Ledbury is a quaint Market Town to the west of the Malvern Hills that dates back to the 11th century, with an original Market House, an impressive Norman Church and the Feathers Hotel that is steeped in history.
Ledbury is a thriving Market Town with many independent shops and boutiques that provide an interesting shopping experience, and there is a Country Market held every Friday.
Church Lane, Ledbury
When you visit Ledbury don’t miss the quaint Church Lane which is reckoned to be the oldest street in the town and was originally the main street leading from the church into the town. As a site, it has seen continuous human activity for more than a 1,000 years. It is at the crossroads of the ‘kings highway’ and the east/west track from Hereford Cathedral to Ledbury Parish Church.
Butcher Row House Museum
Butcher Row House Museum features many items of local interest including reproduction helmets and breastplates that would have been worn in the Battle of Ledbury in 1645 and a small collection of musical instruments ranging from a ‘hurdy-gurdy’ to a Tibetan pipe fashioned from a thigh bone. In 2015 the museum had almost 13,000 visitors. It has been awarded accredited status by Arts Council England. It was the first independent Museum in the West Midlands to receive this award.
The Feathers Hotel
Visit Ledbury to see a market town that dates back to the 11th century, has is a large Norman Church at the top of Church Lane and many examples of Tudor architecture which includes Market House and The Feathers Hotel. Originally known as ‘The Plume of Feathers’, the present building dates back to at least 1564. However, it is believed that the Booth Hall was a meeting place of the borough court and stood on the site where The Feathers now rests. This would mean that people were meeting here from as early as the 13th century!The Market House
Originally there were 3 Market Houses in Ledbury, one was in The Southend opposite The Park and the other was home to the Biddulph family. The other was opposite St Katherine’s Hospital Chapel, however, both were demolished around 1820. The only remaining Market House is a 17th-century building, built in 1617 and probably altered c.1688 and then restored to its original form in 1977–1978. The evidence suggests that the upper rooms were used for the storage of corn, wool, hops, and acorns. Much of what visitors see today dates back from when the present windows, staircase, floor and staging were put in. Other sympathetic, restoration was carried out in 1939, the 1970’s and the 1980’s, but in 2006, the wooden stilts had become infested and with modern technology, it was made possible to strengthen the stilts and maintain the 17th Century structural framework of the building. The Market House was raised off the ground and the stilts were replaced with strong materials to take the load of the building. Today the building is mainly used for meetings, sales, and exhibitions, but in the late 20th Century it was also used as the registry of Civil Marriage. On market days traders still sell their wares beneath it, regulated by a charter dating from the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1.
St Michael and All Angels Parish church
At the heart of Ledbury, is St Michael and All Angels Parish Church situated at the top of Church Lane. It is likely that Christian worship was first held on the site of the present church sometime during the 8th century when the Bishop of Hereford sent a group of his clergy. A new church was built in the 12th century and has been added over the centuries, so it is an interesting place to visit.
Heritage Centre
The story of Ledbury’s past displayed in a timber-framed building in the picturesque cobbled lane leading to Ledbury Parish Church. Learn about the poets John Masefield and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and try your hand at timber framing. Admission is free, and it is open from 1st April to 30 September daily from 11 am – 5 pm
Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle is nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills and is surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum, and lake, and is the current home of the Hervey-Bathurst family. Eastnor was built by Lord Somers between 1810 and 1824 with inherited wealth and his great ambition to commission a castle to impress his contemporaries and raise his family into the higher ranks of the ruling class. Read more about Eastnor’s fascinating history here
Today Eastnor is an award-winning visitor attraction set in 5000 acres of outstanding natural beauty and parkland. The historic house, which is open to the public is full of medieval armour and fine art and the beautiful grounds offer an arboretum and a lake and many spectacular walks, trails, and views back to the Malverns. Children will have great fun in the Adventure Playground, Knight’s Maze, Junior Assault Course, and many more attractions. Dogs are welcome in the grounds, but not in the house and the Castle Tea Room offer hot and cold food, drinks and snacks and there are also plenty of picnic benches around for you to enjoy your own picnic.
Eastnor Castle also shares a proud heritage with Land Rover Experience and they have been based on the Eastnor Estate for over 50 years.
For more information: www.eastnorcastle.com – Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1RL – Open from Easter until the end of September – 11 am – 5.30 pm
Eastnor Vintage & Classic
On you way to Ledbury or Eastnor Castle, stop off at the Eastnor Vintage and Classic centre where they sell vintage, retro, upcycled, and restored furniture, homewares, china and pottery, collectibles, tools, vintage cast iron, garden ornaments, industrial vintage items, and much much more. The Vintage Tearoom also offers Barista Coffee, Speciality Teas, Homemade Cakes and many more scrumptious goodies. They have indoor and outdoor seating with lovely views of the surrounding countryside.
Weston Cider Mill
A few miles from Ledbury is Westons Cider Mill, which is situated in the village of Much Marcle. In 1878 Mr Henry Weston came to farm at The Bounds farm, which was nestled amongst apple and perry pear orchards. In 1880, Henry joined the Herefordshire cider-making community and started making cider and perry from his fruit grown in his own orchards. Weston Cider Mill has continued to lovingly produce cider and perry to the highest quality, a tradition set out by Henry Weston himself. In fact, to this day they are so proud of their heritage and cider making skills they put their family name on every single bottle.
At the visitor centre you can stroll through the award-winning Henry Weston Courtyard Garden into a converted seventeenth-century cowshed to see the magnificent cider bottle collections, which is proudly one of the largest in the world. Adults are invited to sample the wide selection of ciders and perries on offer in the cider shop and you can enjoy a delicious meal made from fresh Herefordshire produce at The Scrumpy House Restaurant!
For more information: www.westons-cider.co.uk
Hellens Manor
Hellens Manor is a beautiful historic house in the village of Much Marcle. It is a living monument to much of England’s history and remains a living home, not a museum, although it contains a wealth of period furnishings, artifact’s, paintings and decorations. There are a number of buildings to visit at Hellens – The Great Barn – The Dovecot – The Haywain – The Georgian Stables – The Mill House – The Tearoom and Cottages and wonderful gardens.
Hellens is open on Wednesday and Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday afternoons and you can only visit via a guided tour at 1 pm, 2 pm or 3 pm. The House and grounds close at 5 p.m. each day and the Tearooms are open during public tour times and they serve tea and coffee and home-made cakes.
The jewel in the crown of Herefordshire Homes
– COUNTRY HOMES
For more information: www.hellensmanor.com – Much Marcle, Herefordshire, HR8 2LY
Ledbury is always a destination that the owners of Orchard Side Bed and Breakfast suggest to their guests. Take a walk on the Malvern Hills then head across to Ledbury, just a 20-minute drive, for lunch or afternoon tea.
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