A new book, exploring the history of Ledbury before the Reformation, will be launched at an event at St Katherine’s Hall later this month.

‘Ledbury: People and Parish before the Reformation’, written by Dr Sylvia Pinches and others, explores the history of the town from earliest times until the middle of the 16th century. Using the evidence of the landscape itself, physical remains, artefacts and buildings, as well as fascinating glimpses from old documents, the book charts the history of Ledbury and the surrounding
countryside for over 500 years.

After examining the prehistory of the district, the book looks at the everyday life of Ledbury from Domesday to the accession of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558.

The book is the second Herefordshire title to be produced as part of the Victoria County History’s Heritage Lottery-funded project, England’s Past for Everyone. The first, ‘Ledbury: a Market Town and its Tudor Heritage’ was launched last summer by local resident and historian, Sir Roy Strong.

The EPE project in Herefordshire is also supported by University of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Council. The book is published by local history specialists, Phillimore & Co. Ltd. EPE is working with academics and local communities across the country to produce a series of 15 paperback books, an interactive website and learning resources for schools. Local volunteers in Herefordshire have been involved in a number of activities including transcribing wills and inventories, buildings recording, archaeological digs and photography.Their research, and other materials from the book, can be accessed from our free resource website, Explore.

A school project, in partnership with Ledbury Primary School and Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, looked at evidence of Tudor life around the town.

Free teaching resources developed from this project are available from the EPE Schools Learning Zone.

Author Sylvia Pinches stated: “This volume has been the result of happy collaboration. I am very grateful to my fellow contributors and to all the volunteers who shared their love and enthusiasm for Ledbury with me.”

“Anyone who knows the town will see it with a new understanding, and visitors will want to trace on the ground the town which has been analysed so lucidly by Dr Pinches and her team.”

Professor Christopher Dyer, Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester