Hereford

Hereford stands on the River Wye near the Welsh border, its cathedral rising above an old crossing of the river. The city was a religious and administrative centre for the surrounding county and the country along the Welsh Marches. Among the treasures associated with its cathedral is the Mappa Mundi, a great medieval map that presents the world through geography, history and Christian belief.

During the English Civil War Hereford's border position made it a contested stronghold. In 1645 a Scottish army allied with Parliament besieged the Royalist city for five weeks during the summer, but withdrew as Charles I approached. Later that year Parliamentary forces took Hereford. The cathedral and bishop's palace suffered damage amid the changing fortunes of the war.