Alfred Watkins was born in Hereford and lived all his life in Herefordshire. Best known for his discovery of ancient tracks (the ‘Ley Lines’ of his book ‘The Old Straight Track’) he had many gifts and interests, and was especially keen on photography and his beloved Herefordshire. The core of this book is an unpublished manuscript by Watkins entitled ‘The Masefield Country’ – an evocative piece about Herefordshire and the area around Ledbury, inspired by John Masefield’s glowing speech in praise of his native country when he accepted the Freedom of Hereford in 1930, after becoming Poet Laureate.