Herefordshire | Archive | 2001 | January | 10
From the archive, first published Wednesday 10th Jan 2001.
AN historical account of life in a Herefordshire village has sparked a controversy following comments by a local vicar, writes ANITA HOWELLS.
`Gladestry 1900-1999: A Century of Change', by Richard and Robert Hughes, was described as `a romanticism of a whole century of out-dated scholarship' at its official launch.
The Rev. Dr Fenn from Kington had several `gripes' to make. His remarks, made to a full audience at Gladestry village hall, have been described as `uncalled for' and `over the top' by Richard Hughes.
In particular Mr Fenn was critical of the book's historical accuracy and people's titles.
"It was about getting people's titles right that I wanted to go banging on about. To do otherwise can diminish the reader's confidence in the authority of what he is reading," said the vicar, who added, however, that many aspects made the book `precious'.
His comments, however, have not marked sales: "I was pleased with the book myself. We have already sold between 500 and 600 copies," Richard confirmed.
He worked on the book with Robert for two years, collecting memories and photographs from villagers which Robert, who had taught at Gladestry Primary School, put together.
The two were approached to write the book for the Millennium. It is divided into sections of about 20 years and sub-divided into topics including school life, farming, the war years and growing up.
"Life in the village changed out of all recognition in the 20th Century... In those days there was a hiring fair at Kington every May. Those who wanted to be hired would put a straw in their mouths and the farmers doing the hiring would clinch the deal with a shilling," one person recalls. Hiring fairs stopped when the Second World War started.
Other memories include the first machinery on farms. Richard Hughes is pictured as a little boy helping to mow at Stone House c 1936, where his family had farmed since the 1850s. One elderly villager remembers the first generator-powered television at Burnt House in 1953.
"It is, though, the detail that makes the book precious and my day was made by the picture of the ploughing at the Wern farm, the work being done by Boxer, Farmer and Llester," conceded the Rev. Fenn.
q `Gladestry 1900-1999: A Century of Change' is printed by Orphans Press at Leominster.
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