I knew that I really should have been Christmas shopping. I’ve walked past The Old House Museum for the last twenty years and somehow felt now was the time to re-acquaint myself. Thirty minutes away from the hustle of the High Town was altogether restoring.
The House itself was built, where it stands in the centre of Hereford, in 1621 and is full of 17th century furniture, murals and artefacts. Like Ledbury, Hereford had a wide main street, a Butcher’s Row, where cattle were butchered and markets held. The Row began to be demolished in 1816. The Old House is the last house standing in what had been a central row of houses on, the now pedestrian, High Town. The museum is free to visit, a lovely space to on four floors, three open to the public (although the stairs are very steep and floor uneven), if you take youngsters set them a challenge to find the dog flap!
Here are some images of its hoard, I’m afraid they are not the highest quality but I hope they inspire you to take a look.
Carved bracket below 1st floor window.
Fabulous Model of the City of Hereford when the Old House was built.
On four floors, the magnificent timber-framed building stands in the middle of Hereford’s shopping street.
A pair of elm quarterjacks struck the quarter hour of Hereford’s Market House – now demolished
Whilst the elm torsos of these figures are completely smooth, the artist went to town on their coiffure.
My favourite artefact this visit was a small relief carving of a dispute over a cow showing two farmers and a lawyer milking the animal.
The Old House is open almost everyday of the year, excluding some bank holidays, check opening times here https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/black-and-white-house-museum
The model of Hereford in the Old House museum was made by my Grandfather – Leonard J Starkey. I did leave this information and my contact details a few years ago at the museum but heard no more. He also made a model of a market hall, I think Ledbury, which I understand may be in storage somewhere. I may have a photo of it.