WHEN Cradley WI met for the April meeting, Di Cale, president, welcomed members back to Cradley Village Hall, an historic building.

This was especially appropriate as the speaker, Penny Platts, took members on a tour of the Market Towns of Herefordshire.

She explained that the county was rich in agricultural produce, and this meant market towns developed to sell the wool, cattle and hops.

Every market needed to be granted a Royal Charter and members saw two examples of these beautiful documents.

Traders at markets often travelled from far away and market towns often had a wealth of old inns; Penny showed members some beautiful slides of ancient inns in Ledbury, Leominster, and Bromyard. Rich from their market incomes, towns like Ledbury, Ross and Leominster built and enlarged their churches.

The local cattle sales were often held in the Broad Street that is so often found in these towns.

Later fashions in buildings often led owners to add handsome Georgian brick or stone facades on to the old black and white timber fronts.

Many members felt that they would go back to take a closer look at these towns that we often take for granted, and follow up all the entertaining tales that Penny told us.

After the break, Di Cale circulated the events book and gave members details of forthcoming events.

The book club meets on Thursday, May 10, at the home of Ruth Thomas.

Members can join a walk round Sutton St Nicholas on Thursday, May 24.

Members now have more details for the June outing to Lichfield, which will include a morning visit to the cathedral and Erasmus Darwin Museum, and an afternoon visit to Shugborough. The cost is £21 for NT members and £25 for non-NT members. Payment for this trip must be in at the May meeting.

The monthly meeting in May is a chance to hear more about the resolution that will be presented at the WI annual meeting in May.

This year’s resolution is about the provision of midwives. Keeping to this theme, please can members also bring a picture of themselves as a baby or young child. The May meeting will be at Cradley Village Hall on Thursday, May 3.