Friday, June 9, 2017 4:00pm

The historian, Allan Lloyd and geologist, Geoff Steel, will be the hosts for a specially arranged and rare visit to Hergest Court, on Friday 9th June, by kind permission of its owner, Mr. Richard Banks.

This famous landmark is important in the history of the Welsh Marches. Built in the 13th century as a fortified manor house with moat, it became the home of the Welsh Clanvowe and Vaughan families.

Stories will be told of the many legends which still exist today. ‘Black Vaughan’ is likely to have been Sir Thomas Vaughan, who was killed in 1469 fighting for the Yorkists. His grim death and the subsequent horrors will be explained, which is said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to write ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’, about the Black Dog of Hergest.

But it also became the centre of learning, associated with the 15th century. Welsh Bard, Lewys Glyn Corhi and the Red Book of Hergest. Geoffrey Chaucer, William Wordsworth both had associations with Hergest.

There will be tours inside the Court at 4.00 pm 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm guided by Allan Lloyd. Visitors who would also like to go on a guided tour of the motte and bailey with Geoff Steel will learn about the landscape, its geology and architectural origins of the Court.

There will be tea and cake throughout the afternoon.

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