Portraits of the past: Turkey Hall

In the region of southern Herefordshire, near the town of Ledbury and the Gadfield Elm chapel, is a home once known as Turkey Hall. Its owner, Benjamin Hill, was baptized by Elder Wilford Woodruff at nearby Hawcross on April 9, 1840 (the occasion when a mob threw stones at Wilford Woodruff and those he baptized). Missionaries including Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards stayed and sometimes preached at Turkey Hall. LDS researcher Mary Pochin has listed some specific dates that those apostles stayed, preached and baptized at Turkey Hall during various months in 1840. The home is now occupied by a man who is not a Latter-day Saint but is very interested in the history associated with his home. He is gracious and accommodating to those interested in that history. Even though there is a pool of water on the property, his belief is that the site for baptisms in 1840 is likely where the darker brick structure is now situated.

— Kenneth Mays