Butcher Row House Museum
Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1DW
Butcher Row House was built in the 1580s as part of a row of traders' properties down the centre of the High Street. The 'row' was demolished in the 19th century for hygiene reasons and to give better access for stage coaches and larger vehicles.
This building is one of only two which survived and was originally moved to a garden behind a shop in the High Street, where it was used for storage. In the 1970s, the House was gifted to the Civic Society who re-erected it in its present location and created this unique museum of local artefacts. In addition to Victorian costumes, these include a glove 'donkey' used by outworkers in the glove-making trade; a ladderback chair, made by Philip Clissett of Bosbury, whose designs influenced the Arts and Crafts movement; and a boot bath, which was trundled from door to door 'For the use of the poor in Ledbury'.
Of particular note is a rare and important example of a ‘Regency’ Lute made around 1800. Until its re-discovery in 2015 by stringed-instrument conservator & restorer Chris Egerton and world-renowned early-music performer Taro Takeuchi, it was known in literature but no actual examples of such a lute had been positively identified.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 07 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday 08 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Tuesday 10 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Wednesday 11 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Thursday 12 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Friday 13 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Saturday 14 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday 15 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
Location & directions
Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1DW
- Contact on day:
- Ken Chapman ([email protected])
- Telephone number:
- +447763333015
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The museum is located in a paved courtyard off a cobbled lane. There are a couple of steps to the ground floor but a ramp is available on request. The first floor is inaccessible - there is a steep staircase - but there is a digital display of the exhibits on the ground floor.
Additional information
For Heritage Open Days, a special exhibition of Victorian costumes and other artefacts from the Museum will be brought out of storage for display in the Burgage Hall behind the museum: find your relative in the 1851 Census, which will be available to view; a DVD featuring the rebuilding of the Butcher Row House will be shown; there will be further exhibits, highlighting The Pozzie (jam factory) and the Canal Trust will display material relating to the canal in Ledbury. See separate entry for the Burgage Hall.
