VISIT TO HEREFORD CATHEDRAL GARDENS – SEPTEMER 2011

On a perfect, sunny afternoon in late September, 15 members enjoyed an inspiring visit to the 5

gardens at Herford Cathedral. Beneath the azure sky and low autumn sunlight, the gardens showed

off their late summer and early autumn colours with flowers and fruits in abundance. The gardens

are all maintained beautifully by volunteers.

Starting in the Chapter Garden, adjacent to the Cloister Cafe, we started to appreciate the sense of

calm tranquillity, a place to sit or stand and stare and appreciate the plants which all seem to thrive

in this sheltered spot against the background of the walls of the cathedral. The quince tree was

particularly striking with its bright yellow fruits hanging like lemons. This garden is on the site of the

old Chapter House (which no longer exists), a meeting place for the clergy. This garden is the only

one generally open to the public.

Our Guide explained that the medieval cathedral was not monastic. The Dean and Chapter were

secular priests who led active lives in the world. They employed the Vicars Choral, a body of clergy

who lived a collegiate life in the Vicars Cloister to sing the daily cathedral services. A £5 million

project to restore the Cathedral Close is well underway including the 12th century barn, mason’s yard

and the houses built for the clergy in the Close to prevent them being bullied by the locals! Covered

cloister walks were built from the houses into the cathedral to provide shelter in all weathers and we

were able to see the original timber beams and a section of wattle and daub wall.

The cloisters, with amazing carvings all along the roof, led us to the second garden- the Cloister

Garden - with its large lawn and sparkling fountain.

Walking through the cloisters

we were able to view an

exposed section of the wattle

and daub wall

Flowers and herbs seem to flourish here and our Guide encouraged us to wander freely and explore.

A pear tree loaded with

fruit spread against one

wall of the cloister

buildings.

Moving on through the hall known as the College, we entered the third garden – the College

Garden.

This used to be the main garden for growing vegetables and hops to make beer and was surrounded

by some of the oldest buildings, stables and masons’ workshops. Roses were still in bloom along

with many other colourful flowers in the borders, brilliant in the autumn sunshine and keeping the

bees and butterflies busy....

.....while some of our group took a rest.

We then followed the slope down to the river where fruit trees hung heavily with ripe apples

And where we enjoyed the peaceful setting by the waterside.

Judith goes to view the Obelisk

Moving on along paths bordered with flowers we came to the fourth garden- the Dean’s Garden- ,

another tranquil place in front of the Dean’s House, full of paths and archways and also stretching

down to the river.

We then walked on along pathways and steps towards the Bishop’s Palace, framed by enormous

ancient cedar trees.

.

The oldest part of the Palace was built in red brick with a 19th century addition in grey stone

The fifth and final garden was the Bishop’s Garden where we strolled and explored this bountiful

area full of flowers, trees, vegetables, grape vines and some unusual shrubs, including a Senna Tree

and a plant from which the berries were used to make black ink.

Margaret and the Giant Thistle flower

Senna Tree Black Ink Fruit

Part of this garden is built on the site of an old chapel that existed before the cathedral was built.

The chapel was on two floors and was dedicated to two separate saints. A memorial area marks this

ancient site.

Our tour of the five gardens finished here and most of us wandered into the Cloister Cafe for a

welcome pot of tea and home-made cake!

The visit certainly reflected Keats’ famous poem ‘Ode to Autumn’:

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch –eaves run,

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core’;

To swell the gourd and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

For Summer has o’erbrimm’d their clammy cells.

You can see more photos, by Fay Ramsden in the website Gallery.