Herefordshire, an inland county in the west of England, is bounded on the N. by Shropshire, E. by Worcester, S. by Gloucester and Monmouth, and W. by South Wales. In length it measures 38 miles, in breadth 35, and its area is 833 sq. m. Pop. (1801) 89,191; (1871) 125,370; (1881) 121,062; (1891) 115,986. The surface is mostly hilly with occasional valleys opening into widespread plains, the chief hill-ranges being those of the Hatterell or Black Mountains (2631 feet) on the south-western, and the Malvern Hills (1395) on the eastern boundary of the county. It is watered by several streams, the principal of which are the Teme, and the Wye with its affluents the Lugg, the Arrow, and the Monnow, alike noted for their fishing, and the Wye in particular for its picturesque scenery. The climate of Herefordshire varies with the elevation and exposure, but, as attested by the general longevity of the inhabitants, is on the whole very healthy. The soil, which is for the most part a deep, heavy, red loam, with a substratum in many places of limestone, produces good crops of grain, principally wheat, and is favourable to the growth of timber. Hops are largely cultivated, and the area of the orchards with which the county abounds exceeds 27,000 acres. Herefordshire is celebrated for its cattle, and its horses and sheep are in a lesser degree well known. Cider-making is the principal manufacture, and malting is also carried on; whilst sandstone, limestone, and marble have been largely quarried. The county, divided into 11 hundreds and 258 parishes, returns three members to parliament, one for each of its two divisions (Leominster and Ross), and one for the city of Hereford. The county council numbers sixty-eight members. The principal towns are Hereford, Leominster, Ross, and Ledbury.
The historical events connected with the county are soon told. Its earliest inhabitants were the Silures, who for long withstood an invasion of the Romans, but, being at last (about 73 A.D.) overcome, they retired into the fastnesses of Wales. During the so-called Heptarchy it was incorporated with Mercia, and subsequently from its position on the Welsh border was—a portion of the county being included in the debateable land called 'the Marches'—the scene of prolonged contests between the rival claimants. In 793 A.D. Ethelbert, king of the East Angles, was treacherously murdered at Sutton, near Hereford; and in 1461 at Mortimer's Cross, 4 miles north-west of Leominster, the decisive battle took place between the houses of York and Lancaster which resulted in the defeat of the latter and the establishment of Edward IV. on the throne of England. Subsequently Herefordshire suffered much during the civil broils in the time of Charles II. Of places of interest in the county mention may be made of Offa's Dyke (q.v.); of Dorstone, where there is a large and curious cromlech known as 'Arthur's Stone'; of the ruins of Clifford Castle, the birth-place of 'Fair Rosamond,' Henry II.'s mistress; and of the Hereford Beacon on the Malvern Hills, on which is a camp, the construction of which is ascribed to Caractacus. Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (Queen Elizabeth's favourite); Richard Whittington, 'thrice Lord Mayor of London'; David Garrick, the actor; John Kyre ('The Man of Ross'); and Nell Gwynne, the favourite of Charles II., were all natives of Herefordshire; and Mrs Browning, the poetess, passed her childhood there. See the Quarterly Review for 1879, and works there cited. For the Earls of Hereford, see BOHUN.