16th century
1550End of English war with France and Scotland.
1551Thomas Fyrret (grandfather) died.
1552Ledbury described as ‘ys a very pore toun’.
1553King Edward dies, Mary becomes queen.
1554Queen Mary marries Philip of Spain.
1555Tobacco first brought to Europe from America.
1556Thomas Fyrrett (grandson) born.
Jone Ferret (daughter) born.
1558Agnes Ferret (granddaughter) born.
Queen Mary died, Elizabeth becomes queen.
1559Queen Elizabeth becomes Lord of the Manor.
1560Margaret Ferret (granddaughter) born.
1562John Hawkins goes on a slave-trading expedition.
1563Maud Ferret (granddaughter) born.
1564Ales Ferret (daughter) born.
William Shakespeare born.
1565Nicholas Ferret (grandson) born.
1568Edye Ferret (granddaughter) born.
1569Population of Britain is 3.2 million.
1570Richard Ferret (grandson) born.
Feathers Hotel and many new buildings in Ledbury built.
Ledbury began to become a wealthy town due to the leather and textile trade.
Guy Fawkes born.
Portugal starts trading with Japan.
Potatoes introduced into Spain from the Americas.
1571Battle of Lepanto; Turkish naval power crushed.
1572Rychard Sculle marries Elzabethe Skynner.
John Ferret (grandson) born.
Mary Ferret (granddaughter) born.
1573Eyde Ferret (granddaughter) died.
1577Francis Drake leaves to sail around the world.
1579Mary Skynner born.
Drake lands in California.
1580Christian Ferret (grandmother) died.
Elizabeth Ferret (granddaugher) born.
Drake returns to England.
1581Richard Skynner born.
Margery Ferret (daughter) died.
1582William Ferret (grandson) born.
1583Jane Badland murdered by William Farr, who was hung on Gallows Hill.
1584Susanna Skynner born.
Queen Elizabeth grants new charter to Ledbury, confirming markets and fairs.
Act banishing RC priests from the soil of England.
1585England at war with Spain.
English colony at Roanoak, Virginia.
1586Jone Skynner born.
1587James Ferret (son) died.
Henry Hunt, schoolmaster of Eldbury, died.
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
1588Elizabeth Skynner born.
Spanish Armada.
1590Edward Skynner born.
Edward Skynner (father) builds New House.
1591William Skynner born.
William Shakespeare perfoms first play.
1592Edward Skynner (father) helps bring water to a fountain in the High Street.
Henry Davies, Keeper of Malvern Chase, killed ‘by a gunne’ at Walmswell.
Plague in London.
1594Thomas Skynner born.
William Jones slain in Horse Lane at Ledbury Fair.
1595Spaniards attack Cornwall, burning Penzance and Mousehole (see SLZ Mounts Bay teacher pack).
1596John Firret (son) died.
Jone Ferret (granddaughter) died.
Francis Drake died.
1597John Skynner born.
17th century
1600Population of Britain is 4 million – 10% live in towns.
First commerce with India.
William Kempe, comic actor, Morris dances from London to Norwich!
1601Richard Capell dies and leaves money for a charity for the poor of Ledbury.
1603Queen Elizabeth I died – the end of the Tudor reign.