Chronological extracts from Ledbury TILLEY's Almanacks - Photographs & Memories
1896
![[25 High Street]](./1896retro4.jpg)
January 9 Ledbury agricultural ball was held at the Feathers Assembly Room.
August 5 Puppy Show was held at the Kennels; afterwards a dinner was held at the Feathers Hotel.
1897
January 14 the Ledbury Hunt Ball took place at the Feathers Hotel.
January 21 the Agricultural and Commercial Ball took place at the Feathers Assembly Room.
October 26 in the evening the Ledbury Cycling Club held their first social evening at the Feathers Hotel.
November 18 the Cycling Club held their annual dinner at the Feathers Assembly Room this evening.
December 16 the Ledbury Rifle Volunteers had their annual dinner and prize distribution in the Feathers Assembly Room.
1898
Feathers Hotel with their own carriage outside waiting to take guests to the railway station.
![[Feathers Hotel]](./pics/feathers9.jpg)
January 12 The Ledbury Hunt Ball took place at the Feathers Hotel.
January 14 The Ledbury Cycling Club held another very successful Fancy Dress Social in the Assembly Rooms.
January 26 The Ledbury Invitation Ball was held at the Feathers Hotel.
April 7 The First General Meeting of the newly-formed Ledbury Polo Club was held at the Feathers Hotel, when rules were agreed to and a ground decided upon at Bosbury.
April 19 It was decided, at a public meeting held at the Feathers Hotel, to organise a Horse Show and Floral Fete, to be held in July.
April 27 The Ledbury Churchwardens and Sidesmen dined together at the Feathers Hotel.
December 15 The Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution to the Ledbury Volunteers took place at the Feathers Hotel, Lieut. Col. SCOBIE presiding.
1900
January 7 Ledbury Church Choir (Adult Members) Annual Supper at The Feathers Hotel.
January 15 Ledbury Hockey Club First Annual Ball at Feathers Hotel.
February 2 The Three Colwall Volunteers (Privates CORFIELD, GODSELL, and SMALL) entertained at the Feathers Hotel, and left Ledbury for South Africa on the 5th.
March 15 Mr. H. M. WILSON, Master of Ledbury Hounds, entertained to dinner at Feathers Hotel.
March 22 Ledbury Hockey Club Annual Dinner and Concert at Feathers Hotel.
May 2 Leadon Vale Singing Class Concert in aid of Parish Nurse Fund, Feathers Assembly Room.
August 9 The Annual Sale of Work in the Upper Hall Grounds in aid of Parish Nurse Fund had to be held in The Feathers Assembly Room on account of drenching rain.
September 13 Miss JAY, New Street, Ledbury, entertained her tenants and friends to Supper at the Feathers Hotel.
September 20 Annual Meeting of Ledbury Musical Society at Feathers Hotel.
November 1 At a Meeting of Ledbury Hunt Supporters at the Feathers Hotel it was resolved to take down all wire in the Hunt Country and to replace the same at the end of the hunt season.
November 23 Mr. Spencer H. BICKHAM delivered his first Lecture on “Elementary Astronomy ” at The Feathers Assembly Room.
November 26 Ledbury Rifle Volunteer Corps held their annual dinner and prize distribution at the Feathers Assembly Room, when COL-Sergt. W. E. JONES was presented with a marble timepiece on his resigning the post after 29 years' service.
December 7 Mr. BICKHAM‘s second Lecture on “Elementary Astronomy.”
December 13 Rifle Corps Annual Supper and Distribution of Prizes at Feathers Assembly Room.
December 26 Hockey Club Ball at Feathers Assembly Room.
1901
January 4 Banquet and Presentation to Mr. Michael BIDDULPH after serving his native County in Parliament 35 years, at The Feathers Hotel.
January 9 Ledbury Hunt Ball, at the Feathers Hotel.
January 10 Ledbury Choir (adults) Annual Supper, at the Feathers Hotel.
January 17 Cycling Club Ball, at the Feathers Hotel.
April 11 Hockey Club Dinner at Feathers.
April 12 Ledbury Musical Society's Second Subscription Concert of the Season at the Feathers Assembly Room.
August 19 Ledbury Hockey Club Annual Meeting at the Feathers Hotel.
1902
January 9 Ledbury Hockey Club Ball at the Feathers Hotel.
January 15 Ledbury Church Choirmen's Annual Supper at the Feathers Hotel.
January 16 Ledbury Hunt Ball at the Feathers Hotel.
January 23 Ledbury Volunteers’ Annual Supper and Prize Distribution at the Feathers Hotel.
January 28 General Meeting of Subscribers and Members of the Ledbury Hunt at the Feathers Hotel.
April 1 Hopgrowers' Association for Herefordshire and Worcestershire formed at a public meeting at the Feathers Hotel.
April 8 Captain CLIVE, M.P., addressed his constituents at the Feathers Hotel, and was heartily welcomed on his return from the war. He also distributed the certificates to the successful Students at the Art and Shorthand Classes.
April 9 Hill and Vale Lawn Tennis Club Ball at the Royal Hall.
April 29 Ledbury Horse Show Annual Meeting at the Feathers Hotel.
August 15 Ledbury Hockey Club Annual Meeting at the Feathers Hotel.
October 15 Banquet to returned Soldiers from the War, belonging to Ledbury and Wellington Heath, also to Crimean Veterans, at the Feathers Hotel. The Men presented with pipes, pouches, and tobacco.
December 11 Ledbury Hockey Club Cinderella, Feathers Assembly Room.
December 18 Ledbury Musical Society Subscription Concert, Feathers Assembly Room: Miscellaneous Programme and “The Forsaken Merman”.
December 19 Ledbury Rifle Corps Annual Prize Distribution and Smoking Concert, Feathers Assembly Room.
December 31 Ledbury Hockey Club Ball, Feathers Assembly Room.
1903
January 1 Ledbury Hockey Club Ball, Feathers Hotel. (New Year’s Eve).
January 12 Ledbury Church Choir Annual Supper, Feathers Hotel.
January 14 Ledbury Hunt Ball, Feathers Hotel.
March 3 Annual Meeting, Horse Show Society, Feathers Hotel.
August 31 Ledbury Hockey Club Annual Meeting and Smoking Concert at the Feathers Hotel.
November 24 General Meeting of Ledbury Horse Show Society, Feathers Hotel.
1904
January 19 Ledbury Hunt Ball, Feathers Hotel.
January 21 Volunteer Annual Dinner and Prize Distribution, Feathers Hotel.
January 27 Ledbury Choir Men‘s Annual Supper, Feathers Hotel.
February 16 Annual Meeting of the Ledbury Horse Show Society, Feathers Hotel.
April 8 Temperance Union Hospital Benefit Concert at the Feathers Assembly Room.
September 22 Annual Meeting Ledbury Musical Society, Feathers Hotel; operations suspended for the season.
October 25 Ledbury Hunt General Meeting at the Feathers Hotel.
1905
January 12 Ledbury Hunt Ball, Feathers Hotel.
February 9 Yeomanry Ball, Feathers Hotel.
February 10 Annual Supper to Ledbury Choirmen and Sidesmen, Feathers Hotel.
April 28 Unionist Gathering at Feathers Hotel; vote of confidence passed in Capt. CLIVE M.P.
May 23 Lecture to promote the Hop Industry, Feathers Hotel.
1907
January 3 Bosbury Invitation Dance, Feathers Assembly Room.
January 11 Ledbury Hunt Ball, Feathers Assembly Room.
January 25 Ledbury Church Choirmen's and Sidesmen’s Annual Supper, Feathers Hotel.
March 12 Unionist Meeting at Feathers Assembly Room; Branch of the Women’s Unionist and Tariff Reform Association formed.
October 3 National Military Training Meeting, Feathers Hotel.
October 17 Ledbury Ploughing Society Annual Dinner at Feathers Hotel.
The Feathers Hotel, plastered and with dinky cars parked up.
![[Feathers Hotel]](./pics/feathers14.jpg)
( 2019 September )
Janet Jones - WHAT A PICTURE. FANTASTIC.
Linda Nussbaum-Richman - Loving those cars!
Sue Weatherhill - Dinky cars described them perfectly!
Carole Phillips - Lovely stonework on Lloyd's bank next door ,still remains today 😊
1908
Feathers Hotel the plaster is being removed. ( TILLEY's Collection )
![[Feathers Hotel]](./pics/feathers22.jpg)
( 2021 April )
Andrew Masefield - Look at that building in the yard through the arch!
Suzanne Soo Phillips - do you think it was a stable for the horses?
Jo Edge - whilst transcribing the Tilleys almanacks we have come across the Assembly Room, I do not know if this was a building or the room upstairs at the Feathers. Lovely to see where the Corn Exchange Markets were held on the right.
Joan Gould - Wow!
Henry Pim - Big renovation, must have been expensive! Does the Almanac give a postal address for the Assembly Room? The ballroom and the bar area at the back of the main building, on the first floor seem to me to be a 19th century addition to The Feathers, but integral to the building, so probably the same address.
Jo Edge - In my 1916 Almanack it shows it as Feathers hotel, Assembly Room, Corn Exchange. So it could be a building on its own.
Claire Ellis - Corn exchange.... A Corn Exchange in the Hotel. The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1845, which led to a rush in cities and market towns throughout the country to erect grand and very expensive corn-exchange buildings, brought an unexpected
opportunity for Francis Deakins. He fitted out a room at The Feathers, which he offered for use as a corn exchange for Ledbury, available free of charge on the one day a week it was required. It opened in June 1854 and would be the town’s corn exchange for at least the next 60 years. No doubt it brought extra trade into the hotel on market days, and indirectly during the rest of the week as well.
Henry Pim - If so I wonder where it could have been. Seems probable that the Feathers ballroom was The Assembly Room.
Sue-Kay Weatherhill - Yes I agree that it must be the old ballroom where I spent many an hour at balls and functions!
Brenda Hill - That's where we had our Wedding Reception
Claire Ellis - Have been reading about the history of the Plume of Feathers. Found this... Luke and Eliza Taylor hosted a New-Year ball in the first-floor assembly room at The Feathers on Monday 2 January 1837. They were no doubt pleased to have the patronage of the hotel’s former owner John Biddulph as steward of the event.
Rosalie Cross - I remember going to round table functions there years ago!
Shirley Dalley - BNA Hereford Journal - 25th October 1854 - says "LEDBURY. BALL is arranged to take place in the NEW ASSEMBLY ROOM, FEATHERS HOTEL, LEDBURY, on THURSDAY, the 14th of DECEMBER, 1854, under the Patronage of the LADY EMILY FOLEY."
Henry Pim - that more or less clears up the mystery!
Claire Ellis - A revival of interest in Elizabethan architecture started in the late 1800s as part of a rejection of the heavily ornate Victorian Gothic style. New buildings designed in a so-called mock-Tudor style became fashionable. Out of these ideas came a growing enthusiasm for stripping away the Georgian cladding from buildings known to be Elizabethan in origin, in order to re-present them in their original splendour. The mood caught on in Ledbury where several of the largest properties were given the treatment. It’s thought that the front of The Feathers was stripped in 1908. It was certainly done before 1911, the date recorded on a painting by Lilian Stephens.
Claire Ellis - I stumbled across a brilliant site for the history of The Feathers. If you follow this link, click on THE HOTEL in the listings and you can download the history booklet. It's an easy and informative read by Will Swales. https://www.feathersledbury.co.uk/the-hotel/
Sue Simpson - Wow😲
Shirley Dalley - Amazing history detail. Good job people are into preservation of nostalgia and history.
Jane Jinks - I was on the dig that found the onion bottles with the stamp of the 'Plume of Feathers'. Photo is of me standing alongside trench with buckets full of bits of bottles. Young boy was our 'pot-washer'. It was a very muddy January. 🙂
![[Feathers Dig]](../pics/feathers24.jpg)
Shirley Dalley - Bless him - he looks like he is saying his prayers before he gets pushed in! I bet that was a real enjoyable education in 'History' for him. Nice to see someone so young taking an interest.
1909
January 7 Bosbury Invitation Dance at Feathers Assembly Room. Over 100 present.
January 13 Ledbury Hunt Ball at Feathers Assembly Room. 150 present.
January 18 Ledbury Women‘s Unionist and Tariff Reform Social at Feathers Assembly Room.
February 15 Meeting of Flower Show Subscribers. Flower Show axed for August Bank Holiday. Mr. H. MORGAN appointed Chairman; Mr. C. RUSSELL, Hon. Sec.
February 16 At a Public Meeting at the Feathers Assembly Room a Branch of the National Farmers’ Union was formed for Ledbury and District, with Mr. H. WESTON as Chairman, and Mr. C. T. SMITH, Secretary.
February 26 Unionist Meeting at Feathers Assembly Room. Address by Captain CLIVE, M.P., the Hon. M. HICKS-BEACH, M.P., and the Hon. Henry LYGON.
December 10 Meeting held to form a Branch of Church of England Men’s Society.
December 17 Ledbury Territorial annual Dinner and Prize Distribution at Feathers Hotel.
December 29 Ledbury Hunt Ball at Feathers Hotel, 162 present.
Feathers Hotel and the Corn Exchange. ( TILLEY's Collection )
![[Feathers Hotel]](./pics/feathers20.jpg)
(2021 April )
Stewart Dominicus - Remember going there for lunch in the 60's.
Suzanne Soo Phillips - Lovely to see an image with the door where the "new" coffee shop door is now.
Caroline Tyler -Great photo!!
Claire Ellis - Funnily enough, I was reading about the history of the Feathers. Apparently, it was expanded in around 1815 by incorporating the vacant Booth Hall next door. (The part with the 'new' door)
Maureen Willson - Worked there when I was 18.
Feathers Hotel & the High Street. ( TILLEY's Collection )
![[Feathers Hotel]](./pics/feathers21.jpg)
( 2021 April )
Mary Beth Fastiszewski -The people look so relaxed
Carolyn Maslin - was the manageress at one point a Shakeshaft ? lovely photo
Sources
1897 - 1979 Ledbury Tilleys Almanacks - Herefordshire History
Photographs are credited to the owners where possible
Edited Memories in italics are from members of the Old Ledbury Facebook Group
Cuttings are from Old Ledbury Reporter Newspapers
History of Ledbury in the 19th Century
Herefordshire Archive Records Centre HARC
The Feathers Hotel A brief History by Will SWALES
( TILLEY's Collection ) - No photograph to be reproduced or used for commercial gain without permission Alan HOIDA