Hereford General Hospital .

Aeriel View

The busy Accident & Emergency Dept 

The Restaurant Area

A view of the cramped Hospital

The view from Nelson Street

A & E Reception Area

Hereford General Hospital was built and opened in 1783 on the banks of the River Wye. The land had been kindly donated by the Earl of Oxford.
The hospital was built due to the inadequate facilities at the previous so called infirmary at No42 Eign Street which was more along the lines of a
Cottage Hospital and far to small.
The hospital opened with 55 beds which was considerably more than been available before.
Known originally as the "General Infirmary" it had grown to 100 beds by 1887.
In 1900 it became known as "The General Hospital". In 1927 "The Hewat Pavilion" was added (see Link Below) . Some years later in1930 it had 11 wards and could cater for 150 patients.
Unfortunately the hospital became to small to cope with modern demands and with no room for expansion it was closed on 4thJuly 2002 and all services moved to "Hereford County Hospital".

http://oldherefordpics.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/hewat-pavilion.html

Many Thanks to Richard Maldwyn Jones for pics.

H.P. Bulmer & Co Ltd. Old Postcards

A selection of old H.P.Bulmers Ltd postcards pre 1950s. The postcards are part of a set of 12  printed by "Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd" and show some great old scenes from the company's past.
As you can see we have 10 of the set of 12 here but if anyone could help with the other 3, please feel free to contact us at ;
oldherefordpics@gmail.com

or at our Facebook page ;

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

Many Thanks Kelvin Skyrme for finding top pic " cask filling room "

Queen Elizabeth ll in Hereford 1957

With the Queens resent visit to Hereford, thought it would be great to post this old pic from "The Hereford Times" when Queen Elizabeth visited the city on the 24th April 1957.The picture taken in Broad Street shows some of the thousands that turned out to greet the Queen on the day.

For pics of the Queens visit on the 11th July 2012, visit this great Facebook page for pics and info from the day. http://www.facebook.com/HerefordshireDiamondDay

The May Fair Hereford.

St Ethelbert’s Fair, now more commonly known as Hereford May Fair, has its origins many years ago. Ethelbert himself has links with Hereford going back to the late 8th century.

The Fair, which has changed dramatically over the years, continues to be held on the first Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of May in the city centre streets of Hereford.

Up and until 1838 the right to hold the fair was apparently solely vested in the Lord Bishop of Hereford, when it was known as the Nine Days Fair. In 1838 a local Act of Parliament transferred the rights to the local council and reduced its duration, as the council felt it would greatly enhance and improve the morals of the inhabitants.
Although he lost the right to sanction the Fair, the Lord Bishop was entitled to 12½ bushels of wheat (or the equivalent in monetary terms) each year as compensation. This payment was stopped in 1971, but the modern Fair is still opened with the weighing of the wheat.
Thousands of people visit the fair every year from the surrounding areas.The fair these days is a mixture of fast moving white knuckle rides,children's roundabouts,rifle ranges slot machine arcades and many fast food vendors.

These days the fair is usually opened by the Mayor with the ceremonial presentation of wheat to the Lord Bishop on the Cathedral Close.

Broad Street.
King Street.
pic; Walter Pritchard.
Commercial Road

Many Thanks; Mary Jo Penford,Sally Stamford,Phil Watts and the Unknown Photographer.

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

Butter Market Hereford

The first markets on the current site were held for the October Fair in 1810.In those days the market would have sold a variety of goods including butcher's meats, poultry, fish,vegetables,butters and all the items usually sold in a market in those days.
The current market was opened in 1860 with it's iron and glass roof which still remains today but unfortunately out of site at this present time.
The market suffered a fire in 1922.
It was reopened in 1925 and the interior was reconstructed and may have had much same lay out we see it today.
The suspended ceiling was added some time in the 1980's and has not always met with the approval of Herefordian's.The market is due for refurbishment again in 2012 and it would be good if some of the original features were to be seen again.

Many Thanks;Pual Tennant and Keith Taylor for the pics.

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Hereford United "Vice Pesidents Club" 1971

With the reopening of the Hereford United Starlite Rooms tonight, thought it would be a good time to show these old pics from 1971 of the then new Vice Presidents Club.These pics are from the clubs brochure for election to the Football League in 1971. Many thanks to John Goulding for the pics.

Made in Hereford

A couple of old Cider Flagons from Hereford's past.The flagons were found many years ago by an old lady who lived in Mill Street, Hereford. They were found in her cellar and given to Diana Bone who has kindly photographed them for us.
These vessels were used all the time many years ago when a lot Ale Houses would have brewed there own beers and ciders.Its quite difficult to put a date on them but they are probably from around 1890-1910 time.
We have managed to find a little information on the Henry Chiles Flagon from

Jakeman & Carver's Directory of Herefordshire, 1890 - Henry Chiles, Innkeeper, "No. 10", 142 Widemarsh Street, Hereford

Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire, 1885 - Henry Chiles, "No. Ten", Widemarsh Street, Hereford - under Ale & Porter Merchants and Agents. Also under Wine & Spirit Merchants.

By 1895 "No. Ten" 142 Widemarsh Street (PH) is occupied by Humphrey Owens. It seems to be on the corner of Maylord Street and next to The Guildhall. On the other corner of Maylord Street is the Midlands Railway Co's Goods and Parcels Receiving Office.

From Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire & Shropshire, 1895. [Part 1: Herefordshire]

If the 10 on the jar was the "house number" then at some time it got changed to 142. (We know that Mill Street was renumbered at some point too.)

Very Many Thanks to Diana Bone and her brother John Ruck for all there help with this story.

If anybody has any comments please feel free to leave them here on the blog or visit our Facebook page and leave comments.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150310734002060&set=a.171939207059.131420.42752762059&type=1&theater

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.

Hereford Postcards 1900s

Four lovely old Postcards from around 1900.
The first postcard shows the "Victoria Suspension Footbridge" opened in 1897 in celebration to mark the Royal Diamond Jubilee.
The second postcard shows the "Castle Green" with the "Nelson Memorial" centre and some of its many flowerbeds witch adorned it in those days.
Postcard number three shows the "River Wye" running south though the city passing the "Bishops Meadow" on under the "Victoria Suspension Footbridge" and then on past the "King George's Playing Fields".
Finally postcard number four shows the"Cathedral" from south of the river on the "Bishop's Meadow".

Many Thanks to Mrs Diana Bone for sending in the pics.

The Old Wye Bridge, Hereford.

Taken about 1900 this lovely old picture shows The Old Wye Bridge at Hereford.The scene is not too dissimilar to the one we see today. The Bridge and Cathedral obviously still here and the south bank much the same minus the boats. The houses to the left of the bridge remain, but are partially hidden these days by overgrown vegetation on the riverbanks.The building directly behind the bridge was replaced by Sully's Garage, not many years after this picture was taken and later went on to became Mead & Thomkin's.The latter was replaced by the Left Bank Village, opened in 2000 by Dr Albert and Monique Heijn, and was described as a showcase for Hereford. The couple eventually sold the business in 2007. Unfortunately it has not had the best of luck since then and is currently lying empty once again after it went into receivership in December 2010.

Please feel free to add any of your comments below or on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

The Bricklayers Arms.

The "Bricklayers Arms" date's back to the mid 1850s and probably looked a lot different when it first became a public house back then.The pub looks much the same on the outside these days as it did here in the 1980s but the inside has radically changed from the old Bar/Lounge format that was popular many years ago. Some years ago the pub changed hands and became the "Jolly Roger"with a huge refit which included a bar built in the style of a pirate ship.At the same time a brewery was installed at the rear of the property and is still there today.These days the pub is known as the "Victory" and is home to the "Hereford Brewery".

http://www.herefordbrewery.co.uk/index.htm

Herefordshire Regiment.

A dispatch from the "War Office" sent to Pte (Acting L/Cpl) Frederick Adams of the "Herefordshire Regiment" for distinguished services in the field during the War of 1914-1918.

Soldiers who are mentioned in dispatches, whilst not awarded a medal, receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a decoration. For 1914-18 and up to 10th August 1920, the decoration consisted of a spray of oak leaves in bronze.
If anyone can help with any information please feel free to contact us at....
oldhereford@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

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.

Rotherwas Police.

Very sorry i have no information regarding the above picture only that i think it was taken about 5 years after the Second World War somewhere on the Rotherwas Munitions Factory site.
If anyone can help or name any of these gentlemen please contact us on ;
oldhereford@gmail.com
or on our Facebook site; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

Additional Information; The gentleman in the middle row far left when looking at it is Raymond Gwynne and I think that the gentleman three across with medal ribbons is I believe Arthur Daw.
Many Thanks to ; David Daw

Hereford Cider Festival.

The "Hereford Cider Festival" mug given out on the occasion of the first festival held on the King George's Playing Field's in 1972.There were unfortunately only two Cider Festivals held and were organized by a gentlemen named Rex Neame who worked for "BULMERS" at the time.
This was the year of we saw Pan'People, The Sealed Knot and a huge Steam Fair.
The following year it was moved to Bulmers site just of Yazor Road and this was the year the "Apollo" moon capsule was displayed. Unfortunately these festival's were never held again,such a great loss to the city.
Any Information please contact; oldhereford@gmail.com
or you can leave your comments on our Facebook site; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Hereford-Pics/42752762059

Hereford Fungus Eaters

A strange old pic from "The Graphic" 1873. A walk with the Hereford Fungus Eaters.The picture shows what could be local dignitaries and various locations in and around Herefordshire.Holme Lacy House can be seen on the right centre of picture and some sort of meeting held in Hereford Shire Hall can also be seen towards bottom of picture.
Additional Information

Around the 1870s and 1880s each autumn the Woolhope Club had annual
Fungus Forays.  The Fungus Forays lasted about a week and members of
the Woolhope Club - and their visitors who came from far and wide -
toured around the Herefordshire countryside looking for fungi to
identify and investigate.  This was very gentlemanly scientific
research.  The week's efforts finished with a clebratory meal at the
Green Dragon in Hereford.  This cartoon of the fungus foray was almost
certainly drawn by Worthington George Smith (who was the chief
illustrator of the Gardeners Chronicle).  Not a Herefordian, he is an
interesting character in his own right.  Top left you can see Dr Henry
Graves Bull, quite a Victorian polymath.  As well as fungi he was
interested in birds and apples.  He was joint author of The
Herefordshire Pomona - one of the finest books, if not the finest book
about apples and pears ever published.  (The cider museum displays
some of the original artwork for the colour plates - Bull's daughter
Edith Elizabeth was one of the artists responsible).  Fuller details
of all the Fungus Forays can be found in the Transactions of the
Wollhope Club although the cartoons do not appear there - you will
need to read through the Graphic for other years.  The club still has
its library at Hereford Library and it is open, I believe, on
Thursdays.

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Hereford Home Guard

Very rare picture of "Hereford Home Guard" from World War One.This particular groups job was the safety of the Great Western Bridge at Hunderton.

Many Thanks, Jan Preedy.

If anyone has anymore information please contact;

oldhereford@gmail.com

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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.

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