Spring Visit

 

Brampton Bryan Hall

(By kind invitation of Victoria and Edward Harley, Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire)

This is a joint visit for members of the Hereford Civic Society

and the Friends of Herefordshire Museums & Arts)

​

Monday 25th March 2024

 

Coach leaves Hereford’s Merton Meadow car park at 1.00pm.  Pickup in Leominster (Broad Street car park besides the fire station) at 1.30pm

 

Brampton Bryan Castle and Estate passed to the Harley family in 1309 on the marriage of Bryan de Brampton’s daughter, Margaret, to Robert Harley.  The Brampton Family had held the Estate since the Domesday Book, and so there has been an unbroken line of family ownership for over 900 years.

 

During the Civil War the castle was defended by Lady Brilliana Harley; her letters survive and give an extraordinarily vivid picture of a castle under siege.  Brampton Bryan Hall was built in the 1660s beside the remains of the castle and was largely remodelled in 1740.  The medieval deer park survives to the west of the village.

 

The contents of the Hall reflect the history from the earliest days of the castle to the present day. This includes items relating to Brilliana Harley, her grandson Robert Harley, (1st Earl of Oxford, Speaker and Queen Anne’s First Minister), Admiral Rodney and Lord Byron - amongst other characters and points of historical and local interest.   

 

The tour starts at 2.30pm with a talk in the Victorian Dairy – this sets the historical context and introduces various themes and objects seen later in the house.  We then move across to the Hall where guided tours are led personally by Victoria and Edward (requires appropriate footwear – no stilettos please).  Once the tour, which includes stairs, is concluded we return to the Dairy for a cup of tea, homemade cakes and sandwiches. The visit is expected to conclude by 4.30pm.

 

For a more sustainable visit, members are encouraged to catch the coach to save the drive to the top of the County.

 

Returning to Leominster at approximately 5.15pm and Hereford 6pm

 

Cost: £25.00pp (includes coach travel, tour and tea afterwards)

      

To Book:  e-mail   Ros Peter  (rosalind_peter@hotmail.com)

or by post:  21 Venns Lane, Hereford HR1 1DE

or talk to Ros at a Civic Society meeting

 

Payment:  cheque payable to Hereford Civic Society, or cash at a meeting

Internet payment:   Hereford Civic Society    Account number:   00773558    Sort code:   30-94-14     

e-mail:   Ros Peter (rosalind_peter@hotmail.com)

by post:  21 Venns Lane, Hereford HR1 1DE

or talk to Ros or David at a Civic Society meeting