West Country Ales (Ceramic Plaques)

The very distinctive "West Country Ales" ceramic plaques located on many Pubs around Hereford."West Country Ales" were established in 1958 when the "Stroud and Cheltenham" breweries merged.Strange as it was both breweries started brewing in 1760 hence the date on the plaques.These plaques can be seen in Herefordshire,Gloucestershire,Worcestershire,Oxfordshire,Wiltshire and even some parts of Wales.
The distingtive "castle or tower" design was first used by the "Cheltenham Brewery". After the Second World War it acquired the "Hereford and Tredegar"breweries becoming the "Cheltenham and Hereford"brewery.The original design read "Cheltenham & Hereford" where it now reads "West Country Ales.

Hereford in Flood 1960.

Ariel view from 1960 of Hereford in flood south of the "River Wye". As you can see this was quite devastating at the time with no flood defences to hold the river back in those days.This is a great arial picture and shows just how easily the two sides of the city could be cut off by such devastating floods.Take note of how the road layout has changed since the building of the Greyfriers Bridge.

The New Hereford Theatre.

The "New Hereford Theatre" in Edgar Street as it was before it was replaced with "The Courtyard Centre".The building was was formally the "Hereford Baths" built in 1929. It was closed down when Hereford got its new Leisure Pool in the mid 1970s.The theatre was opened on 5th March 1979 as "The Nell Gwynne Theatre and Arts Centre".

This was a massive achievement by the enthusiasts and volunteer's who had set up a Charitable Trust to raise monies for the Theatre.The Theatre closed in 1984 and re-opened on 1st April 1985 as the"New Hereford Theatre".

The "Courtyard" now stands on the same site as the original building.

For details contact http://www.courtyard.org.uk/

Hereford & Gloucester Canal at Hereford.

Old Greetings Card produced by the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Society from the 1980s.
As you can see this is the middle basin in Hereford as it appeared in the mid nineteenth century.The canal was 34 miles long with 21 locks and could accommodate boats 7'6" wide and 70' long.The canal when completed ran from Gloucester to Hereford via Newent & Ledbury.The canal was started in 1791 and by 1793 the first 3.5 miles from Over near Gloucester was complete.By 1798 the canal had almost reached Ledbury.However, the company ran out of funds and it was not until 1839 that re-building started again.The canal eventually reached Hereford in May 1845.
For any information on the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Society contact;
http://www.h-g-canal.org.uk/Herefordshire%202005.htm