Hereford Things to Do

3 more images

The Mappa Mundi is a 13th century map of the world drawn on a sheet of vellum 64 x 54 inches and supported by an oak frame. The actual map is contained in a circle 52 inches in diameter, mostly written and drawn in black ink with red and gold leaf used for emphasis with rivers and seas in blue or green apart from the Red Sea which is depicted in red.
Mountain ranges indicated by scalloped designs and towns by walls and towers.
It depicts many strange monsters and fanciful beasts.

Although the map is undated it bears the name of Richard de Haldingham e de Lafford and a date of 1290 AD is said to be reliable.

The Map is housed in Hereford Cathedral just outside the Fantastic Chained Library and an entrance fee of £6 per adult is charged to view the map and library, Well worth it to see this fantastic piece of history

Mappa Mundi & Chained Library:

Open Monday - Saturday: 10am - 4pm (last admission 3.30pm) Closed Sundays

£6.00 Adult

£5.00 Concession

£14.00 Family (2 adults and up to three children)

£10.00 Small Family (1 adult and up to three children)

Children under 5 free

£15.00 Annual Season Ticket

4 more images

There has been a place of worship on the site of the cathedral since at least the 8th Century but the oldest part of any building surviving today is from the 11th Century Bishops Chapel.

The Norman Cathedral (most of which survives today) was constructed between 1107 - 1158
There is no entry fee for the cathedral just a collection box with a sugested donation of £5 although if you wish to see the Mappa Mundi and the chained library you have to pay an entrance fee.
There is a nice coffee shop situated in the lovely 15th century Bishop's Cloister, the Cloister Café offers a wide range of hot, cold drinks and snacks.

It is well worth a visit.

The cathedral is open daily from 9.15 am until Evensong.
Entrance is free but there is a suggested donation of £5

Mappa Mundi & Chained Library:
Open Monday - Saturday: 10am - 4pm (last admission 3.30pm) Closed Sundays

£6.00 Adult

£5.00 Concession

£14.00 Family (2 adults and up to three children)

£10.00 Small Family (1 adult and up to three children)

Children under 5 free

£15.00 Annual Season Ticket

The current Romaneque cathedral that stands today was built back in 1158. On visiting the cathedral, I noticed that a lot of restoration work was being conducted on the external structure so I hurried along inside to take a look around.
The cathedral interior is very atmospheric and also very visitor-friendly. Each section of the cathedral has a small placard with info about the nave, the font etc. There is a small gift shop adjoining the main building that sells souvenirs and also a small cafe where you can buy refreshments to enjoy inside or out in the courtyard.
There is no entry fee to the cathedral although you can donate if you feel like it. You can also take photographs inside.

Housed in the Victorian library building with an adjoining art gallery, Hereford's small museum on the first floor of the building illustrates how the city and county of Herefordshire have changed through various historical eras. There are many of artifacts to view including costume, coinage and even stuffed animal exhibits. Admission is free.

4 more images

It is not as massive or as imposing as many english cathedrals, but it is just as ancient and contains many things of interest.

When you look at it, remember that it was built (largely in the 12th - 13th centuries) by men who had no power tools, no metal scaffolding (they used wood) and no computers....they just used their incredible skill to create these magnificent buildings, to the glory of God.

This is the cathedral church of St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert the King. It holds the shrines of two saints: St Ethelbert, already mentioned, who was king of England in the 8th centrury and St Thomas of Hereford, Bishop in the 13th century. St Thomas' shrine was destroyed in 1538, but it was later re-created.most recently it has been restored to how it might have appeared when it was first built (see photo).

Hereford also has a unique 'chained library' with manuscripts dating back to the 8th century, and a stunning 'Mappa Muni' from 13th century.

It's a lovely cathedral, and one well worth exploring. There is no charge, although donations are requested. You'll need to buy a permit to take photographs from the gift shop.

4 more images

This great old road bridge was built in 1490, and had a gate that was demolished in 1782. The bridge was widened in 1826. There is a lovely path running alongside the river from end furthest away from town. From here you can get some great views of the Bridge and Cathedral.

The Hereford Chained Library is the most perfect known example of an early Jacobean library. Its original fittings include hasps, battle-axe lock plates, and handmade nails, rods, sockets, desks, seats and index boards. The books are arranged on three tiers of shelves in oak bookcases, the most famous of which date from 1611.

This collection of about 1,444 books, each with a chain attached to the front edge of one cover, is the largest such collection in the world. The chains end in a ring which runs upon a rod, and when a book is added to the shelf a key is used to free the hasp and release the rod. The earliest chains have swivels to prevent twisting when the book is in use.

Some volumes are printed and some are manuscripts, the earliest of which dates from 7th century. One of the 8th century volumes has Saxon records at the end which prove it has belonged to Hereford since the days of King Canute, whose name appears in these records. One of the 15th century volumes is the famous Cider Bible, a 1420 copy of Wycliffe’s version in English.

Most manuscripts are on vellum or parchment (sheepskin). Skins were polished with pumice, whitened with chalk, dressed with oil and cut into sheets. Writing fluid consisted of soot, gum, liquid from cuttlefish and lampblack which will never fade. Writing was executed using swan, goose or crow quills, which do not corrode. The ingredients to which pigments were added for illuminations were glue, gum and gelatine diluted with white of egg.

The Chained Library contains about 55 books which were printed before 1500, two of these by Caxton.

There is an entrance fee to see the chained library together with the Mappa Mundi.

3 more images

The Mappa Mundi is a unique map of the World dating back from the 13th Century. It's the only complete wall map of Earth to have survived from the Middle Ages. The Map and exhibition are on display in Hereford Cathedral. Here you can also see a display of Ancient chests, excellent information boards about the history of the map and the famous chained library.