Weobley Parish Magazine Autumn / Spring - 2021 / 2022

WEOBLEY P A R I S H

N E W S

AUTUMN / WINTER 2021

Weobley Parish Council

Weobley Parish

News Magazine AUTUMN 2021

A warm welcome from the Council Chair That was a year we won't forget! The effects of the Covid pandemic have been a roller-coaster for many people in the village, with our day-to-day life seeing unprecedented change and upheaval. A time when doing even the most ordinary things has needed the most extraordinary effort.

Yet despite the difficulties faced, the village has pulled together, whether it be local volunteers looking after the most vulnerable in our community, helping with shopping, collecting medicines or simply being there for a chat, or our village businesses transforming the way they usually operate to keep us all supplied with goods and services. The community has gone above and beyond in an amazing way few could have imagined to help ensure that life really does go on.

The new skatepark, funded by S106 ‘Wellbeing’ money, Sport England and a number of generous donations, opened in the summer and was greeted with great enthusiasm by young and not so young. But this could not have happened without the tireless work and dedication of Chris Breen and the Play Area Team (P.A.T.), a group of volunteers who manage and maintain the skate park and play area and the creative energies of Heather Morison who oversaw the project and Concreate who designed and built it.

A huge thank you to them and everyone else involved.

The village Library and Local History Centre, both of which are owned and maintained by the Parish Council, were, like so many other public buildings around the country, forced to close during much of the year due to Covid restrictions. However, with this down time the opportunity was used to undertake some essential repairs and both venues are now open and being enjoyed by both villagers and visitors alike.

For the Parish Council, it has been very much a case of ‘business as usual’ despite the Covid restrictions, with many of our meetings going virtual.

We saw a few changes taking place to the membership, with Mike Ware recently stepping down after 35 years of service as a Councillor, 13 of those as Chairman. On behalf of the Council and the community, I would like to say a very special thank you to Mike for everything he has done (and still does) for the village over the past three and half decades. Along with Mike, and other departures, there are now two vacancies on the Council, so if you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, I would love to hear from you.

I am delighted to see visitors returning to the village, local businesses welcoming back customers and life as we once knew it starting to reappear. As our village continues to grow and we welcome new residents, the Parish Council continues to work hard on your behalf to help ensure that Weobley continues to be a wonderful place to live. So, as the evenings start to grow shorter and we look forward to what the coming months bring, I would like to finish by saying thank you to my colleagues on the Parish Council and the many other village groups that give so much to the community. We all give our time voluntarily and do our very best to deliver the services and support that our village needs.

Lorraine Anderson, Chair, Weobley Parish Council P.S. Many thanks to Cllr Andrew Apps for revitalising our Newsletter and website. I hope you enjoy the new look!

Welcome to the new look Parish Newsletter With a little extra time on our hands during the lockdown we've used the opportunity to give the Weobley Parish Newsletter a bit of a make-over, creating what we hope will turn out to be a bi-annual publication to keep you up to date with what has and will be happening in the Village.

Together with the Village (www.weobley.org) and Parish Council (www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk) websites, we will try to cover the things that are important to the village community, so if you have any ideas for future issues, it would be great to hear from you.

Included with this issue is a helpful tear-out page listing the contact details of local services that you may find useful. This information can also be found on the Weobley Parish Council website.

To get in touch, e-mail us at: editor@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Throughout the pandemic, residents and businesses have shown extraordinary levels of compliance to the COVID-19 rules to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the wider community against this highly contagious and sometimes lethal virus.

With everyone continuing to working hard to ensure that village services continue to be delivered as normally as possible, and we would like to say a very BIG THANK YOU to village businesses, members of the Weobley Support Group led by Brian Holley and the many volunteers across the village who have and continue to give their time and expertise in keeping any disruption as minimal as possible and ‘business as usual’.

For the latest Central Government advice please visit http://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

NEW PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE LAUNCHED Have you seen the new web site? Our new look site contains loads of useful information about what your council does and the work it has been doing recently. Do take a look and let us know if there is anything that you would like to see included.

You can find out about any planning applications that have been submitted to Herefordshire Council that might affect the Village, information about local roadworks and closures along with news and updates on projects and local issues.

www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

NEWS

ROUNDUP

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU . . . .

Since our last newsletter, we have said goodbye to Cllrs Vicky Mackie, Martin West and most recently Mike Ware.

We thank them all for their contribution to the work of the Council, in particular, Mike who has served for an amazing 35 years and will be continuing as Parish Footpath Officer - that’s dedication for you!

Our Clerk to the Council, Paul Russell, has also moved on to pastures new and we thank him for his support and guidance and wish him well in his new post. ...AND A WARM WELCOME We are delighted to welcome Romily Giddens as our new Clerk to the Parish Council. She is very much the 'engine' of the Council and is responsible for the administration of its business and its financial affairs, keeping it organised, as well as being a key advisor.

Romily has a background in accounting and is a local resident, so is already well known to many in the village. Should you need to contact Romily, please e-mail her at clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk We are also delighted to welcome Andrew Apps and Colin Mills as a full members of the Parish Council.

Andrew recently moved into the area after a long career in the international financial services sector, spending much of his time overseas. Colin moved to the village in 2019, also spending time overseas where he spent much of his career in the Aviation Cargo industry. It is great to have new blood on the Parish Council and we look forward to hearing more from both Romily, Andrew and Colin in the coming months.

WEOBLEY LIBRARY & LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE Unfortunately, the building is suffering from old age and needs repair. Work has been carried out on the roof and central chimney, along with some internal repairs to damage caused by damp. There will be further works in the months to come but we will try to keep any disruption to a minimum.

Following the lifting of Covid restrictions, both facilities are now open again. The Library can be visited on Mondays from 10 am to 1pm and on Thursdays from 2 pm to 6pm.

The Local History Centre, normally open at the same times, is open on Tuesdays from 10 am – 1 pm for the time being, to help reduce the number of people using the building at the same time.

PLAY AREA The play area is proving to be as popular as ever, with the new Skate Park a big attraction. General maintenance work takes place throughout the year as needed, including an annual RoSPA inspection.

The site can now also be accessed via the new pavement alongside the village hall leading to the field gate and new pedestrian gate.

A new self-closing safety gate has been installed at the entrance from the car park thanks to Richard Baugh and PAT volunteers Andy Dunn and Chris Breen, in addition to the planting of several new trees funded by a ‘Branching Out’ grant from the Tree Council with the aim of getting young people involved in tree planting and care.

It's hoped that further S106 development funds can be used to provide drainage on the field end of the site - not the most glamorous proposal, but it will improve the use of this area.

ROSE GARDEN We are looking at refurbishing this central village space to make it more attractive and enjoyable for both residents and visitors. It’s becoming quite a busy space, particularly in recent months.

With the help of community volunteers, current ideas and plans include extending the electricity supply to the southern end, increasing the paved area at the rear of the bus shelter, planting more trees to provide shade, reviewing the seating and adding a table.

DEFIBRILLATORS In any medical emergency, please dial 999 and follow the instructions given by the Ambulance Service. Public Access Defibrillators are located in the phone kiosk by the entrance to Castle Green off High Street and outside the Village Hall in Gadbridge Road.

We also have a CPR training kit and DVD which is available to local groups and organisations wishing to run their own training event. Please contact the Clerk for information.

WEOBLEY SKATE PARK The newly completed skate park is already attracting skaters from near and far, enjoying the chance to experience the free design of the “street plaza”. So whether you're a newbie or an experienced skater, you'll find SK8 offers something for everyone.

Whilst we would have liked to have organised an event to celebrate the opening of the Skate Park, unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions has meant that was not possible. However, we did receive a visit from the High Sherriff of Herefordshire shortly after the park opened when skaters of all abilities were able to show off their skills.

Don't do flat ground stunts in the middle of a bowl Do keep your wax to yourself Do keep stones & gravel off the surface Being in a skatepark doesn't give you wizard powers to do tricks you couldn't nail on the street Don't be a snake

NEWS HIGHWAYS Not designed for the level of traffic or type of vehicles that now travel on them, our village roads continue to suffer. We are pleased to see recent road improvements by the schools and in Gadbridge Road, the latter after much lobbying of Herefordshire Council. However, many other village roads and pavements are in a poor condition and require similar attention.

Our local roads are maintained by Herefordshire Council’s contracted Public Realm Service provider, Balfour Beatty. Parish Councils also employ a Lengthsman to carry out minor maintenance works across the Parish including verge and hedge cutting, kerb spraying, general repair, and gulley cleaning. Larger highways issues, including potholes, are referred by us to our Locality Steward who acts as is the liaison officer between parishes and Balfour Beatty.

The Parish’s roads are subject to regular inspections by the Locality Steward and any work needed arranged, however if you are aware of any issues affecting our roads, including fly tipping, you can report this directly to Herefordshire Council via 01432 261800 or their website https:// www.herefordshire.gov.uk/report-problem or ‘Report It’ app.

On the website or app you can report a number of other issues including, problems with litterbins, bin collections and even dog poo. Faulty street lights can be reported via https:// www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1/report-faultystreet-light

TRAFFIC & PARKING The Lockdown imposed by the Covid -19 restrictions provided a short respite from the usual level of traffic and congestion issues in the village and, no doubt, elsewhere in the country. However, as life returns to normal and problems return, please may we remind you of ways to help keep our village slightly less congested where we can.

• Residents - please use off-road parking if this is available to you.

• Businesses - please encourage your staff and customers to use the village car parks in Bell Square and at the Village Hall in Gadbridge Road • Some daytime parking spaces are available in the Red Lion car park with the kind permission of the Lal Bagh.

ROUNDUP • Bus users who shop in Hereford and park in the village centre – please use the village car parks for your long stay parking.

• Surgery patients – where possible, please use the Village Hall car park. Thank you!

FOOTPATHS AND TRAILS We are very lucky to have a wealth of footpaths and trails criss-crossing the Parish, all of which have seen a great deal more traffic over the past year or so. These paths all need regular maintenance to keep them both accessible and safe which is undertaken voluntarily by our Footpath Officer, Mike Ware.

But we can all help to keep the paths in good order. So, if you are a user, do please help to keep the paths in their excellent condition by taking any litter home with you, clearing up after your dog and reporting any damage to clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk As the newly updated Countryside Code says, ‘Respect, Protect and Enjoy'.

An extremely useful book 'Weobley Walks' by former Footpath Officer, Malcolm Lloyd, is available from The Old School Shop.

VILLAGE VANDALISM & CCTV Anti-social behaviour and vandalism reached a new level last Christmas when the Nativity Scene in the Rose Garden was attacked. Sadly, smaller but regular instances of such behaviour continue to be reported.

Community CCTV in the village has been upgraded and our local police Safer Neighbourhood Team will investigate any incidents to identify and prosecute those involved.

But you can help. If you witness any damage being caused or anti-social behaviour, please call 101 (or 999 for emergencies). If you prefer to do this anonymously, call Crimestopperson 0800 555 111.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team may also be contacted at kw.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

NEWS

ROUNDUP

KEEP OUR VILLAGE TIDY The village has a dedicated team of volunteer litter pickers who work hard to make sure that the village always looks clean and litter free. There are over twenty litterbins in the village so it’s hard to understand why some never seem to use them!

They can also be used for the disposal of dog mess, so please remember to clean up after your dog and ‘bag and bin it’. Our bins are emptied weekly by Balfour Beatty but overflowing bins can also be reported via the Report It website and app.

GREEN GARDEN BAGS Now available from the Old School Shop for that Autumn garden clear up!

The Parish Council also helps to decide on the allocation of any S106 funding. This is an levy applied by local Planning Authorities and used to support local infrastructure that might be impacted by new development, such as highways, sports and wellbeing facilities and education. S106 agreements can also be applied to secure the delivery of affordable housing on developments of 11 houses or more.

Recently, Weobley and three other parishes in the county have been chosen to work with Herefordshire Council as part of a Government pilot to help create a National Model Design Code to improve the standard of housing design.

The village, not just the historic core, lies within a Conservation Area and therefore smaller, ‘permitted’ development may require a formal application and it’s always best to check with the Planning department before undertaking any work.

Works to trees e.g. trimming or felling, also require formal application.

Current planning applications can be viewed on our website https://www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk/ planning-applications.html

PLANNING The Parish Council regularly receives notice of applications submitted to Herefordshire Council Planning Department and on which we are invited to comment.

Our views, along with other consultees, are taken into consideration by the Planning Officer concerned who makes the final decision on whether an application is approved or refused, although sometimes an application may need to go before Herefordshire Council’s Planning Committee.

For some larger applications, e.g. for a housing development, we might decide that a public consultation is needed before we submit our views.

The policies in our Neighbourhood Development Plan are taken into account when deciding on an application, helping to ensure that new development is appropriate and meets with the wishes of the community.

Thankfully, Herefordshire Council has very recently met its five-year housing land supply target as required by central government, meaning that NDP policies can now be given full weight when applications are considered and the threat of unsuitable development much reduced.

Our Neighbourhood Development Plan can be viewed at https://www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk/ new-neighbourhood-plan-content.html

WHAT IS S106 ?

Under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen as a result of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known as 'Section 106'.

N E WS

ROUNDUP

HOPELANDS VILLAGE HALL The Village Hall situated in Gadbridge Road is very much at the centre of village activities and offers a place where residents and the general public can meet together to enjoy a wide range of activities, events and special occasions that are held throughout the year.

With modern facilities and ample parking space, the Village Hall hosts regular club and society meetings, exercise classes and sports activities, as well as one off events from birthday parties to wedding receptions.

For more details visit https:// www.weobleyvillagehall.co.uk or Email: bookings@weobleyvillagehall.co.uk For further information or to organise a viewing please contact Lyn Bruce on 01544 319143.

TOURISM & HERITAGE FUNDING You may have noticed the new ‘Welcome’ signs as you enter the village by road or the new updated Heritage Trail plaques that take pride of place around the village centre.

These have been provided by a generous grant awarded through the Herefordshire LEADER programme and will soon be joined by Information boards with tourist map.

PLAY AREA TEAM We are very lucky to have an amazing Play Area right on our door steps, with a great selection of climbing frames, a testing zip-wire and of course the amazing new Skate Park.

All the equipment is managed on behalf of the Parish Council by P.A.T. (Play Area Team), a group of dedicated volunteers who undertake repairs and generally help to keep everything in order.

If you would like to know more about the group or perhaps could be interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Chris Breen by email at xris.breen@gmail.com.

SPONSOR THE DAFFODILS Each year the roadsides into the village are awash with the colour of daffodils, but they are starting to show their age with the gaps between groups getting larger.

We are hoping to replant these gaps this autumn, so if you have any spare bulbs or would like to sponsor the purchase of more bulbs, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch via e-mail at clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Could you be a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator?

Neighbourhood Watch is about people getting together with their neighbours to take action to reduce crime by developing a close relationship between community members and the local police.

We are looking for a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for the village who would: • be comfortable to talk to local residents about supporting the scheme and encourage them to join • keep a register of all scheme members • keep in contact with the police – telling them about any suspicious and criminal incidents, and general community concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area • be the first point of contact for local residents and the wider community if they need to get or give information • meet with other local neighbourhood watch co-ordinators to share experiences and good practice • go to regular meetings with the police to discuss local community safety issues • help maintain the scheme – handing out leaflets and newsletters, property marking and putting up neighbourhood watch signs

if this is you ..... why not get in touch to find out more, please email us at clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Restoring the Hereford-Kington evening bus service If you are interested in seeing the Hereford to Kington evening and weekend bus service restored, there is a campaign being organised by Kington Local Energy & Environment Network (KLEEN) to bring back the evening 461/2 bus service and to provide a Bank Holiday and Sunday service.

Rail and Bus for Herefordshire have also presented a proposal to Herefordshire Council to improve bus services throughout the county and are asking for the support of parishes. To find out more or register your support, e-mail Leslumsdon@hotmail.com

COMMUNITY

The Village Community Web Site has had a make-over too and is a great place to find out what’s happening in the Village, who to call when you need help fixing that leaking pipe or broken fuse box and a few activity ideas for the younger resident.

The site is constantly being updated and if you are arranging an organised event in the village that you would like publicised free of charge, get in touch and we'll do what they can to help you get the word out.

If you’re a local business, you can have your details included in the site’s local business directory free of charge too.

www.weobley.org

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/reporting-app/pages/help

Mobile 'report-it' App now available for your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop A new Mobile App makes it easy to report issues to Herefordshire Council about potholes, flytipping, dog mess and any public rights of way issues affecting the village from your mobile phone.

Just take a picture, upload it to the app (which will automatically pinpoint your location if you are at the problem area) and it will be sent directly to the highways management team to action.

The app is available (and free) from the Herefordshire Council website and it always links to the most up to date version, so it doesn't take up valuable space on your mobile, tablet or desktop.

Just open the link and add it to your device's home screen.

PARISH

COUNCIL

About your Parish Council CLERK to the PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect our local community, with probably the most common topics involving planning matters and roads & highways.

Whilst the Parish Council has limited powers to make decisions, we do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as district and county councils, health authorities, police etc.).

Made up of ten residents, the councillors are elected every four years and provide their time, their expertise, and their services free of charge.

By becoming a parish councillor, you will become someone your community will look to for help, guidance, and support - a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve.

The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now.

Go along to a parish council meeting, speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job or contact the Clerk to the Parish Council by e-mail on clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk to find out more.

Parish Council meetings are usually held on the fourth Tuesday of each month (apart from December and August when there is no meeting) which members of the public are very welcome to attend.

An open session is included within each Council meeting where the public can raise any issues that might concern them, and once a year we hold a Parish Meeting where the community can meet to listen to reports and take part in discussion about local matters.

Romily Giddens 07393 344830 clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCIL MEMBERS Council Chair Lorraine Anderson 01544 319076 Vice Chair John Simons 01544 318493

Members Chris Breen 01544 319143 Pru Lloyd 01544 318349 Helen Quinlan 01544 318098 Andrew Apps 07525 293822 Chris Saunders 01544 318537 Colin Mills 01544 319319

www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

PARISH COUNCIL

The parish council is a local authority that discusses, considers, and makes decisions on behalf of the people of Weobley and is the level of local government closest to the community.

Do you have what it takes to be a Parish Councillor?

We're currently looking for two residents who would be interested to join the Parish Council. The position is voluntary (so you won't get paid) but you will help to make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect our local community, with probably the most common topics involving planning matters and roads & highways.

As a Parish Council we negotiate with, and have the power to influence those organisations that make decisions affecting our village including District and County councils, local health authorities, the Police and many other organisations.

If you would like to know more, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council at

clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Weobley Museum & Local History Centre The Museum and Local History Centre can be found in what was once Weobley's Magistrates Court and Police Station, adjacent to the Library and run by the Weobley and District Local History Society and staffed by stewards, all of whom are volunteers.

Opening Hours: April to September: Tuesday 10.00am - 1.00pm We try to put on show as much of our material that has been collected over the years as we can. Exhibits are regularly changed and our museum stewards will do their very best to answer any questions you may have about our local history.

If you would like to see any particular documents or artefacts that may be held in storage, we are happy to arrange access for you, but the curators do require advanced written notice.

MAGPIE

Weobley News and Events Magazine

Nearly 50 years old, 'The Magpie' magazine was launched in 1972.

Published monthly it keeps residents and visitors informed about what's happening in and around Weobley.

A great place to find out about local groups and clubs, along with local business and entertainment, the magazine is available to purchase from village shops or by monthly subscription which includes delivery.

For further information please telephone: 01544 318322 or e-mail: magpie.editor@gmail.com

We are lucky to have a wide variety of clubs, groups and organisations active in the Village ranging from Line Dancing and Crafts to Bowls and Yoga classes, for young and old.

With both social, fun and competitive events taking place throughout the year, there is usually something for everyone, regardless of ability so why not take the time to try a few. You might just find something that takes your fancy. Find out more at https://www.weobley.org/community.html And for the younger members of the Village, there is the 1st Weobley Scout Group or for the anyone looking to become the next Darcey Bussell (or Ashley Banjo), the Aspire Dance Studio offers a variety of classes.

. . . go on, have a go

Information about many of the clubs, groups and organisations active in the Village can be found in the Magpie magazine, at Hopelands Village Hall or from the Village web site www.weobley.org.

Line Dancing & Low Impact Exercise

Scouting Weobley & District Local Historical Society

Craft Group Lawn & indoor

Bowls

Weobley Women's Institue

Hereford Wildlife Trust

T'ai Chi, Yoga and Karate

text

Weobley Firework Display Sadly, due to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, we have made the decision not to hold our usual Firework ‘extravaganza’ this year.

However, we are eager to hear from anyone in the Village who would be interested in helping to organise an event in 2022.

Please get in contact with the Parish Clerk at clerk@weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Working together for the love of trees Did you know that we have a Tree Warden in Weobley?

Herefordshire has a Tree Warden Network which is affiliated to the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and Herefordshire Tree Forum, bringing together statutory bodies to encourage and train Tree Wardens.

Working closely with the Parish Council, our Tree Warden has a fountain of knowledge about all things to do with trees and is on hand to offer practical advice surrounding the care and maintenance of our Village, in addition to having been trained to spot diseases, recognise & protect notable veterans and plant for the next generation.

Trees are increasingly valued not just for their timeless beauty and timber but also for their contribution to our wellbeing, flood prevention, air quality, biodiversity and as a source of renewable, sustainable energy, so it's important that we do everything that we can to protect our trees and woodlands.

If you would like to know more, please contact Alan Jones (Tree Warden) either by email at thealanjones47@gmail.com or call 01544 318522.

Welcome to

Weobley

If you're new to Weobley (by the way, it’s pronounced Webley), first and foremost a very big WELCOME. You are now in the largest village and civil parish in Herefordshire, at the heart of the Black and White Village Trail with a wealth of beautiful and historic buildings dating as far back as the 14th Century.

Formerly a market town, the village sits in an area characterised by wide river valleys, intensive arable farming with low hedges, steep wooded hills, orchards and hop yards.

Over the years the village has prospered from being a centre for the medieval wool trade through to glove making and ale brewing, even seeing King Charles 1st stay in the village following the battle of Naseby in 1645.

Our magnificent parish church, St Peter and St Paul, boasts a 14th century spire rising to an impressive185 feet and contains a fine marble memorial to Col. John Birch, a Roundhead Commander during the Civil War. There are also several fine examples of stained glass, ball flower decorations and a magnificent Norman archway to be admired.

Surrounding the village can be found the Ley, Fenhampton and Little Sarnesfield, whose church contains the grave of John Abel, King Charles 1's carpenter and the builder of Grange Court, Leominster along with many other buildings scattered across Herefordshire.

So whether you're just visiting or putting down roots, we're delighted that you have chosen Weobley and hope that you enjoy all that the village has to offer.

"at the heart of the Black & White trail"

USEFUL CONTACTS

Herefordshire Council During Office Hours: 01432 260000 Out-of-hours: If you have an urgent query and need to talk to an out-of-hours team: •

Protect an adult: 0330 123 9309

•

Protect a child: 01905 768020

•

Civil emergencies: 01432 260000

•

Problems on roads or highways: 01432 261800

•

Homelessness, housing harassment or eviction: 01432 261600

Ward Councillor : Cllr Mike Jones e-mail : michael.jones@herefordshire.gov.uk Weobley Medical Centre During Surgery Hours: 01544 318472 Outside Surgery Hours: 111 (non-emergencies) Emergencies Only: 999 •

www.weobleyandstauntonsurgeries.nhs.uk

Weobley Dental Surgery During Surgery Hours: 01544 318166 Outside Surgery Hours: 111 (non-emergencies) Outside Surgery Hours Emergencies Only: 01922 479299 •

www.weobleydentalsurgery.co.uk

Police Non-emergencies: 101 Emergencies only: 999 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 •

www.westmercia.police.uk

Weobley Village Web Sites •

www.weobley.org

•

www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk

Have you done the Heritage Trail?

It’s right on your doorstep!

In medieval times Weobley was a flourishing market town whose wealth came from the trading of wool, known locally as Leominster Ore. Also known for its ale, glove and nail making, over the years Weobley’s fortunes unfortunately declined and with neither railway nor canal connections, the industrial revolution sadly passed us by.

Despite this, history has left a legacy of beautiful timber framed houses, many of which still stand and today Weobley is very much at the heart of a thriving agricultural industry.

From the centre of the village the Weobley Heritage Trail will take you on a passage through time, giving you the chance to explore how mediaeval traders sold their wares through unglazed windows onto the street and discover the variety of architectural styles throughout the village.

The trail follows plaques placed at points of interest around the village that explain about the building structure and what would have happened there in times gone by and even learn where the term “hitting the sack” came from and what an “under dog” really is.

You will see where King Charles I stayed after he relieved Hereford from Cromwell's troops during the Civil War and the impressive memorial dedicated to Col. John Birch who later re-took Hereford that same year from Cromwell using a small party of men cleverly disguised as ice breakers as they crossed the frozen River Wye. So, if you haven’t already ‘done the trail’ why not take a leisurely stroll around the village and discover Weobley’s early beginnings.

https://www.weobley.org/visiting.html

www.weobleyparishcouncil.org.uk copyright 2021 weobley parish council