Leominster Heritage Tour
This tour celebrates Leominster's timber-framed buildings.
Leominster is well known for its timber-framed buildings. Some are notable landmarks but others have their origins concealed behind later façades. As part of the Leominster High Street Heritage Action Zone , a partnership between Herefordshire Council and Historic England aims to revitalise many of the buildings.
This tour uses both current and historic photographs, as well as notes and drawings held in the Historic England Archive . They show many of Leominster’s buildings as they were almost 100 years ago.
Leominster – a brief history
The market town of Leominster in the north of Herefordshire sits on the banks of the rivers Lugg and Kenwater. There has been a settlement here since the 7th century.
At the heart of the medieval town was the priory, which also acted as the parish church. It served one of the largest medieval parishes in England.
The main source of wealth came from the wool trade and the high-quality local wool was referred to as 'Lemster Ore [Leominster gold]'. It was also in a strategic position on the routes between Wales and the west of England and down through the Welsh Marches.
The richness of buildings of the medieval and early modern period is evidence of the economic success of the town. Many of these buildings include elaborate timber-frames with decorative details to emphasise the wealth of the owner.
Often they were jettied (that is projecting out at upper levels) creating streets and alleyways full of overhanging buildings which sometimes met in the middle. Although many are much altered, we can still see examples of such buildings today.
Explore Leominster's timber-framed buildings
Click on the image or pin on the map to read more about the building.