Victoria Street/ Eign Street Junction

Below are a couple of never seen before pictures of the Victoria Street/ Eign Street Junction "Dean's Corner" as it was commonly  known. The pictures have been kindly sent into us by Robert Rees.

Roberts father Richard John Rees was a keen photographer and took these pictures in the early 1960s. Robert has said..

Dad would have been pleased that his work is appreciated, he would have loved to have done it professionally but work & the need to earn a steady wage got in the way, he did however enjoy it as a hobby for about 65years.

 Taken at the junction of Eign St & Victoria St. The (then) only set of traffic lights in town, oh how times have changed.

 This is from outside the Red Lion looking towards the approach to Edgar St roundabout, Steels west gate is now where the buildings on the far left stand & Deans stores would be where the slip road now comes down.

A very big Thank You to Robert Rees for sharing his fathers pictures with us. We will post more soon.

Please if you have any comments feel free to post here or on our Facebook page.

The Opening of Meadow Market 1971.

When Meadow Market opened its doors in the summer of 1971 it brought a whole new way of shopping to Herefordshire that had never been seen before.
Based in Withington just off the Hereford to Worcester road a couple of miles from Hereford city centre, the store was certainly something different to the normal shopping trip into town. With its 9,000 square feet of selling space devoted to foods a meat department a wide range of household goods, frozen food, electrical, clothing, garden, wines and spirits and even a carpet store.
Car parking for 250 cars and a play area for the kids certainly made it a whole new experience for Herefordians.
The store was opened in May by BBC TV and Radio personality Ted Moult accompanied by Mr. Jim Thompson managing director.

Below is a selection of pictures and posters from those early days from Hereford County Life June 1971.

Please feel free to leave any comments here or on Facebook page.The Opening of Meadow Market 1971

King Street Hereford.

Here we have a great old pic of "King Street" with what looks like "The May Fair"possible taken in the 1940s.The grand building on the right was known as "The Residence" one of Hereford's finest buildings at the time.Unfortunately it was pulled down in the early 1960s to make way for what is known today as "Thorpe House".

Pic; Phil Watts

The Old House 1873

This is a lovely old picture of "The Old House" in Hereford's High Town thought to have been taken about 1873.The picture shows 2 local business's in the old building "Oatfield's Hardware Store" and "Fletcher the Fishmongers". The property was one time part of a row of business's know as "Butcher's Row" which was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century.The picture has other local interest as the young boy standing with his father on the left Mr. Matthew C. Oatfield Snr was later to become in 1921 the 541st Mayor of Hereford, Mr. Matthew Curnow Oatfield Jr.The lady standing next to them is Jane (Poole) who was later married to Mr. Oatfield Snr.

Many Thanks to Mr David Hall for information and picture.

Please feel free to leave any comments here or on our Facebook page.

The Old Hereford County Gaol. "Commercial Road"

The " Old County Gaol " in Commercial Road Hereford.

Hereford County Gaol was designed by John Nash who went on to design Regent Street and Marble Arch and to redesign Buckingham Palace. The old bus station office was the end of one of the three wings of Nash's original design. The arched upper windows were the original cell windows. Later, the gaol was redesigned and the end of the wing cut off, to form a house for the governor. The windows were then enlarged to create the building which stands now. The roof above the entrance here was originally flat and was used for public executions. This gaol was opened in 1796 and replaced the earlier County Gaol which was on the site of the Shire Hall.The City Gaol was built later and became first the police station, then the magistrates’ courts. It was also of three wings originally. This is now the Elim Pentecostal Church.

One strange story of this old landmark was published on our sister Facebook involving one of it's so called ghost's.
Jacqueline Thomas, writes she was one of the residents in the flats on the upper storey of Governors House. I discovered that we had a resident spirit shortly after i moved in i was woken regularly in the night and often felt someone tugging my mattress at first i was... a bit frightened. Eventually i got a Spiritualist Medium in to tackle the problem she told me that there was an active spirit in the house she told me his name was Finley and that he was of Jamaican origin he had rickets and a speech impediment the medium communicated with him and he agreed to behave himself which he does and only wakes me in the night when i am having a bad dream. Apparently he was a "runner" and worked at the jail.
Picture; unknown photographer.
Many Thanks; to PJ. Pikes and Jacqueline Thomas for there help with this story.

Goldings Fire.

A couple of old pics from the early 1980s when fire ripped through No 19/20 Commercial Street

Golding's Ironmongers.

The fire occurred on the evening of the 8th December 1983 and these pics were taken the morning after,If anyone has anymore information please contact me on. oldhereford@gmail.com

or please comment on our Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hereford-United-Kingdom/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

Pictures; Andrew Wigmore

The ABC Cinema.(The Ritz)

Old pic taken at Hereford's A.B.C. Cinema (the Ritz) Commercial Road sometime in the late 1940s early 1950s.The cinema was opened in January 1938 on the site of the old city gaol by "Associated British Cinema's" and had a capacity of 1000 seats.I'm not sure what is being marked on this occasion.The lady front left holding the piece of paper is Aida Harris who worked at the cinema at the time.As you can see the Commissionaires and Usherette's were a very smart bunch as was the case in all cinemas in those days.

Unfortunately in the mid 1970s with the decline of cinema the "stalls" were sold off and turned into a Bingo Club and some years later converted into a Nightclub.

Picture; Mr.Keith Harris.

If you have any comments please contact ; oldhereford@gmail.com
or visit, Old Hereford Pics on Facebook.

Belmont Abbey.

Old Ariel Postcard image of Belmont Abbey taken looking northwards towards Hereford.

The abbey was founded in 1859 by Benedictine Monks following the rule of St Benedict.As you can see it is certainly not the view you would see today.The gardens long gone now covered with buildings being used by "Hereford Health Authority".North of the Abbey not a house to be seen on what is now Belmont Housing Estate.

For any information on Belmont Abbey visit,, www.belmontabbey.org.uk/
If anyone has anymore information please contact,, oldhereford@gmail.com
or checkout our site on Facebook.

The Hewat Pavilion.

With a name like "The Hewat Pavilion" you would expect this building to be overlooking a cricket pitch.This is not the case and is another of Hereford's long lost treasures.The houses in the background still remain today although you may not be able to get this view nowadays.

This building was opened in 1927 as an orthopaedic ward backing on to Nelson Street on the site of "The General Hospital".It was thought in those days that a open air ward was especially good for the treatment of tuberculosis and certain other ailments, so it had no front wall, only curtains to protect patients from the elements.The name Hewat Pavilion came from Mrs.Hewat who's husband was a generous supporter of the hospital and had recently passed away.

Broad Street 1920

This is one of the finest pictures you will ever see of 1920s Broad Street .The picture was sent in by Jonathan Eaton who believes it belonged to his grandmother.If you are able too zoom in on the details do so, as the quality of this old picture is incredible.Why they ever thought that by pulling many of these buildings down in the 1960s they would improve the city in the future, is still a mystery to this day.

The Cock Of Tupsley.

The "Cock of Tupsley" well the site as it was before the pub ws built.This old black and white Farmhouse was demolished in 1965 due to the cost of renovation and the land subsequently sold to the Banks Brewery.

The farmhouse belonged to Jonathan Eaton's Grandmother who owned the property and who has kindly donated this picture.There is a large Horse Chestnut tree at the back of the farmhouse on the picture which can still be seen today.The view as is as you would look at the pub now,as in-fronting Hampton Dean Road and the side of Ledbury Road.

Very many thanks to Jonathan Eaton.

The Other Black & White House.

Thought it would be a good idea to put this on now, as it seems to be the talking point at the moment.This picture belongs to my dad "Wally" pictured at the very back, who at the time was Foreman on the project.

The Kemble Theatre 1918.

A few old pics from the days of the "Kemble Theatre" in Broad Street.The old building was opened in 1858 as "The Corn Exchange"built specifically for the markets that were held in and around Broad Street in those days.The building was enlarged in 1911 by local builders "Beavan & Hodges" to include a public hall and theatre and went on to stage many different types of shows and films for many years. Above are pics showing the building in all it's glory and some very rare pictures of the cast and programme from the February 1918 production of "Cinderella"
Sadly for Hereford the Theatre ceased to stage productions in 1961 and the building was demolished in 1963 to make way for what is known today as boring old "Kemble House"

Many Thanks to Jan Preedy for all her help.

If anyone has any information please contact ; oldhereford@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hereford-United-Kingdom/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059?ref=sgm

Eign Gate in the Snow.

With snow on it's way, thought this was a good time to show this great old pic.This is probably one of the first ever pictures of what was Eign Street at the time and nowadays better known as Eign Gate.It looks like the picture was taken from the old "Jessons" area of the street with "All Saints Church" in the distant background.
Any information would be welcome if you can help at;
oldhereford@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hereford-United-Kingdom/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059?ref=sgm

One Year Old Today.

One year old today, 4500 hits on "Old Hereford Pics" and nearly 500 friends on our "Facebook" page.I would just like say it started out as just a thought, showing off a few old pics I had around the house and we have come this far in such a short time.I hope along the way I have not trod on too many toes and put any one's nose out of joint.It seems to have hit the right chord with people who live, have lived or at some time had a connection with the old city.I must say it has been a lot of hard work but I think worth it judging by the comments we have received.
I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to have a look and all those who have contributed at some point through the year.
A very special thank you must go to Clive Massey for all his help and support in getting me up and running.I could not have done it without your help.
I would also like to thank Gary Morris who has been such a great help on the Facebook site and without his wealth of knowledge I don't know where we would be.Keep it up Gary.
Lastly I would like to say a big THANK YOU to my wonderful wife Jo and beautiful daughter Charlotte for putting up with me over the last 12 months while working on this project.

Anyway I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Here's to the next year.

High Town.

Old ariel view of High Town possibly in the late 1940s early 1950s.The only change from today's scene is that the "ODEON" and most of Maylord Street has now become the Maylord's Orchards Shopping Centre.

Greenland's Toy Department

Old picture of the long gone toy department in Greenland's department store.The toy section was situated in the basement and was the highlight of every child's trip into town, especially at Christmas when they were taken to meet Father Christmas in his grotto.

The old store was sold to Marks & Spencer for £350.000 and closed in 1968.

The Old House 1950s and 60s.

Just a couple of old pics of the Old House and High Town from the 1950s and 1960s.As you can see things haven't changed that much, just the names the styles and certainly the modes of transport.

Hereford County Hospital.

Early aeriel view of the "Hereford County Hospital" as it was before it's rebuilding in the 2000's.
Built on the site of the old "Hereford Union Workhouse"in 1937.The hospital was built to cope with the growing population in Herefordshire as the "Hereford General Hospital"

was stretched to the limit.In 1939 the addition of the 10 hutted wards were added, built to last 10 years and they still remain today.

The Odeon Cinema."High Town"

The "ODEON" cinema High Town.Two old pics from 1949 and 1968 showing the grand old building.The "ODEON" cinema name was created in 1928 by "Oscar Deutsh" and it was so called "Oscar Deutsh Entertains Our Nation" or the short version we all know"ODEON".
I dont know when Hereford's cinema was first opened but it was pulled down in the 1980s to make way for the Maylords Orchard Shopping Centre.

If anyone can help with any of the dates it opened and closed that would be of great help, even better a couple of your old pics would be much appreciated.

Send to ; oldhereford@gmail.com