A display of work by students at Hereford College of Arts inspired by Viking culture and the Herefordshire Hoard.

As part of the diocesan celebrations of its 1350th anniversary, its oldest treasure, the Anglo-Saxon book The Hereford Gospels is on exhibition through the summer at the cathedral, and a new hand-made book The Hereford Gospels for Today is on tour in the diocese – starting here at Leominster as part of Vikings at the Priory! It is filled with modern calligraphy and responses in word and art to the Gospels from children and adults alike, and all are very warmly invited to come and turn its pages and enjoy the living inheritance of our diocese’s oldest treasure and the Gospels it contains.

Peter Furniss has been a practicing  calligrapher for nearly thirty years, and has been Chairman of Shropshire Scribes for the majority of that period. He has been a tutor to U3A Calligraphy Group and has taught many workshops related to medieval scripts. His main interest is in medieval manuscripts from the early medieval period, in particular scripts used before the Norman Conquest, and over the past few years he has researched and written on Lindisfarne Gospels, Book of Kells and Hereford Gospels.

The great illuminated Gospel Books of the Anglo-Saxon period share a similar format. Each of the four Gospels begins with a picture of the Evangelist or Gospel-writer, his symbol and the first page of the text of the Gospel, called an Incipit. Sometimes there was a fourth introductory page to the Gospel, either a page full of decoration, called a Carpet page, or a scene from the Gospels. All of these introductory pages are brightly coloured and heavily decorated.

Leominster Art Group has been running for twenty years. We meet on a Monday morning at the Leominster Community Centre

The group is a friendly, welcoming and helpful environment in which people can enjoy their creativity and benefit from the mutual encouragement of others.  We are not a class as we don’t employ a regular tutor. However, from time to time, we invite professional artists to give a demonstration or a talk on a particular topic.

‘What is Treasure? Community Groups, including Leominster Primary School, Leominster Mothers’ Union and Leominster Museum.

Beginning with the Herefordshire Hoard, community groups have discussed the meaning of treasure in our history, in our town and in our lives by looking at Viking ships and woven tapestries. 

The Llangarron stone carvers are a group of stone carvers tutored by Glenn Morris RSA. ‘Our research into “Viking Art” has inspired us to create carvings to reflect this style. It is interesting that the Vikings invaded and settled many parts of Europe, both influencing and borrowing from local art traditions. 

The Marches’ Scribes was set up in Leominster 35 years ago with the aim of promoting the joys and craft of Calligraphy. In the Anglo-Saxon period all books were handwritten by scribes. The most famous are the illuminated manuscripts like the Lindisfarne, Kells and Hereford Gospels. Members of the Marches Scribes who have contributed to this exhibition demonstrate some of the multi-faceted aspects of this ancient skill.

For over three decades, Regia Anglorum has been re-creating early mediaeval history for audiences around the world. We have skilled, properly equipped and highly motivated men and women of all ages who celebrate the very best of life a thousand years ago!

Regia Anglorum was a term used by early English writers to describe the English state, what we would call “Britain” today. In vulgate Latin, Regia Anglorum was a term used to mean, roughly, “The Kingdoms of the English-speaking people”.

The Herefordshire Hoard was buried near Leominster during the Viking Age. It is a nationally significant collection of Anglo-Saxon and Viking objects. It includes rare ‘Double Emperor’ coins revealing new powerful kingly alliances. The controversial story of the discovery of the Hoard led to the largest heritage crime case of the last decade. The replica objects of the Herefordshire Hoard are on display, along with objects co-produced by local Herefordshire communities and artists to represent their understanding and interpretations of the Hoard.

Eira Richards is a manga comics artist and educator who loves to create visual stories grounded in history, landscape, and folklore. Her recent graphic novel, ‘Between Storms’ (available in the shop), is set in the late 8th century, at the start of the Viking age, and features a Viking raid storyline. Eira says ‘I am fascinated by the fact that the events around that time had such a major historical and cultural impact, and yet so little of it is credibly documented.’

The group was formed in September 2023 by textile artist, Jackie Morris. It has been researching both Vikings and Saxons, artistic and weaving techniques from their two cultures and the contents of the Hoard.  Members meet fortnightly to share research, ideas and materials and have let loose their creative imaginations to stitch a variety of coin shaped designs inspired by the Herefordshire Hoard. 

The exhibit will display the art of rush weaving, created by members with the help of Phi Evans, along with quilting and sewing. Leominster Wellness Club provides a safe, warm space for people who are living with social anxiety, grief and loneliness. Our Craft & Chat groups let people come along and enjoy company while crafting, be it bringing something along or doing something that the group provides.