“Bromyard is a market town situate very pleasantly betwixt hills, the inhabitants whereof boast themselves to be the inhabitants of one of the most ancient market towns on this side of England.”

…so wrote Silas Taylor in c.1652 and even today, the inhabitants rightly believe they live in a town that offers a variety of unique shopping experiences, many places to eat delicious meals and relax in convivial surroundings, and a peaceful, attractive corner of Herefordshire that many people simply pass by.

Fortunately, you have made a decision to stop and visit this market town of approximately 4,200 inhabitants. The earliest reference to Bromyard dates back to an Anglo-Saxon charter of about 840 which describes the land to be given to the ‘minster’ church which is called ‘Bromgeard’, meaning a ‘broomy enclosure’. It appears that the town was a large and important meeting place, centred around the Bishop of Hereford’s estate, and close to crossing places on the River Frome.

On our walk around Bromyard, you will encounter a little of what makes this town so special, and makes a ‘broomy enclosure’ come to life! We start our tour at St. Peter’s Church, much enlarged in the 12th century from humble Saxon beginnings. Above the door set into the wall lies a carving of St. Peter with his keys, probably from this earlier building. The doorway, itself, is a fine example of Norman carved decoration. Inside the church, its three aisles reflect the growth of the town during the Norman period. In the northwest corner, sometimes forgotten, lies a tomb-slab with an incised figure of a knight from the ruined church at Avenbury. The south transept ‘Lady Chapel’ is dedicated to those who have died in the World Wars. Today, the church is also used for civic events, concerts and school productions which ensure it is at the heart of its community.

Turning left outside the church, we reach Church Street. On the left lies the old Grammar school founded with a Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. Following the road round, you will be standing on the bridge over what was the railway between Worcester and Leominster, completed in 1897 and closed in 1964. Many thousands of hop pickers congregated on the station waiting for the special trains that took them home to the Black Country and South Wales. The closure provided the beginnings for an industrial estate which extends to the Tenbury Road.

Just past the railway bridge and the town’s cemetery, we find a riverside walk by the Frome. The view to the Downs is an impressive sweep of countryside dotted with cottages. The summit of the hill rises to 800 feet above sea level and provides footpath access to stunning National Trust land at Brockhampton. By the river, there are picnic tables and peace to be enjoyed!

Returning to the town into Church Street, there are many fine buildings including the old Public Library which occupied the former Police Station and Magistrate’s Court. The much used Post Office, built in 1911, is next door to the Bromyard and District Local History Society which puts on regular exhibitions and stores many pictures and documents that tell the history of this town.

Crossing by the zebra crossing, you will reach the Square, an open area which provides a gathering place for entertainment during the many festivals during the year. Many of the buildings hide 17th century timber-framed houses but here many show their true beauty. The Millennium Clock, designed by Michael N. Oxenham, and carved and autonomated by Robert Race, master toymaker of Bradford on-Avon provides the town with an interesting reminder of what the time is – on the hour the carved figures become animated and perform a risqué routine!

Onwards down Broad Street, the Georgian and Victorian brick fronts provide a varied and picturesque walk through the main shopping street in the town. Many visitors to Bromyard come time and time again, especially to use the specialist shops that provide individual customer attention, high quality items and services for sale, and excellent value for money. With antiques, designer clothes, prints and engravings, locally produced foods, cards and books, stationery, fabrics and medicines – you’ll be spoilt for choice!

On the corner of Broad Street and Pump Street, the striking timber-framed Falcon Hotel was one of many inns in the town which catered for the influx of visitors on market days and when the daily Royal Mail coach stopped between London and Kington. Its stables, and later the town’s cinema, are now a conference centre and Medieval Hall. Until about 1890, the livestock markets were held in the streets; fortunately you can now park close to the shops for a limited amount of time.

If we take a detour down Pump Street, passing several fine houses and the Nunwell Surgery, we reach the by-pass opened in 1967. Through the underpass, there is a quiet park on the right with seats to sit and admire the Downs rising above Bromyard. Also, the Time Tower stands resplendent echoing the wealth of timber structures in the area. The carvings on the Tower are based on an agricultural heritage which is central to the historical success of the town.

The wealth of timbers is apparent on Tower House which stands opposite. King Charles I is reputed to have stayed the night here on his way to relieve Hereford in 1645. Further on Tower Hill, Froome Bank Community Hospital, provides residential care and a day hospital. Beyond, there are peaceful walks towards Avenbury and Bishops Frome by farm lanes or next to the River Frome.

Returning into Bromyard to the High Street, continue left towards the Bromyard Centre. With a library, leisure centre, function room and Herefordshire Council’s ‘one-stop shop’ for information about Council services and Tourist Information, this building highlights the wealth of opportunities on offer. The staff will be happy to answer visitors’ questions and help make your visit a success. To mark the opening of the library in 2004, the colourful wooden frieze which appears on the cover of this guide, was commissioned. It was designed and created by David Jones and shows a fantastic display of Bromyard’s past and present.

Towards this end of town, you’ll pass the New Road, where the local Police Station, Fire Station and Methodist Church can be found. Amongst some of Bromyard’s smaller older houses, looking up the Old Road, stands the Catholic Church. Further on, the town’s Kempson Players has a selection of exciting and well-maintained play equipment for toddlers to teenagers.

On the Tenbury Road, there is the excellent Conquest Theatre, which opened here in 1991 built with generous donations and local fundraising. It is run by volunteers and receives little public funding. There are regular performances from visiting drama, music and ballet groups, as well as in-house productions from the resident amateur groups and monthly film shows.

Next door is Legges of Bromyard, for locally produced meat and more, the Co-op supermarket, and further on, at the entrance to the industrial estate another of Bromyard’s sculptures is situated. The ‘Spheres of Play’ consists of two interlinked spheres which represent the ball in sport, generations linked together in harmony through the joy of play. Along the road, play is for real at the Sports Ground, where locals have excellent facilities for rugby, tennis and bowls.

Back outside the Bromyard Centre, the view down the High Street with its busy shops, pubs and restaurants will not have changed much since medieval times. Take time to soak up the atmosphere and stop at one of the many long established inns or vibrant cafés for refreshments. Bromyard in Bloom organise displays of colourful flowers which grace the streets of the town during the summer months. Britain in Bloom have been very impressed with the community effort to help make the town an attractive place and have awarded several gold awards.

Turning towards the parish church down Cruxwell Street you will reach the town’s Public Green which hosts stalls and drama performances during the town’s many festivals. Alongside, stands the Public Hall which is available for hire to the many community organisations of the town and county. The large Georgian building, The Old Vicarage, is now offices for the local Bromyard and Winslow Town Council and other associations. Nearby, lies the Resting Sheep, sculpted by local artist, Ann Campbell. She encourages people to feel its tactile qualities that reflect the rolling surrounding landscape of this corner of Herefordshire.

Looking out over the church, we arrive back at the start of our tour. Some city dwellers often think that life in a small town must be rather slow and uninteresting; nothing could be further from the truth and the community spirit, which is so evident, is one of the greatest assets of the town. This spirit has embraced local Bromyard families, incomers and visitors alike and we hope that in your walk around the town you have sensed something of what it is like to live here.