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Facts & Folklore

Myths • secrets • Legends • Facts • Did you know

Six Secrets of the Shire • In the 14C babies were baptised
• Private Robert Jones V.C., a hero of the in Cider, on the grounds that it was
battle of Rorke’s Drift, famously depicted cleaner than water.
in the fi lm Zulu starring Michael Caine, • In 1189, Hereford received City status
is buried in Peterchurch. through its inaugural Charter from
• The fi rst and only solicitor hanged Richard I (the Lionheart). See original
in Britain in 1922, Herbert Rowsey charters at the Heritage Suite in
Armstrong resided in Hay on Wye. Hereford Town Hall.
Known as ‘The Hay Poisoner’ for • Today, three quarters of Herefordshire’s
murdering his wife Kitty. drinking water is still taken from the
• Treasured 70’s TV series Crossroads River Wye. See how at the Waterworks
sensation Noele Gordon, ‘Nolly’ is buried Museum.
at St Mary’s Church in Ross on Wye, Cultural Connections
having lived nearby for decades.
The cultural fabric of the county was
• Leominster Museum houses a 100 year enriched by fi gures such as royal
old bun, with an adorable First World companion and theatre star Nell Gwynne,
War story of kindness.
who was born here, renowned author
• Alfred Watkins, the originator of the Catherine Cookson is said to have written
theory of Ley Lines, started life in the her fi rst book Kate Hannigan here, and
Imperial Hotel, Widemarsh Street in creatives such as artist Sidney Nolan,
Hereford in 1855. and Frank Oz creator of The Muppets
• Dan, Hereford Cathedral organist George and Yoda from Star Wars, were born here.
Sinclair’s bulldog, inspired Edward Elgar This region has continuously stimulated
to compose Variation on an Original writers. Most notably, C.S. Lewis used
Theme Number XI. A brand new stone Arthur’s Stone, a Neolithic tomb in
carving of Dan is to be unveiled this July Dorstone, as the basis for the stone
at King George V Playing Fields table where Aslan was sacrifi ced in
& Parkland in Hereford.
The Chronicles of Narnia. Contemporary
Fun Facts author Phil Rickman set his trilogy of
Merrily Watkins novels in the county;
• Hereford Cathedral proudly houses one delight in exploring the fi lming locations
of the four surviving 1217 Magna Cartas, of the ITV series based on his book
outlining the laws of the land in the Great “Midwinter of the Spirit.”
Charter of the Liberties.

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54 The ULTIMATE Guide to Herefordshire, The Wye Valley & The Marches
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