Located on the River Wye, approximately 26km east of the border with Wales, Hereford has been recognised as a city since time immemorial. A town charter from 1189 granted by Richard I of England describes it as "Hereford in Wales". Its cathedral dates from 1079, and is dedicated to two patron saints, namely Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Ethelbert the King. The latter was beheaded by Offa, King of Mercia in the year 792, at Sutton Walls, 6km from Hereford.
It is said that Hereford has been the centre of a diocese as early as the 6th century. The cathedral of stone, raised in the 7th century, stood for some 200 years, being altered in the reign of Edward the Confessor. The new church was burnt in 1056 by a combined force of Welsh and Irish. It remained in a state of ruin until Robert of Lorraine was consecrated Bishop in 1079 and undertook its reconstruction, which was completed under the Bishop Robert de Betun (1131-1148).
Over the following centuries the cathedral has undergone many changes, until 1786, when, on Easter Monday, the west tower fell, creating a ruin of the whole of the west front and at least one part of the nave. James Wyatt was called in to repair the damage, but, instead of just repairing, he made alterations which were (and are) not universally popular. In 19th and 20th centuries have been several restoration works, and in 1990s a new library building was constructed.
The cathedral's most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediaeval map of the world dating from the 13th century. It is certainly one of the most remarkable monuments of its kind in existence, being the largest but one of all the old maps, drawn on a single sheet of vellum. Hereford is fortunate to possess also one of only four 1217 Magna Carta to survive, which in turn is one of the finest of the eight oldest that survive.
About the stamp
It was used a Horizon Postage Label. Post & Go (Faststamps) were introduced in UK in October 2008 with the design utilising a version of the Millennium Head and incorporating a repeating wavyline 'ROYAL MAIL' text as a background pattern. As with the Millennium Head version, the Post and Go stamps were printed in a brownish olive colour.
References
Hereford Cathedral - Wikipedia
Sender: flyingrat (postcrossing) GB-759188
Sent from Hereford (England / United Kingdom), on 20.03.2016
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