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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Market House in High street was erected about the year
1668; it is a quaint structure of Elizabethan character, built
by the celebrated John Abel upon sixteen substantial oak pillars,
and the beams coloured black. The room above is now chiefly
used for the meetings of the various Temperance orders of the
town, and it was thoroughly restored a few years ago. An old
deed directs "that the rent of the Market House shall be expended
in providing yearly twelve coats or gowns for twelve
poor persons of Ledbury, to be delivered every year at Christmas
at the direction and appointment of the Rector and
Churchwardens". At the time the Market House was built, a
shop was made under the staircase leading to the upper part of
the building. This shop was let for £2 per annum, "but in
consequence of its situation rendering it a public nuisance, and
that by serving as a wall for the playing at fives", it encouraged
the resort of idle and disorderly persons, particularly on
Sundays; it was removed by order of the Vestry, August
16th, 1818.
Besides the above Market House, which was known as the
Lower or Wheat Market, there were two other Market Houses
in Ledbury, one in the Southend, opposite Mr. Biddulph's
house, and another opposite the Hospital Chapel. Neither of
these markets had rooms above; they were both pulled down
about the year 1820.
THE HOSPITAL OF ST. KATHARINE
is situated in High Street, opposite the Market House, and
was founded by Bishop Foliott about the year 1232 for six single
men, two men and their wives, and two widows. Each was
allowed 20 nobles a year, the master 20 marks. At the Dissolution
the revenues of this establishment were valued at
£32 7s. 11d. annually. It was re-founded, or rather re-established
by an Act of Parliament passed A.D. 1580, obtained by the Dean
and Chapter of Hereford, with the full approval of Queen
Elizabeth, who is consequently named as the restorer of the
said Hospital. The Dean and Chapter of Hereford are the
trustees and patrons. An Act of Parliament was obtained in
1819 to enable the Dean and Chapter to re-build the almshouses,
and for the better regulation of the Charity. The Hospital is
now, and must be hereafter, governed in strict conformity with
the enactments of this statute, which after giving powers for
raising money on mortgage of the estates to erect the new
almshouses, directs that the number of almsfolk shall be 24 at
the least, without any limitation as to sex, as soon as the mortgage
to be then created shall have been discharged. In 1822
the present Hospital was designed by Mr. Smirke, but only one
wing (and the Central Tower) for 12 residences was erected.
Under the management of the late Dean of Hereford (Very Rev.
Richard Dawes, M.A.) the mortgage debt was largely reduced
by regular instalments, and a new wing (next the Bye Street)
containing 12 residences was added in 1866 to complete the
building. There are now 7 male and 17 female inmates, each
of whom receives 7s. 6d. per week, a ton of coals at Christmas,
medical attendance and clothes every second year. The Master
or Warden of the Hospital is bound by the statutes to reside
not less than four months in the year. His house of residence
or Mansion House, as it is statutably called with a garden
attached, is situated within the Hospital gates, westward. A
copy of the Foundation Charter hangs up in the hall, and in
the parlour the portrait of the founder with some account of his
life and Charities. The present Master is ......... He receives
3-27ths of the net income, in addition to one-third each
of the rents of 70 acres of land and 40 acres of coppice-wood,
and he has the appointment of the brethren and sisters. During
the reign of the Rump Parliament the then Master, John
Tombs, the celebrated anabaptist, obtained a beneficial lease or
rather gift of the Hospital lands, but was dispossessed by the
Act of Charles II., Cap. 30, Sec. 8.
The Chapel attached to the Hospital is a plain but massive
building in the early English style of architecture. Herein
Morning Prayer is daily read by the Master, when resident, or
in his absence by the Chaplain, except on Sundays and festivals,
when there is service in the parish Church. In the windows of
the Chapel, among other fragments of painted glass, are the
Arms of Grandison, which family once lived in the neighbourhood,
and are supposed to have been benefactors.[1] A small
marble tablet was erected by the inmates in 1870 to the
memory of the late Dean Dawes. There is also a very curious
and ancient clock dated 1642 with a dial facing the High Street.
The bell has the inscription "Thomas Roake, D.D., Master of
this Hospital, 1674". The bell is used as an alarm for fires.
Orlam farm, in this parish, the property of St. Katharine's
Hospital, contributes nine bushels of wheat to the poor yearly;
this dole is of unknown origin.
THE READING ROOM AND LIBRARY
is situated near the Market House at the corner of the Church
Lane. Strangers to the town and neighbourhood may use the
Reading Room by paying one penny per visit. A box is placed
in the room for receiving these contributions. The Library
contains upwards of 1,000 volumes, and additions are made to
it from time to time. There are about 30 newspapers and
periodicals supplied to the Reading Room. Attached is a
smoking room, which is also used for chess and draughts. In
1881 the late Wm. Ireland, of this parish, left a legacy of £500
for the use of this Institution. Many years ago this room was
used as the Committee room of the parish Workhouse at the
time when each parish maintained its own poor; it was afterwards
used for the ancient Grammar School.[2] The cellar
beneath has a small arched recess of stonework and a square
cavity in one of the walls, and was probably used as a place of
worship during times of persecution.
THE COTTAGE HOSPITAL
is in Homend Street, at the corner of the new road leading
to the Belle Orchard estate. It has recently been erected and
is a commodious building in the "Queen Anne" style. It is the
gift of M. Biddulph, Esq., M.P., in commemoration of the coming
of age of his eldest son, Mr. John Biddulph, and is designed for
the reception of accidents and diseases occurring in Ledbury and
the neighbouring parishes, requiring immediate surgical treat-
ment. There are small endowments, left by the late Mrs. Mary
Harris and others, but the Hospital depends, for the most part,
for its support, on donations and annual subscriptions. In the
19th Annual Report, 47 patients are stated to have been treated
during the past year, and that the Committee have received
from Mrs. Russell of Woodlands, the offer of a bed for the new
Hospital, to be called the "Russell bed", which offer they have
gratefully accepted. Donations may be made payable to Mr. E.
W. Forward, Hon. Sec.
THE WESLEYAN CHAPEL,
nearly opposite the Cottage Hospital, is a brick building in
the classic style, and was built in 1849. A few years ago it was
reconstructed, and will seat about about 500 persons. Minister
- Rev. T. Duthie.
THE BAPTIST CHAPEL
is in the Homend on the same side as the Cottage Hospital.
It was erected in 1831 at a cost of £1,150. It has since been
enlarged, and will now seat about 450 persons. Minister -
Rev. H. D. Brown.
LADY HENRY SOMERSET'S MISSION HALL
is a large corrugated iron building in Bye Street. Evangelist -
Mr. Neighbour.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.
is situated at the back of a house near the market place. It
is a plain structure of brick with Bath stone facings, and was
rebuilt in 1852, at a cost of £800. Minister - Rev. C. Y. Potts.
CORN-EXCHANGE
A portion of the "Feathers" Hotel is fitted up with stalls
for the numerous dealers, who frequent this market.
THE POST, TELEGRAPH, AND STAMP OFFICE
is in New Street. Mr. W. A. Baker, Postmaster.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS, &c.
The Boys' Church of England School was erected in 1868 on
a site in Homend Street, towards the railway station, given by
John Martin, Esq., of the Upper Hall. It was opened in May
of that year, and is a commodious structure of red brick. There
is accommodation for 235 boys. The average attendance is
about 250. The Girls' and Infants' National Schools are situate
in the Back Lane, near Dog Hill. Average attendance - girls,
l00, and infants, 76. The Girls' School in the South end,
supported by Mrs. Hall's Charity, educates 30 girls.
The CEMETERY of about 2 acres, situated about half-a-mile
from the town on the Ross road was opened in 1861, at a cost
of £2,500, and has two Mortuary Chapels: it is under the
control of a Burial Board of nine members.
The DISPENSARY is In New Street, and was established in 1824.
There are two Cricket Clubs, and a Football and Lawn Tennis
Club.
P. J. Miles, Esq., of Bristol, left about £24 per annum to the
deserving poor of Ledbury. This with other charities amounting
in the whole to about £65 annually, are distributed on St.
Thomas' Day, by the Rector and Churchwardens, for the time
being.
Notes:
| [1] |
Walter de Lacy gave to the Hospital the Churches of Weston and
Yarthall; John Gersant gave lands in Eastnor; Roger de la Burg, John de
Stanford, Simon de Weston, Peter de Donis, Maud de Purko, &c., were
benefactors. |
| [2] |
There was a school established in the Church previous to the
Reformation, but by whom founded is not known; it was continued by order
of Sir Walter Myldmay and Robert Keylway, Commissioners appointed by King
Edward VI. touching the continuance of Schools, &c., and confirmed by
Queen Elizabeth under the seal of her Exchequer. The Endowment arises from
the rents of the dissolved Chantry lands. The School was held for a long
time in an ancient stone building (now demolished) on the north side of
the Church, and was called the "Deacon's Lodgings". The Master's salary
was £2 2s. 10d. and a house for his residence; the salary is paid by Her
Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests. The Grammar School is
now incorporated with the National School as a permanent endowment, under
the title of "King Edward VI. Grammar School," to be free to four boys. |
Next Chapter: The Church
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[Created 8 Oct 2003. Last updated 16 May 2009 - 12:37 by Rosemary Lockie]