Sights in The Marches
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A
Hereford Museum & Art Gallery
The quirky collection at the town museum has displays on just about everything from 19th-century witch's curses to Roman antiquities.
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Commandery
The town's history museum is housed in a splendid Tudor building that served as King Charles II's headquarters during the Battle of Worcester. Engaging audioguides and interactive exhibits tell the story of Worcester during key periods in its history. Be sure to visit the 'painted chamber', covered with intriguing 15th-century religious frescos.
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B
Coalport China Museum & Tar Tunnel
As iron making fell into decline, Ironbridge diversified into manufacturing china pots, using the fine clay mined around Blists Hill. Dominated by a pair of towering bottle kilns, the atmospheric old china works now contains an absorbing museum tracing the history of the industry, with demonstrations of traditional pottery techniques.
A short stroll along the canal brings you to the 200-year-old Tar Tunnel, an artificial watercourse that was abandoned when natural bitumen started trickling from its walls.
reviewed
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C
Cider Museum & King Offa Distillery
The name is the giveaway at this brewery and museum. Displays cover cider-making history, and you can sample the delicious modern brews. Look for the fine costrels (minibarrels) used by agricultural workers to carry their wages, which were partially paid in cider. To reach the brewery, follow Eign St west from the centre and turn south along Ryelands St.
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Ancient Houses
Saved in the nick of time by the National Trust, Greyfriars offers the chance to poke around a timber-framed merchant's house from 1480. The house is full of atmospheric wood-panelled rooms and backed by a pretty walled garden.
A few doors down, the mid-16th-century Tudor House is wonderfully warped; inside is a heritage centre run by local volunteers.
Also peek into the flamboyant Guildhall, created in 1722 by a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren who died in poverty while waiting for the city to pay him his dues.
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