Herefordshire Histories Festival
A county-wide festival of Herefordshire History.
This coming Spring, groups and individuals throughout the County are will celebrate the extraordinary history of Herefordshire. The Festival recognises that the County has many historic sites and stories which are not celebrated enough.
Here is a sample of the events you can attend:
Monday 11th. May 2pm St Lawrence, Weston under Penyard. Grade II* listed
Horse drawn Tramways; A presentation by Heather Hurley based on the research for her book. The early tramways of the Wye Valley were a short-lived transport system of horse-drawn waggons on rails operating from the late eighteenth century to the introduction of steam locomotives, primarily used for transporting goods such as coal, lime and minerals. Refreshments provided.
Thursday 14th. May 7pm Putley Church Grade II* listed. This is a pretty church that sits in rural splendour next to a farm. Originally a Norman Church, it was rebuilt 1875/6.
She will look at the many ways that we commemorate throughout Herefordshire and further afield. Many of the county’s Lychgates will be illustrated. Bar.
Friday 15th. May 2pm St. Mary,s Church, Fownhope Listed Grade 1 listed St. Mary’s is the longest church in the diocese. Built in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries it houses a jewel of a tympanum of the Virgin and Child by Herefordshire School sculptors, now detached from whatever doorway it once adorned and displayed inside the church.
The charismatic Dr Chris Moore will talk about the life of ‘Nicholas de Hereford, Rebel Cleric, Papal Prisoner and Bible Translator’
Nicholas studied at the University of Oxford, and was ordained a priest in 1370 and earned in 1382 the degree of Doctor of Theology. Nicholas criticized the luxury of the Church and reaffirmed the right of every Christian to attain his own faith by reading the Bible. Nicholas collaborated in producing the English-language version of the bible known as Wycliffe’s Bible. He is believed to have been entrusted with the translation of the Old Testament, the major part of which was completed by 1382. Refreshments provided.
Monday 18th May 7pm St. Bartholomew’s Church, Much Marcle Grade 1 Listed This beautiful church is home to Richard de Helyon and the stunning tomb of Blanche Mortimer as well as tombs of the Money-Kyrles.
Journalist and historian Marsha O’Mahony travelled up and down the Wye in Herefordshire recording the experiences of the people who have lived and worked on the river, or simply been drawn to its waters in search of recreation or a jam jar of minnows. Voices from the River Wye is filled with stories of the Wye told through the words and photographs of those who have known the river all their lives – ferrymen and ferrywomen, boatbuilders and bridge builders, rowers and swimmers, anglers and poachers, ghillies and river bailiffs, otter hunters and more. more. Bar.
Friday 22nd May 2pm The Church of St. John the Baptist and St. Alkmund, Aymestrey Grade 1 Listed. Two Norman windows, nave arcades late C12, as with the parts of the chancel arch and building houses a wonderful rood screen from the C16.
Landscape, Architecture and Memory – The Drawings of Elizabeth Lewis
A Talk by Nicola Kearton; Elizabeth Jane Woodhouse Lewis (1813–1874) was born in Ludlow and spent much of her life at Yatton Court, Aymestrey. She seems to have been a remarkably independent spirit, who defied her father by marrying geologist and antiquarian, Revd Thomas Taylor Lewis. She was fascinated by history and architecture throughout her life and an avid ‘church crawler’ from her early 20s. Refreshments provided.
See the full list of events here herefordshirehistories.org/events
Fees & Tickets
Free Event