Local interest
Have a look at the Visit Ledbury site for more information. or call the Ledbury Tourist Information Centre at IceBytes on
0844 567 8650.
For details on Herefordshire, go to the Visit Herefordshire site.
Restaurants and cafes
Discover Ledbury
Ledbury is a lively and picturesque market town, close to the Malvern Hills. Well known for its black and white architecture, its wealth of individual shops and its pubs, restaurants and cafes serving delicious local produce.
Ledbury is an ancient borough, dating back to the Domesday Book, where it was recorded as Liedeberge, and returned members to Parliament in the reign of Edward I. Ledbury probably takes its name from the River Leadon, on which it stands. The Old English berg (hill) has been added to the river name
Church Lane in Ledbury, where many of the Festival events happen.
You’d have to go a long way to find a more beautiful place than Ledbury to enjoy more completely an English Summer day. The sun climbing high in the sky, birdsong above, and carpets of wild flowers in the woodlands that nudge up against the town’s ancient streets, minutes from the bustle.
Meanwhile beneath the magnificent jumble of black and white shops and hostelries, it’s a picture of Herefordshire life almost unchanged for centuries – market stalls and shops abundant with local produce: rhubarb, early asparagus and strawberries, meat and cheese, cider and wine, bread and cakes, spring vegetables, and other seasonal treats. There’s a friendly hubbub, time enough to chat and enjoy the atmosphere, a welcoming place that exerts a gentle restorative magic on visitors and locals.
Exhibitions
Traced in the Shadow - Derek Adams (photography)
Icebytes Cafe, 1st - 10th July
Photographer and Poet, Derek Adams has combined his two interests to produce a series of arresting black and white portraits of contemporary poets. The photographs, coupled with poems which explore aspects of photography written by the sitters form the basis of the exhibition Traced in the Shadow: ways of looking at poets. Poets included are, Matthew Hollis, Allison McVety, Pascale Petit, Katrina Porteous, & Jo Shapcott, some of whom are appearing at the festival.
Derek Adams has been a professional photographer for 35 years and has published three collections of poetry, Postcards to Olympus, Poetry Monthly, 2004 and Everyday Objects, Chance Remarks. Littoral Press, 2005.
Weavers Gallery
'Moon Rainbow' 28th June - 10th July 10am -5.pm
An exhibition of stitched textiles inspired by the work of the Dymock Poets. Much of their poetry relating to the time spent in this area, immediately prior to the First World War, is full of visual imagery and references to the locality. This has been a great starting point for a wide variety of textile pieces using many different techniques and media.
The Talking Wall, Tinsmiths, 8a High Street, Ledbury
Poet, Nick Alexander in collaboration with Martin Clark of Tilley Printing
Nick Alexander is a Ledbury local, so knows Martin Clark’s secret: his print works. Martin owns and runs Tilley Printing, and is one of the few printers who still uses a hand-operated letterpress to obtain the kind of quality that could only be centuries old. So what better collaboration could there be on Nick’s series of fly-poster poems? Through his large format block printing and skilled use of colour and lettering, Martin has brought the poems to visual life, to create a true Talking Wall. The opportunity to exhibit at Tinsmiths Alley has provided the perfect setting.
The Talking Wall is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm during the Poetry Festival. At a special opening on Sunday 3rd July Nick will read his poems at 11am and 2.30pm. The exhibition and events are free. www.tinsmiths.co.uk
'Textile Bazaar' at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, Near Ledbury.
July 6th, 11am - 8pm July 7th, 10am - 5pm
Come and visit this beautiful old house, which has its history in the Domesday Book. Browse and buy among a cornucopia of lovely world textiles. John Gillow, renowned textile writer, will be giving a lecture on Wednesday 6th at 6.30pm.
Tickets from Hellens on 01531 660504 or email: info@hellensmanor.com
Extras
Food Market, High Street, Ledbury.
Sunday 3 July
11am-5pm
Herefordshire is known for the quality of its local food and drink and on Sunday 3rd July you have an opportunity to find out what this county has to offer. Local cider and wines, cheese, bread, delicious desserts, so don’t eat before you leave home! Organised in association with Rachel Hicks of Just Rachel HEREFORDSHIRE FOOD CHAMPION 2010-2011
Book online >
Local highlights…
Ledbury “has been home to three famous poets - William Langland, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and John Masefield - and its historic buildings just happen to be both poetic and adventurous, too. The most memorable, the 17th-century Market House, rises on 16 oak posts. Further along the high street, the Barrett Browning Institute dominates with its fairytale clock tower, while the Feathers Hotel, a coaching inn, is a superb example of English black-and-white architecture.” (Jonathan Glancey, The Guardian).
Dragon Orchard:
Chris Fairs, Norman Stanier and David Walker are your hosts for a day consisting of a walk around this small traditional fruit farm (run by the same family for over 80 years), a special Dragon Orchard lunch of local produce and a Haiga workshop. David, who is a poet and a photographer, will have his photos exhibited in Dragon House. .
Herefordshire has a well-established artist community and the Craft Market featured basketwork, metalwork, paintings, jewellery, glassware and textiles.
While you are in Ledbury visit Hellens Manor and Hampton Court, Herefordshire.
The Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is famed for its dramatic hills and for the natural spring water that flows from them, as well as ancient woodland, rolling pastures and wild, open commons.
Tinsmiths is a stunning shop, hidden away up one of Ledbury’s intriguing alleyways. Alex Clive, who designed and built it says, "I worked out proportions and the ways individual panels would fit by standing and staring at the structure as it went up. So it's a modern-looking building that comes out of a much older craft tradition. It's medieval modern, if you like, and it follows in the footsteps of other adventurous buildings in the town. I wouldn't expect to see buildings like this popping up along the high streets of every historic market town. But there must be room for at least some experimentation in local architecture."