Hereford
Hereford is a city, civil parish and county town of
Herefordshire, in the West Midlands region of England.
It lies on the River Wye, approximately 16 miles (26
km) east of the border with Wales, 21 miles (34 km)
southwest of Worcester, and 23 miles (37 km) northwest
of Gloucester. With a population of 50,400 people, it
is the largest settlement in the county.
The
name "Hereford" is said to come from the Anglo
Saxon "here", an army or formation of soldiers,
and the "ford", a place for crosing through
a river. If this is the origin it suggests that Hereford
was a place where a body of armed men forded or crossed
the Wye. The Welsh name for Hereford is Henffordd (or
Henfordd).
Hereford
Cathedral dates from 1079 and contains the Mappa Mundi,
a medieval map of the world dating from the 13th century
which was restored in the late 20th century. It also
contains the world famous Chained Library.
An
early town charter from 1189 granted by King Richard
describes it as 'Hereford in Wales'. Hereford has been
recognised as a city since time immemorial, with the
status being reconfirmed as recently as October 2000.
It
is now known chiefly as a trading centre for a wider
agricultural and rural area. Products from Hereford
include: cider, beer, leather goods, nickel alloys,
poultry, chemicals and cattle, including the famous
Hereford breed. The city was the home of the British
Special Air Service (SAS) for many years, although the
Regiment relocated to nearby Credenhill in the late
1990s
Hereford
railway station opened in 1854. It is on the Welsh Marches
Line.
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