Bromyard & District Local History Society

Founded 1966  Registered Charity No 1051572   E-mail: bromyard.history@virgin.net

May 2009

Chairman’s Chat May 2009

April 2009

Blanche Parry & Lady Troy                        by Ruth E. Richardson                  

'Two Great-Uncles & The KSLI'  by Steve Moorhouse      

The talk was centered on the family connection to the two Regular Battalions of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) during the Great War, illustrated with contemporary and modern images from Britain, the Empire and the fighting zone. 

 Two of my wife's great-uncles, Joseph Jones and Albert Morris, served with the regiment before and during the conflict.  In a two-part talk, the family history of each man was followed by a description of his battalion's war service, taking the audience from pre-war colonial India to Salonika, via the Western Front (2nd Battalion), and from mobilisation in Ireland to front-line fighting in Ypres and on the Somme (1st Battalion).

Chairman’s Chat.

 Firstly, this mailing is to remind you of our forthcoming AGM which will take place before the monthly talk on Wednesday the 14^th of October. Start time 7.00PM Prompt.

 The Society depends on its members to help run, what is now, a fairly large concern. We currently have three vacancies on the main committee which we would like to fill.  If you feel you can be of service to the Society by taking up one of these vacancies, then we would really like to hear from you, preferably before the AGM if at all possible. Please use the nomination form enclosed with this e-mail/letter. We are also looking for extra volunteers to help man the centre on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings, again if you feel you can be of service to us, please let me know.

Now, a very big thank you to John Allan for arranging the trip to Middleton Hall near Tamworth on Sunday the 30^th of August.  We all had a super day out, and every one I spoke to said how very much they had enjoyed the outing.   Also many thanks to Barry and Irene Homer for suggesting the trip in the first place.

On a sadder note, I have to report the death of two of our members. Dr Philip Crosskey was one of our founding members, and over the years he did a huge amount of good work in and around Bromyard as part of a team of local doctors, and also for the Local History Society of which he was a very active member.

The other member was Jim Holland; he was a local builder and his craftwork lives on in the Local History Centre were he did a huge amount of work in the early days of the building. So whenever you look out of one of the windows at the Centre, think of Jim because he made and fitted them all, each and every one of them.  Our thoughts are with the family and friends of both men.

As ever, if you wish to speak to me in person, about any matter concerning the Society, then you can either call me direct on 01885 400778 or drop me an e-mail to:  alexhoyle@trackdown.co.uk

Saturday November 21st  - Christmas Fair at the Local History Centre, 2pm – 6pm. Grand prize draw, mulled drinks and mince pies, cake, book, and bric a brac stalls.

 Sunday December 6th – Christmas Lunch, at Stoke Lacy Village Hall,12.30 – 3.30pm. Please bring a present, valued at less than a pound. Contact – Mandy 01885 490269 or Ali 01568 760351. 

Wednesday December 9th – talk – Watermills of North Herefordshire, by Alan Stoyal.  An authority on watermills, Alan organises the annual open Mill days in Herefordshire

Best wishes,

Alex W Hoyle

A GUIDED WALK IN HISTORIC BROMYARD – AN ANCIENT HEREFORDSHIRE MARKET TOWN

This recently published booklet by the Bromyard and District Local and Family History Centre is absolutely full of interesting and relevant facts about Bromyard.  Packed with details there will be something in here to catch the interest of the local resident and visitor alike and everyone would enjoy the designated walk. 

Listed here are buildings we walk past without a thought every day – but do we actually know the history behind them?  To aid identification there are photographs and drawings throughout – ensuring that this is all as fascinating as possible.

The walk begins at St Peter’s Church (although, of course our town is not so huge so you can actually start walking at any of the points) – and the exterior and interior are described in much detail.  We are then taken along Church Street via the old Grammar School and the Schallenge and past the old Police Station, Cells and Magistrate’s court to Dumbleton Hall.  There then follows a really interesting account of all the public houses that were in existence along Church Street – I’ve always found it fascinating that there were once so many – a true indication that this was once a thriving market town I suppose.

Before entering the Square we are taken briefly down Rowberry Street – somehow a road that doesn’t always register on the interest scale – but apparently also some buildings on note.  Back to the Square and we are reminded of how it once looked in those more prosperous times, and then on down Sherford Street.  There are buildings here that seem to somehow get forgotten when we discuss the beauty and history of Bromyard – but this little booklet reminds us that they are all of note and have an important part in the town. 

The walk continues down to Petty Bridge and then back up the A44 to Tower Hill House from where you are taken down Pump Street, which is absolutely filled with historic buildings of interest.  Certainly the exterior of these houses are well known to the majority of us – but I for one certainly learnt some more about their past, putting them well into the context of the town.  We then continue into Broad Street and the High Street – once again passing several hostelries, reaching what we all know as LA Scene and Stars Newsagents.  What a surprise to discover that this corner is believed to be Bromyard’s oldest secular building – Hall House built in the 15^th century.  I for one shall be looking more closely and trying to learn!

The walk goes around the corner to what was the White Horse Inn and then back past the Almshouses, Peppercorn House and the old St Peter’s school – taking us neatly round in a full circle.

This is a really good walk – take your summer visitors, spend an afternoon properly looking at where you live!  Perhaps even do the walk yourself first with the booklet and then take someone else around and astound them with all your knowledge!

‘A Guided Walk in Historic Bromyard’ may be purchased for the sum of £2 from the Bromyard Local and Family History Society, Food for All or The Honey Pot.

Mary Seldon 

Summary of Talk given Bromyard & District Local History Society, Wednesday 8^th April 2009.

 Blanche Parry & Lady Troy                        by Ruth E. Richardson

                         Apart from her two epitaphs, in Bacton Church Herefordshire and St. Margaret’s Church Westminster, little was known about Blanche Parry and few books even referred to her. However, during eight years of research Ruth was able discover far more evidence than she expected, with one document leading to another, these being excellently transcribed by Sue Hubbard. Then Ruth found a source that had never before been used. These are manuscript poems, composed and sung by Welsh bards, each with a circuit of gentry houses where they were welcomed as honoured guests. These included Raglan Castle, home of Sir William Herbert, 1^st Earl of Pembroke of the 1^st creation, and Newcourt where Blanche Parry was born. Nine of these bardic poems concern Blanche’s family and one of these, by Guto’r Glyn, actually gives Blanche’s paternal family tree. Another describes the royal career of Blanche’s aunt, Lady Troy. These poems are a gold-mine for researchers.

                        Blanche Parry was born 1507/8, possibly educated at Aconbury Priory, and died, in our dating system, in February 1590 aged 82 years. Her father, Henry Myles, was the son of Miles ap Harri and Joan Stradling the sister of the Earl of Pembroke. (The Earl’s and Joan’s maternal grandmother was the daughter of Davy Gam mentioned by William Shakespeare in Henry V.) Blanche’s mother, Alice, was the eldest of eleven surviving daughters and heiresses of Simon Milborne, a cousin of Anne (Devereux) Countess of Pembroke. One of Alice’s sisters was Blanche, who married firstly James Whitney (their grand-daughter would marry Lord Hunsdon) and then Sir William Herbert of Troy, an illegitimate son of the Earl of Pembroke. Lady Troy and Sir William welcomed King Henry VII to their house but she was again a widow when she became the guardian…of Henry VIII’s children. Her elegy makes it clear that it was Lady Troy, a charming and gentle lady, who actually brought up the Tudor children, the future Elizabeth I and Edward VI, and gave them a stable and happy childhood. She was their Lady Mistress. When she retired from Court Elizabeth sent her a pension.

                        Blanche Parry first came to the Royal Court in the service of Lady Troy, and was constantly with Elizabeth for fifty-six years from her birth until Blanche’s death. She was the cousin and friend of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley who helped her formulate her Wills and advised her on legal matters; for one case Blanche commissioned the first map of Llangorse Lake. Everyone at the time recognized Blanche’s pre-eminent position. She was the Chief Gentlewoman of Queen Elizabeth I’s Privy Chamber and Keeper of Her Majesty’s Jewels and the Queen treated her as a baroness. Blanche’s responsibilities were varied. She was a conduit for passing information to the Queen and for the presentation of Parliamentary bills. She had charge of the Queen’s jewels, furs, books, even the Great Seal and received considerable sums of money on behalf of the Queen. She examined petitions and carried out the Queen’s wishes in the manner of a modern personal assistant. Being in charge of the Privy Chamber, she could control access to the Queen. The residual Lollard influence in Blanche’s family may have helped form Queen Elizabeth’s own religious views and as she never married Blanche provided a rôle model for the Virgin Queen. Blanche composed her Bacton epitaph herself and, as Ruth has now dated the monument to November 1578, Blanche was the first to depict Queen Elizabeth as Gloriana.

                        All this, and much more, can be found in Ruth’s biography Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I’s Confidante, published 2007 by Logaston Press at £12.95, and on the website www.blancheparry.com Ruth pointed out that when she started her research she did not know if she would have liked Blanche Parry. All the evidence now shows that Blanche was discreet, meticulous, trustworthy, elegant, respected and evidently well-liked despite the factional politics. Blanche and her aunt Lady Troy should not again be forgotten.

© Ruth E. Richardson 2009

A SIGN OF THE TIMES!

Have you noticed recently  that the sign on the wall outside the Local (& Family) History Centre in Sherford Street has changed?  We have taken the opportunity – after an unfortunate disagreement with a lorry! – to emphasise on the replacement sign our commitment to all those people who now visit us to research their family history – both in this area and from further afield.

When the Bromyard  & District Local History Society was founded in 1966 the primary interest was in researching the history of Bromyard as a town and the surrounding parishes (35 in total).  This aim has been amply achieved as can be seen by the number and selection of locally produced books for sale in our shop at the Centre or via our website at www.bromyardhistory.org.uk   We are still discovering new things about the town as is illustrated in the reports in OTR of the ongoing Survey of Old Buildings in Bromyard by the well known “house historian” Duncan James.  All of this information provides a background to the study of those people in the past  who made this locality what it is today.  As a result of the information on our website  we have had many family history enquiries from all parts of the world in addition to those from this country who visit us in person – often as part of a day-trip to Bromyard!

Did you know that we have filmed copies of local Parish Registers, some of which run from 1558 and we also have the Marriage Notice Books from 1843 to 1948 which cover marriages notified to the Bromyard Register Office and include Non- Conformist and Catholic  marriages.  Other well used items are the Census returns on both film and fiche for the years 1841 to 1901. We have not yet got the 1911 Census but we hope to have it when it becomes generally available.  If you wish to know if your ancestors got themselves into the news we can provide the Bromyard  News & Record – again on film from 1883 until it ceased publication in 1970.  We also have files of all local newspapers which have appeared (and disappeared!) since this date including Off The Record!

A lesser known source of family information , but one which can verify a date of death are the Monumental Inscriptions for 13 of our parishes. These were compiled by the Herefordshire Family History Society and are available  on microfiche or on a computer disk which covers areas within the whole county.

All of these specific records are supplemented by our main collection of miscellaneous documents and papers amongst which are often property deeds and wills together with many photographs and maps.  In order to assist our family history researchers we have computers with internet access; a computerised catalogue; printers; a photocopier, and a photographic scanner.  In addition there is a well used library of books relating to the Bromyard district and to Herefordshire.  Also available are aids in book and pamphlet form for the family historian.  These items are freely available to members of the public although as a purely voluntary Society we rely on the generous donations from our users in order to keep the Centre functioning.  If you would like to be shown around or to visit our shop and exhibition just call in at the Local & Family History Centre next door to the Bromyard Post Office where you will find a warm welcome.  We are open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays and from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.  Membership of the Society costs £12. pa (single) and £18pa for a family which gives you access to many talks, walks, and social activities throughout the year.  Please come and see us.  Thank you.