What is Hereford famous for?
Herefordshire is a county found in the West Midlands of England. It borders Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire and Powys to the west.
This unique location is why the county enjoys a reputation of having some of the most iconic historical sites and buildings in England. The county was built on an ancient crossing point of the River Wye, and that is where it got its name from. The foundations of Herefordshire go as far back as the 7th century during the Anglo-Saxon times.
There are several traces of medieval times that can be found all across the county. This, among other things, are Herefordshire’s and Hereford City’s claim to fame. You are most likely to bump into several historically essential sites should you choose to travel there.
This article will break down some of these sites and discuss what makes Hereford famous. So let’s see what makes Hereford such a great place to visit.
Herefords Historical Claims to fame
1.Mappa Mundi
One of the essential pieces of history that Hereford is famous for is the original old medieval maps called the Mappa Mundi. The maps date as far back as the 1300s and are the largest surviving medieval maps in England. To date, it is possibly one of the most critically illustrated Medieval manuscripts in the country.
It measures 158 x133 cm and is drawn on a sheet of calfskin. The map shows the centre of Jerusalem with a vivid picture of the Garden of Eden. There are at least 500 drawings on the map of cities, towns, and other classical mythology images. The map can be hard to understand, but there are interpretation boards that you can see to help you.
Authorship of the maps is attributed to Richard of Haldingham and Lafford, whose signature appears on the map. It is displayed at Hereford Cathedral in Hereford, England. You can purchase tickets to visit and catch a glimpse of the map among other sites.
2. Chained library
If you’re a Game of Thrones fanatic, you’ll probably recognize the Citadel Library that featured chains on the shelves. The fantasy was inspired by historical libraries that used these chains as a security system. The chaining of books was a very popular and effective security system in European libraries from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century.
The Chained Library in Hereford is the only surviving library that still has all its chains, locks, and rods working and in place. The original library buildings date as far back as the 17th century. However, the manuscripts and books are housed in a newer library building. Here you’ll find medieval literature from 1611 all through to 1841.
You can purchase a ticket to view both the Chained Library and the Mappa Mundi maps as they are housed at the Hereford Cathedral. The Cathedral itself is not to be ignored; you can take a tour and see the fantastic ancient stonework and other marvelous medieval wonders around the Cathedral.
3. Black and White House Museum
Also referred to as the Old House, the Black and White Museum is one of Hereford’s most famous landmarks. The Jacobean-style house is believed to have been built around the early 1620s.
It features leaded bay windows and expertly carved designs on its doorway and eaves. Initially, the house was built as a butcher’s shop. In the 1800s, the whole neighbourhood was destroyed, and the house became the only surviving building. It had many commercial uses over the years, serving as a saddler, fish, and hardware shop before being converted into a branch of Lloyd’s bank up until 1929.
The house was then turned into a Museum where the interior has been perfectly preserved. It still features old English oak furniture and some of the original designs.
4. Cider Museum
The beautiful countryside surrounding Hereford City is dotted with orchards. When the industrial revolution came about, these orchards provided raw materials for cider production. There are lots of Victorian factories that have been preserved around the county, including champagne cider cellars.
Ciders are so synonymous with Herefordshire that there is an award-winning apple tree mosaic in the Cathedral grounds.
Famous People from Hereford
Along with famous historical sites, Hereford is also home to some of England’s historically renowned people.
- Sir Edward Elgar
Sir Edward Elgar is one of the most famous composers of the 20th century for his work on the Land of Hope and Glory. Although he was born in Worcester, he settled in Hereford, where he wrote several of his works between 1904 and 1911. There is a statue of him leaning on his bicycle in the corner of the Cathedral Close
- Tom Spring
While Hereford is not known for producing any famous sports people lately, that was not the case back in the 19th century.
Tom Spring was a heavy-weight boxing champion that hailed from Herefordshire. Born in Witchend, Fownhope, in 1795, he was England’s bare-knuckle heavy-weight champion fighter from 1821 to 1824.
Herefords Modern Claims to fame
- Herefordshire Beef
If you’ve never tried a steak from one of Herefordshire’s priced cattle, then we suggest you do. The Hereford Bull is one of Hertfordshire’s most important and modern claims to fame. In fact, the county is so proud of its superior breed that there is a life-sized Hereford bull statue in Hereford City’s town center.
Although the bull is now bred in other parts of the world, the beef from Herefordshire is still superior.