their eggs , butter , or other c ommodities on the steps . Numerous stories have arisen , as to its origin all of them may be dismissed as untrue .

T H E W Y E BRIDGE .

Archaeologists constantly remind us of the paucity of knowledge of many of our ancient constructions , and among 8 O H O OF O 5 A SH RT IST RY HEREF RD .

them may be numbered Wye Bridge . When the first bridge

we . was erected , and where , know not In the reign of Henry ' D nc m . . . 1 100 u u b th at one a I about A D , we are told by w s built by his orders , probably of wood , and at the same place , t h e d n Where one now stands , as stone bri ges were not k own

1 1 0 . 1 12 0 till the year 5 About , the Bishop contributed 1 0 towards its maintenance ; and about 39 , the Dean and Ch a t er as s p , property owners , made a large donation toward its improvement . The date of the present construction is fixed at the end of the 1sth Century and possibl y w as f erected in parts , and at di ferent periods of time , as there " erent are said to be di styles of architecture . At the Siege 16 th e of 45, the third arch was destroyed , and rebuilt with original materials , when the height was considerably reduced . ri This fact is distinctly noticeable , and gives the b dge a weird ' of si x s appearance . It consists arches , and its foundation

‘ are as sound as the day they were laid . The bridge was e widened , and a new pavement for foot passengers was mad 1 80 h e in 826. The River at this point is yards Wide and t views from the East and West particularly fine .

C R ow BUT HER .

Butcher Row stood in the centre of the High Town , extending from the entrance of the Butter Market to Lloyd s Bank wh ere Off w as , it branched , and connected with another ’ s row of houses which terminated at the end of St . Peter di Street . It consisted of a block of buil ngs , known as half t timbered houses . The fronts faced towards the Sou h , the backs towards the North . The Town Commissioners removed 18 1 them in 7, because they were an encroachment on the regular plan of the city ; not only unpleasant to the eye , but injurious to the health of the city in obstructing the free C f irculation of air , and as o fensive to morality , in being appropriated to the slaughtering of animals for food in the most open and public manner . The cost of removal was 0 00 £95 . The Town Commissioners gave £7 the Corpora 00 ti on £50 and p rivate subscribers £2 . O OF O A SHORT HIST RY HEREF RD . 59

a all r In Med”i eval times , trades were gathered togethe in a row , a custom introduced by the Normans . Not all the shops in Butcher Row were devoted to the sale of meat . m There were saddlers , flax dressers , tailors , 8 . The North Side of the High Town w as known as Coker was Row , and it here , that cattle , Sheep and pigs were r d sl au gh tere e .

The Bull Ring was a small plot of land staked out l H for bul fights , and stood about the centre of the igh

Town . Near by stood a four column Cross under which 1 Market women congregated . Both disappeared in the 6th Century

T H E LD O TH E O H USE IN HIGH TOWN . This beautiful timbered house now converted into a w as bank , and known as Lloyds Bank , built in the Tudor w as period , and once much adorned , and displayed great O taste , in the shape of sculpture and carving . ver the . porch door the Arms of the Butcher Company still appear i n fine preservation; and the shields in the gables are ‘ well and sharply carved , the centre one bearing the date of its erection .

- It is a building of rare proportions . Probably at one period ’ the old Town Hall and the Butcher s Hall were the onl y ’ buildings between the Churches of All Saints and St . Peter the Space being occupied by the Bull Ring and the May pole , two popular sources of amusement in the early cen i e t ur s .

The interior arrangements have , of course , undergone and complete transformation , there is little to remind us of ' s th e ceili n s its old a sociations , save g and the beautiful and

- fire - elaborately carved chimney piece , or place decoration .

wh o i . 18 0 was Mr Wheeler d ed in 4 , the owner , since then , it has p assed throu gh several hands now it belongs to the d proprietors of Lloy s bank . Numerous efforts have been d l h a il wi th ou t . made to emo ish it p p y success Its position , h nk its isolation , its quaintness , its with the past has saved 60 O OF FO A SHORT HIST RY HERE RD .

t i . from destruction To day, it stands out , unique a thing f nd o beauty, a a perpetual source of j oy to resident and stranger alike .

TH E OLD O T WN HALL .

MOL 18 1 DE ISHED IN 6 . This late fine old Gothic arcade building stood near the Centre of the High Town beneath which was the Market I t r House . consisted of th ee floors . The ground floor C r 8 2 1 ove ed an area 4 feet by 34 feet , within which were G 18 n i n di o othic pillars of chestnut , i ches ameter, supp rting a the general building . The first floor was of the s me extent ,

and was used as an Assize Court , the County Quarter Sessions C ourt , for public meetings , and the General businessmeetings o f 18 1 h the County, till March 7, when t ey were transferred

. A to the Shire Hall In this room , dmiral Nel son , of Trafalgar ’ h e h a s . e fame , Signed t Freem n roll T second floor was used a s the headquarters of the various trade guildswhich number

’ d nd a orati on e 1 mh e o . 4, a all of the d Chart rs of incor The building was crowned with a handsome doni e—shaped bell ch v 100 f e an tower , the top of whi was o er et in height , d

f . ormed a landmark for miles around . It was removed in 1 i d 793, together w th the secon floor , to ease the pillars of t l e o heir load . A staircase d t the hall on the first floor , beneath which was an apartment for the Superintendent o f the nightly watch Th e building also contained a clock u i s Where the q arters were struck by two images . It now in

th e i . A . possess on of Mr . J H . rkwright , late M P . for the city . Mr as W b . . Walter Pilley has proved that it not uilt by Mr J ofm Abell in 1633 as one of the original beams has been 1 Ol d preserved on which the figures 576 were cut . The m u t 00 1 861 Th e aterials were bo gh for £2 in . photograph l W i l convey a conception of i t s ancient picturesqueness .

TH E CATHEDRAL .

Th e f History of the venerable pile o buildings , known l to us as our great Cathedral , origina ly Norman , but now m o c u s ainly G thi , one of the marvello s achievement

OF A SHORT HISTORY HEREFORD . 61 of th e 12 th Century — the golden age of English — a Churchmanship , extends too far back into the dim p st for us to speak with authority on its beginnings . We shall do our best to decipher the facts which are legibly written on its stones,with a hope of creating in the minds of young o people a desire to kn w more of its ancient glory, and pre al l th e sent beauty ; and above , to create a reverence for Spot which is the actual resting place of those wh o ages ago were t h e servants of God .

Silently and majestically , it stands , in solitary grandeur , with centu ries of d evotion enshrined in its monuments and stained glass windows , awaiting with calm serenity , the judg ment which will be pronounced one day upon the uses t o which it has been put .

Throughout its long and troubled existence , it has been th e the object of much solicitude , not simply as guardian of departed ; but as teacher and guide of living souls whose sources of inspiration for their dail y rounds of common di duties , have been found in its services and or nances .

i t w e If be true , according to Carlyle , that are indebted to great men for the shaping and direction of national policy, and the moral uplift of men generally ; surely Where th e recei ved y_ their inspiration , and where their bones quietly rest , becomes hallowed ground .

a Let us , then , with a teachable and earnest spirit , p proach the chief ornament of our city— the Mother Church of all the Churches —Established and Free — accepting as and Guide , where explanations are needed , the Hon . Very

Rev . Dr . Leigh , the Dean of Hereford , whose delightful little book on the history of the Cathedral should be in the d we hands of all a mirers of ancient buildings . Later on , shall refer to his . excellent work in the preservation and — a restoration of the Cathedral , he loves so ardently work which will perpetuate his name for generations to come .

T H E " O T H E R E TERI R OF CATHED AL .

mth e u er Viewed fro pp walk of the Close , near to the gate

‘ ‘ im leading into Church Street , the venerable pile is most O O OF O 62 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

n i t s ; posi g , and gives one an idea of solidity and beauty

The leading features from this standpoint , are the Central

“

16 A . D . 1 00 t Tower , 5 feet high , built about 3 , wi h its pro —flow er en li fusion of ball ornam t , and four lofty embel shed 18 0 and p innacles , erected in 3 , one of which is damaged , r h m at ch l es u its late perpendicula North Porc of bea ty , o d with its two octagon turrets , one on each side , c mplete 1 0 W h o h aV e in 55 , by Bishop Booth , is said to been the

Ol d - arc i last of the grand bishop builders . As Gothic h tec tecture had become at this period much debased , this late n fine additio is Very , notwithstanding some of the figures a in stone Wi ll not be r close inspection . A wooden spire a 8 0 v rd bout feet high , co e e with lead , surmounted the Square bu t w as I n 1 0 w e tower of stone , it taken down 79 . If fail _ from this aspect to appreciate its unity, we cannot but be s i v ne impressed with its ma s e ss .

From the North East Corner of the Close , near the Dean e r l w e e t e yi g the best View of the Cathedral and at a glanc , can take in a grea t variety of architectural periods ; all vari

~ eti es ca e save the Norman , which n only b seen on entering th e. Nave .

’ ' '“ r end 'of r a t a F om the _ B o d S reet we have full Vision of the W E nd M W n est Queen Victoria emorial i dow, of the florid o rv “ decorated style , hands mely ca ed , and flanked by two b eautiful turrets .

To T the L r u t h e the ight is ady A bo r , and Cathedral ’ L a re ibr ry ; and beyond , the Bishop s Cloisters , recently

The se exterior Views of the Cathedral make up -a unique picture ; and we cannot help realizing that we are in the n presence of a great past whe men dreamed great thoughts , a nd embodied them in great deeds .

O OF TH E INTERI R CATHEDRAL .

Let us now enter th e Cathedral by t h e el aborately orna m ented West doors of solid oak which i s the official entrance O O OF O 6 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 3

o f State and City p ageants . The Sight which meets our gaze

r . is indeed st iking and impressive Its venerable walls , noble hl i roofs , and ric y carved monuments of the dead , bear s lent testimony to the many scenes and episodes that still shine and burn in the calendar of our history , local and national . What stands out most prominently to our gaze are the twelve r w massive No man pillars ith richly carved capitals , and cir c u l ar t ri f Ori u m a nd arches above them is the , or gallery above that , the clerestory , or upper story ; and still higher , the vaulted roof— all these objects have a story to tell full ri n o f interest to those of a histo c temperame t .

t c a In the dis ance , we atch sight of the Ch ncel with its d i m religious light and part of the stained glass window of t h e — all Lady Chapel these varied scenes make up a picture , o r Series of pictures; which taken as a whole give us an idea of its vastness, and symmetry,and of the richness and ful ness o f its ornament .

wh o w as It appears that James Wyatt , the Architect c alled in to restore the Cathedral after the fall of the West 1 86 16 Tower in 7 , not only shortened the nave by feet , G but substituted debased othic for fine Norman, both in t h e triforium and clerestory , which led an eminent architect to remark th at it was Only i n ruins when the tower fell ; ' ' i t r ned was not ui until James Wyatt had done with it .

‘ s Passing up the nave from the We t door , we see the Font , w hich is symbolic of entrance into the rights and privileges O f m - st and s 'b etween ll Church me bership . It the first pi ars o n the South Aisle , is of Norman design , and dates from the

‘ 1 th r - i t ' 2 Centu y . Around are figures of the Apostles much m utilated , and at the base projecting lions . Time has left m i ts ark upon thi s ancient stone symbol .

Continuing our walk up the Nave which is 31 feet broad a nd al ass th e 6 . w e 4 feet high , s uting as p the memorials of d al , ead , between the pillars , and on the ,w ls of the two aisles we o to f ace a find urselves face . with a m gnificently wrought i z ron screen . , one of the choicest attractions of the Internation al E xh ibi ti on ‘ 1862 an of , designed by Sir Gilbert Scott , d exe O O OF O 64 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

” ed s k S cut . c o t by Me srs S idmore of Coventry . It the Dean and Chapter The figures and groups are well nigh

. f as perfect , and will well repay careful study Artists di fer to its appropriateness to surrounding objects .

h N We now turn our faces to the West , and again see t e ave and the two aisles of the decorated period s ; probably built th e i sco ate Swi nfiel d i n th e 12t during ep p of Richard , all h

Century .

w e t Glancing upwards , are struck with the four g rea " t h e e Norman Arches of the Central Tower , and larg w d elaborate Candelabrum of rought iron , which is suspende ro from i n girders . This portion of the Cathedral was built

A . D . 1200 about , and rebuilt a century later upon Norman s h e — pier Above the ceiling is t bell chamber , which con “

‘ ( tains ,a fine p eal of bells in the Key oi and a Tower 1861 a nd Clock which was erected in , and strikes the hours quarter hours .

To our ri ght stands

TH E NO RTH TRANSEPT , one of the most f requent ed parts of the Cathedral; and th e

’ sa s Wh i ch i t s only portion , Dean Leigh y , is complete of kind . ‘ and l th e mi d dl e eome The walls , gallery , windows il ustrate g

th . Centu r i n t ri cal 1 . , 3 period of ‘ the y The windows are t eresti ng from the fact that they have no transoms and th e

- flat Sided arches are almost a local peculiarity . The grace n ful triforium arcade adds to its architectural importa ce . w a l t e of th e It s partial y rebuilt , and enlarged for h reception Cantil u e h or s Shrine of Bishop p , and all its ist ic association w as b o ri gather around his name . He canonized yPope J h ""II and is the last English Saint in the Calendar

. Of the Church . His reputed miracle working wonders brought thousands of pilgrims to his f ew left

Without leaving a t hank o ffering which w as. d evoted to i ' i Th e e h e C a . i mproving and ex t nd i ng the fabr c of t thedral . tomb exhibits fine and e xact details of, Knig hts Templa rs

" of wh ich the Bishop . w as Provincial Grand M aster and i s

T o f acé page 65

O HEREF RD CATHEDRAL .

6 O O OF O 6 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Mu suem the British , where , under the care of Sir F . Madden , w a of . s Keeper the MSS , it repaired and cleaned with great 18 i 62 . t w as skill and judgment . In , exhibited at the South n Musu em Ke sington Temporary of Works and Arts . In 186 w as l 3, it fixed in the South Choir ais e a sheet of glass 1 10 and oak doors , being provided for its protection ; and in 9 as w removed to the South Transept . Tradition says that

‘ it is a copy of a still older map drawn by a philosopher of

Rome at the command of the Emperor Augustus .

The M ap i s 54 inches by 63 inches and i s executed on a single sheet of vellum . It has been termed a great picture of vul gar English ideas of the world in the middle ages and is supposed to represent the whole world with th e main fea tures of the people , and the products of each country on a Of i s great scale . course , it purely legendary from beginning to end ; and at best , a miserable parody of geography . Shall w e outline i t s main features At the top is a rep re Our sent ati ve of the Last Judgment . Saviour is represented l w f or in g ory, and belo is the Virgin Mary interceding man C kind . In the lower left hand orner is a representation of t h e Emperor Augustus ; and in the right ' hand corner is t h e author on horseback , attended by a page and a g reyhound . The Earth is represented as round , and sur

‘ h e rounded by the ocean , T Upper is the East . Rather more n t . han half is taken up by , the conti ent of Asia Europe is

a t . the left hand of the lower half Africa a”t the right hand r f By a singular error the words Eu opa , and A frica are s transpo ed on the Map , Europa being placed on the con

t i nent i . i s r of Africa , and V ce versa There a epresentation of the Gard en of Eden with four rivers and Adam and Eve a e . ating the forbidden fruit Indi , Ceylon , Ethiopia , Asia

Minor , Egypt with the Nile , Norway, Russia , Germany,

Greece , Italy, Africa , the British Isles, Spain , and the king n doms on the shores of the Mediterra ean are all represented . wh o h e t So those ave not seen it , should mak a point of s udy ing this relic of the past . It will convince us that geography w as not a speciality of the British nation i n the 14th Century ' w as ll e in fact , it not ti the days of Elizabeth that we becam

v rest ed an reall y i nt e in geography d foreign commerce . 6 A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREFORD . 7

w e s Again , not forgetting that have taken up a po ition w e under the Tower , if turn our face to the East , and advance a f ew we yards , enter

TH E CHOIR

which was erected in Norman times , and altered in the middl e of the 13th Century . It represents several styles of a ul rchitecture , the details of which are very beautif and ef fective . The Dean informs us that it consists of three dl lofty Norman bays of three stages . The mid e of the three s tages had some exquisite dwarfed Norman arches . Its twilight darkness gives it a weird appearance with ffi e its monumental e g s to the north and south . The C n hoir Stalls are very old with few exceptio s , and the figures drawn upon them from secular subjects at the c . aprice of the wood carvers of that period are somewhat ’ s . trange and fantastic Then , there are the Bishop s throne , which is of the 14th Century and belongs to the Decorated ri pe od , and a very ancient Episcopal Chair , consisting of 53 p ieces , which tradition says was used on Whitsunday of A D 1 1 2 . . 4 , by King Stephen , during his residence at the C astle .

‘ At the end of the Choir is

T H E ALTAR w o ith its accessories , aids to devotion , of modern c nstruction , S t u howing us tha men still love the architecturally beautif l . w as i n 18 0 The reredos erected 5 , as a memorial to Joseph B M P ailey , Esq . , . . , after having represented this County f or more than nine years . It is one of the earliest adapta t i ions of rev ved Ecclesiastical art to this sacred purpose .

Mr . Cottingham designed it , and Mr . W . Boulton executed i ’ t in Caen Stone . It illustrates our Lord s passion and r e esurr ction in five canopied compartments , divided by small shafts supporting angels wh o carry the instruments O f P — . . the assion The subjects represented are The Agony I n the Garden , Christ bearing the Cross , The Crucifixion , T h e u . Resurrection , and The Three Women at the Sep lchre . O O OF O 68 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Behind the reredos is a transitional Norman pillar b e covered with modern Sculpture , which may or may not a copy of the one at Dol in Brittany in the Church of St .

S amson . We will now pass into the

O O N RTH CH IR AISLE , which is entered through a Norman Arch and on our left we meet with what Dean Leigh calls one of the finest episcopal monuments under his care . The workmanship 1 is superb , and was executed by Italian workmen in the 3th th e Century . It needs to be carefully studied both from choir aisle and transept standpoints , to be appreciated ; and even then only an expert of med i a val sculpture can unfold f w e w as its merits . The e figy are told once elaborately w as of colored . The monument erected to the memory and Aquablanca , whose frequent quarrels with the civic H e ecclesiastical authorities have passed into history . 2 th 1268 e was died on August 5 , , at Eardisl y Castle , where he imprisoned for fighting against the powers that were .

e we th e Furth r on , in the North Choir Aisle , enter

Stanbury Chapel , built by the Bishop of that name . w as He very learned , very wise , very eloquent tall of stature and of beautiful physique which enshrined a

m . beautiful ind It consists of a single room , elaborately

w as A . D . 1 0 decorated , erected about 47 , and is recognised ffi th e . e i es e as one of the gems of Cathedral Several g , mor or less mutilated , of Norman bishops rest in this aisle .

a A few y rds further on , we come to the

O N RTH EAST TRANSEPT, which possesses few features of antiquarian or historical al t o interest . It represents the transition from Norman

Early English . Norman is the curious ornament of the

Architecture , but Early English in its shape . Sir Gilbert 18 Scott restored this part in 57. In this transept lies i n

i n. stately silence the Altar Tomb of Dean Dawes , who died S H ORT H I STOR Y OF O . 6 A _ HEREF RD 9

e f 1867. It was design d by Sir Gilbert Scott , and the e figy

was executed by Noble . The Dean was the pioneer of ele " ar Nati onal m ent y Education , and his name is held in high w as wh o honor to this day . He a great man dreamed d reams which are being actuali zed in our schools in Hereford

- o f to day . A tablet on the North Wall is to the memory of

the grandson of Nell Gwynne , the Right Honorable and the m 1 6- 8 Right Rev . Ja es Beauclerk , Bishop of Hereford 74 7 O and son of the first Duke of St . Albans . Died ctober

2 0th 1 8 8 . , 7 7, aged 7 years

From the North East Transept , we step into the pro c ssi onal w e e Choir , from which point have an excellent View of the

LADY CHAPEL ,

which is both extremely subdued and extremely beautiful d 1 ates from the early part of the 3th Century, and represents

the lancet , or early English style of building . It has been

twice in the hands of the restorer . The eastern end and roof d were built by Cottingham , and Au ley Chapel was

restored by Sir Gilbert Scott . Its ancient paintings , monu merfts , piscinas , and symmetrical proportions have all

vanished . So its chief attraction to the modern eye is the

east window, which consists of five narrow lancets , recessed

within arches , and chastely ornamented , together with its

arcades and mouldings . Nowhere on the continent , says

Fergusson , can such a group as this be found . The stained glass window was inserted as a memorial to Dean Merewether, who did so much financially and otherwise towards its

. u restoration The side windows are partic larly interesting . On d the South side of the wall is the historic Au ley Chapel , or m beautiful little prayer room , built by Bishop Ed und 1 2 - 1 02 Audley ( 49 5 ) with its six sides , three little windows , and and elaborate vaulting , intended for his final resting was place . He , however , moved to Salisbury , where he w as built another Chapel in which he buried . Doubtless in the days of Bishop Audl ey it presented a magnificent 0 O O OF O 7 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

‘ appearance with its painted efli gi es of saints and personages who have not been identified .

Just outside the Chapel is a staircase leading to an al l and upper room , which is lighted with five sm windows , b is open to the Lady Chapel . The roof ears the arms of Bishop

Audl ey .

Strange to say the Lady Chapel was used as a Library 1862 till , when the parishioners claimed the right to hold hi a service in some part of the Cathedral , a right w ch

Could not be resisted .

e as Below the Chapel is the Crypt , used for many y ars a charnel house but is now of course perfectly clean and wholesome . There are two approaches to it the principal 2 0 one is a flight of steps , near to the processional choir aisle .

‘ No dark deeds arer ep orted to have been done here and onl y o s w f ur burial are known to have taken place , including Andre A D 1 Jones and Wife , . . 497.

‘ Opposi te the North E aSt Transept is the

OU S TH EAST TRANSEPT, in the centre of which stands a lean single octagonal pil lar: I t has undergone a great Change from its original design and is only interesting from a monumental standpoint the chief monument being that to Bishop Lewis Charleton , e h H eref ordi ans t 1369. P r aps the one are most amilian

“ with is that of Dean Herbert Croft , afterwards Bishop

Croft who was as brave as he was gentle , as fear

-4 less as he was pious . He was the local agent of the Exe cu ti ve Government to extirpate Roman heretics— a work Th which was altogether uncongenial to his loveable nature . e l t family is stil represented by Sir Archer Croft , Bar , of

“

. di On . to Lugwar ne . one side are two memorial tablets l - n two wel known medical men , excellent types of Victoria i z H e r V V vers . Citizenship . Mr . enry and Mr . Henry Moo e ' - S H T O OF . O D 1 A OR HIST RY HEREF R , 7

Walking through the South Choir Aisle , we pass many efii i es g of bishops , and the outworks of

T H E CATHEDRAL ORGAN .

1686 Originally it was a present from King Charles II . in B fiel d O to which was added , later on by y , the Choir rgan . ‘ e It has been r paired and enlarged from time to time , notably ' 18 1 O 1862 18 . in and 79 In 9 , the rgan was practically l rebuilt by Messrs . Henry Wi lis and Sons of London and 1 0 w as i in 9 9 cleaned and more add tions made to it , including wh o 2 . . the 3 feet reed It is thus described by Dr Sinclair , O r has raised by rgan Recitals , and othe wise , the noble sum of towards the cost of the additions and i m p rovement s

O 16 . O Great rgan , stops Echo rgan (played on Solo

l O 1 . Swe l rgan , 4 stops . Manual) , 7 stops

O O 8 . Choir rgan , 9 stops . Pedal rgan , stops

O . 1 . Solo rgan , 3 stops Accessory Stops , 4 stops

t h e —A 8 The compass of manuals is CC . 3, 5 notes . There are 18 Pneumatic Combination Pistons and nine k Composition Pedals . The Combinations to be wor ed “ by these Pistons and Pedals can be fixed in a moment by a me ns of interchangeable Pneumatic Combination Knobs , 0 of Which there are nearly 30 . The whole of the action of O this rgan is pneumatic , and the bellows are blown by five l hydrau ic engines . It contains speaking pipes .

REMAINS OF CHAPTER HOUSE .

A door from the South wal l leads us to a view of the o S uth and East Cloisters , which have been grandly restored r mu nificence i n through p ivate , and are the receptacle of l numerable memorials of the dead . Architectural y, it is full of i nterest . Through a door in the wall on the East side of the C we i loisters secure a glance of the Chapter House , wh ch has i S 16 been in ru ns ince the siege of 45, and no attempt has ul been made to rebuild it . Bishop Croft from this p pit 2 O O OF 7 A SH RT HIST RY HEREFORD . severely rated the Parliamentarians for their sacrilege and

. w wanton conduct A succeeding Bishop , ho ever , did not h i s scruple to use the stone to rebuild and enlarge own Palace . The Chapter House appears to have been a Splendid ’ ri specimen of the ch Decorated period . In the Dean s archives are the transcripts of registers of Marriages there sol emi z ed as 1 0 late as the year 73 . What is called the

LADY ARBOUR

a n O is pen Space partly surrounded by the Cloisters , and the al O South W l of the Cathedral , and pen to Gwynne Street and contains the mortal remains of Dean Herbert and his Atl a Wife and Bishop y and his wife .

TH E CATHEDRAL LIBRARY is Sp endi dly housed in a buildi ng erected at a cost of a through a leg cy left by the late Rev . Canon Powell . The b k u al and oo s are numero s and v uable , include a large number taken from the Jesuit College of Cwm in the Days of Bishop

Croft . The chained volumes are more numerous than in of i any other collection the kind , and orig nally numbered

2 000 . 2 00 . , There are also valuable MSS A permit to e inspect th m is easily obtainable . The new building con taining the Library w as opened by the late Archbishop of 0th 18 Canterbury, April 3 , 97.

We may conclude this brief and imperfect outline , by adding that the Constitution of the Cathedral i s a Corporation 16 6 aggregate , governed by the Caroline Statutes A . D . 3 , and by ancient custom in such matters as are not regulated by those Statutes .

H I S O O A O O . DEAN LEIGH , AND N TABLE REST R TI N W RK I t was indeed a great day for the City and County of ao Hereford when the Hon . and Very Rev . James Leigh ce t ed 1 h p the Deanery of the Cathedral in 894 . His eig teen

O O OF E O 74 A SH RT HIST RY HER F RD .

. of personages (the gift of private individuals) , S Thomas

Hereford , S . Ethelbert , S . George and S . David (typical ai e of the Union of English and Welsh Churches) , Bishop Lorr n and Bishop Booth , are represented . The Porch is a master

. n piece of exquisite design , rich in beautiful carving Take f r t as a whole , it is magnificent in e fect , and a thing of g ea

e . On h b auty, which increases the more it is studied Marc th 1 0 an s , 9 4 , it was solemnly dedicated by his grace , Dr . R c Of dall Davidson , Archbishop of Canterbury , in the presen e the Mayor and Corporation , and thousands of citizens .

1 . d . The cost was 6s 4 , towards which women

1 00 . gave £ , 5

1 0 di s In 9 5, the buil ng of the West Front of North Ai le , r was completed , together with the Croft Medallion ove the porch of North Aisle .

1 0 r was In 9 7, the Corner Stone of the South West Tur et E ll a laid by the arl of Warwick with fu masonic ceremoni l , and the medallion over the porch of South Aisle was u m veiled by the donor , Mr . Woodhouse of Burghill .

-

‘ 1 08 th e h In 9 , the porches of West Front of the Sout e Aisle were complet d and dedicated .

‘ The old Cloisters were restored in memory of c ertain H eref ordi ans O well known , and others , at a cost of ver

So the Dean has raised and expended close upon towards the restoration and renovation Of the fabric of the

Cathedr al he so ardently admires and loves .

The re building of the Chapter House would indeed be a ed fine memorial to the excellent services he has render , not both to the city and the nation ; for his life has been , t only a local asset of great value , but also a national asse of untold worth .

T 0 f ace page 75

’ O 18 0 . A U . 7 S T . M RTIN S T RNPIKE GATE AB LISHED

6 O O OF O 7 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . mil l pond ; and that offensive emanations contaminate ’ ” the neighbours atmosphere .

1 a omti n We may regard the Act of 774 , pp g Town Com missioners as the beginning of civic life in Hereford as we — - a understand it to day small beginning it may be , but it involved a great principle . It meant that the best men of the city should act together for the general good of the whole 1 8 a n . b e of the community In the th Century, P rliame t l i eved that the best men usually occupied public positions , so it declared that the new authority should include the

Bishop , the ~ Dean , the Canon in Residence , the Custos of the C athedral, the Chancellor of the Diocese , the Precentor, — the Coroner , the Ex Mayor , Town Clerk , the two Chamber th e i f lains , Reg strar of the Bishop and Dean , the Baili f of the Bishop , and such other persons , not exceeding ten , together with two substantial householders or persons residing in each parish . The Act fixed the number at 57 7 f ormed a quorum . The Minute books which have been preserved shew that the business of the Town Commissioners as a w usu lly discharged by a minority of those elected , and m at times a quoru could not be found . Their work consisted r p incipally in pulling down old buildings , like Butcher Row , and keeping the streets clean , and properly lighted , the pavements good , and freeing the streets from nuisances , i d o . bstructions , and annoyances Doubtless , they d some t g ood , but as they were not responsible to the people , hey naturally moved along slowly, satisfied with small things . T h e utmost w e can say of the Town Commissioners is that their intentions were good , but the pavements they made were not equally good .

1 In the 9th Century , Parliament thought that the people m ight be trusted with a greater measure of self- government 1 8 so passed the Municipal Reform Act of 35, which 18 6 came into operation on the first day of January 3 . It introduced a more systematized method of handling civic business , and increased the general interest of the citizens f in the management of their own a fairs . As it marked an e poch in the development and improvement of the City,

T o f ace page 77

’

S T . O . O I 18 0 WEN S TURNPIKE GATE AB L SHED 7 .

' E I GN O 18 0 ABOVE TURNPIKE GATE . AB LISHED 7

' 8 S H oR T O OF O 7 A HIST RY HEREF RD .

c business , of which no noti e need be given . The first to b e th e held on the 9 of Nov mber , in every year following ,

a . fter the present year , at noon The other three meetings t o h th l be olden before the 9 of November , fo lowing the d ay and hours to be fixed by the Council at their first

Quarterly Meeting .

0 e 1 1 8 6 The first May r to be lected on the st January , 3 . E very subsequent election of Mayor to take place on 9t h e o f Novemb r .

I t is scarcely believable that the old Town Council opposed m ight and main , the adoption of this new measure ( of reform , and even went so far as to petition to be heard at the Bar of

th e . n House of Commons The petitio was not granted . The reformed Town Council soon discovered that a dual

- of authority in the control the city was undesirable , not w l co- ithstanding they cordial y operated on many matters . It was an anomaly which could not exist in a place with l 1 8 progressi ve idea s . So the Improvement Act of 54 was secured at a cost of and w as the instrument by w as which a New Hereford has been created . It the outcome o f the Municipal Reform Act of 1835 ; and gave almost

u n . nlimited powers to the Tow Council Besides , it took over the duties of the Town Commissioners . So from this date , one authority and one only , has controlled and managed I n od o u r City Affairs . The Borough Rate 1854 pr uced about per annum ; in 1 91 1 it produced over The p opulation i n 1854 w as in 1 91 1 was

So the City of Hereford exists , and its government c I S i , A t exerc sed by virtue of the Municipal Reform , of 1 8 1 8 35, and the Hereford Improvement Act of 54 , subj ect t o such changes as the citizens through its Town Council m ay determine from time to time . Its entire administrative machinery I s centralized I n Si x aldermen and eighteen coun c i ll ors ; one of them occupying the position of Mayor and e c hief Magistrate . The various committ es of the Corpora t o are di re i n elected by and subor nate to the Council , and uire e i s q its approval befor its w she can be carried out , with

T o f ace pa ge 79

1 8 0 . BOI . I S H E D . A 7 AY LS TONE HILL TURNPIKE GATE

O 18 0 . . 7 W I D E M AR S H STR EET TURNPIKE GATE AB LISHED

O O OF O 80 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Town Council s are not in these progressive days simply of Municipal traders , possessing vast monopolies , a sort c elective guardians of persons and property , and of civi all and political liberties . They are these , and more they are the educators of the young the teachers of the beauti th e ful the patrons of Art , Science , and Literature and f t o ficial leaders of all that is best , and purest , and nobles in our common life .

The more w e realize that th e comp osi ti on of a Town Council has much to do in the moulding and formation of e the general habits and character of the citizens , the mor we interest Shall take in its personal , and general work . It is only by entering into their high aims and purposes that

co - we can become partners with them in civic building , f or which is building , not for one generation , but many generations .

H eref ordi ans are inheritors of great and vast privileges of unique and time honoured customs ; and of splendid traditions and ideals . May it be ours to preserve them , and a m ’ h nd the on to our children s children , not only unim Bu t paired , vastly improved

1 8 r It was the Municipal Reform Act of 35, togethe of 18 with the Improvement Act 54 , the Public Health Act 1 8 188 r of 75, and the Act of 3 which first supplied our pionee k workers with an axe to destroy many unhealthy areas , li e t O hose in St . wen Street and to build upon them substantial Ou r cottages for the working classes . city fathers saw visions which their Municipal heirs are beginning to realize . The progress , we have made , under the powers these Acts con recent s 18 0 1 0 ferred , together with the more Acts of 9 , 9 3, di 1 0 . and 9 9, is really astoun ng A new Hereford is rising out of the ashes of the old .

18 Prior to 59, the Town Council nominated Special , or sub - committees t o deal with difficult and complex questions , as they arose . The growing wealth , and the need S tandi n of urgent reform , necessitated the appointment of g ttees Commi to deal more promptly with them . So at a O OF A SHORT HIST RY HEREFORD . 8 1

b u 1 th 1 8 w as a meeting held on Fe r ary s , 59, it decided to p point several standing Committees , to supervise the general business of the city , subject to the approval of the Council itself at its quarterly meetings . How great is the distance Social Reform has travelled is seen in the fact that fifty years ago the Committee were Si x in number to - day they 18 are fourteen . In 59, the business of the city was transacted under the following Six Committees

1 Waterworks Committee . 4 Police and Gas Committee . 2 Markets 5 Goal and Fire 6 3 Paving Street Watch , Finance Sanitary

1 12 e In 9 , fourteen Committe s are needed , the names of which indicate the growing interes”t we are beginning to take in persons as well as things .

I Cemetery Committee . 9 Health Committee 2 Sewers Outfal l 10 Housing Acts 3 Gas 1 1 Publi c Library 4 Fire Brigade 12 Water Works r 1 5 Elect ic Lighting 3 Road , Building 6 Cattle Market General Works 7 Estates 14 Ol d Age Pension 8 Education

of These Committees touch every phase our social , h ac intellectual , and common life and render mont ly an of h count their stewardship to the Council , which stewards ip

l . is carefu ly examined , and criticised

Whilst w e cannot but be grateful to the men wh o have made our city, pure , wholesome , healthy, and prosperous ; it is well to remember that every man whose vote made it possible for a great principle to be expressed in concrete form , has a right to Share their satisfaction , for without their vote and support the work could not have been done .

Hereford to - day is a perennial source of joy to all her wh o l inhabitants are fami iar with its past , and its present , and who can see visions of its future . 8 2 O S O OF E O A SH RT HI T RY HER F RD .

Geol ogi cal ly Sh e provides asandy soil upon which to build o ur houses , and keep them free from damp .

' H orti ca ltai ally Sh e surrounds us with a fl ower garden w an hose blooms breathe life , and health , d beauty .

A ri cu lturall Sh e h a a nd st e a g y opens her nd, satisfie h w nt s o f man and beast .

' E d u cati mi al l ~ Sh e m eets in y her Cathedral , Elementary, a nd S d Secondary chools , all the requirements of the Boar o f Education ;

Commerci ally she i s second to none of the great towns ro Sh e f s r s i n th e p vision o fer to esident .

S oci all Sh e al w a S‘ been h er y, has y boundless in hospitality ' t o strangers , and more than generous to the claims of the a ged poor and deservi ng . Sick”

M od em H ere orcl ex So f as we see it to day, and as it t e one presses itself ln the general conditions of h people , is - e u l of self r spect and hopef l ness . It is dai ygiving us of i tS b est :

In the splendid conditions of its soil , m ou nt am In the life giving properties of its stream , a and ali In the salubrity of its clim te , Vit zing air from the

Welsh hills , I n c c of r the purity and ex ellen e its wate , b ndi Stri cts In the extent of its lovely subur a , I n the educational facilities it offers to boys and girls of all g rades l e oni c commu mca i o s a nd I n t h e t e ph t n . railway service it

commands , and lastly

oi . I n th e determination , its citizens to keep pace with the a m z i n a rapid and a g improvements of the ges .

I a l i t er l s ense we memor « cl u st eri n i ; n a , see fond y, g l ke v t o arou nd i t s h of t i _ y the oak; oary head _ welve hundred a nd si x forty years and at the same time ,

8 O O OF O 4 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

O OF T H E ASSESSED VALUATI N CITY . 1 871

C OF O REMARKABLE IN REASE MARKET RENTS AND T LLS . RECEIPTS: 1865 1895 1880 1905 1 910 £34 86

E TH GARDEN CITY .

n W”e are naturally proud of what we term the Garde d s City, because of its ideal conditions , and the mo eratenes I S n i s of its rents . It not a philanthropic ve ture ; it a care u f lly thought out business scheme , built on business lines , Of and Within the four square walls of two Acts Parliament . ul The pioneer of this useful work was Councillor E . F . B mer , w a late Chairman of the Housing Acts Committee . He s

n . grandly assisted by his colleagues , and the leadi g citizens

th e The development of this Estate , and the creation of Garden City w as only made possible through applying th e powers given under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts 1 8 0 1 9 to 993. The Hereford Town Council bought the land ,

constructed the roads , and sewers , and planted the trees ; of and as ground landlord , settled the general conditions th e building upon the estate . It then leased the land to ’ Hereford Co - operative Housing Limited after the Local

Government Board had given i t a more or less forma . o e sanction , at an annual ground rent equal t amount payabl e of by Council for interest and Sinking fund . Wh n the whole 1n 0 be the debt is discharged the course of 5 years , the land

comes the freehold of the Company . The ground rent Th e decreases by annual stages , as the capital is repaid .

Company have power to purchase outright at any time . The capital w as raised for the most part locally by Prefer

e O . nce , and rdinary Shares , the former at 4 per cent ; the as i n latter at 5 per cent . By registering the company an

86 A S O O OF O H RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

l eaant rough cast , the white appearance of which is in p contrast to the red roofs of Broseley tiles . Each cottage c ontains two living rooms and three bedrooms , and m some of the houses a scull ery and a bath - room are provided ; 16 u - m in ho ses the bath roo is upstairs , and in others there l is an iron bath in the scul ery . The rooms are provid ed a th e With c sement windows , and in addition the part of wi ndow above is hinged and made to open outwards .

The Size of the rooms is as follows

12 blocks of 5 houses

—1 12 front living room 3 feet by feet . 8f t 6i n t 1 . ki chen 3 feet by . front bedroom 13 feet by 8 feet 2 nd 1 1 feet by 8 feet r f t 6i n f t 6i 3 d 7 . . by 7 . h .

3 blocks of 3 houses — 1 . 6i n 1 front living room 2 ft . by 2 feet 6i n 8 kitchen 1 2 ft . . by feet 1 6i n front bedroom 2 ft . . by 9 feet 2 nd 1 1 feet by 8 feet 3rd 8 feet by 7 feet

8 blocks Of semi—detached houses living room 12 feet by 12 feet kitchen 12 feet by 12 feet scullery 7 feet by 6 feet front bedroom 12 feet by 12 feet 2 nd 12 feet by 9 feet 3rd 10 feet by 9 feet A furnace is provided in either the scullery or back o living room for washing clothes , and the cooking range als e e e a h provides th h at for the bath wat r . There is a l rder wit i c e di S r I i nt l igh t and ventilation . There are no outbuil ngs and at the back of the houses ; accommodation for the w . c . are i n th e coal store provided the house , but access to ” former 1s through an outside door . ’ O A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREF RD . 87

' When the t rees h ave developed and the flowers are in l th e bloom , the Estate will undoubted y justify its title of

Garden City .

' A r t rema kable fact , suggestive in its significance is tha out of the average rent of per house , is absorbed in a rates , taxes , and land charges . So to p y the guaranteed dividend , the most careful management is demanded .

All students of civic development cannot but be pleased and gratified with the rapid strides we are taking in the h ou s ing of the working classes . Much has been done , much more remains to be done , before it can be said that we have reached the ideal goal of human progress , when the highest to the lowest shal l share and share alike the good things of O this life . nly by realizing this lofty conception of corpor ate life can w e hope to leave our city a little better for those wh o will follow us .

O As O HEREF RD A HEALTH RES RT .

18 and s The city of Hereford is 9feet above sea level , tands upon a gravel deposit 900 acres in extent with an average 0 thickness of 3 feet .

The f climate a fords a happy medium , congenial to those wh o find the air of the north too cold and bracing , and that of the south too relaxing and weakening .

The average rainfall of the last ten years is inche s .

With exception of the outlying parts of the City , the water is derived from the River Wye and is first pumped into a ’ large reservoir capable of holding 4 days supply , and thence T on to two filter beds . wo new beds have this year been com l e ted so p , that the total filtering capacity will be 16 ‘ gallons in hours . The chemical analysis of the water o by experts has always proved satisfactory . It is a g od

drinking water , soft and well fitted for domestic purposes . 8 8 O S O OF O A SH RT HI T RY HEREF RD .

The town is excellently drained and sewered , and in every w ay the sanitary arrangements ‘ Of the town are

a - throroughly up to d te . This is proved by the death rate , which is low compared with other towns of the same Size 10 as and in 19 w the lowest ever recorded by the city .

The roads are broad , well kept and well lighted .

Every reflective citizen , native or adopted has cause to be grateful for the happy lines of his citizenship . The Local Government Journal on one occasion called our city Happy

Hereford . A AS I . a residential town it is There are hunting , golf , salmon fishing , boating , bathing , first class schools of all

u - - ai grades , an p to date Theatre , r lways with branches i and o diverg ng to the North S uth , East and West ; and picturesque scenery all around . The city now doth like a garment wear

The beauty of the morning .

f Th e knowledge of our position in all that conduces to sanitation and health , only requires to be more widely w kno n , for the further development of the City as a good a residential pl ce .

T H E OF O O CHIEF BUILDERS M DERN HEREF RD .

To foster in the minds of yo ung people local patriotism and civic sentiment , is of the highest importance and this may be achieved by recalling the splendid services which have been rendered by those Whose ability a nd public spirit have contributed to the continuous progress of the city , 1 8 Since the Improvement Act of 54 came into operation . I t w as not the Act itself which has made Hereford what it is ; but the wise administration of the powers it con ferred on the burgesses . Marvellous is the only term we can apply to the gradual growth and development of 60 f ew the city within the last years . Here are a facts Worth digesting

0 O O OF O 9 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

was scruples Wherever he saw them , and indeed the true and friend of the people , to the cause of social betterment .

‘

The world cries for workers , not toilers for pelf , wh o But souls have sought to eliminate self .

C O P ALDERMAN JAMES FREDERI K SYM NDS , J .

1 8 1 first entered the Hereford Town Council in 5 , and took an active part in establ ishing the Cattle Market in 1854 1855 and 18 6 the water works in the sew'age drainage in 5 i n 1862 the butter and poultry markets , and the purchase of 18 2 th e the Gas Works in 7 . He retired from Council in 188 9, deeply respected , greatly honoured , and much beloved , and is numbered among our more progressive social reformers .

S O . P . ALDERMAN J HN GWYNNE JAME , J , i had , the honour of being the Jub lee M ayor of the reign Of 188 Queen Victoria in 7, and first entered the Council in 186 3, where he laboured for thirty continuous years with an ” w as unselfish purpose . Behind a his work a dominating t o d u t , , , idealism a splendid devotion g y the loftiest patriotism r a and a penet ating optimism . He was a gre t citizen , and a great servant of the people who inspired his fellow men with something of his own moral ideas and ideals .

7? E O S W R ALD RMAN TH MA LLAN ARNE , J ,

Office ' n 186 H e was s d M took i . 3 fir t electe ayor ; 188 2 18 i n ue again in , and again in 97, honour of Q en ’ ’

n , Victoria s 60 years reig . He was a fine type of a H eref ord i an o f t o true , a tower strength all good move a ments , and will take a front r nk among the great men of w as the city in the Victorian period . He a member of the orked cord i all wi th s progressive party , and w y his colleague

- for thirty eight years , without a break . As donor of a Rose an E er t h e Water Dish d w to the Corporation , a memento of h i s mew be ever Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria , na ill for

green and fresh . T A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREFORD . 9

P D O . ALDERMAN E WIN EDWARD B SLEY , J

f 18 2 took o fice , first under the old Lamp Act , in 5 and w as 186 l . in 5, as a Common Counci lor Six times he w as i s . Mayor , and possessed a strong per onality It ent rely owing to his persistent and consistent advocacy that the pre

w as . sent Town Hall built In season and out of season , for l C s at least ten years , he never once a lowed his fellow itizen to lose Sight of the need of a building in which all the business of the Council could be transacted , and Where mayoral func AS l tions could be held with becoming dignity . a pub ic man , l - sacri fice few men have shewn more independence , more se f , and more devotion to Municipal enterprise . His death while Mayor , on the eve of the laying the Foundation Stone of the Town Hall was deeply mourned .

P O . ALDERMAN HENRY CHILDE BEDD E , J w as first elected a member of the Town Council in 1861

1 86 as - 188 w as retired in 5, and w re elected in 3, so a public servant for 33 years . Thrice he filled the Mayoral

Chair , evidence of his spotless character , high ideals and immense popularity . The memory of his lengthy personal services stil l inspires others to ceaseless effort on behalf of the cause of progress . The strain of Bohemianism in his s temperament made him a welcome guest at festive gathering , a hi and the touch of human nature , so essenti l in men of gh position w as felt in all th e rel ationships he so admi rably was filled . He the embodiment of courtesy , and accessible all d id at times to the poor . He a great work both inside ll and outside the Council , and the memory of his life wi be wh o cherished by all had the honour of his acquaintance . n 1 1 2 88 He died in the spri g of 9 , at the ripe old age of , beloved by everybody .

O O ALDERMAN J HN REGINALD SYM NDS ,

has been a member of the Town Council for nearly 2 5 - 1 1 2 years , and to day ( 9 ) his position in the general estima e h tion of his coll agues and burgesses is stronger t an ever . 2 O O OF O 9 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

C ivic passion , the inheritance of a past ancestry, courses

re - through his veins , and acts on those with whom he comes i . robl ems an nto contact His courage , his grasp of public p , d mental capacity to see their true inwardness his unsparing devotion to public duties , calls for our interest , and some times , our astonishment . The ancient city is indeed fortunate in possessing S O distinguished a personality Whose aptitude ' s rn ath i es wi for governing is acknowledged , and whose y p th aspirations and ideals of those governed have been proved t_ he o . ver and over again He is regarded as the representative , not of a party , or clique , but of the combined Council , and on t h e Finance Committee of that Council , with him as Chair m an a , there is feeling of safety .

P ALDERMAN CHARLES WITTS , J . . , w as 188 first elected to the Common Council in 4 , and has never once been defeated at the polls . The part he has played in the little drama of local politics reflects great credit upon his Wisdom and foresight . He brought With h im ideas and ideals to which he has been true , and that independe nce of thought and action which make for sound 188 w as and honest judgment . In 4 , he made a member of m 1 0 the Gas Com ittee , and in 9 5 was appointed Chairman .

In this capacity , he has rendered , and is still rendering , e NO xcellent service . one can claim to be his rival in the g eneral esteem in which he is held , and which has been won , and retained by length and quality of Municipal s 1 1 2 w as ervice . In April 9 , Alderman Witts publicly l presented in the Town Hall with an i luminated address , ’ as a mark of appreciation of his 2 8 years political and municipal service .

P M . R C . . EDWARD FREDERI K BULMER , M A J e 1 0 1 1 1 ntered the Council in 9 5, and retired in 9 , ostensibly l for private reasons . From his advent into Municipa service ,

“ he w as always reckoned among the builders of Modern

Hereford . His one grand achievement as Mayor and Coun c il l or was the comfortable housing of nearly 400 people of

O O OF O 94 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

8 — E 18 2 1 . . 3 to 37 B Clive (L) , Robert Biddulph (L) . 8 1— E l 1 8 1 . . 37 to 4 B C ive (L) , Burr (C) . 1 8 1— 4 Clive (L) , Hobhouse (L) ’ 18 1— On S — Pul sf ord 4 Hobhouse resignation Robert (L) . — — On . 1 845 death of Mr Clive Sir Robert Price (L) . 18 — f 1847 to 57 Sir Robert Price (L) . H . M . Cli ford (L) . ’ 186 — On — 1857 to 5 Sir R . Price s resignation George ‘ f C . . ; live (L) , H M Cli ford (L) 1868— Ba al l a 186 . 5 to George Clive (L) , Rd gg y (C) . — ‘ 1868 e e . . . G org Clive (L) , J W S Wylie (L) On 1 868 d ( petition declare void) . ' — ' 8 1 C . . n 186 1 . . 011 9 to 7 H Clive (L) , C Wre Hoskyns (L) ’ r t l . . o . C Clive s resignation , Maj o G Arbuthno (C) 18 8 —E vari Pat esh al l 1 8 . 74 to 7 (C) , George Clive (L) ’ — n Pat esh al l s — 1878 O Evan resignation G . Arbuthnot

— and 'R obert 1 880 Sir Jos . Pulley T . Reid (L) .

ONE MEMBER ONLY

— 1885 Joseph Pulley (L) . — i 1 886 Sir Joseph Ba ley (C) . — r . . 1892 M . W . H Grenfell (L) " — — R ad cli C . . 1893 Bye Election . W e Cooke (C) — ‘ 1900 J . S . Arkwright (C) . — 1 12 . 9 , March Bye Election on Resignation of Mr — w right W A . S Hewins (C) . Elected Unopposed .

NAMES OF HEREFORD STREETS .

P resent Names Former Names . Broad Street (from West street to E ign Street) The Northgate ’ m E ast Street Packer s - Lane

’ J v ' rr S t reet . I , . wKi n s . K ing g Ditch Friars Street Quaker ’ s Lane O O OF O . A SH RT HIST RY , HEREF RD

Names F rmer Names . P resent . o Q Gwynne Street Pipe well Street Pipe Lane Wye Bridge Street Wye Brugge Street a - - i . r r TS M tins Street (South end) Dry bottom , Dry b dge Ross Road Broadstone ’ na S E th el bert s y, Street . Lane elmont Chain Causeway The Pool s Winstone Street Black marsh town Bl ackfnarst one ' C i L hurch Street .Capuch n ane Cabbage Lane t ’ l St . Pe er s Street O d Street Berrington Street Plough Lane ’ Little Berrington Street Pinner s Lane w n S . O en Street H o geryStreet " Mill Street Briton Street

S . Ethelbert Street Little Castle Street ’ 8 . John s Street Milk Lane Offa Street Blackfriars Street Frog Lane Union Street Gaol Lane G omond Street Jewry Lane ' Be well Street Behind the Wall Street By the Wall Street Bewall ’ Catherine Street Cat s Lane Goal Street Grope Lane ' . ’ ‘ G ne ‘ Gilford Street un r s Lane ' ' Wall Street Over th e Wall Bow ’ s Eye Lane ' Bowsey Lane t Commercial, S reet New Street With ou t Bye S treet . 6 O O OF O 9 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

O OF INSTITUTI NS HEREFORD .

FO C OO HERE RD CATHEDRAL S H L .

The birthplace of this mediaeval school is a little secret ri which the centu es of the past refuse to divulge . Th e fact , however , of its birth is indisputable . There is also some evidence that it was an established educational In A 8 stitu ti on . D . 1 w as prior to 3 4, when John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford . His lordship was not only a learned man him of self , but took a deep personal interest in the youths ’ his day . His removal to S . David s was regarded as a distinct loss to the diocese , and to this school of which

w as . be he the reputed father So for historical , and may u e b siness reasons , the Cathedral School Authorities hav 1 8 1 Of fixed upon the year 3 , as the date its first foundation . 1 8 Its statutes of 3 4 , which were confirmed , with Slight modifications , in the reign of Edward VI . , again in the reign

I . e of Charles , and once again in the present reign of Georg V - . , seem to indicate a desire to keep the standard of education fully abreast of the times .

Th e turbulent condition of the city and county during the first two centuries of its existence was not favourable to school life , and it languished .

I e . . e In the days of Edward VI , and Charles , th re wer f s faint signs of a revival of learning , mainly through the e fort Wh o of Dean Colet , first conceived the system of Secondary

Education . At this period unusual attention was given to of Cathedral Schools with ancient foundations , with a view e extending their curriculum , and assisting the boys to becom

honest men , to use a historic phrase . The Duchess of Somerset in 1679gave a fil lip to the School by founding four scholarships ; these have been increased i n number and value from time to time , and undoubtedly i have been highly appreciated and of great serv ce . Not till recent years can this ancient endowment be said to have taken its proper place among the great i nstit u tions of the land , mainly because it emphasised the classical

O H O OF O D . 98 A . SH RT IST RY HEREF R

T H E OI THREE CH RS FESTIVAL .

Th e Origin of the Three Choirs Festival can be traced

“ 1 2 to the year 7 4, at which time the members of the Three o f Choirs Gloucester , Worcester , and Hereford held an al annu Meeting in rotation , for the purposes of cultivating D r and enj oying the best music . . Thomas Bisse , Chancellor of Hereford , first suggested that collections should be taken f Or the placing out , or assisting in the maintenance and e c o du ation , of rphans of the poorer clergy ; and also the

Widows of clergymen .

1 68 In 7 , two concerts which promoted social intercourse , afforded the lovers of music an opportunity Of hearing ex u i si te q music , and fostered the objects of the Charity, were al am added to the usu musical progr me .

1 8 w as l In 77 , it found that the col ections were inadequate to meet the claims of the widows and orphans Of the three

s . w as d m diocese , so a subscription of one guinea aske fro d b enefice . the clergy , and the opulent laity

Ch Oral A. Musical Club , long before the Society was 1 8 8 established in 3 , met weekly in the College Hall for prao al e tice and were afterwards regaled with , cider and to w as 1 bacco . It a flourishing club in 755, for it had a surplus Of hi f und £55 in hand , w ch by a vote of the members was expended in improvements of the Castle Green .

The Triennial Festival , or the Three Choirs Meeting, was

. 18 more or less a success from the beginning In 34, the musical performances were transferred from the choir to the al e nave of the Cathedr , where the mor ample accommoda tion for the auditory , the impressive character of the archi tecture , and the improved sphere for the undulation of har m oni ou s sounds; said the stewards , combined to augment that unspeakable fascination which is the never- failing effect th e of great compositions selected for the occasion .

l In 1843, owing to the di apidated state of the Cathedral the morning performances were held in All O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 99

1 18 8 e In 5 , if the r ceipts did not meet the expenditure , e t h six stewards between them met the deficiency . Now t e 2 62 h re are gentlemen stewards , and 54 lady stewards ; 1 06 the latter were first appointed in 9 .

1861 In , the Mayor attended in state , for the first time , ‘ w r Of ith the Alde men , and a considerable number the Town fi or Councill s and the sermon was preached by the Rev . Canon

« Musgrave .

On th 186 the 7 December , 4 , the Stewards presented

Mr . George Townshend Smith with a Silver Salver , bearing t his inscription Presented by the Stewards of the Here

. . A D 186 ford Musical Festival to G T . Smith , Esq , . . 4 . 1 8 He died in 77.

18 0 In 7 , an oratorio was given for the first time in the h Cat edral on the evening of the first day of the Festival , al instead of the usual secular concert in the Shire H l .

The balls which were held each night after the Concert , were discontinued first at Gloucester in 1 874 ; and about

.the same period efforts were made to discontinue the Festi al l s . f y , which failed Lord Dud ey o fered to Worcester C e athedral , if they were finally stopped . The p ople , how ever , were strongly in favour of their continuance , so much S O w as c n d e r d , f c si e _ that the o fer never seriously by the

- Cathedral Authorities . T O day they are patroniz ed by m visitors fro all parts of the world , and are now regarded as one of the permanent institutions of the land .

18 1 In 9 , Dr . Sinclair conducted the Festival for the first w as u time , when it hono red by the presence of the Duke a nd k Duchess of Tec , Princess May, (now Queen) , and Prince ‘ h as e Alexander . From that date to the present , it b en a S c e s plendid suc ess ; the chorus s , which were u ually s trengthened by contingents from Leeds and other places , e are now supplied ntirely from the counties of Hereford , G loucester and Worcester, a fact which shows the growing i nterest whi ch is taken in the higher branches of Music b e h y the rising g neration, and the enthusiasm w ich 1 0 O O OF O 0 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . the three Conductors throw into their labours from year t o h e . ai hi year T standard is continually being r sed , as not ng but the highest will meet the requirements of a cri ti cal l pub ic .

Incidentally we may be allowed to mention that th e was th e Herefordshire Philharmonic Society , which under control of the late Mr . Arkwright , had no connection with al the present Chor Society , which was formally established , 1 8 8 1 880 u l as just stated in 3 ; and up to , held its Ann a

Concerts in the College Hall .

The adoption of the principle of Honorary Membership i n 188 1 a , on payment of an nnual subscription , led to a great revival of interest in this Society, and in the higher Th e branches of Music itself . first subscription Concert 1882 w as was held in the Shire Hall in , and an immense

s . e uccess The Concerts subsequently held, seem to increas in interest year by year .

The Herefordshire Orchestral Society w as established i n i 888 . . . t , with Mr E G Woodward of Gloucester , as the firs conductor . It is now under the distinguished conductor f u O . Ship Dr Sinclair , with no bounds to its sefulness and n efficiency . There is no doubt that the adve t of the doctor 2 1 e t h e to Hereford , y ars ago , gave the Choral and Orchestral Societies a standing in the realm of song and but all music , which cannot be pleasing and gratifying to i t concerned . The City and County owe him a debt , which will never be able to discharge .

O HEREF RDSHIRE GENERAL HOSPITAL .

On th e k e slopes of _the ban s of our beautiful Wye , clos to the historic Castle Green , is the home of our beloved a e H ospital . Its very pl inness appeals to our hearts , becaus it enshrines that one touch of human nature which makes u s 1 0 al l akin . It was founded in 77 by Dr . Talbot of Ullings

00 . wick , with a benefaction of £5 The Talbot Ward ,

ab . c apacious , airy, comfort le , is dedicated to his memory

O F 102 A SHORT HIST RY O HEREFORD . m th e . an state Total up , if human ingenuity and the art of , — e could total up , the moral results , this one mis spent lif might have inflicted upon himself, home , and family .

‘ h one l ad f Then , multiply t is saved , in spite of himsel and environments by Ni ne h undred and fifty S i x ; and that may give you an imperfect picture of th e regenerating influences which are actively at work i n this one agency

In the Meadows Memorial Building of the Working ’ s t e a m t Boy Home , over one of the man elpiec s , is a l rge , al os r r life sized photog aph , in a massive frame , of the autho

‘ On a and leader of this magnificent and laudable work . brass plate , let into the frame , we read this inscription

LE AS ON ARTHUR GRENVILLE V .

F 18 18 ounded in 74 . Presented 94 . e By thos who best knew his work .

a wh o an If great man is one has great conceptions , d great “ sympathies , and can actualize them in human life then n Levason we must umber Mr . A . G . among our great men . r h is His name will live th oughout many generations , for patient drudgery and illimitable faith in boyhood has re cei ved God h i s the blessing of , and the approval of fellow men

’ 15 The Working Boys Home , the name by which it known I n ll in the city, commenced a sma way , like most successful a li ttl e i n . L Ventures At first , cottage Workhouse ane was b O s rented , and two y rescued from street life were received ' i 1 18 nto the home on February 4th , 74 though the building h ’ was not formall y dedicated to its use till April 2 9t . The work grew and multiplied , and began to interest our phil anth rO i stS p , like Maj or Rankin (now Sir James Rankin) . i 1st 18 th who opened on February , 77, the central w ng of e present building , or series of buildings . Accommodation; was t hen provided for 35 boys. F O 10 A SHORT HISTORY O HEREF RD . 3

" ” The three Memorial Stones - register the progressive steps of its development . The inscriptions read as follows

’ Herefordshire District Working Boys Home . This Atl a u ne 1 th Memorial Stone was laid by Mrs . y, j 4 ,

’ Th i s M emori al Stone in commemoration of the erection u of these buildings , and a new wing was laid by Mr . Arth r

l Levason Au u st i h 1886. Grenvi le , g 9 ,

. une This stone was laid by Mr Thomas Meadows , j h 1 6t 8 . , 95

Twenty five beds are always reserved for orph ans and d esti tute cases o th e Ci t Count and D i ocese o H ere ord f y, y, f f , whi ch cases are admi tted upon th e nomi nati on of any su b cr er or su orter o h e H ome s i b pp f t .

f 18 0 as " O 8 . w In the mas , Mr Horth appointed Master, and still occupies that responsible post . Largely through l con his skilful and tactful management , and the pub ic fid ence he has inspired , the Home is still in many ways , H M said Mr . Legge , the late . . Chief Inspector , one of the best equipped of its kind in the country, and one of the most f u 8 wh o success l . 9 70 of the Boys have passed through his hands have turned out satisfactory .

ai Numerous private bequests have been given , m nly d anonymously, and to ay it is gratifying to chronicle the fact that the Institution (and all its buildi ngs) stands with in

- its own freehold . To day the number of boys on the books 1 i 2 12 . is 3, the Home is cert fied to receive 5 Still ad d itional annual subscribers would enable it to do more efficient work for the Home has a wide clai m upon h il anth ro h our Christian p p y.

On the 18 6 passing of the Education Act of 7 , the Com mitt ee took out a Certificate in 1877 which enabled them to receive Boys under the Industrial School Act its voluntary i character , however , remains the same , as when first establ shed in 1874 . 0 O I STO OF 1 4 A SH RT H RY HEREFORD .

C O E Y E E AR O VI T RIA AND H SPITAL .

1882 E e In July , the Herefordshire and South Wales y and Ear Institution w as established in a house partly i n t front of the present Baptis Chapel , long Since demolished , in Commercial Road .

In October 1883,a public meeting was convened under n the auspices of the then Mayor (M . J . G . Scobie , whe Of resolutions were passed with a View placing it - upon a permanent basis , as one of the recognised charitable insti t uti ons l of the City and County, and South Wa es .

On 1st 188 O the January, 4 , it was pened as a Public o Instituti n , worthy of public support and patronage , with

Mr . F . W . Lindsay, Hon . Surgeon .

On 6th 1888 o the December , , the foundation st ne of w as u the present building laid by the Co ntess of Chesterfield , ’ W w as S hen a royal letter read , giving Her Majesty gracious “ permission to name it the Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital ; and 2 0th 188 was al on the of August , 9, it form ly opened by Lady Bailey, and dedicated for ever , to the use of those wh o might be benefited by the Skill of its present and future honorary Surgeons .

It was largely in the first instance through the co- oper a tion of the late Mr . John Mackay , that the site upon which th e Hospital is built was acquired . The cost including the new hi building and furnis ng , was long since d ischarged .

The Hospital w as incorporated under the Companies A 1862 18 0 16th 1 8 1 cts , to 9 , on the day of December , 9 , and is now governed by a Board of Management , and the Meet ings are held on the fourth Tuesday in each month .

18 In 97, the Governors acquired and purchased the land on S the east ide of it , on which a residence for the Medical O fi f cer may one day be built .

106 O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

l and bearing the arms Of the city . An artistica ly illuminated w as i n and framed address presented to Sir James , and li acknowledging the comp ment , handed over the title deeds th Ma or of the building to e y .

Externally, the Free Library is a thing of beauty which

‘ time seems to mellow and increase . The front facade is f built entirely of stone of di ferent colours . An arcade of “ five arches occupies the entire ground floor frontage , the centre archway leads to a lofty entrance of wide dimensions , and to a staircase of beautiful proportions . four C piers which carry the arcade are four ircular medallions , in two of which are introduced the arms of the city and ’ Sir James R a nkin s arms in the other two are well - marked are heads representing Science and Art , and above these , Z the fig ures of the odiac .

Internally , the arrangements seem admirably adapted

o . for the purp se designed The ground floor. is used as a i ’ di reading room and lending library , w th a ladies rea ng On room , leading from the vestibule , on the right . the first

floor , the frontage to the street , is a large room 44 feet by 2 0 s feet , dedicated to the use of the Woolhope Naturalist T al . o Field Club , and is so used as a Reference Library ” Mu su em ri h t u a . , , the g ; p few steps is the

T H E C NE W ART E"TENSION OF PUBLI LIBRARY , AND

GALLERY .

i nce Through the m u n fice of the late Sir Joseph Pulley,

and . . . his nephew Mr C T Pulley , a valuable addition has been O C ;

made to one of the most popular institutions f ‘ the ity u on The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs . P lley 12th 1 1 2 Friday, April , 9 , under highly favourable conditions , u and in the presence of the é lite of the city and co nty .

th e It w as prefaced by the presentation of a key , bearing

arms - Of the City in enamels and followed by a luncheon . 8 ft The newbuilding which consists of two storeys , is 5 .

2 0 . . long , 4 ft wide and 7 ft high from the exterior

To race page 1 0 7

T H E O O 1 T WN HALL . PENED 904 .

108 O O O F FO A SH RT HIST RY HERE RD .

Tecord s the m u nificent gift of th e Site by the daughters of ' f or th i rt the late Mr . Richard Johnson , y eight years Town

Clerk of Hereford . Another to the left , records the date of i t s wi Of completion , th the names the Mayors , Committee M n f e O . , and ficers , responsible for its completion Further

on , is an artistically carved oak tablet (executed by Mr .

R . Clarke of Hereford) which commemorates the names of l ocal Volunteers in the South African War .

Standing m idway between the four marble columns

w e . in the hall , get a good View of the ground floor To the

are Of fire - right the fices of the Town Clerk , with a proof

room for the safety of the Charters , and the Minute books o f l the Corporation . Further on , is a smal committee room , and beyond the stairs are the rooms of the Medical Officer s of Health , the Sanitary In pector, and School Attendance Offi Of cer . To the left , are the fices of the Gas Committee

the Collector of Rates , and a strong room for the Accountants ffi books . Still further on , are the o ces of the Chief Account

ant and his clerks . Then comes the principal Committee r oom of the Council , lined throughout with solid oak , taken f rom the house bought from the local Y . W . C . A .

At th et op of the first fli ght of marble steps are four Of capacious , airy rooms , well lighted , devoted to the use “ t h e City Surveyor and his clerks .

‘ first l and i n Mounting a few more steps , we reach the g , b i n f aronial in its dimensions , and artistic its e fect . In front of us are four massive oak doors which lead into 6 f t x 6 . o 2 . the Assembly Room , 3 ft It is finely prop rtioned , g randly designed , and tastefully embellished . At one end is a platform with ante rooms at the other is the Mayor ’ s all er ca parlour and a reception room , and over them a g y, p ’ Of S 100 able eating people . In the Mayor s parlour is fixed

the ornamental Silver switch , presented to , and used by the then Mayor (Councillor H u mf rys) on the occasion of t h e opening of the Electric Light Works , and kindly presented b - y him to the new building . O 10 A SHORT H ISTORY OF HEREF RD . 9

l At the top of another small flight of steps , is the Counci

Chamber , noble in proportion , beautiful in design , and altogether worthy of the ancient traditions of the place .

The furnishings are in perfect harmony with the surroundings . On the walls are the paintings of two of our greatest citiz ens — the free will offerings Of a grateful community— the late

Alderman John Gwynne James , and Alderman Henry Childe i l Beddoe ; also the colours of the late Herefordsh re Mi itia .

A marble bust of Lord James of Hereford , the gift of his brother Gwynne , occupies a prominent position . It is a Of beautiful work of art , and represents the features his lord ship in the heyday of his popularity . As a loyal Here f ord i an mu nificent , and a contributor to its charities ; his ’ name is worthy of everlasting remembrance . A strangers O th gallery is reached by a separate staircase . pposite e

Council is a commodious Committee Room .

On th e third landing are the apartments for the care taker ; and in the basement are large rooms for general purposes . The entire outlay is given officially as foll ows '

5 . d . On a Town Hall , purch se of Site and preparing 3 9 Erection and furnishing 2 8 136 1 3

£3141 1 5 o

The history of the Town Hall will scarcely be complete without recording the resolution of the Municipal Buildi ngs Committee pre sented to the Town Council on the occasion w as a ri u of the opening ceremonies . It a m gnificent t b te and to the part the late Alderman E . E . Bosley took speaks for itself

NO member of the Council had supported the scheme t hroughout with greater zeal and energy than Al derm an wh o i Bosley , had in fact for many years prev ous to the appointment Of the Committee advocated the erection Of new u d a b il ings and his tr gic and untimely death , on the very ” “ H O OF O 1 10 A SHORT IST RY HEREF RD .

“ “ eve of the impressive ceremony of laying the foundation S tone cast a gloom over the proceedings which is still present i n the minds of his colleagues who are d eeply sensible Of the h is l oss they sustained through death .

HEREFORD BRAN CH OF T H E

The basis of membership is limited by a belief in Jesus

Christ , as God and Saviour , according to Holy Scriptures . s v T h e basis of A sociateship admits all men , irrespecti e of f or O . creed class , on payment a small annual subscription

The obj ect of this branch is to provide a Christian Club , a e S chool for Physical Culture , a Social Centre , the atmospher

O f a Home away from Home , and a popular resort at night wh o 1 1 for men and youths are at work by day . The year . 9 3 and will be its Jubilee . Its scope purposes might be increased a hundred fold , if the gentry and tradesmen of the city , o e nly faintly realized the possibilities for the future , it n

Shrines .

u S bj oined are a few facts in connection with the rise , nd growth , a development of the local branch of the

c . ulled from its Minute Books , a few of which are lost

2 th 1 86 It was established on January 9 , 3, at a meeting “ ’

d . hel at S Peter s Schoolroom , and presided over by the Rev .

John Venn , of blessed memory The room over the vestry ’ " s f r , O S . Pete Church was granted to the Committee , and any young men whom they might invite there .

' On 8th re - n September of the same year , it was orga ized e d th . an W I . . 0 the Rev John Venn , as Pr sident , the Rev J H COn r ati onali st - ill , g eg Minister , as Vice President , and Mr . “

H as re . . Yapp , Sec tary h On. 2 8t the , it was unanimously agreed that the Hereford b ranéh Of the Association should affiliate i tself with Head at A a e Lond On quarters ldersg te Stre t , .

SO b 2 8th 186 m a th e Septem er , 3, ybe regarded as Birth

a f . d O . y the Hereford Y M C . A .

I I Z O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

1 0 O In November , 9 3, the pening Ceremony took place . Lord Kinnard attended the evening meeting ; and the follow ing year over £500 was spent in alterations and improve ments .

’ 1 0 es In 9 4 , the Youths Branch of the was

t abl i sh ed . e . t , with Mr Leonard Lewis as Leader It is op n o 1 all youths under 7 years of age .

6 a 1 0 . . s In November , 9 , Mr W Dandie was appointed the first paid Secretary , his whole time to be devoted t o

1 08 . the work . He resigned in 9

1 0 Mr In 9 9, mainly through the instrumentality of . m ificen un ce . n T . Gwilym James , and the of the late Mr Joh

f . . . . 1m Cory of Cardi f , the rooms of the Y M C A were not only th e of proved and comfortably furnished , but Cory Hall , — a splendid dimensions , was erected great benefaction to the Fe w City , which has only to be seen to be appreciated . r have better equipment for their work , and bette conditions under which to carry it on . As it exists simply and solely for the betterment of the Young Men of the City , it is hoped that it will receive the patronage and support , it SO richly deserves .

P E RESID NTS .

186 — Rev . John Venn 3 5 Ki rwood I 86 — Rev . G . H . s 93 r I 8 —I 8 M . George Greenland 93 99 18 —I 0 Rev . A . Warris 99 9 3 1 0 —1 08 Mr . James Davies . 9 3 9 H u mf r s 1 08 — 1 11 Mr . W . J . y 9 9 1 1 1 — 1 12 Mr . F . R . James 9 9

’ The Executive Council of the Young Men s Christian “ Associations for the Wales and Border Counties was es “ l i sh ed 1 0 1 s t ab in 9 , and made its Divisional Headquarter ’

Of . . and Central fices at S Peter s House , Hereford , with Mr

T . Gwilym James , as General Secretary . O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . I I 3

’ O O S Y UNG W MEN S CHRISTIAN A SOCIATI ON . The beginnings of this Association were of a very humble C w o . t haracter About eighteen years ago , one or rooms in Commercial Street were devoted to this work , which

u . 1 8 was more or less of a devotional nat re In 97, 1 6 larger , and more suitable premises were secured at 3 , O 1 00 St . wen Street and these in 9 were acquired by t h e l Corporation , as a part of the site on which to bui d the O was 1 . Town Hall . So 7 St wen Street secured with an adjoining coach house which was demolished , and the present handsome structure , from plans prepared by Mr . Th e . 0 W . W . Robinson , erected assembly room , 5 feet by 2 2 - feet , with ante rooms , is on the ground floor and on the

first floor , approached by a substantial staircase . are fairly

. renai ss good sized class rooms The building , which is of the r ance style , is admirably adapted to its pu pose , and appears to be highly appreciated by the Young Women of the city .

The adjoining house is used as a hostel , and is of untold value to those wh o feel the need of a home away from

. u 2 th home Foundation stones were laid on Febr ary 9 , ’

1 01 . a r 9 , by Mrs Perciv l , the Bishop s wife , and Miss Gert ude

James , both of whom have been great supporters of the

Institution . In the Autumn of the same year , the building was completed , and entered upon its useful career , which w it is hoped ill be continued for many years to come .

T H E HEREFORD CITY NURSING AND MATERNITY

SOCIETY .

The union Of these two Ol d and meritorious Societies 1 w as happily consummated in 908 . The former was es 1 0 O t abl i sh ed in 1886 ; the latter in 9 7. The bj ect of the amalgamation w as to extend and improve the work of m u nifice nce both associations . Through the of the family of the late Mr . John Gwynne James , a permanent home h as been provided in Nelson Street for the district nurses , and vested in Trustees . It is admirably situated for the al 1 purpose . The nurses were duly inst led on May 4th OF O 1 14 A SHORT HISTORY HEREF RD .

1909. This is one of the most valuable and democratic agencies in the city ; it is splendidly managed and richly d eserves th e sympathy and support of all lovers of humanity . The Senior Nurse and Superintendent of the Home is Miss 1 1 1 Nazer . The total expenses for 9 amounted to £393 ; 1 and the receipts to £4 6.

F HEREFORD SECONDARY SCHOOL OR BOYS .

Hereford is now fully alive to the advantages Of a good sound elementary education for children Of the working Of classes . It also recognises the need supplementing it through a Secondary School to which no pupil shall b e

‘ Of S h al l rem ai n admitted under the age 8 years . No pupil in the school after the end of the school year in which the a e 18 a g of is ttained , except with the permission of the i n Governors , which special cases may be given , upon the recommendation of the headmaster , until the end of the 1 school year in which the age of 9 is attained .

Of Free places are fered to a limited number of boys , which

of - a in the case New School is fixed by the Board of Education . A free place in a Secondary School is defined as being a place in the School without payment of any tuition or entrance th e I s fee for full term of school life , that to say , so long as the pupil admitted I s not either V Ol unt ari l y withdrawn from the School , or removed from it under rules for removal which - ai apply to fee paying pupils likewise . F lure to reach a reasonable standard of behaviour , diligence and progress , is a valid reason for removing pupils from the school whether O they pay fees or not . nly pupils for free places are counted wh o enter the school from public elementary schools as owners of scholarships , covering entrance and tuition fees , if such scholarships are provided either by the governing body of school funds by a local authority, or by the governing body of an endowed foundation . The school fees of a pupil paid from private sources does not count toward s the pro i v sion of free places which the school is required to make .

O I O OF H O A SH RT H ST RY EREF RD . T I j

The curriculum must be framed with a View of securing d u e attention to the cultivation of the mind and body t hrough book work , bodily training , and the practical use ’ O f th e pupil s faculties . Great latitude is allowed to School Authorities to adjust the education to local circumstances and requirements , so long as it is directed towards the pro

" duction of trained citizens . Conscientious religious convi c t ions are rigidl y observed .

Elementary and secondary education was CO - ordinated u nder the Act of 1 902 and through the County Councils c reated the Secondary School Authority upon which were representatives of the towns nominated by their Councils .

The Herefordshire County Council through its Secondary

Education Enquiry Committee reported on Saturday , ’ 1 th 1 0 August s , 9 3, that there was no Boys School in Here ford adequate to meet all the regulations and requirements

o f . this Act So steps were taken to provide one . After c areful and exhaustive enquiries , the Hereford Secondary S chools Committee submitted the following recommend a 1 06 tions on the 3oth June , 9 .

Your Committee have considered the question of providing secondary school education in the County of Hereford and are of opinion That it is desirable to provide a secondary day s 1 0 chool for 5 boys in the City of Hereford , the school t o f be centrally situated , adequately sta fed , and provided worksh i s s with laboratories , p , and such other accessorie a s may be necessary for imparting a thoroughly sound , modern and practical education to the pupils , and so arranged a s to be available for evening continuation school work , t a ri . g cultural classes , educational lectures , etc ; but tha it is not desirable to make any provision for boarders , inas m i n uch as , the event of the school being erected , any pupils ' wh o may wish to board in Hereford may be accommodated m in Lodging Ho”uses approved by the Management Com ittee o f the School . O 1 16 A SHORT HISTORY OF HEREF RD .

1 1 1 Five years later ( 9 ) plans were submitted by Mr . G . E . o H , Jack , C , County Survey r , and finally approved , and f or the tender of Messrs . Wilks and Son to build the School th e was accepted . Add to this the furnishings, and cost of the land , and the amount will be close upon The provisions of this school will fill a long felt want in th e l 1 0 city , as it wi l provide facilities for giving 5 Boys a first class education . t The position of the school is all hat could be desired , 00 being only 5 yards from the centre of the City , at the j unc i d em arsh f tion of W Street and Black riars Street .

Th e Buildings have the following accommodation :

— ’ Basement Heating Chamber and Caretakers Stores .

oor — m 6 - Ground Fl . Asse bly Hall , Class rooms , Cloak ’ rooms , Masters rooms , Lavatories and Cycle stores .

Fl oor -A Fi rst . Lecture room and rooms for the teaching of Science and Art also a Dining room for the accommoda wh o tion of the Boys may come from a distance .

l The buildings are light , and specially well venti ated , and

‘ embody all the latest improvements in school design and construction . The materials are Hampton Park Bricks with Bath stone

and roof - s dressings slated . The floors are of pitch pine block i and granolithic pav ng . 6 The School fee has been fixed at £ per annum , and 5 towards the Sports F und B B . A c . . . . S Mr , A Rodway Allen , M A , Cantab , , , London , e has be n appointed the Head Master . At the present moment negotiations are in active opera tion for the establishment of a Secondary School for Girls , e vidence that Hereford is one Of the most progressive cities . e f or of the Midlands , and is prepared to make gr at sacrifices the sake of the rising generation .

To race page 1 17

CO "C AND C 18 RN E HANGE KEMBLE THEATRE ERE TED 57. O O OF - O I I A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 7

~ I ‘ I E RE FOR D O O OC CHARITY RGANISATI N S IETY .

This is the youngest , and in some respects , one of the w as most progressive , of our local Societies . It established a t l 1 0 a meeting held in the Town Hal in May , 9 9, presided

o . . . . ver by the then Mayor , E F Bulmer , Esq , when Mr Loch ,

O . . the Secretary of the London C . S explained its nature ,

s . cope , and aims Undoubtedly , its ideals are lofty and Of praiseworthy . It claims to combat the evils poverty with c ommon sense , and is the declared foe of indiscriminate u almsgiving, partic larly to the confirmed vagrant . As far a s possible , it seeks to allay those spasmodic outbreaks of c Of harity, of the soup and blanket order and its ficers are supposed to discriminate between the whine of the beggar a d n the cry of honest poverty . It uses its influence to prevent the overlapping of charitable agencies , and considers e ach case on its own merits , with a View of rendering , not casual , but permanent help . In its first report , ending 1 1 1 1 June 3oth , 9 , the Society claims to have discovered ( ) that there are real deserving poor people wh o stand in 2 hl need of help in the city , ( ) that there are a few wort ess families , living almost entirely by begging , (3) that the needs of l the former cou d easily be met , if the latter were not assisted to carry out their nefarious practices . The balance sheet 1 represents receipts £ 61 expenditure in special relief cases . 61 Of not £ fice expenses £57. The Society exists , mainly for the relief of poverty, but to advise those needing help . Some Of the best people in the city are its patrons and supporters .

T H E O "C N C RN E HANGE AND E W KEMBLE THEATRE .

In the centre of the city, and near the centre of Broad

Street , one of the busiest thoroughfares , stands what is W ed nesd a s as an known , on y , the Corn Exch ge , and on every o ther day of the week , as the Kemble Theatre .

I t is surprising , how quickly the Kemble has jumped i nto popular favour and how completely it has captivated the imagination of the people owing - to its association with O O OF O 118 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . the members of a local family wh o once adorned the English 1 2 1 stage . Roger Kemble was born in Hereford in 7 and

m u s d au h t er . f a o . his x g , Sarah , became Mrs Siddons As a tragedian , she has probably never been excelled her stature and perfect symmetry added grace and d ignity to her melodious voice . Wherever she appeared , her personality was recognised and felt . Even in private life , she could not

‘ forget her vocation , so completely did it possess her . His t ri oni c art paid Obeisance to her genius as the i ncom 1 h parable Sarah . At the early age of 7, in company wit t Ol d her fa her and mother , she took a part , in the Theatre , the site of the present one , in the play entitled , Beaux S O m l Stratagem . it was indeed a fitting and proper co p i New ment , to associate the Theatre with the celebrated

Kemble fami ly .

e 1 8 d The Corn Exchang was built in 57, and was entere by a flight of steps . It consisted of four square walls , lighted W by a window in the est , and several windows from the a d roof with no stage or platform , and only one entrance n

x . o a e it A sum of money , about (as shewn n list in the Exchange) was subscribed for the purchase of th e ' s m of Site on which the building now stands . A further u r ai 00 th e was sed by ten Debentures of £2 each . So total cost was about The property w as then con ve ed b 18 y y a Trust Deed , dated June 59 and the manage ment vested in Trustees and a Committee to whom were delegated powers to deal with it to the best of their be ability , on the express condition that the building should ’ - e for ever maintained , as a Farmers Toll Free Corn Exchang . All off and Debentures , or charges were to be first paid fi future pro ts , if any , were to be devoted to the encourage Of ment of agriculture in the city and county Hereford . Any difficulty that might arise in the interpretation of th e various clauses of the Trust were to be referred to the Charity CommI S SI Oners of England and Wales ; and their decision was final .

A greater realization of the foundation principles of this th e city institution , may help us to . appreciate more fully

OF 1 2 0 A SHORT HISTORY HEREFORD .

which w as eventual ly bought for and paid for out of i n Of the profits of the Trust . At this point the history _

t h e . . . Corn Exchange , Mr J J Jackson dreamed a dream of c reconstruction , whi h by its very boldness , commanded w as attention . It nothing less than the building of a model

Theatre , with all the latest additions and improvements which science and art could suggest thus adding one more attraction to the many attractions of th is ancient and i nnu m er progressive city . It is unnecessary to mention the able difficulties which were met and surmounted before ’ f Mr . Jackson s ideal was actualized . Su fice it to say that

w e - have to day a combined Corn Exchange , Theatre , and l Public Ha l , second to none in the provinces for solidity of Of construction , beauty design , and general comfort . All

‘ wh o i t have seen it , regard as one of the greatest acquisitions h as to the city , and which been secured without an appeal f o 0 r . subscriptions Upwards of 5 Guarantors , City and

County gentlemen , are responsible to the Trustees for the 10 next years , for the payment of the interest on the Mortgage f h Should the profits not be su ficient . A call , owever , is very

improbable .

The Committee of the Kemble Theatre Extension Scheme

on its completion , passed the following resolution , which speaks for itself

A very hearty and unanimous vote of thanks w as l accorded to Mr . J . J . Jackson for the energy , great abi ity , and forethought he has displayed , in the carrying out of the scheme of addition of the Kemble Theatre to the Corn

Exchange . He has thoroughly worked out every detail , and spared himself neither time nor expense . The Committee Of feel that the thanks , not only themselves , but of the County l generally , more especial y the City , are due to Mr . Jackson for being the promoter and master hand of one of the

u - - best , and most p to date buildings in the County . The extension of the build ing has not only made the Corn Exchange more comfortable for the Corn Dealers , whose business is in no w ay interfered with but has by the

12 2 O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

ing harmonises in suitable gradations of tone . In the higher lights the proscenium front is etched up on gold backgrounds ,

f re d c r n ’ which have a charming e fect against the u t ai . A mahogany dado round the interior gives strength to the scheme . A conventional Adam design fronts the bal cony ; the trusses being treated with gold and pink ; while the ceiling and new light shutters are painted cream .

- The building is heated throughout by hot water radiators ,

. and and lighted by electricity The exits are numerous , a and e sy of access and the precautions against fire , ample satisfactory . Under the stage and pit is a Spacious base ment which can be used for various purposes .

The Theatre was opened on Thursday and Friday 2 nd rd 1 1 1 February and 3 , 9 under the auspices of Lady “ l t m e Evelyn Cotterel , when a p iece entitled , The Pan o im ’ Rehearsal was given by Amateur Theatricals , in aid of the th e Herefordshire General Hospital , which benefited to nt 1 exte of £ 00 . An excellent beginning to a building which is now dedicated to the advancement of what is pure in I n t literature , elevating art , inspiring in morals , and innocen i n s amusement . The measure of its future success depend entirely upon the support of the general public for whose b d enefit it was built , and in wh ose interests it is now carrie

on.

We h ave hastily travelled over the centuri es of th e mouldering past and perhaps we may have learned some of r thing the lives of our forefathers , and of the sp irit of thei h terrestrial existence . At any rate , we have seen , as throug a glass darkly , the rise , growth , and development of one of Ki n d om th rou h the oldest cities in the United g , g its ancient s customs , and Charters and in later years , through its Act m of Parliament . A thousand years may be dee ed a long period , but it counts as no more than an episode in the pro gress of the city . It took that length of time for Hereford to fit herself to play her righ tful part in the harmony of Of d English National Life . The freemen and citizens Herefor are proud of its beginnings , prouder still of its ancient customs , and the liberties , privileges , and exemptions they O O OF O A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 1 23 conferred and proudest of all of the eminent position she occupies to - day as the foremost agricultural city of the West

Midl ands . And it doth not yet appear what it will ultimately become when the thoughts and visions of our local prophets e and reformers become actualized . A foretaste w see in e m en h d . t ou c e the Gard n City The need of the hour is , with wh o l the feeling of compassion , wi l combine to improve a th e the wage e rning power of the working classes , and general conditions under which they live .

H iglI h op es and aims will oft inspire In others ’ hearts a wise desire a To strive , and striving , never ce se ’ To bring about our city s peace . There is no task can be too great

To build a human , happy place , s not Courage , my comrade , do fail ,

Justice and honour must prevail . 1 O O OF O 24 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

C H RONO LOGI CA L TA BLE O F NOTA BLE EV ENTS

Of th e d Foundation Diocese of Herefor , as given by fiel d E A H aver . . . S . Mr . F . , M A

Hereford first received its present name .

Mercian supremacy destroyed . ’ Of Offa s Dyke in course construction .

Mercian supremacy regained by Offa .

First invasion of Mercia by the Danes .

-Of Of Murder of Ethelbert at the Court fa , Sutton . A noble Church of stone was erected in honour of f O al . St . Ethelbert on the site the present Cathedr

Mercia as a kingdom ended .

Second invasion by the Danes . ’ l St . Ethelbert s We l supposed to have sprung up when

the body of St . Ethelbert rested here during removal

from Sutton to the Cathedral .

Athelstan crowned King . King Athelstan agreed to accept at Hereford an annual

tribute from the Welsh as a Sign of their submission . ll Athelstan built the first City Wa .

Third invasion by the Danes .

A new Cathedral was built by Athelstan , the last of o f the Saxon Bishops , on the site the old one .

ffi . Cathedral burnt down by Gri n , Prince of Wales

Hereford Castle built on the West side of Castle Green . Fi t z ern osb . William , appointed first Earl of Hereford Commencement of the building of the present Cathedral i by Bishop de Loraine , wh ch probably included the

Triforium of the Choir and South Transept . ’ Foundation of St . Peter s Church .

The Herefordshire Domesday Book completed .

O O OF O 126 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

a Th u r r m H mond and g y , ’ O St . Martin s Church consecrated by Bishop rleton .

Queen Isabella resided in Hereford for some weeks .

Gunpowder first used in battle .

Black Death reached Hereford . Shrine of St . Thomas de Cantelupe carried in procession through the

streets . ’ r Bishop St anbu y s Chapel built . Fou rbour John de Stretton and Wm . , Second visit of Black Death when the White was ( Cross NO a probably erected . cross on origin l construction .

Hereford Cathedral School founded . ’ f Charter of Richard II . , which changed Bailiff s o fice

to that of Mayor . Cathedral Close first used as a Cemetery by Royal

e . license , and the gat s locked after curfew

Assize of Beer , Wine and Bread , granted by Charter

. to Dean and Chapter .

Charter of Henry IV . Nassh e and Briton , English Monarchy first became absolute Monarchy in

“ ’ I I s Richard . reign .

King Henry IV . entered Hereford on his way to Wales . Cornew a ll e William y and R . Wythe ,

Wye Bridge first built of stone with its six arches . Of Charter Edward IV .

Musical Charter of Edward IV .

Customs of Hereford copied , by John Chippenham ,

Mayor .

P . Glow and Wm . Clarke , e Audley Chantry Chap l erected . List of pageants on Corpus Christi Day preserved in

Cathedral Library . Right of County to be assessed separate from City granted by Henry VII e Cider Tre culture first introduced . Handsome porch on North of Nave built by Bishop

Booth . Law passed that only freemen can be elected O O OF O 1 2 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 7

Destruction of Cloth Mills on the Wye , by order of

Henry VIII . Booth Hall used as a prison for freemen wh o could not

find security . Hereford received its present form when lands of the

lords marchers were made into Shires . ’ 1 8 Common Council s proceedings preserved up to 5 9. Demolition of the Bishop ’ s prison at the Palace by r Bishop S co y . l Corpus Christi procession abo ished . Title of Viscount Hereford granted to the Devereux

family . D ubert on G bb es and y , orV i rs Charter granted to C so . Cl oth workers Charter granted to .

Charter granted to Mercers . Privy Council directed the Mayor of Hereford to se e that no one w as elected Mayor wh o w as not a Protes

tant . Queen Elizabeth endowed Cathedral School ;

Charter granted to Butchers .

Charter granted to Tanners .

Charter of Elizabeth . Additional Municipal privilege s

granted .

Charter granted to Tailors .

Charter granted to Weavers . al All the Members of the T C. were loy to the ancient

Faith .

Trinity Hospital founded in Commercial Street . ’ William s Hospital founded .

Charter granted to Bakers . Act of Parliament passed to prevent adulteration of h Op s

Charter granted to Goldsmiths . ’ Coni ngsby s Hospital founded . a wh o a Charter of James I . with n mes of those sh ll

constitute the Common Council . Wealthy Romanists fined £2 0 per month for no t d joining the Church of Englan .

Charter granted to Glovers . 1 O O OF O 2 8 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

’

Mrs . Price s Hospital , Berrington Street , Hereford ,

founded . ’ Mr . William Price s Hospital in White Cross Road

founded . M R C The first issioner appointed to the Hereford . . l Church , after the great pil age .

Weaver and Seaborne , ’ B ll ew e . Weaver s Hospital founded , Street

. t Lord Stamford entered Hereford , Sept 3oth . withou r opposition , and resided at the Palace till Decembe

14th .

Hereford besieged in April by Parliamentary forces ,

and surrendered to Sir Wm . Waller . re— n Hereford occupied by Royalist Forces . Lord Levi

surrounded it and left in a hurry .

Cathedral , Chapter House , and Palace damaged by

Parliamentarians . ’

O . St . wen s Church destroyed by Parliamentarians ’ St . Martin s Church over Wye Bridge destroyed by

Parliamentarians .

Col . Birch purchased Castle Green . Citizens complain to the Speaker of the House of Commons of the exactions of the Parliamentary

troops in Hereford .

Castle sold to County Members .

Hereford Castle demolished .

Nell Gwynn born .

Eviction of Dr . Primrose from the living of All Saints .

Foundation of the E ign Brook Congregational Church . ’ M P s Harford and Paul Foley , . . Wi d em rsh th e Father Kemble hang ed on a Common , at

age of eighty . ’ Lord Scudamore s Endowed Schools founded .

Charter of Charles II . granted .

Charter of Charles II . recalled . Cost of Cathedral Organ given by King Charles II

and built after his death .

Charter of William and Mary . ’ Symond s Hospital founded .

1 O O OF O 30 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Mansion House sold by the Corporation to John

‘ d stock . an a Sherburn , Esq , for bought to th t a mount , the interest to pay the Jail Chaplain .

First Reading Society established . ’ Wi d em arsh B est er s Gate and y Gate removed . r County Jail first opened to p isoners . County Pri son on Castle Green converted into a i dwell ng house . ’ Shelley s Cottage Hospital rebuilt .

Population of Hereford The first census . City Lunatic Asylum first erected on site near th e

Hospital . ’ Lingen s Hospital Cottages built .

Lord Nelson admitted to the freedom of Hereford .

Corps of Herefordshire Volunteers raised . m Cathedral School re oved to its present site . Consecration and Presentation Of Colours to 1st Here f ord sh i re Regiment .

NO . 1 , High Town erected , and street at that corner

widened . five - 2 Wi d em arsh d The storey house at , Street erecte , ow 1 1— Nos . n 5 2 . ’

. h . St Et elbert s Hospital Cottages , rebuilt in Castle St An Act of Parliament passed for making a towing path

for horses on one side of the Wye . o ’ L rd Nelson s monument erected on Castle Green .

New Poultry Market first erected .

Population of Hereford ,

- Night Watchmen to call the half hours first instituted .

Shire Hall erected .

Hereford Benevolent Soci ety founded .

w . Penny Savings Bank established by Mr . Fallo s

The first Assize Court held . ’ Permanent Library in St . John s Street established . ’ Judges House purchased in the High Town . Population of Hereford

. t Public Billiard Room opened in Church S reet , on ’ premises now used as an Infants School . H ere ord I nd e end ent f p first published . F O 1 1 A SHORT HISTORY O HEREF RD . 3

Great heat and drought . ul S Hortic tural ociety established .

Trinity Hospital cottages in Commercial Street rebuilt . n Number of Freemen i Hereford 888 . Wye Bridge widened and a new pavement for foot

passengers made . ’ King Street Friends Meeting House erected . First

Meeting House in Friars Street .

Three local Banks stopped payment . Parliament granted an Act to make a railroad to

Pontrilas .

Opening of the present Wesleyan Chapel .

- Congregational Church re built . Population of Hereford

Hereford voters numbered 92 0 . H ere ord Ti mes f established . l R E . B . C ive and . Biddulph h Visit of Princess Victoria , late Queen , in company wit

her mother , Duchess of Kent . ’ a Death of Rev . H . Gibbs , Vicar of St . Peter s . A brilli nt r p eacher . ’ I n Friends Burial Ground King Street opened . Municipal Reform Act passed reducing the number of

Aldermen and Councillors to 2 4 . First Roman Catholic School established in Hereford l Hereford Dispensary estab ished .

Charter of William IV . Established Quarter Sessions .

Police Force established .

Hereford Cricket Club first established . al 1 Adoption of the Municip Reform Act of 835.

First Baptist Chapel now used as a Schoolroom erected .

Hereford Philosophic , Antiquarian , and Literary Society

established . H e d re ord Cou nt P ress . f y first published Price , 4l . i Foundation Stone of the Roman Catholic Church la d . f rOm Ancient Crozier , Episcopal Ring and Seal stolen a 0 O Cathedr l Library . £3 reward ffered for re c v r o e y . Act of Parliament passed which took away the Bishop ’ s

privileges in connection with the fairs . O O OF O 132 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Hereford Choral Society Established .

First Primitive Methodist Chapel opened for service . di Hereford Church Buil ng Society established . ’ Opening of St . Peter s Day and Sunday School . O O Ancient rder of ddfellows founded .

Union Workhouse built . R C Opening of the . Church by the Bishop of Riga .

Mr . F . L . Bodenham first elected Mayor . A great

Citizen . Primiti ve Methodists in Hereford recognised as a

Circuit . Hereford Society for Aiding the Industrious founded

by the Rev . John Venn . ’ Foundation Stone of the present St . Nicholas Church

laid . Population of Hereford

City gaol built . Now disused . Tower and Cathedral restored at a cost of by

Dean Merewether . ’ Hereford Musical Festival held in All Saints Church . l d O City Prison in Commercial Square demolished .

Theological discussion between Rev . John Venn and ev a R R . C J mes Waterworth , . .

Fire Escape first provided .

Commercial Square created . l d P O O . two Hereford . ( doors nearer the Cathedral)

opened . Lazarus Hospital founded

Fire Brigade established .

W . oolhope Naturalists Fie”ld Club established Motto Hope on , hope ever . Population of Hereford

Scudamore Schools first erected .

Ald . Anthony first elected Mayor .

Sir R . Price and H . M . Cli ord (L) ,

Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway opened .

Newport and Hereford Railway opened . r - e All Saints Church e p wed two galleries taken down . H nd ert on First I ron Bridge over the Wye erected at u .

1 O O OF O 34 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

“ l at R ev i e . Hereford C ty Mission established by the J . Venn . Ol d Town Hall in the High Town demolished . Mayor and Corporation attended the Triennial Mu S I cal

Festival for the first time . 1 Second Hospital Sunday Collection produced £53 .

Ald . Jay elected Mayor .

. . . t M t Rev C H Spurgeon preached in the But er arke . Cathedral re - opened by the Bishop of Oxford after being Closed for 2 0 years for alterations ’

. h first established in St Peter s Sc oolroom . Pat esh al l Mr . Evan elected Mayor . ’ Johnson s Almshouses near City Jail rebuilt . O 6th Earthquake , ctober , felt in the City . n The Canonry , end of Broad Street , erected by Ca on

Musgrave .

re - Mr . Cam elected Mayor . f n 8 t . ft i Royal Sturgeo caught in Wye long, 4 . n e circumference . Caught by James Post n . O pening of Hereford , Hay, and Brecon Railway Shire Hall enlarged at East End by subscription

Statue of Sir G . C . Lewis erected opposite Shire

Hall .

Mr . John Bosley elected Mayor . First Visit of the Bath and West of England Agri cu l al tur Show .

Public Slaughter House opened at a cost of £5 764 .

- CO . operative and Industrial Society , Ltd founded E i n Railway Bridge at g erected . The first unopposed Conservative entered the Town 18 Council under the Municipal Reform Act of 35.

Mr . J . F . Symonds elected Mayor .

Tupsley School founded .

r . M . J . Gwynne James first elected Mayor

The Hereford City Nursing Society first established . r 6 Death of Mr . Richard Johnson , Town Cle k for 3

years . " ’ St . John s School founded . Atl a Dr . y enthroned as Bishop . O O OF O 1 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 35

' 8 - l 186 . Notable City Parliamentary election of Messrs C ive

and Wyllie . Wyllie afterwards unseated . Numbers of Voters on the City list ’

l i . St . Paul s Church , Tupsley, opened for pub ic worsh p

Mr . Fred Bodenham appointed Clerk of the Peace .

Mr . Joseph Carless elected Town Clerk . l The Deanery restored and partly rebui t .

re - Ald . Charles Anthony elected Mayor . ’ Opening of St . James Church .

re - Ald . C . Anthony elected Mayor for the sixth and as l t time .

Mr . T . Llanwarne elected Mayor .

Turnpike Gates of the City taken down . ’ Resignation of Rev . John Venn as Vicar of St Peter s . ’ All Saints School built . l a Of 0 00 . Rateable v ue Hereford £7 , 5

Councillor E . E . Bosley first elected Mayor . Population of Hereford

Free Library Committee formed .

Herefordshire Club in Broad Street opened . Site of

Half Moon . The original Museum in High Street migrated to the

Castle Green , and afterwards found a habitation in

the Free Library . P Arbuthnot (C) elected M . for the City .

Hereford Public Swimming Bath , Kyrle Street , estab l i h ed s by Industrious Ai d Society . ' of Hereford Rowing Club established . Winners a

large number of valuable prizes . C R . Rev . Canon Dolman accepted charge of the

Church . Hereford Quoit Club re - established at the Plough

Inn . ’ Parsonage House of St . Peter s erected . ’ Purchase of the Ol d Gas Works for on 30 years

loan .

l . . B e . o se Mr E E . y r elected Mayor Foundation Stone of Free Library laid by Mayor

Bosley . O O Y OF O A SH RT HIST R HEREF RD .

Present Congregational Church erected at a cost Of

County Magistrates leased the Castle Green to the onncil 00 1 Town C for 2 years at £ per annum .

re - Mr . E . E . Bosley elected Mayor . Number of voters on the list ’ Levason Working Boys Home founded by Mr . . al o First Municip Election Petiti n tried .

Holmer present schools rebuilt . Mr n w O . o pening of Free Library , the gift of , Sir James

Rankin , Bart . ll ard O Sh e . Mr . rlando first elected Mayor ’ M P s Pat esh all . . (C) and Clive (L) elected for the City . f Of First report of the Medical O ficer Health . ’

C . Restoration of the Church and hancel of St . Peter s R C . O Establishment of the rphanage , Berrington

Street .

Mr . Philip Ralph , Mayor . Hereford City and County Benefit Building Society

formed .

Public Health Act adopted .

Cattle Plague Committee formed . Second visit of the Bath and West of England Agri cul

tural Show . New buildi ngs of the Working Boys ’ Home opened by

Mr . . , now Sir J Rankin , Bart .

Mr . W . S . Stallard elected Mayor . Visit of the Royal Archaeological Institute of Great

Britain and Ireland .

The Colorado Beetle scare . D es erand u m i Nil p Football Club establ shed .

Hereford Herd Book Society Incorporated .

First Debating Society established Mr . J . R . Symonds , l Chairman Dr . Bu l , President .

St . Martin S Home founded .

Death of Dr . Lingen , a beloved physician .

MP . Arbuthnot (C) elected for the City . i . H . Kn h t Mr J . g elected Mayor .

Wesleyan Holmer Chapel opened .

1 8 O O OF O 3 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

Mr J H . Morley elected Mayor . o l e Heref rd Conservative C ub establish d .

Hereford Conservative Club Freehold Co . formed t o

give the Club a home .

General Election . Mr . Jos . Pulley returned for th e

City .

Accepted tender of Mr . Moss to construct Sewagge

Works . ) n g Mr . Charles Anthony , the fou der of Modern Here

ford , died . Hereford lost one Member through distribution of

re - seats . Mr . Joseph Pulley elected . ’ St . Peter s Church fully restored at a cost of O pening of Holy Trinity Church .

Death of Dr . Bull , a beloved physician and a great

citizen . f Pat esh al l M O P . Death Mr . , late for the City .

Hereford Thistle Football Club formed . Jack and Bert r Sharp distinguished membe s .

. Dr Ball , Astronomer Royal of Ireland, gave . his first

Lecture in the Shire Hall .

Hereford Rowing Club Boat H ouse built . ’ Mr . J . G . James elected Mayor (Queen s Jubilee year) . M P . Sir Joseph Bailey elected .

n - e Hereford Diocesa Guild of Bell Ringers stablished .

Public analyst appointed .

Sanitary inspector appointed . ’ Victoria or Children s Ward erected I n connection with

the General Hospital . et i Hereford High School for Girls s abl shed . ’ Foresters Almshouses founded .

Grand Jubilee Festivities I n June . H ereford Ol d Debating Society dissolved through

advent of University Extension Lectures .

Herefordshire Orchestral Society established .

Mr . H . C . Beddoe first elected Mayor .

New County Council created . ou t Mr . Jos . Carless appointed Registrar of CountyC r .

High School for Girls opened . A ' S H ORT O OF O HIST RY HEREF RD . 139

Hereford Photographic Society established .

Hereford City Football Club established . Winners of

eleven Cups . Hereford Eye and Ear Hospital (present building) opened

Mr . Alfred Gurney elected Mayor . e Infectious Diseas Notification Act adopted .

Hereford and County Liberal Club Ltd . established by

Mr . Edwin Anthony . Mayor presented address at the Station to the late

Duke of Clarence .

Mr . W . Boycott elected Mayor . ’ Death of Rev . John Venn , M . A . , Vicar of S . Peter s .

Opening of the new Sewage Works .

Kyrle Street accepted as a public street . O Cathedral rgan enlarged and rebuilt .

Infectious Disease Prevention Act adopted . h Sad accident on Castle Green . Two c ildren struck

dead by the fall of a tree . Population of Hereford Number of voters on the list Duke and Duchess of Teck and Princess Mary (now

Queen of England) attended the Musical Festival . Mayor Boycott escorted the Princess to the Cathe

dral from the Deanery . Dr . Sinclair conducted th e

Three Choirs for the first time .

Mr . W . F . Chave elected Mayor .

MSS . of the Corporation examined and classified by

the Historical MS . Commission .

. . . e Ald J R Symonds first elected Mayor (Nov mber) . M P Mr . Grenfell (L) elected . . H u mf r s i e Mr . y elected President of the Herefordsh r

Law Society . V D Col . Scobie awarded the . .

E i n . g Mill sold . Corporation property M P l d Mr . Cooke (C) elected . . Pu ley efeated . i m Rev . D . Bas l Martin commenced his inistry .

Extinction of Mortgage on Public Library . Additional Gardens adjoining Victoria Bridge added to

the Castle Green . ‘ O O OF O D 1 40 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF R .

New Infection Hospital erected at Tupsley . 2 0 Ai d Gift of £ 5 from the Industrious Society, to

extinguish Free Library Debt . re - Mr . E . E . Bosley elected Mayor .

The Hon . Rev . James Leigh accepted the deanery of

Of Hereford . m H u f r s . Mr . W . J . y elected Mayor for the first time Colours of the old Herefordshire Regiment solemnly l laid up in the Cathedra . Hereford Wholesale Fruit Market by Auction estab

lished . Meats Meats , Auctioneers . e Thistl Football Club founded . For some time held

the Western League Challenge Cup , the Hereford

shire Senior Challenge Cup , and Birmingham Chal l enge League Shield . Corporation Address to Bishop Percival on his

Enthronement . Number of voters on the list Hop Warehouse bought for by the Corpora

tion .

f re - M P Mr . Radcli fe Cooke elected . . Meadow ’ Memorial Hall in connection with Working ’ Boys Home opened .

Mr . A . Gurney elected Mayor .

Guild of Brave Poor Things established . ’ St . James Infant School founded .

Appointment of the Rev . C . A . Treherne to the Al l Vicarage of Saints . 110 Lifeboat Collection £ . 1 th Fown Herefordshire Earthquake , Dec . 9 . Centre

hope . Great damage to chimneys .

Ald . Llanwarne elected Mayor (Diamond Jubilee) .

Hereford Swimming Club formed . Cattle Fair removed from the public streets to the

Cattle Market . Mu e 1 su m Act 189 adopted . un Memorial Window to the late Mrs . Philip James ’ veiled by Lord James at St . Peter s Church . O ’ pening of St . Peter s Church House .

A O O OF O 142 SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

A . J l ’ Act 1902 “ Factory and Workshop adopted .

O . 1 902 . riginal Loan of on Gas Works discharged ’ 1902 Bacterial Sewage purification system I n use . l 1 0 . . . 9 2 . Foundation Stone of new Town Hall aid by H R H

Princess Henry of Battenberg .

re - 1903. Mr . H . C . Beddoe elected Mayor .

1903. Branch of the National Association for the Prevention

of Consumption formed .

1 0 . . 9 3 Model Bye Laws , revised and adopted

O . . . 1 904 . pening of the new Town Hall by Mayor H C Beddoe 1 0 9 4 . Formal agreement signed between Unionists and

Liberals , as to the election of future Mayors and

Aldermen . '

- th e Cath ed ral 1 904 . New West Front of dedicated by Arch

bishop Davidson . Cost V s 1904. i it of the Automobile Club of Great Britain .

1904. Ald . Charles Witts elected Mayor . ’ CO- Operative and Industrial Society s premises in i d em arsh W Street erected .

1 904 . Incandescent Mantle System adopted to street lamps . ’

1 0 . . e 9 5 Restoration of the Tower and V stry of St . Peter s . 1 0 9 5. Marble bust of the Queen presented to the Free

Library . O ’ 1 0 . . 9 5 St wen s Council School founded . The first built under the 1902 Act

1 0 . . . 9 5. Mr E C Gurney elected Mayor .

1 6. 90 Arbour Day Society established .

1 06. H f 9 olmer Council School for In ants built .

1 0 O C . 9 6. pening of the New Chancel of Holy Trinity hurch

1 906. Ladies first invited to be stewards of the Hereford

Musical Festival . 1 06 all 9 . Fair Wage Contract ordered to be inserted in future

Corporation contracts .

- 6. . 1 0 . . M 9 Mr J S Arkwright (C) re elected P . for the second ‘

. _ time 1 06 9 . Mr . Caldwell elected Mayor . ’

1 0 . . . 9 7 Mr J G . M . Scobie elected Magistrates Clerk . 1 0 - a 9 7. Medallion over the porch of South Aisle Of Cathedr l

f . unveiled by Mrs . Woodhouse o Burghill , the donor O O OF O 1 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD . 43

l The Hereford Maternity Society first estab ished .

B. A . Rev . Samuel Holmes , , resigned Rectory of S . ’ 6 ’ 3 a . Nicholas Church, after ye rs service Corner Stone of S W Turret Of Cathedral laid by the

Earl of Warwick .

Resignation of Mr . Turner as Honorary Surgeon of the w ’ Hospital , ith a record of 43 years service . m Mr . Ja es Mitchell , Councillor , elected Mayor . Presentation of colours of the Herefordshire Militia to

the City .

Boy Scouts established by Mr . Leonard Lewi s . i Local Parliament establ shed .

Herefordshire Territorial Force Association formed , 1 administering st Batt . the Hereford Regiment ,

CO . and Welsh Divisional Headquarters ,

S W . Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance , portions

of all of which are in Hereford City .

Branch of the Independent Labour Party established .

Death of Mr . H . C . Moore , for many years Hon . Sec . of

the Woolhope Club . l l Public Bowling first a owed on the Green .

Mr . E . F . Bulmer elected Mayor . Order from Local Government Board to demolish B ell insanitary area in ew Street .

Old Age Pension Committee appointed .

King and Queen passed through Hereford by train .

Address presented by the Mayor . Dedication Of the Porches of the West Fronts of the South Aisle by the Archbishop of Melbourne and

the Lord Bishop of Hereford . The Hereford City Nursing and Maternity Societies

Amalgamate . 1 0 H ere ord Ti mes new 9 9. f passes into hands and adopts i Tariff Reform pr nciples .

Houses Acts Committee established .

l 1 s . Death of Mr . Joseph Car ess , Town Clerk for 4 year

Mr . Wilfred Carless , his son , elected pro tem . 2 rd Mr . Arthur Holt appointed Town Clerk , May 3 .

Opening of the New Mu nicipal Cemetery . 1 O O OF O 44 A SH RT HIST RY HEREF RD .

’ Mr . J . Gwynne James Permanent Home for Nurses

opened . Blue Coat School enlarged at a cost of by th e

Trustees . O Garden City pened by Mrs . E . F . Bulmer , Mayoress . O Hereford Charity rganisation Society Established . Mayor and Mayoress presented with a si lver cradle on

the birth of a son . l Mr . Walter Pilley elected Mayor , a popu ar choice .

Boat House enlarged and Club Rooms provided at a. ’ 0 cost of £37 and opened by Mrs . J . S . Arkwright . e - M . r P . Mr . J . S Arkwright elected for the third time

(in January) . — M . re P Mr . J S . Arkwright elected . for the fourth time (in December) ; H ereford j ournal passes into new hands and adopts

Liberal principles . H ereford M ercury passes into new hands and adopts

Liberal principles . ’ Restoration of S . Nicholas Church . Mayor Pilley revived ancient custom of carrying th e ’ Of l King s Sword on his ficial visit to the Cathedra . 1 Custom dates from 520 . Of of Mayor ficially visits the Roman Catholic Church , s which he is a member . First visit Since the day

of Queen Elizabeth . re — n Mr . Walter Pilley elected Mayor for Coronatio

Year . m n Co a l on . Col . Scobie created a p of the Bath h m 1 . t e Col . Scobie gave up com and of the st Batt of

Herefordshire Regiment .

- C B . . . . . n . . . Lieut Col J R L Ra kin succeeded Col Scobie ,

u 2 2 68 . Pop lation of Hereford , 5 - a 1 Death of Mr . J . F . Symonds , ex Mayor , ged 9 . d Deeply respecte . ’ n 191 1 . Lord Scudamore s Endowed Schools sold to the Tow . fl Cou nc . New Apprenticeship Scheme approved by Education

Board .

1 6 O S O OF E O 4 A SH RT HI T RY H REF RD.

160 Present Membership of Rowing Club .

- Col - Lieut . Rankin resigned command of the I St hi Battalion Herefords re Regiment .

1 12 . . . . 1st a 9 Col F G Harris , accepted command of the B tta hi tion Herefords re Regiment .

Secondary School for Boys completed .

. n Mr . J . S Arkwright applied for the Children Hu dreds I st March .

Mr . W . A . S . Hewins elected MP . in his place March

th . 9 No Contest . 1st National Coal Strike commenced March , and ended

April 6th .

‘ Death and public funeral of Alderman Beddoe . The

largest on record . New fil ter beds at the Water Works completed and O pened . The Broad Street and E ign Street corner wi de ned

by the demolition of two shops . Extension of the Public Library and the building of a ' th e if t New Art Gallery , g of Sir Joseph Pulley, and

his nephew Mr . C . T . Pulley , opened in April by

Mrs . C . T . Pulley .

Scudamore Schools remodelled and enlarged . E " I N D .

nn i 1 C r er of ere r 2 A al st, ha t s H fo d, 3 ri r new n i C r er efin e 2 A stoc acy, E gl sh, ha t d d, 5

e n 2 0 C r er of i r I . 2 6 Ath lsta , ha t R cha d ,

e h n 60 C r e I I . 0 0 1 Ab ll, Jo , ha l s , 3 , 5 , 5 r C edr 6 Cr f ui s of eref r Alta , ath al, 7 a t G ld H o d, 37 n i 68 C r ers r n e Cr Aquabla ca, B shop, ha t g a t d to local aft e i s 6 i Audl y, B hop , 9 Gu lds , 37 n n C r es 8 Ci i W ar 1 A tho y, ha l , 9 v l , 4

Art er 10 6 C r e I . 2 8 Gall y, ha l s , 4 , 4 C r e 2 a lyl , 4 i r H eref r 2 C e Sir i r B th of o d, , 4 av , R cha d, 44 ’ i s i i ff C e r 6 B hop s Ba l , 3 ath d al School, 9 ’ i s ri s n Cr f Si r W m . B hop s P o , 3 o t, , 4 5 ri e r C n re i nal C rc B dg Solla s, 4 o g g at o hu h , 55 e m n C n en i e B l o t, 5 o v t cl Act, 55 e n i and t h e C s e eref r Bat ma , M ss, laws a tl , H o d, 55 re e i C e C n n 6 B t u l, 7 ap s, a o , 5

Mr. P . S . A 1 1 C t e r H eref r 60 Black, , a h d al , o d, r n ren 1 C er e 1 Ba o , F ch, 5 hapt Hous , 7 re e i 1 6 C r i ne t e 2 B t u l, laws of, a ol Statu s, 7 r ns 1 C i t er C t e r Ba o , 7 lo s s, a h d al, 74 r ars 1 8 0 C r e Bo d , , 4 u l y, T 75 e C r i e 10 0 Black D ath, 39 ho al Soc ty, ri e S ir n 8 C ri Or ni i n ci e B dg s, J oh , 4 ha ty ga sat o So ty, i rc COL 8 C rn x n e 1 1 B h , , 4 o E cha g , 7 ’ f ri r n er 6 C r n i e 12 Black a s Mo ast y, 5 h o olog cal Tabl , 4 c e Bla k Plagu , 57 er 8 d e 1 Butch Row, 5 Duclo , Ralph, ’

i e . M . P. 6 e Off s Ba l y, Jos , , 7 Dyk , a , 4 i er H eref r 8 8 re ey of Bu ld s of o d, Do , Vall , 5

en . L . 8 e 1 2 Bod ham, F , 9 Dom sday Book,

s e E . G . 1 D en r Ki n of 1 Bo l y, , 9 ma k, g , 3

e e . C. 1 D uncu mb 2 B ddo , H , 9 , 5

er E . F. 2 . Bulm , , 9 r t h e C nf e r 8 Edwa d o sso , 5, C r ni c er 1 e er Ki n 1 h o l , Eth lb t , g , 9 C aerf aw d d 2 r I L 2 8 y , Edwa d ,

C r er r n e i H ere r I V . 2 8 ha t g a t d to B shop of Edwa d ,

f r enr I . i z e e en 2 0 o d by H y , 3 El ab th , Qu , 9, 5 Cantil u e i 6 6 ec i n of 1 662 p , B shop, 3, 5 , 4 Ej t o , 4 9

C s n i ent of H ere r 6 8 r I I I . u toms, a c , fo d, , , Edwa d , 57 I O C rdi ff 1 1 ren e r e er 2 a , Flo c of Wo c st , , 5 C n e i n 1 Fi t z osb ern fir e ar of ere r a ut , K g, 3 , st l H fo d, 7, C r er fir r 1 1 ha t , st oyal, 5 7 C r of i n 1 ren en n i n H ere f r ou ts tyth g , 5 F ch T a ts o d, 7 C mb ert t h e r en 20 e e 1 1 6 1 1 8 . y , wa d , F udal Syst m , 5, , 7, 1 8 " 4 INDE .

ree er 1 8 C e 6 6 F hold s, Lady hap l, 4 , 9 ’ Fre e n i r r C e r 2 ma s oath , 35 L b a y, ath d al, 7 , 73 i r H eref r Fa s, o d, 39 Lamp Act, 75

n e 6 n rne . 0 Fow hop , 4 Lla wa , Thos , 9 i r r i 10 L b a y, Publ c, 5 1 Gervasse , ri ffin ri n e es 6 er i G , P c of Wal , 5, M c a, 4

s e D r . 1 1 0 r n Ga qu t , , 4 Moo hampto , 4 n er i e f i i ff of H eref r Mi n Of e er r 1 Gau t , ch ba l o d, t P t bo ough, ”3 ern en r s 1 Men of t h e e i n 2 2 Gov m t by Ea l , 5 El ct o ,

re en . R . 2 2 2 4 er n i of H eref r 27 G , J , , M cha t Gu ld o d, , r en Ci 8 1 M a een 0 Ga d ty, y Qu , 5 M a of th e r H eref r 6 p wo ld, o d, 5 H i ri n 1 ere e er e n 6 sto a , M w th , D a , 9 H oul d en 1 M ni i ef r \ 1 8 6 , u c pal R o m Act, 35, 7 H enr of H n i n n 2 r i e r n e 2 8 y u t gto , Mayo , t tl g a t d, H eref r i ri 2 o d B shop c, H eref r rri s n ere 6 r n e of 1 o d Ga o slaught d, No ma dy, Duk , 3 H ar r 6 1 r n C n e 1 old, Ea l, , 9 No ma o qu st, 4

H enr I . 2 8 r ns ren 1 y , No ma , F ch, 5 H enr I I 1 2 2 n nf r i 1 y , 5 No co o m ty, 5 H ere r firs e r of 1 6 e n i r 60 fo d, t a l , N lso , Adm al, H e 1 rsi n and erni ci e 1 1 omag , 7 Nu g Mat ty So ty, 3

H umf r s . . 2 2 8 y , W J , , 4

H enr I I I . 2 8 Ofia I y , , 4 , 9

H enr I V . 2 8 Or n C e r 1 y , g a , ath d al, 7

H enr . 0 Or es r i e 100 y VIII , 5 ch t al Soc ty, H i n e g h Tow , old hous , 59 H eref r n new ri e 2 o d, daw of , 75 Pa s, Matth w, H eref r erne e e e es 1 o d, how gov d, 79 P ac pl dg , 5 H eref r as e re r 8 ine r 1 o d a h alth so t , 7 Palat , Ea l, 7 H ere r S re e n e r ree e 2 1 fo d t ts , am s of, 94 Po t v , H i ener 10 0 r n e 2 1 osp tal, G al, Po tma mot , H i l i ori E e and E ar 10 t ax 1 osp ta , V ct a y , 4 Poll , 4 P e Si r er y , Walt , 45 I nvi ct ae Fi d el i t ati s Prwmi um 8 ri e COL , 4 P c , , 4 5 n ence i rim er 0 I dulg Act , 53 P lg Fath s, 5 r e en Act 1 8 8 r n i sen er 2 Imp ov m t of 54, 7 P otesta t d s t , 5

r D r . P i rm ose , , 53 n n 2 u i n 8 Joh so , 5 Pop lat o , 3 n r er of in 2 r i en r re re en ti n Joh , cha t K g, 7 Pa l am ta y p s ta o , 93

e I . 2 0 J am s , 9, 5

e . u ne 0 u end red a een 2 0 J am s J Gw , 9 Q , Qu , ers 2 Quak , 5 Kni n ghto , 4 ’ i n Man 1 e er i s of 2 K g s , 7 Roch st , B hop ,

Kem e e re 1 1 . r bl th at , 7 Ralph, Ea l, 5 unn e e 1 R ym d , 5

n Ri r I . 2 Lyo shall, 5 cha d , 5

e R i r I I . 2 8 Lyd . 5, 53 cha d , n ner E n h sh 1 La dow s, g , 4 n ner ren 1 er 1 8 0 L , h , 4 , , 4 a dow s F c S fs , Lawd e COL n 2 0 y, , 4 3 Sutto , e en r 8 r or L v , Lo d, 4 5, 4 Stamfo d, L d, 4 3

e . re r Lyd , Rd 53 Scudamo , Lo d, 45 ei D r e n 61 2 S re rn 6 L gh, D a , , 7 cudamo , Ba abas, 4

BY T H E S A M E ~ A U T H R O .

rn r f rd ’ i Mode He e o . Pr ce 5

Th e Ma ors of H eref ord th e I y , from mprovement Act

18 of 54, with photographs .

Th e Angl i can Ch urch es of Heref or with Seventy

I l s lu trations . 5

From all Local Booksell ers. ve P a 2 I l u Crown to. O r es l st a o 00 . r ti ns 4 3 g 3 .

I ued to S u bscri bers. P ri ce e u ne e ss On G i a N t.

N W EAD Y O R .

Collected from Oral and Print d So e e urc s,

Ella M. Leather

M rs F H L R ( . . . EAT H E ) ,

W I T H A N I NT R O D UCT I ON BY

Edw in Sidney Hartland. P. S .A.

I V ’ H S olume i s the outcome of several ye ars coll e ction of materi al from oral

r di i n nd re se r e s in k n a s s ri s a nd ne s a e rs . I t eref re t a t o a ch boo , ma u c pt , w p p th o

’ consist s o f ( i) the Author s ow n e xte nsive re cord s of folk- lore coll e ct e d di rectly from

c n e m r r l r d i i n and 11 n s o f the l e e nd s s ms s e r o t po a y loca t a t o , ( ) accou t g . cu to . up

stition s &c . rre n or s e e in th e s ire r e er fr n er s and , , cu t ob ol t h , b ought tog th om um ou . i n n i ns n e s s r e li i ns ma y ta c , ca c pub cat o .

T he whol e thus forms a comple te re cord of al l that i t has been po ssible to

er of f lk- re of n i i ts si i n o n the rd e r of Ce i and gath a o lo a cou ty wh ch , by po t o bo lt c

A n l - S x n l nd or s me e r id e n r es be re ark ri in g o a o a , , by o oth acc t , p ov to m ably ch

suc sur i l s of n ie n e ief I t i s li e r l l ill r ed i r s ken h v va a c t b l . b a y ust at w th photog aph ta

th e A r d e i an r re s . by utho , oth p ctu

AKEM N re for A 8c CA E R H e d . J RV ,