| In black and white |
| Tour the chocolate-box villages of Herefordshire, heaving with ancient, timber-framed houses |
The northwest corner of Herefordshire is home to a number of towns and villages which are
heaving with timber-framed
buildings, the majority of which date back hundreds of years. Happily, where appropriate,
modern developments have been designed to maintain the overall ‘olde worlde’ effect. But whether new or old, they constitute ‘The Black-and-White Trail’ in this area.
Our route starts and finishes at Leominster. It is a circular tour
of around 40 miles, and many of the places involve minor detours. It’s worth obtaining leaflets (from tourist information centres) about the two main towns, Leominster and Kington, through which our route passes, so you can identify the car parks. Also, The Black
& White Village Trail booklet is
a handy companion which – at the time of writing – costs only 75p from tourist information centres.
We’ve chosen our favourite
villages along the way, but just because a town is not mentioned here doesn’t mean it isn’t worth
a visit.
SEVENTH-CENTURY CHIC
Leominster dates back to the
seventh century. One of its
most impressive buildings is
The Priory church, in Church St. Although not part of the ‘official’ Black-and-White Trail, the church is worth visiting. Among the items on display here is a ducking stool, last used in the early 19th century.
The best black-and-white
buildings can be found in the
centre of the town. Those in Corn Square are among the best because it is possible to view them from
a greater distance than the others, which are situated nearby in
narrow streets.
POSTCARD PRETTY
Dilwyn can be found just off the A4112, about six miles outside Leominster. Just after passing
the impressive village church,
on your right, you reach a green surrounded by black-and-white houses and cottages. When the sun shines it’s easy to imagine
this scene as the inspiration for postcards, calendar and jigsaw puzzle illustrations.
VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
Weobley was chosen as ‘Village
of the Year’ by The Daily Telegraph in 1999. As you approach it, you pass the old workhouse and then a pink-and-black house, before turning right into the main street. At its top end, this street is
separated into two carriageways by a small, walled green in
which there is an unusual metal sculpture of a bird.
At one time the village could boast an even greater number of black-and-white houses than it
has today but sadly, in 1943, a
fire destroyed a large proportion of them. Despite this, sufficient numbers remain to make your visit well worth the effort.
HEADERHERE
ghostly hounds
The village of Eardisley lies near the south-west corner of our route. To reach it, turn right off the A4112 onto the A4111 and then left into the village.
In addition to the black-and-white houses which line the main street the church is also worth a visit, especially in view of its
1000-year-old font. On this is depicted a dramatic incident in the history of the Baskerville
family, whose name will forever be associated with Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles. It is believed that the book’s author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, drew his inspiration from the local ghost story of a black hound said to haunt the area around Eardisley and Kington.
At the end of the main street is Tram Square which takes its name from the horse-drawn trams which ran from Brecon to Kington in the early 19th century. It’s worth taking the minor road from Tram Square, signposted Woodseaves, and driving for about a mile until you see a small chapel on the right. Turn here, and in about 30 yards you will come to the Great Oak, a tree reputed to be 900 years old.
THIS IS THE LIMIT
Kington is the mid-point of our route. The town is situated on the western side of Offa’s Dyke, built over 1200 years ago to mark the limit of Anglo-Saxon King Offa’s territory and the boundary between England and Wales.
The town makes a good base
for walking trips because the
surrounding area offers gentle strolls or strenuous hikes. You
will find the visitor centre is on the corner of the High Street and Crabtree Rd.
PICK OF THE BUNCH
About half way between Kington and Leominster, Pembridge is
possibly the best of the
Black-and-White-Trail villages.
Its main street boasts clusters of black-and-white buildings along its length. Behind the visitor
centre, with its light refreshments and gifts, there’s a free car park.
Just off the main street, the church is worth visiting for its stone-and-timber bell tower,
completely separate from the church itself. A pagoda-like
building, it houses a clock and
five bells and in the Middle Ages was a refuge for the villagers
during Welsh border raids.
A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES
Eardisland is the last village on our route and is claimed to be
the prettiest in Herefordshire.
And indeed, the houses that
surround the bridge at the end
of the main street are of
picture-postcard calibre. Nearby, you will find a recently-restored 17th-century dovecote, and the
visitor centre and car park are opposite. Here, you will see
what is claimed to be the only remaining pre-war AA box.
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Distance 100 miles
Time Nine hours
Start/finish Blackmore Caravan Club site, Blackmore End,
Hanley Swan
Suitable for Anyone interested in ancient buildings
Tourist Info
Leominster
1 Corn Square, Leominster HR6 8LR. Tel 01568 616460
Email Click here
Website Click Here
Kington
2 Mill Street, Kington HR5 3BQ.
Tel 01544 230778
Email Click here
Website Click Here
Refreshments
The Mill Restaurant Peterchurch, HR2 0SF. Tel 01981 550151
Eardisland Tea Room & Gift Shop
Eardisland HR6 9BP. Tel 01544 388226
Attractions
Leominster Folk Museum
Etnam St, Leominster HR6 8AQ.
Tel 01568 615186
Sydonia Swimming Pool
Caswell Terrace, Leominster
HR6 8BA. Tel 01568 612444
Monkland Cheese Dairy
The Pleck, Monkland HR6 9DB.
Tel 01568 720307
Website Click Here
Eardisland Dovecote Heritage Centre
Holmlea, Eardisland HR6 9BP.
Tel 01544 388226
Website Click Here
Small Breeds Farm Park
& Owl Centre Kington HR5 3HF.
Tel 01544 231109
Email Click here
Website Click Here
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