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Places StoriesYou are in: Hereford and Worcester > Places > Places Stories > Leominster - town and Priory  Leominster priory Leominster - town and PrioryA busy market town, with a beautiful priory church, a wealth of history and links to lady Godiva.
Popular legend has it that the town gets its name from Earl Leofric, husband of Lady Godiva, the celebrated bare back rider. Sadly, like so many urban legends, this may not be true, and the town may have got its name from being a minster - a collection of clergy - in the district of Leon. As a story this is nowhere near as glamorous as the one about Lady Godiva. Leominster's close connection with religious communities do have a basis in history - there's been a priory in the town from Saxon times and in the 12th century there was a large Benedictine monastery. This priory was sacked by troops from Owain Glyn Dŵr's army, after their victory at the Battle of Bryn Glas in the 15th century. The monastery perished under the wrath of Henry VIII, but the priory church remains, and is well worth a visit. The wonderful interior was restored in Victorian times by Sir Gilbert Scott. last updated: 10/07/2008 at 13:04 SEE ALSOYou are in: Hereford and Worcester > Places > Places Stories > Leominster - town and Priory [an error occurred while processing this directive] | ||||||||||||||||
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