Hereford Cathedral is searching for former residents of the Cloisters to help celebrate the history of its community on Thursday 12 March.

As part of the Eastern Cloisters Project (ECP), which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other donors, the cathedral has been discovering the stories of people who have previously lived in the Cloisters. The Cloisters are a much loved part of Hereford Cathedral which currently house the music department, administrative offices and staff. For centuries it was home to the Vicars Choral, twenty-seven men who sang services in the cathedral and lived and studied in the Cloisters.

Since the 15^th Century, hundreds of members of the cathedral community have lived or worked within the historic Cloisters. Over the last few months, the Eastern Cloisters Project team have been meeting with individuals who have previously lived in the Cloisters to record their stories and memories as part of the oral history section of the project.  On Thursday 12 March, these former residents will come together for an afternoon of reminiscence.

Sarah Hollingdale, Project Activity Officer, says: "During the Eastern Cloisters Project we have discovered so many wonderful stories about the people who have lived in the Cloisters throughout the centuries. We have managed to find people from all across the country but are sure that there are more people living in Herefordshire that we may have missed! We are still keen to hear from anyone who has a connection with the Cloisters so please do get in touch.”

On Thursday 12 March, as well as the reunion for former Cloisters residents, Project Activity Officer Sarah Hollingdale will be hosting a talk in the evening for all to attend. Entitled ‘Cloisters Voices: Past and Present’ the event will be an opportunity to hear the interviews conducted as part of the ECP and discover more about life in the Cloisters. Tickets for this event, which starts at 7 pm, cost £8 per person and are available to purchase from the Cathedral Library.

To get in touch with Sarah to find out more about the reunion, please call 01432 374 240 or email [email protected]. To book tickets for the talk please contact the Cathedral Library on 01432 374 255/6 or email [email protected]

Th Eastern Cloisters project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other donors, to find out more about the project, please click here.