Historic Hereford 1940-1963

Watch Simey: Historic Hereford 1940

From GIs dancing in High Town in 1942 and on into the New Elizabethan era: this is a true celebration of the city of Hereford from the austere 1940s right into the 'swinging' sixties.

Please take a look at this fantastic footage. There is some great colour footage at about the half way mark.
Please click on this link to view the footage...
http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-simey-historic-hereford-1940/

The County Gaol, Commercial Road.

We are very privileged to have come into the possession of  pictures of the inside and outside of the County Gaol in Commercial Street, Hereford. The pictures have been kindly sent in by our good friend Robert Rees who states. I cannot claim copyright for these photo’s, as they were leant to me many years ago by a work mate who was Chief Inspector of the Special Constabulary for Hereford
& he asked me to copy them for him.

The old County Gaol stood at St. Peter's Square until 1793 when this modern replacement was built to replace it. The goal was built on the site of St. Guthlac's Priory on (Commercial Road).

In 1902 the goal had cells for as many as 105 prisoners.During the Great War the gaol was also used as a military detention centre. In 1929 the gaol was eventually closed with male inmates being moved to Gloucester and female prisoners to Birmingham.

Entrance to gaol fronting Commercial Road

Front Door.

Inside the main hall.

The main hall leading out.

Unknown persons but they do look like they may have been in charge.

 Demolition of the old gaol.
 

Today the site looks very different with the old cinema and bus station occupying the site. All that remains from the original gaol are the Governors House and parts of the old walls.

 The Governor's House.

Rear of the Governors House and what used to be entrance to the public toilets.

 What is left of rear wall of the gaol.

 Front of Commercial Road with Fusion Nightclub and the now closed cinema.

A very big Thank You to Robert Rees and the invaluable information from Graham Roberts book  "The Shaping of Modern Hereford"
ISBN 1-873827-67-9

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

Wiggin in Herefordshire.

Please take a look through this fascinating series of cartoons. They were drawn by Hereford artist Gerald Newton-Sealey celebrating the 21st anniversary of the first production melt at Hereford's Henry Wiggin plant on Monday 23rd May 1953. The cartoons were originally reproduced in Wiggin News. They take a light hearted look through all different aspects of Herefordshire life and has some fascinating facts within them.  
Index.
1. Hereford Castle & City Walls
2. Notes on Old Hereford
3. Popular Pastimes of Old Hereford
4. Coningsby Hospital, Hereford
5. Hereford Street Names
6. The Old House, Hereford
7. The Chained Libraries of Hereford.
8. Hereford City Plate and Regalia.
9. Hereford and the Coaching Age.
10.Weobley.
11. Fownhope.
12. Madley.
13. Eardisland.
14. Hoarwithy.
15. Marden.
16. Kilpeck.
17. Pembridge.
18. Goodrich.
19. Holmer.
20. Abbydore.
21. Hope under Dinmore.
22. Edvin Loach.
23. Eardisley.
24. Eaton Bishop.
25. Much Marcle.
26. Ashperton.
27. Peterchurch.
28. Shobdon.
29. Holme Lacy.
30. Monnington on Wye.
31. Dorstone.
32. Withington.
33. Clodock.
34. Colwall.
35. Ballingham and Carey.
36. Orleton.
37. Brockhampton.
38. Leintwardine.
39. Llangarren.
40. Clifford.
41. Huntington.
42. Whitbourne.

                            

 

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A very big THANK YOU to Caz Chapman for uncovering this great gem from our past.