HEREFORDSHIRE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3813, 25 September 1936, Page 9

HEREFORDSHIRE

ENGLISH COUNTY OF BEAUTY. ROMANTIC OLD TOWN OF LEOMINSTER. W,hat does the name of Herefordshire convey? To some, perhaps, nothing, to others, green fields and white-faced delightful black-and-white thatched cottages, wooded slopes, silvery streams and sheep grazing peacefully on the hillsides. Situated in Herefordshire is the historic little town of Leominster with three rivers, the Lugg, the Pinsley, and the Kenwater flowing through it. The town is of great antiquity, for in the year 658, Merewald, King of Mercia founded a monastery there, and in 777 a large part of the town was destroyed by the Britons. The town appears to have been fortified in 1055, and to have taken part in the wars against the Welsh, after which a garrison was put there. About 1207, in the absence of the King’s troops, the town was plundered, the Priory burnt, together with the greater part of the church, and the town was reduced to ruins. It was afterwards rebuilt, but once more during the baronial wars, misfortune fell upon it. In the year 14019, Owen Glendower renounced his allegiance to the crown of England, styled himself the Prince of Wales, and marched into Herefordshire; Edward Mortimer, Earl of March, assembled his retainers and friends in order to stop Glendowjgl’s progress, but suffered defeat at Eardisland. In this pretty little village six miles from Leominster, parts of the old battle oaks may still be seen, and on a monument of stone, the details of the battle are recorded. The Earl of March was taken prisoner, and Glendower marshed to Leominster, and it was then that the priory was despoiled, and in 1539 it was dissolved. “THE OLD DUCKING STOOL.” The present priory church is a lairgq irregularly built structure having an embattled parapet and pinnacles containing a clock with chimes but no dial. The beautiful priory bells can often be heard pealing their music over vale and hill. All visitors are, interested in the ancient “ducking stool” which stands in the church. It is recorded that it w&s last used about 1813. This instrument of torture is of wooden construction and was used to punish butchers, bakers, and all who gave short measure or sold adulterated articles of food. It was also used for brawling malefactors; the recorded verses need no comment: There stands my friend in yonder pool, An engine called the Ducking Stool; By legal power commanded down, The joy and terror of the town, If jarring females kindle strife, Give language foul or lug the coif; If noisy dames should once begin To drive the house with horrid din; ‘Awtay,’ you cry, ‘you’ll grace the stool, We’U teach you how your tongue to rule.’ Down in the deep the Stool descends, But here, at first, we miss our ends; She mounts again, and rages more Than vixen ever did before. If so, my friend, pray let her take A second turn into the lake; And rather than your patience lose, Thrice and again repeat the dose, No brawling wives, no furious wenches No fire so hot but water quenches. ALMHOUSES AND GRANGE HOUSE. The almhouses were erected in 1735 and the exterior has an interesting tablet with the crude figure of a man in a cocked hat, formerly holding a hatchet in his hand, but the hand is now worn away. The tablet has this verse on it:— He that gives away all before he is dead, Let ’em take this hatchet, and knock him on the head. Leominster still possesses some fine timbered buildings, quaintly carved, the most notable being What is now known as the Grange House. It is a beautiful example of Elizabethan timberwork, and has twelve pillars of carved oak, with much ornamentation and many carved devices. Although the town is now modernised, having good shops, electric lighting, its own Grammar School, and many more up-to-date improvements, it is justly proud of its antiquity, ami its beautiful situation among fertile lands, hop yards, and beautiful meadows. —A. F.