Leominster

Town in Herefordshire, England

This article is about the town in England. For the town in the United States, see Leominster, Massachusetts. For the former district, see Leominster (district). For the former constituency, see Leominster (UK Parliament constituency).

Human settlement in England

Leominster

Leominster Priory

Leominster

Location within Herefordshire

Population| 11,959 (2021 Census)[1]
OS grid reference| SO496591
Civil parish|

* Leominster

Unitary authority|

* Herefordshire

Ceremonial county|

* Herefordshire

Region|

* West Midlands

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| LEOMINSTER
Postcode district| HR6
Dialling code| 01568
Police| West Mercia
Fire| Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance| West Midlands
UK Parliament|

* North Herefordshire

List of places

England
Herefordshire

52°13′42″N 2°44′19″W﻿ / ﻿52.2282°N 2.7385°W﻿ / 52.2282; -2.7385

Leominster (/ˈlɛmstər/ ⓘ LEM-stər) is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is 12 miles (19 kilometres) north of Hereford and 7 miles (11 kilometres) south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of 11,700,[2] Leominster is the largest of the five towns in the county; the others being Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington.

From 1974 to 1996, Leominster was the administrative centre for the former local government district of Leominster.

## Toponymy

[edit]

The town, previously spelled 'Lemster', takes its name from the English word minster, meaning a community of clergy and the original Celtic name for the district Leon or Lene, probably in turn from an Old Welsh root lei to flow.[3] The Welsh name for Leominster is Llanllieni, with Llan suggesting a possible Celtic origin to the town's religious community.

Contrary to certain reports, the name has nothing to do with Leofric, an 11th-century Earl of Mercia (most famous for being the legendarily miserly husband of Lady Godiva).[citation needed]

## History

[edit]

Milestone, showing the old spelling 'Lemster', now in Leominster Museum

During the Early Middle Ages, Leominster was home to Æthelmod of Leominster, an English saint known to history mainly through the hagiography of the Secgan Manuscript.[4] He is reputedly buried in Leominster.

During the 8th and 9th Century, Danes (or Vikings) frequently raided the area. In 2015, two individuals (operating without landowner permission), using metal detectors, found a large hoard near Leominster (the Herefordshire hoard) consisting primarily of Saxon jewellery and silver ingots but also coins; the latter date to around 879 AD. According to a news report, "experts believe it was buried by a Viking during a series of raids", while Wessex was ruled by Alfred the Great and Mercia by Ceolwulf II of Mercia. [5]

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a raid by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn on Leominster in 1052 resulted in the Battle of Llanllieni, between the Welsh and a combined force of Normans (mercenaries) and English Saxons.[6]

Henry I bestowed the minster and its estates on Reading Abbey, which founded a priory at Leominster in 1121, although there was one here from Saxon times.[7] Its Priory Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which now serves as the parish church, is the remaining part of this 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Quatrefoil piers were inserted between 1872–79 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.[8]

The priory was ransacked by the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr after their victory at the Battle of Bryn Glas near Pilleth in 1402, along with several local manor houses.

Investigations to the north of the priory in 2005 located the position of the cloister, although most of the stone had been stolen following the Dissolution. Discarded animal bones found on the site when submitted to carbon dating showed that the area was occupied in the 7th century. This agrees with the date of 660 AD associated with the founding myth, which suggests a Christian community was established here by a monk, St. Eadfrith, originally from Lindisfarne in Northumbria.[9]

Leominster is also the historical home of Ryeland sheep, a breed once famed for its wool, known as 'Lemster ore'. This wool was prized above all other English wool in trade with the continent of Europe in the Middle Ages. It was the income and prosperity from this wool trade that established the town and the minster and attracted the envy of the Welsh and other regions.[citation needed]

From approximately 1748 to 1754, Pinsley Mill in Leominster was home to one of the Paul-Wyatt cotton mills, the first four cotton mills in the world, employing the spinning machines of Lewis Paul and John Wyatt.[10] The mill was financed by Lancashire native Daniel Bourn, and was partly owned by other men from Lancashire. Bourn introduced his own version of the carding engine to work at this mill, and of the four Paul-Wyatt mills, it may have been the most successful, as shortly after the fire that destroyed the mill, it was reported that the cotton works "had been viewed with great pleasure and admiration by travellers and all who had seen them."[11]

One of the last ordeals by ducking stool took place in Leominster in 1809, with Jenny Pipes as the final incumbent.[12] The ducking stool is on public display in Leominster Priory; a mechanised depiction of it is featured on the town clock.[13]

## Climate

[edit]

The town has a maritime climate, with mild winters and summers. The data below is from a weather station in Preston Wynne, a village about 10 miles south-east of Leominster.

Climate data for Shobdon Airfield,[a] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1992–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 14.9
(58.8)  | 17.2
(63.0)  | 22.3
(72.1)  | 24.6
(76.3)  | 26.6
(79.9)  | 30.8
(87.4)  | 35.0
(95.0)  | 33.1
(91.6)  | 29.5
(85.1)  | 27.2
(81.0)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 15.2
(59.4)  | 35.0
(95.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 7.6
(45.7)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 10.6
(51.1)  | 13.5
(56.3)  | 16.7
(62.1)  | 19.6
(67.3)  | 21.7
(71.1)  | 21.3
(70.3)  | 18.6
(65.5)  | 14.4
(57.9)  | 10.5
(50.9)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 14.3
(57.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 4.5
(40.1)  | 4.9
(40.8)  | 6.6
(43.9)  | 8.8
(47.8)  | 11.7
(53.1)  | 14.5
(58.1)  | 16.4
(61.5)  | 16.2
(61.2)  | 13.8
(56.8)  | 10.5
(50.9)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | 10.0
(49.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 1.3
(34.3)  | 1.5
(34.7)  | 2.5
(36.5)  | 4.1
(39.4)  | 6.7
(44.1)  | 9.4
(48.9)  | 11.1
(52.0)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 8.9
(48.0)  | 6.6
(43.9)  | 3.5
(38.3)  | 1.4
(34.5)  | 5.7
(42.3)
Record low °C (°F)  | −12.2
(10.0)  | −9.5
(14.9)  | −7.8
(18.0)  | −4.9
(23.2)  | −2.3
(27.9)  | 0.2
(32.4)  | 2.6
(36.7)  | 2.4
(36.3)  | −0.7
(30.7)  | −5.6
(21.9)  | −9.5
(14.9)  | −16.9
(1.6)  | −16.9
(1.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 77.2
(3.04)  | 60.1
(2.37)  | 55.5
(2.19)  | 58.6
(2.31)  | 56.4
(2.22)  | 58.3
(2.30)  | 55.6
(2.19)  | 64.2
(2.53)  | 58.8
(2.31)  | 84.5
(3.33)  | 81.9
(3.22)  | 86.4
(3.40)  | 797.3
(31.39)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.9  | 11.0  | 10.5  | 10.1  | 10.0  | 9.3  | 9.2  | 10.2  | 9.4  | 12.2  | 13.4  | 13.7  | 132.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 55.0  | 83.9  | 118.9  | 165.7  | 213.5  | 195.1  | 214.9  | 168.1  | 149.1  | 103.4  | 68.6  | 56.3  | 1,592.4
Source 1: Met Office[14]
Source 2: Starlings Roost Weather[15]

## Transport

[edit]

Leominster railway station is managed by Transport for Wales, who operate services on the Welsh Marches Line between South Wales and North West England. Direct services run to Cardiff, Hereford, Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Manchester.[16]

The town has a bus station which is the focal point for its bus services. Routes are operated by Lugg Valley Travel and First Worcester, which link Leominster with Hereford, Ludlow and Ledbury.[17]

Leominster is a primary destination on Great Britain's road network, being where the north-south A49 and east-west A44 roads meet. At Leominster, roads are signed towards Rhayader (A44 westbound), Worcester (A44 eastbound), Shrewsbury (A49 northbound) and Hereford (A49 southbound).

## Schools

[edit]

Earl Mortimer College, is a state comprehensive school providing secondary education for about 650 pupils. It was formerly known as the Minster school. There is also Leominster Primary School and Westfield's Special School. Primary schools in the villages around the town include Ivington, Kimbolton, Kingsland, Luston and Stoke Prior.

## Media

[edit]

In print, Leominster is served by the Hereford Times, The Leominster News and the Teme Valley Times.Local TV coverage are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Ridge Hill TV transmitter.[18] Local radio stations are Sunshine Radio, Sunshine 855, BBC Hereford & Worcester, Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Greatest Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire.

## Notable people

[edit]

The Grange, Leominster

* Saint Cuthfleda was the abbess of Leominster nunnery and the patroness of the region.[19] She was known for her holiness and her chaste life.
* Æthelmod of Leominster Anglo-Saxon Saint[citation needed]
* Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Godgifu Lady Godiva – are commemorated as benefactors of the monastery at Leominster[20]
* John Abel (1578/9–1675), an English carpenter and mason, granted the title of 'King's Carpenter', who was responsible for several notable structures in the ornamented half-timbered construction, notably the market house known as Grange Court (1633) in Leominster, which originally stood in Broad Street, but was rebuilt in 1855 near to the Priory Church. It is widely regarded as one of Abel's finest works.[21]
* John Ward (24 June 1704 – 30 October 1773) was an English actor and theatre manager.
* John Scarlett Davis (1804–1845), artist, was born at 2 High Street. A number of his works are in Leominster Museum.[22]
* Arthur Peppercorn (1889–1951), locomotive designer[23]
* Jarrod Bowen (born 1996), footballer for West Ham United and the England national football team.[24]

## Twin towns

[edit]

Leominster is twinned with Saverne in eastern France, and Tengeru in Tanzania.

## Local attractions

[edit]

* Croft Castle
* Berrington Hall
* Grange Court
* Priory Church, Leominster
* Queen's Wood Country Park

## See also

[edit]

* Leominster (UK Parliament constituency)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Weather station is located 6.0 miles (9.7 km) from the Leominster town centre.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Leominster". City population. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
2. ^ "Neighbourhood Statistics – Area: Leominster (Parish) – Sex, 2011 (QS104EW)". United Kingdom Census 2011. Office for National Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
3. ^ J. & C. Hillaby, Leominster Minster, Priory, and Borough c.660–1539 (Logaston Press, Almeley, Herefs. 2006), 4–5.
4. ^ Stowe MS 944 Archived 3 January 2014 at archive.today, British Library
5. ^ "MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF VIKING TREASURE THAT COULD REWRITE HISTORY STOLEN, METAL DETECTORISTS CONVICTED". Newsweek. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019. "An example of a rare two emperor coin, hinting at a previously-unknown alliance between the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia."
6. ^ Evans, Gwynfor (1974). Land of My Fathers: 2000 Years of Welsh History. Y Lolfa. p. 156\. ISBN 9780862432652.
7. ^ Hillaby, 53-7
8. ^ The Buildings of England: Herefordshire, Nikolaus Pevsner, (1963) p226 ISBN 0-14-071025-6
9. ^ "Our History". Leominster Priory. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
10. ^ Wadsworth, Alfred P.; Mann, Julia De Lacy (1931). The Cotton Trade and Industrial Lancashire, 1600–1780. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 433–448.433-448&rft.pub=Manchester+University+Press&rft.date=1931&rft.aulast=Wadsworth&rft.aufirst=Alfred+P.&rft.au=Mann,+Julia+De+Lacy&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=5NVRAQAAIAAJ&pg;=PA433&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Leominster" class="Z3988">
11. ^ Manchester Mercury, reported on 5 November 1754
12. ^ Rejali, Darius (2009). Torture and democracy (1. paperback printing. ed.). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. p. 282\. ISBN 978-0691143330.
13. ^ "Herefordshire clock on go slow". Hereford Times. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
14. ^ "Station: Shobdon Airfield, Climate period: 1991–2020". Met Office. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
15. ^ "Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature". Starlings Roost Weather. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
16. ^ "Timetables". Transport for Wales. May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
17. ^ "Leominster Bus Services". Bus Times. 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
18. ^ "Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
19. ^ Cuthfleda, Oxford Dictionary of Saints, 5th ed, 2011. Accessed 5 January 2014.
20. ^ The Chronicle of John of Worcester ed. and trans. R.R. Darlington, P. McGurk and J. Bray (Clarendon Press: Oxford 1995), pp.582–3.
21. ^ "John Abel, King's carpenter", Grange Court website. Accessed 5 January 2014.
22. ^ Hobbs, Tony (2004). John Scarlett Davis: A Biography. Almeley, Herefordshire: Logaston Press. ISBN 1904396151.
23. ^ "Arthur Peppercorn", A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Accessed 5 January 2014.
24. ^ Fisher, Ben (16 January 2019). "Jarrod Bowen: from playing without pay to scoring for fun at Hull" - via www.theguardian.com.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leominster.

* Leominster Town Council
* Leominster Town Website
* Leominster History from Archenfield Archaeology (this site is not available)

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