Herefordshire, County of (pop. 187,034), is a local government area in western England. It is a unitary authority, established in 1998, responsible for all local government services within its boundaries. Until 1974, Herefordshire was one of the old counties of England, subdivided into districts. From 1974 to 1998, it formed part of the county of Hereford and Worcester. Herefordshire lies in the Welsh Marches, the area of England that borders the boundary between England and mid-Wales. Herefordshire is bordered by Worcestershire to the east, Shropshire to the north, and Gloucestershire to the south. The Welsh region of Powys lies to the west.
Herefordshire is mainly a rural and agricultural area. Horticulture, jam (jelly) production, cider production from its apple orchards, and cattle farming are the most important local industries. The Hereford breed of cattle is one of the best-known British breeds. The Hereford breed has been raised in the area since the 1600’s. But high-technology industries are also important to the economic activity of the area.
The major centers of population are the cathedral city of Hereford and the five market towns of Bromyard, Kington, Ledbury, Leominster, and Ross-on-Wye. The city of Hereford has many fine historic buildings. Hereford Cathedral has the world-famous Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world. The Three Choirs festival of choral music takes place at Hereford Cathedral every three years. The Wye Valley, in the southwest of Herefordshire, has limestone cliffs and is an area of spectacular natural beauty.
The Saxons founded the first settlement at Hereford in the A.D. 600’s. The Danes invaded the area in the 900’s. From the 1200’s to the 1400’s, there was armed conflict with the Welsh. During the English Civil War (1642-1646 and 1648), the area saw much fighting between the Royalist and Parliamentary forces. See English Civil War. The city of Hereford was besieged in 1645.
David Garrick, the great Shakespearean actor of the 1700’s, was born in Hereford. John Masefield, who was poet laureate from 1930 to 1967, was born near Ledbury.
