Burgage Hall was originally a Congregational Church built in 1852 and that had fallen into disuse by the 1950s. In 1985, it was bought and restored by the Society and is nowadays a popular venue for hire for community use and meetings by organisations in the Ledbury area.
'Burgage' is a medieval land term which was well established by the 13th century. A burgage was a town rental property owned by a king or lord of the manor and the property usually consisted of a house or building on a long and narrow plot of land, with the narrow end facing the street.
Rental payment was usually in the form of money, but each burgage tenure was unique and could include services. Before the Great Reform Act 1832, the right to vote was attached to the occupation of particular burgage plots so, since the plots could be bought and sold and since the owner was entitled to convey the plot for the election period to a reliable nominee who could then vote, it was possible to purchase the majority of the plots and the power to nominate members of parliament.
Over the years, individual plots were sold off to different people. Ledbury has many alleyways off High Street and The Homend because most of Ledbury's buildings are on burgage plots and the alley was the way to get from the street to the back of the plot.
For directions to The Burgage Hall, please click here.