Matthew Tagney explained that a ‘Liberty’ was a mediaeval term for an area that fell outside both parish and county boundaries and was owned by a local lord of the manor. (This offered him the enormous advantage of paying no tax on its income.) Shaftesbury’s was located in the small area of Alcester, in the west part of the town. We embarked on a fascinating journey through the centuries, discovering the layers of history which continue to exist beneath the surface of the modern world, uncovering the meaning of lych-gate, the importance of stone boundary markers and the shifting sands of fashion.
Our sincere thanks to Matthew for an absorbing lecture on hidden areas of our local history.
Ann Tasker
Treasurer