Over 700 years ago, the United Guilds of Warwick built their headquarters consisting of a conference room, banqueting hall, mansion for the Master of the Guilds, storage rooms and lodgings for travellers. The Guildsmen built this splendid example of medieval half-timbered buildings with trees felled in the 1200’s from forests across England. Today, the site survives intact and tops the list of most complete and important medieval buildings in the British Isles.

The buildings are extraordinary, but what makes them unique is the enduring communities that have lived within the walls since the 1300’s. First came the Guilds, and then the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley, who was a favourite of Elizabeth I. Dudley founded the Lord Leycester Hospital in 1571 – a philanthropic community of a Master and twelve Brethren. Coming from the ranks of soldiers injured in Tudor wars, the Brethren were deserving recipients of Dudley’s philanthropy.

Today, the Master and Brethren still live in the community of the Lord Leycester established by Robert Dudley. Within the honey-coloured half-timbered walls it is as if time stood still. The Master and Brethren still wear Tudor livery and adhere to an ancient way of life. The Royal Hospital Chelsea, with its in-pensioners in their scarlet coloured livery are famous worldwide – The Lord Leycester is a much older, quieter and smaller forerunner of this most English of institutions. However, both have stood the test of time and still provide a place of sanctuary for those who have sacrificed to serve their country.

We will be escorted on this guided tour by a robed member of the Brethren – one of a long line of veterans who have lived on this site since the Tudor age. The 90 minute tour will explain the history of the site, the lifestyle of the Master and Brethren through the centuries and glimpse into a centuries old way of life at the Lord Leycester.

Because this is a medieval site with 700 year old buildings access can be limited for anyone with mobility issues. There is a lift to the second floor galleries, but access to the chapel is by stairs only.  (there is a 3 D model of the chapel for those who can’t do stairs!).

We will be leaving the Conquest car park at 8.45am and the tour will start at 11.00am

The cost for this visit will be £30.00 per person including transport from Bromyard. Teas and coffees can be provided on arrival at a cost of £2.50. There is a restaurant on site and meals can be pre-booked.

Payment must be made in full prior to the trip. Please email your interest in the first instance to: programme@bromyardhistorysociety.org.uk

Full details including how to pay will be sent to you on receipt of your application.

David Grant, Programme Secretary

An exciting new initiative, Food Stories of Bromyard, by the BDLHS will be officially launched on the 3rd of April, between 5 and 8pm in the Oak Room at the Falcon Hotel in Bromyard. As refreshments will be served we would appreciate that you email Jayne at jayne@foodscapes.co.uk letting her know you will be attending by 27th March. 

Jayne Bradley (a freelance food project manager) has been interviewing local farmers and food producers for the archive, with a grant awarded by HM Government, Cultural Development Fund.

She has interviewed 8 local farmers and producers. The interviews will go into our archive. For a sneak preview of one of the interviews click on the image to the right.

She has also created a map for visitors to Bromyard (above) which will be available across the town. The map will pinpoint all the significant food locations across the area. People will also be able to go online and download a recording of the best of the clips from the oral history interviews.

Jayne was keen for visitors to our town to be able to find out more about past and present stories of farming and food production in the area and to feel connected to Bromyard’s significant food history. Jayne wants to continue to develop awareness of the amazing food economy of the town and the rich history of agriculture in the area. She wants to put Bromyard on the Food Map and Food Stories of Bromyard is another step in that direction.

Image © Logaston Press

Stained Glass in Bromyard and the Surrounding Village Churches by Rob Walker
1st March at the LHS centre on Sherford St, 14:00 – 16:00
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served at half time. £10.00 per person, booking essential before 14^th February.   Numbers are limited so please book by email to anna.ross@live.co.uk to ensure there are remaining places. Payment can be made online via the button below, at the LHS or HOBS on Broad St.  Read More

Our next talk will be on the 12th of March at the Conquest Theatre – 7.30pm. 

The Hill & Evans Vinegar Line and the Worcester Gas Works  – the industrial history of the Shrub Hill area, now designated as a regeneration zone. Two chemists founded the world’s largest vinegar works in 1830, later producing 2 million gallons of malt vinegar annually. To aid distribution, in 1872 a railway track linked the Great Filling Hall to Shrub Hill station sidings, crossing Pheasant Street and the canal. Read More

On Sunday 8th December we met at the Falcon for the Bromyard and District Local History Society Christmas Lunch. Sue Cooper welcomed us and introduced Jane Bradley and her Food Stories of Bromyard information boards. Read More