Our 2026 Programme of events

We organise monthly talks about local topics – either historical or current – as well as visits to places of local interest in the summer. Normally there is also a visit arranged as part of the Heritage Open Days week in September. Unless otherwise stated, all meetings below are at the Larruperz Centre at 7.30pm (Wednesdays) unless otherwise stated.

January 14th, 2026 – Slavery Connections of Herefordshire – Rhys Griffith

Rhys Griffith from Herefordshire Archive & Records Centre (HARC) will give a sobering insight into Herefordshire’s involvement in the slave trade.  It will look at the trade triangle, where goods were exported to Africa in return for Africans, who were transported to the new world plantations for labour, and goods from the New World was brought back to Britain, making those involved wealthy.  We will also hear about the significant part Ross’ played in the abolition of slavery.

February 11th – The Women the War turned Yellow – The Rotherwas Canary Girls – Angela Williams

The Rotherwas Royal Ordnance Factory opened in 1916 as a munitions filling factory and became one of the largest explosive filling sites in the UK.  It covered more than 300 acres and comprised more than 370 buildings.  Employing mainly women, the so-called “munitionettes”, whose skin and hair turned yellow from contact with TNT chemicals and who later became known as The Canary Girls.

March 11th – What Dendrochronology could do for Herefordshire – Dr Andy Moir

We will have a fascinating insight into dendrochronology.  This is the scientific method of dating tree rings to determine the exact year they were formed.  As well as the date that the wood was formed, it provides information about past climate conditions.  This technique is used in archaeology to date old wood samples but also has applications in ecology and environmental sciences.

April 8th, 2.00pm – Farming Asparagus and Vineyards – John Chinn

Cobrey Farms are owned and run by the Chinn family, who over the last 50 years have developed a successful business that produces the highest quality fruit and vegetables.  We will hear about the challenges and success of growing two of theirs high value crops: asparagus and award-winning Castle Brook sparkling wine.

May 13th – Visit to The Rotherwas Munition Factory – Angela Williams

A visit to the site of the former Rotherwas Royal Ordnance Factory to find out more about the working conditions of the Rotherwas Canary Girls. 

Where: meet at the Munitions Store, Hereford, at 2.00pm

June 10th, 2.00pm – Walk: The Mordiford Dragon – fact or fiction – Marjorie Shackleton

A 1.4 mile walk beside the rivers, orchards and wooded hills that surround the village.  The legend is brought to life by a series of wooden sculptures illustrating the tale of the dragon that once lived in Mordiford. 

Where:  Start on the Mordiford Common opposite The Moon public house at 2.00pm

July 8th – Walk: The Ross-on-Wye Willow Walk – Julie Balsom

A walk alongside the River Wye following the trail of the willow walk.  Willows were so important for river traffic, being used to weave baskets to protect fragile items such as cider as they were transported on the river.

Where:  Start from outside the Hope and Anchor, Wye Street Ross-on-Wye. What time:  2:00pm. 

September 9th – Commons and Public Rights of Way – The Open Spaces Society in Herefordshire South , What do we do? – David Howerski

The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest conservation charity who protects and preserves footpaths, public rights of way, open and green spaces, and common land in our area for everyone to enjoy. 

October 14th – Railways of Herefordshire and the Southern Marches – Heather Hurley

Heather has researched our local railways within the Southern Marches.  Now, many of the main lines have been lost to time.  We will learn more about the heyday of trains in the southern Marches.

November 11th – (AGM starting at 7:00pm followed by:) A Tudor Christmas – Kirsty Bingham

Kirsty Bingham from the John Moore Museum, will give us an insight into what Christmas was like around five hundred years ago, gaining an insight into the hardship of the time and the welcome festivities over Christmas.

Second Week in December – Christmas Lunch