The real reason for visiting Ledbury was to try and visit the place where the Vick family had been tenant farmers for about 10 years during the 1830s and 1840s. It was the place my great grandmother spent more time than any other as a child. Attempts to contact the current owners had been inconclusive so we decided to arrive and see if it was possible to at least see the old farm. If unsuccessfully we would at least have seen some beautiful countryside and interesting historical buildings in Ledbury. A solid wooden gate barred access and a voice on an intercom told us someone would call within an hour. (When checking my phone many hours afterwards I discovered a message delivered about 2 hours prior to our arrival advising that there was no time for us.) Immediately afterwards a delivery truck arrived and was granted access. It was impossible to turn the car so we drove in to allow the delivery truck inside. We followed the driveway towards the house and out again taking a few rapid photos. It looks like it would have been a wonderful place to experience childhood. The 1840 tithe assessments showed that Sylvanus Vick had about 40 pieces of land. Most were adjoining but some were isolated by a field or two. The tithe assessment was a tax assessment to determine the extent, ownership and tenancy relationships and amount payable in money. Previously the tax/tithe had been paid in kind, ie by 10 percent of whatever had been produced by the land.
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Lane to farm
Vick family home – minus glass and marquee
Another view
Other buildings
Pond
Driveway out
That was not the end of the day; we had a castle to visit.