Bromyard Buildings Research

An interim report - 1st Dec 2008.

 The project to investigate buildings in the central area of Bromyard has reached the half-way stage, an occasion that was marked on November the 5^th by a lecture in the Conquest Theatre in which every seat was filled.  This was a very pleasant surprise to those of the History Society who have worked so hard to organise the project and I was delighted to see that so many people were eager to hear about the past and what the buildings can tell us about the town.

 So far over 100 addresses have been visited, mostly in High Street and Broad Street, and draft reports prepared for about 65 buildings.  Many photographs have been taken as the camera, in this digital age, serves as a superb aide memoire and one that allows much of the thinking and research to be continued after the building has been viewed.

I should say how kind and helpful everyone has been in support of the project and this illustrates that the History Society is well regarded in the town.

 As the project has continued I have been referring back to the published material to see how it stands up in the light of the generally more detailed assessment that we have been able to make. The Royal Commission material of the 1930s and the work of Phyllis Williams and Jim Tonkin have proved to be solid foundations on which to build the present work.

 Within the time constraints of the project I have been concerned to record as much detail as possible in each building whilst bearing in mind the importance of the overview and how the buildings might inform us regarding the growth of Bromyard.

 It is well known that there are many timber framed buildings of 17^th century and earlier date hidden behind later facades but what is clear is that there are a number of 18^th century buildings which, if they replaced earlier structures it was by demolishing a timber frame rather than embracing it.

 In my November the 5^th lecture I illustrated some of the many fascinating details that have survived in Bromyard’s buildings.  There are elegant staircases, fascinating fireplaces, beautiful doors and many other features that enrich the houses, adding character and passing on to us all a flavour of the past – and sadly, one that is all too easily lost.  The subdivision of houses to form separate flats is one of the more detrimental changes as it tends to involve replacement or removal of the historic fabric so that staircases go, fireplaces are removed and fire-resistant doors oust the 18^th and 19^th century panelled versions – why else do we have architectural salvage yards?  

    One of the most common alterations to the central Bromyard houses is that of roof raising.  Buildings of 17^th and 18^th century date were often built as two and a half storey structures – that is, ground and first floor plus an attic storey with a low eaves level and dormer windows in the roof.  There are many examples where this has been modified, probably relatively soon after the construction of a house, by raising the front wall, and sometimes also the back wall, and rearranging the roof usually at the same time reducing the pitch. Thus and attic storey becomes a full top floor.

New windows, inserted under the eaves to replace the dormers are invariably smaller than those on the floors below.

 On some of the early buildings the roof raising is obvious because the framing gives the game away – such as 4 Market Place and The Falcon Hotel. 

 Another change, often linked with the modified attics, is the creation of hipped ends to the roofs.  This alteration, usually of late 18^th or early 19^th century date is best seen from the air or through a study of the satellite images that are now available on the Internet.

 Over the next six months there is further investigation to be carried out and the final report has to be prepared. It is hoped that this analysis of buildings in central Bromyard will stimulate further research into the documentary background of the houses and provide a framework on which detailed recording of the more significant buildings can be based in the future.

 Duncan James

The Buildings Research – A third progress report

further News from the attics and cellars of Bromyard  - October 2008.

Two months ago the house count stood at 30; since then we have doubled this to over 60.  The buildings visited are shown in red on the map and each of these has been the subject of a report – so far only a rough draft – and many photographs have been taken to record significant details. 

The buildings marked in blue are the present focus of the study and include three of the public houses/inns.  It is of interest to note that the majority of the pubs are timber framed, even those where the framing is now hidden (i.e. Crown & Sceptre; The Queens; and the former Railway Inn).  It seems that a sense of history and an appetite for ale go together.  Even the more recent watering hole, Monty’s Bar, is timber framed behind the brick.

Many of the most interesting discoveries in the buildings have been made by looking in the roof, as this is the place where timber is left exposed. Roof structures are an important clue to the date of construction or alteration.  A few roofs have not been seen simply because there was no access hatch. 

Cupboards have also yielded their share of exciting evidence because these often hide significant parts of a structure that elsewhere have been removed or hidden behind plaster.

Bible House has been one of the more fascinating buildings and it is now possible to understand the original layout of this significant house.

I look forward to explain some of the discoveries at the talk on November 5^th in the Conquest Theatre and I promise it will be far more interesting than the fireworks.  

Duncan James.

7^th October 2008

The Buildings Research – A progress report – News from the Front 

Since the well-attended launch at the Conquest Theatre on the 11^th June, the project is well underway and we have seen much that is of note both historically and aesthetically.   Public interest and support for the project continues and it is clear that the History Society has an excellent public profile.

Over thirty buildings have now been seen although this represents considerably more separate units of accommodation as, for example, it is not enough to visit just the shop – the flats above need to be seen as well. Frequently, two shops are within the same building, so access is vital in order to understand the phasing of the structure. 

There have been many cellars to crawl through but, as ever, there is a degree of frustration because a 15^th century cellar may look no different to one that was dug out in the 18^th century – although I have a hunch that the neatly cut, square cellars reflect a more modern mind set and that in the earlier periods there was less obsession with the neat and tidy – especially if the bedrock was particularly intractable.

One very pleasant surprise has been the discovery of an early building.  Not noted by the RCHME in the 1930s, number 17 High Street – the dress shop “SEZ” – turns out to be rather special and possibly built in the 15^th century.  After further investigations there will be more on this.

One particular pleasure has been to see and record the 17^th century staircases in No. 14 The Square; No. 1 The Square, and a few fragments in 30 Broad Street. They may all be products of the same workshop.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable houses in Bromyard is the dental surgery in the High Street at No. 32 with its wonderful plaster ceilings and a staircase that spirals its way up through the building in a most spectacular fashion. All this would, for me, make a visit to the dentist a pleasure to savour.

There is to be a further presentation at the Conquest Theatre on Wednesday 5^th November.  It will mark the halfway point of the project.  All are welcome

Duncan James.

Have you a bit of the ancient Bishop’s Palace in your house?

 The following advert appeared in the Hereford Journal 1^st July 1807. This must refer to the Bishop of Hereford’s medieval Palace that is thought to have been on the site of the early 19^th century vicarage & garden [now Council Offices].

 PALACE

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

On the PREMISES, on Tuesday the seventh day of July 1807 at Twelve o’clock, in one lot,

ALL the MATERIALS that compose a very large TIMBER HOUSE called THE PALACE,

at Bromyard, containing many valuable pieces of Oak

Timber, of considerable Dimensions, and other Articles,

All worthy of the attention of Persons engaged in Building.

The Buildings Research – a progress report – or News from the Front.  

I was delighted with the well-attended launch at the Conquest Theatre on the 11^th June, which showed how much hard work had been done by History Society members in spreading the word.  There is clearly a lot of public interest in the project and I have been greatly encouraged by the warm welcome that we have received in all of the buildings visited.  So far, nine houses have been visited and draft reports prepared on each one.  Significant features have also been photographed including staircases, doors, panelling and other details that can help to inform us about the development of each building.  

I can report that we have already seen what seems like acres of cellars in Bromyard – one of which appeared in part to have been cut down through the bedrock!  We have also heard the inevitable tales of underground routes to the church so we expect any day now to be surfacing in the nave having forced our way through half a mile of cobweb laden tunnel.  

Cellars were, in the past, used far more than now for domestic purposes as indicated by the presence of fireplaces long abandoned in the gloom.  We have been on the look out for evidence of early cellars – that is – ones that do not fit the house above or have been modified to do so – but so far we have drawn a blank.  

We were given a thorough tour of the Hop Pole, all of which made me realise what a valuable and attractive asset this is to the town.  The former assembly room on the first floor along the entire front is a great feature, flooded with light from the large bay windows. The impressive attics were also seen and these proved to contain a superb, sturdy roof structure, typical of the second half of the 18^th century.

 The earliest building so far seen has been No. 4 & 6 The Square where the owners have been working very hard towards its opening as a tearoom when visitors will be able to appreciate the timber framing inside and gain some sense of its former importance in the Market Place.

Duncan James  - 29^th June 2008