| Event type: | Outing |
| Date: | 30th July 2026 |
| Organiser: |
Outings Co-ordinator
Tel: 01926 858 563
|
| Cost: | Cost £36.00pp to include guided tour of Hellens and refreshments |
| Booking: | Note that booking is required. |
Pick up 8.50am Abbey Fields, 9.00am Abbey End/The Clock
Due to the Heatwave this Outing has been moved to 30th July
In the morning we will make our way to Ledbury where you can explore the historic town and have an early lunch before we depart at 12.45pm for our afternoon at Hellens Manor.
Ledbury
Ledbury is a borough whose origins date to around AD 690 and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It was the site of a battle during the Civil War which saw a Royalist vistory.
Cobbled streets and black and white houses can be found along Church Lane which leads from the Medieval parish chuch of St Michaels and All Angels to the Market House.
The Market Hall, in the middle of the town, was built in 1617. One of the most popular places to visit is the Heritage Centre, a museum full of about the history of the town’s buildings. It is based in the Old Grammar school, a long, low half-timbered building sitting at the top of Church Lane.
Also of interest is the Butcher’s Row House museum, again in Church Lane which contains a variety of interesting items. Next door is the Market House Cafe.
There are also many shops and cafes.
Hellens Manor and Gardens
Hellens Manor is a historic house located in the village of Much Marcle in Herefordshire. It is one of the oldest dwellings in England, being composed primarily of Tudor, Jacobean and Georgian architecture but with foundations dating from the 12th century.
Hellens has an incredible tapestry of stories, characters, art and furniture, grounds and gardens and a history dating back to 1057. Attractions include heirlooms of Anne Boleyn, the haunted bed chamber prepared for Queen Mary Tudor, paintings by Van Dyke, Burne-Jones, Gainsborough and Goya, and the fascinating story of Hetty Walwyn. The gardens include a yew labyrinth, a rare octagonal dovecote and a physic garden. The grounds cover 150 acres of ancient SSI woodland and wildflower meadows.
There is a tea room – we will be served tea etc, and cake prior to leaving – and a shop on site.
An optional extra, for a small donation payable on the day, History in Stitches is a remarkable, nearly 10-meter-long, crewelwork embroidery that visually chronicles the manor’s 1000-year history. This ambitious project was designed and stitched by thirteen Arts-Society Heritage Volunteers. A truly collaborative work which took over 7 years to finish. It depicts several significant historical events associated with Hellens, including Queen Isabella’s visit, the ‘slip’ earthquake, the Civil War attack, Mary Tudor knighting Richard Walwyn, the Coronation Ball for Queen Elizabeth II, and traditional cider and perry pressing in the mill house. Please indicate on your booking form if this is something you would like to see
Accessibility
The Great Barn, Georgian Stables and Haywain have good access and facilities for wheelchair users. There is level access to most of the garden and ramped access to the Tearoom. Access to the house is across uneven surfaces, wheelchair access to parts of the ground floor is possible.Booking forms can be found here on the Ku3a website and are available from the Outings table at Open Meetings. We also ask those booking to make a member of the Outings Team aware of ANY issues that may affect their ability to travel or enjoy the outings, so that these can be discussed with a view to obtaining a a reasonable solution.