David Phelps – författare

For the first time, these enchanting folk tales, the origins of which lie in the oral tradition, have been gathered together in book form. The charming selection of thirty fairy tales and legends are full of Herefordian wit and wisdom, and are perfect for reading aloud or alone. Although on the surface they may appear quaint, these stories tell of strange happenings in the peaceful Herefordshire countryside, formed from early attempts to explain the natural and spiritual world. From the Saxon king of East Anglia who became the patron saint of Hereford Cathedral, and the story of the black hound of Baskerville Hall which inspired Arthur Conan Doyle, to a medieval love story, these gripping tales have stood the test of time, and remain classic texts which will be enjoyed time and again by modern readers.

For the unwary visitor, Hereford appears to be a peaceful place. But, for half its existence, it was a strategic centre in an often troubled and bloody border between England and Wales. It can be no surprise, then, that the city and the surrounding countryside hide dark secrets and uncanny events. From the ghost of a verger who brought down the cathedral tower to the unquiet spirit of a careless chemist, the city has a rich history of spectral phenomena. This book is no mere gazetteer, but an in-depth re-telling of the stories that will make you look at the place with fresh eyes, whether you are a tourist or resident.

Worcestershire is a county of contrasts, with one face turned to the modern buzz of Birmingham and the other turned towards the quiet rural landscape of the West Country. Its folk tales reflect this dichotomy, with some stories based in the fears and superstitions of village life, and others evolving from the strains and pressures of a new industrial reality. From battles of the Civil War to witchcraft trials, Worcestershire is steeped in history – and almost every village has some dark tale of magical events to tell. Ordinary folk from all walks of life mix with devils, ogres and ghosts. Even the holy community is not safe – vengeance, infidelity and murder loom large in the county’s religious history. Complemented by beautiful illustrations, Worcestershire Folk Tales is crammed with these myths, legends and mysterious yarns. David Phelps has worked as an oral storyteller since 2005, being much inspired by his grandmother’s tales of Worcestershire’s folklore. He is a member of both the Folklore Society and the Society for Storytelling, and is the author of Herefordshire Folk Tales and Haunted Hereford.

Herefordshire has had the mixed blessing of being a border county, predominately rural and far away from any metropolis. Lying between England and Wales, its past has been bloody, with raids and an unstable boundary. Borders are always porous and much Welsh influence can be found, especially in the west of the county.The county did not play a major part in the Industrial Revolution, which meant it became something of a backwater. Its unspoilt countryside provided a pleasant place to visit, but not such an easy place to make a living. Herefordshire can make the claim of being the birthplace of tourism as rich travellers, thwarted by the Napoleonic War from making the Grand Tour of Europe, found journeys down the beautiful River Wye some compensation. Now modernity is making changes to the county, with pressure for more houses, large-scale agriculture and the climate crisis all having their effect, but Herefordshire remains an intriguing and fascinating place.In 50 Gems of Herefordshire, local author David Phelps visits some of the favourite and lesser-known locations that reflect its heritage, culture and scenic splendour. From churches to castles and cider factory to cathedral, this is a county with much to discover and enjoy. Well-illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to residents and visitors alike.

Herefordshire has always been a border region and prone to conflict. During the Iron Age it was the dividing line between the Silures and Dobunni tribes and many hill forts in the area are still visible. The division heightened with the coming of the Romans as the Dobunni accepted Roman rule but the Silures carried out a successful guerilla campaign against the invaders. The arrival of the Saxons pushed the people that came to be called the Welsh back through the county, so that when the Normans took control, they found an unruly land that demanded their full attention and building of border castles by the Marcher Lords. Throughout the medieval period Herefordshire was fought over by the Vikings, Normans and the Welsh, culminating in the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr. Civil wars also played out among the green fields of Herefordshire, from the Anarchy of the twelfth century to the Wars of the Roses of the fifteenth century and the Civil War of the seventeenth century. Later, Herefordshire supplied many men for Britain’s armed forces in its county regiments, not least in the world wars of the twentieth century, and the county is a fitting home for the Special Air Service, the most feared unit in the British Army.This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Herefordshire’s remarkable military history.

The history of Hereford began with the establishment of the Saxon St Guthlac’s Monastery on the site of what is now Castle Green. Slightly later came the building of the cathedral, around AD 680. The cathedral city, destroyed by the Welsh and repaired by the Normans after 1066, was visited by Charles I, but its royal connections don’t end there. Nell Gwynne, actress and mistress of Charles II, is said to have been born here in 1650.Today, Hereford extends far beyond the medieval walls. In Secret Hereford local author David Phelps takes the reader on an enlightening and entertaining journey through the city’s lesser-known history, delving beneath the surface to reveal dark deeds and strange tales with long-forgotten facts and amusing stories. This book lifts the lid on the hidden secrets that even most local people don’t know.

WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM CREATING MORE FREEDOM, WEALTH, AND IMPACT? Too many people are running so hard on the hamster wheel of work and life that they never stop to ask simple questions or challenge the “conventional” wisdom we’ve all been taught—questions such as: • Why do we max out our debt with school loans and credit cards? • Why do we sacrifice our entire working life, trading time for dollars, until we’re in our sunset years? • Why do we keep our hard-earned dollars in a retirement 401(k) or IRA, waiting until we’re sixty before the dollars can work for us? • And why do we work so hard for our wealth, instead of letting our wealth work for us? Author David Phelps has spent his entire career questioning the traditional approach to work and wealth. In the process, he discovered the most powerful question we can ask: “What’s my next?”In What’s Your Next?, Phelps presents busy professionals with a powerful guide to use wealth and an alternative income path to achieve a deeper level of freedom. Discover how to get your top five Freedom Assets working for you: (1) yourself, (2) your business, (3) your relationships, (4) your capital, and (5) your legacy. Don’t settle for the status quo. Leverage the Freedom Assets you already have to think bigger and challenge yourself.IT’S TIME TO FIND AND CONQUER YOUR NEXT.Take the next step and discover more resources at FindYourNext.com.