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Herefordshire

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Herefordshire Towns & Parishes

LEDBURY, Herefordshire

Bibliography

• A Guide to Ledbury, by E. Freeman (1892) has been transcribed/OCR'd by Rosemary Lockie (September/October 2003)

• Eisel, John and Shoesmith, Ron - The Pubs of Bromyard, Ledbury & East Herefordshire. Logaston Press, 2003.
  • ISBN 1-873827-63-6

  An entertaining book. Almost every other building in Ledbury seems to have been a public house at some time in the past!

• Hillaby, Joe - Ledbury, a Medieval Borough. Published by Ledbury and District Society Trust/Logaston Press, 1997 (2nd Ed.). £9.95.
  • ISBN 1 873827 05 9
  The definitive history of Ledbury, beginning from its origins in the 8th century following the foundation of the diocese of Hereford in 690 and its choice as the site for a minster church arising from its importance as a crossing place of major east-west and north-south routes. This book contains numerous maps, tables, photographs and lists of names and is an absolute MUST for anyone researching family origins in Ledbury.

• Postle, David - A Glimpse of Old Ledbury. Published by Amber Graphics, Ledbury. November 1988.
  • ISBN 0 9510684 2 3
  Quoting from inside its front cover: "Ledbury must be one of the most attractive towns in the country, largely unspoilt with its cobbled street to the church, and a seventeenth-century market house on stilts. A visitor from the past would find relatively few changes in the buildings, but he would notice the influence of the motor car...the streets are full of cars and lorries, either parked or moving, and this does tend to obscure the beauty of the town. It is difficult at times to appreciate the buildings below floor level!"

  David Postle has selected some beautiful photographs of Ledbury and the surrounding villages, concentrating on the first twenty years of the 20th century, before the advent of the motor car, and together with the accompanying text they give a fascinating insight into people, buildings and events of the time - "more than just a book of photographs - it is a glimpse into a way of life that few people are able to remember."

  NB: This book may be out of print, but Ledbury Library has copies so it should be available by Inter-Library Loan (ILL).

Biography

• Ledbury has been home for three famous poets, John MASEFIELD, William LANGLAND, and Elizabeth BARRETT-BROWING. Elizabeth was born in 1806 at Coxhoe Hall in Durham, and in 1809 her family moved to live at Hope End, just north of Ledbury. It was here where Elizabeth started writing her poetry, although she never returned after the family left in 1832, saying that to do so 'would be like seeking to bring together a plucked flower and its broken stalk'.

  This photograph shows her memorial - the Barrett-Browing Institute, which now, like the Ledbury Market Hall, is one of the town's traditional landmarks!

Cemeteries

• Inscriptions on the War Memorial, and War Memorial Photograph, from Rosemary Lockie.

Church History

• Photograph of St Michael & All Angels Church, Photograph of Inside St Michael's Church and the Photograph of Rear of St Michael's Church, Ledbury, from Rosemary Lockie.
  Note none of these are the much-photographed view from Church Lane!

• There are also photographs of the Baptist Church, and Methodist Church in the Ledbury Photo Gallery.

Church Records

• The final page of the Ledbury general register 1686-1744 has a list of Ledbury Births 1696-1706 - "all persons born in the parish of Ledbury and not christened"", which appears to be the result of a single census carried out in about 1706, perhaps recording non-conformists. Added 19 Apr 2008.

Description and Travel

• Ledbury Photo Gallery - features lots of the 'black and white' buildings. Latest additions St Katherine's Hall and the Master's House. Updated 24 May 2007.

• Ledbury Online - "...discover everything about Ledbury on the Internet through this site. If a Ledbury web site exists then it is our endeavour to link to it.".

Directories

• A Description of Ledbury, Directory of Private and Commercial Residents, and Ledbury Trades Directory, transcribed from Littlebury's Directory of Herefordshire, 1876-7 by Rosemary Lockie. Added 2 Jan 2005.

Gazetteers

• The transcription of the section for Ledbury from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

History

• Various items relating to the history of Ledbury (including transcriptions of some early Probate Records) are available on the England's Past for Everyone (EPE) website. Added 5 May 2008.

Schools

• The Old Grammar School at Ledbury dates back to the early 16th century. In its early days its principal function was teaching latin grammar; a pupil's day was a long one, starting at 7 in the morning, and lasting about nine hours, and the pupils - at the time, boys only - either stood, or sat on wooden benches in a bare room. There were few books, and the boys had to learn by heart passages of latin which were read to them by the schoolmaster. Other lessons included reading, writing, and the art of reasoning.

  The school was supported originally by a chantry from the church, but during Edward VI's reign (1547-1553), chantry foundations were abolished by Act of Parliament. However, a petition was made to the King to retain the school, which was successful, and the school survived. The schoolmaster who was then appointed was named Richard WHELER.

  The original building was closed in 1830, as it had become too dilapidated, and the school was moved to Oakland House in the Homend. It was however purchased in 1969 by the local council, and restored, as part of an enhancement scheme for the Church Lane area. During the restoration some merchants' tokens were discovered, and a George II penny from the mid 1730s; plus remains of a small leather purse, containing a page from a Latin text book. The building is now a museum, but as a reminder of one of its original functions, some of the window glass and timber paneling bear the initials of boys' names.

Social Life and Customs

• Photograph of The Market Hall, Ledbury, from Rosemary Lockie. Classic picture postcard scene.

© Copyright Rosemary Lockie, GENUKI and Contributors 1996-2008, &c.
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