tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post6650453649102561389..comments2024-03-25T15:10:13.792+00:00Comments on English Buildings: HerefordPhilip Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-33991836721809289112018-09-11T12:34:40.550+01:002018-09-11T12:34:40.550+01:00Dry Sundays did not improve English - Welsh relati...Dry Sundays did not improve English - Welsh relations in the Forest of Dean. It was important for Welsh self-respect when mostly it was treated as just a part of England to have alcohol-free Sundays, which meant the confirmed topers who couldn't last a day flocked over the bridge into the alehouses of the Forest. These were not always the best ambassadors for the Welsh sociability and openness! There has been no political division since about 1090, but it's still surprising how buildings on either side of the border (with some exceptions) take on a Welsh or English character accordingly. Compare the parish churches near the Wye in Gwent with those on the other side: e.g. Tidenham and Staunton with Trelleck or Caldicot. Explain it I can't. Joseph Biddulph (Publisher)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08655472675410890012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-44312101236468720412018-09-10T14:19:59.342+01:002018-09-10T14:19:59.342+01:00Yes, Hereford does have a brickiness to it that...Yes, Hereford does have a brickiness to it that's different from those southern Welsh towns. There is indeed a sense of Welshness – or at least of Welshness being not far away – in Hereford, and Herefordshire generally. I remember meeting one native (of Bromyard I think) whose voice had the hint of a Welsh accent and even over the border here in Glarstershur, the people of the Forest of Dean are very aware of the proximity of Wales. Dennis Potter (who grew up in the Forest) said that 'as a border people' they 'hated' the Welsh, though that's certainly not the case with Foresters I've known. <br /><br />You have anticipated me with the Catholic church. It did catch my eye, although I couldn't get inside. I've just posted about it. Yes, I think it's the museum that's opposite. There certainly are some interesting 19th century shop fronts, which will repay further study – my pictures of those aren't great, however. Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-28378940131531570752018-09-06T10:59:28.236+01:002018-09-06T10:59:28.236+01:00I noted the quality of the bricks. When you approa...I noted the quality of the bricks. When you approach from South Wales, Hereford seems rather brick-y by contrast with the quarry stone used in Welsh towns. I felt on one occasion it was nearer in general feel to far-away Norwich, which I had visited recently, than to some towns which are quite near geographically, but up in them thar hills. Since there were no towns to speak of in Wales, people with Welsh patronymic surnames seemed to flock to Hereford, Shrewsbury, Bristol, etc. to pursue commercial interests, so with Hereford it's difficult to keep up with the Joneses. See the Native Welsh arms of one of the bishops in the cathedral. Just by the cathedral the Catholic church is very gracious and Classical: in a glass case is the hand of one of those put to death for being a Catholic priest in Penal Times. But I'm sure you'd have some meaningful remarks on the architecture - if not in the pipeline already. And what about one of the 19th century shops opposite (or is it the museum?)? Thanks again for this blog! Joseph Biddulph (Publisher)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08655472675410890012noreply@blogger.com