The Old House, Hereford facts for kids
The Black and White House Museum is a very special building in Hereford, England. It's a beautiful black and white half-timbered house that was built a long time ago in 1621. This means it's over 400 years old!
The house was carefully fixed up in the 1800s. In 1929, it became a museum. It shows what life was like during the Jacobean era, which was a period in English history.
In 2017, the museum got a new name: The Black and White House Museum. It is looked after by the Herefordshire Council's Museum Service.
The House's Story
This amazing house is a great example of Jacobean architecture. It stands right in the middle of Hereford. When it was first built in 1621, it was one of many houses on a street called Butchers' Row.
Over time, other buildings on the row were taken down. By 1816, the Old House was the only one left from that original street. Many different people have used the house. It was once home to butchers, then ironmongers, and even bankers.
Restoring an Old Treasure
The Old House was given a big makeover in 1882. New decorations were carved into the wood in 1883 by an artist named Robert Clarke. The ground floor was also changed a bit in 1882 and 1883 by Edward Henry Lingen Barker.
Above the front door, you can see a special symbol called a coat of arms. This symbol belongs to the Worshipful Company of Butchers. Even though Hereford had its own group of butchers when the house was built, this symbol is still a cool part of its history.
Inside the house, there's a fireplace in one of the rooms that is even older than the house itself! It probably came from another building in the city and dates back to the 1400s. A report from 1931 said the house was the "best preserved example" of a wooden-framed house in Hereford.
Because it's so important, the Old House was made a Grade 1 listed building in 1952. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Step Inside the Museum
Since 1929, the Old House has been a museum. It helps visitors imagine what life was like during the Jacobean times. The rooms are filled with furniture and items from that period.
You can see interesting things like baby walkers from long ago. There are also special wall paintings. Some of the beds in the museum even came from another old place called Penrhyn Old Hall. In 2017, beautiful new bedspreads were put on display.
The museum has displays on three different floors. You can use stairs to go up to the higher floors. The ground floor is easy to get around for everyone.
In 2017, Herefordshire Council updated the Old House. They also gave it its new name, The Black and White House Museum.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Herefordshire
- List of museums in Herefordshire
- Hereford Museum and Art Gallery
