Hereford

Once capital of the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, the ancient cathedral city of Hereford is the county town of Herefordshire in England. It was founded by the Anglo-Saxons at a ford over the River Wye. The name is thought simply to mean literally "here" and "ford" for the crossing point. Like many Anglo-Saxon settlements this crossing was defended, which lead to the development of a settlement. The location of the settlement was also significant due to its location by the border of Wales and Mercia, and quickly grew in significance to become the seat of Bishop Putta by AD 688.

Hereford Cathedral was built on the site of an earlier church dedicated to the sainted King Ethelbert. Ethelbert had been beheaded by rival King Offa over an unrecorded dispute regarding Offa's daughter to whom Ethelbert was betrothed. Although the execution took place in neighbouring Sutton, the king's body was returned to Hereford by a monk, where he was then entombed. Miracles are said to have occurred at the site so prompting a Mercian nobleman named Milfrid to rebuild Hereford's small wooden church in stone, which was dedicated to the king. The cathedral that now stands in its place dates from 1079 and is dedicated to both Saint Ethelbert and Saint Mary the Virgin. It possesses among its treasures the Mappa Mundi — a 13th century medieval map of the world as well as the Chained Library.

There is a plaque in the High Town centre of the city commemorating the site where Owen Tudor, grandfather of Henry VII, was hanged in the city during the War of the Roses, in 1461. The city also changed hands several times during the civil war, eventually meeting with strong opposition from the city's own garrison and inhabitants who awaited the arrival of Charles I's armies. The city's coat of arms was redesigned as a mark of gratitude to includeseveral very rare features including a gold-barred peer's helm, shared only by London.

The holiday maker will be spoilt for choice for activities and attractions available in and around Hereford, with countless shops, historic houses, local museums, castle ruins and outdoor pursuits to be found, there is sure to be something to suit all tastes and requirements.

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