Kings Caple Court is an 18th century red brick mansion.

 

1882 – Kings Caple Court for sale

In 1882 Kings Caple Court was sold by auction, and was purchased for Sir Edward Cludde Cockburn, Bart.   by his agent Mr. F. Bodenham.  The price paid was £9,020.  From the Census records, it appears that Edward and his wife and family were already living in the Court.

Edward Cludde Cockburn

Edward Cockburn was born at Downton near Kington in 1834, and  went to Exeter College, Oxford, matriculating in 1853.   In 1854 he entered the Army subsequently serving at the end of the Crimean War in the 11th Hussars,  and was promoted to Captain in 1857;   he retired the following year.

Edward Cockburn married Mary Ann Francis Elliot, a daughter of Mr. R.K. Elliot of Harwood and Clifton in 1859, and they went on to have several children – strangely his wife managed to produce alternate daughters and sons!

Edward was Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire, and became High Sheriff in 1866.

The Cockburn family lived at Kings Caple Court until around 1901 when it was tenanted out to Mr. Bennett;  however Mr Bennet was not to linger long at the property and maybe the following is part of the reason why.

 

The Nuisance at King’s Caple Court.

It seems that the drains and sewage system were in a dreadful state;  the drain from the cellar was totally blocked and although it had been suggested that this be lowered, because the outlet into the pond was higher than the floor of the cellar this was impossible.

The cesspool and sewage tank were full and in a dreadful state and all in all the Sanitary Authority considered the property to be unfit for human habitation.

Also, the cellar used as a dairy had an untrapped drain leading into the fold, and the inspector stated that the milk was not fit to be drunk – as soon as the owner knew this he stopped having the milk, but didn’t warn the tenant Mr. Bennett.  The owner also refused to do anything about the drainage, despite the stench going into the house.  (Maybe this is why he moved over to Pennoxstone Court!).

The owner of King’s Caple Court, Edward Cockburn,  was instructed to commence rectification work immediately or face a summons.

 

At this time Edward Cockburn was living at nearby Pennoxstone Court which he also owned, and which was originally a 17th century farm before being turned into a country house in the early 18th century.  The present house was built in the late 19th century after being purchased by Edward Cockburn.

In 1903 Edward died suddenly in December at Pennoxstone Court, and his obituary included some doubt as to his title of Sir.   The papers said that Debrett stated that though James Cockburn of Ryslaw was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628 the patent is not on record, and neither did the title appear in Mylne’s list of Nova Scotia Baronetcies.  Debrett also said that though the title was assumed by Captain Cockburn, his right to the dignity had not been established or recorded.

In 1904, Edward’s son  Robert was forced to write to the papers to defend his father against the claims that he had “assumed” the title of Baronet.  He pointed out that his father had inherited the title on the death of his father, Sir. W.S.R. Cockburn,  when he succeeded to the baronetcies of Cockburn in 1671, and Ryslaw in 1628.

Edward left a personal estate to the value of £25,715 2s, and left all his property to his eldest son Robert.

 

Lady Cockburn was recorded in various ways on the census records, but her maiden name was Mary Ann Frances Elliot.

1861 – Kings Caple Court Household

George Ratcliffe 69 Farmer b. Gloucestershire
Hannah Ratcliffe 67 Wife b. Windrush, Gloucestershire
Hannah Ratcliffe 9 Daughter b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
Charles Ratcliffe 8 Son b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
Eleanor Ratcliffe 6 Daughter b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
George Ratcliffe 5 Son b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
James Ratcliffe 3 Son b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
Anne Arkells 30 Sister in Law b. Windrush, Gloucestershire
Mary Constable 19 Governess b. Monmouthshire
Mary Dobbins 19 Cook b. Dewchurch, Herefordshire
Annie Newman 17 Housemaid b. Stroud, Gloucestershire

 

1871 – Kings Caple Court Household

E.C. Cockburn 36 Landowner, Magistrate b. New Radnor, Radnorshire, Wales
Mary Ann Francis Cockburn 37 Wife b. Scotland
Florence Cockburn 10 Daughter b. Radnorshire, Wales
Robert Cockburn 9 Son b. Radnorshire, Wales
Annie Cockburn 5 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
James Stanhope Cockburn 3 Son b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Eleanor Cockburn 1 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
John Brydges Cockburn 0 Son b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Alice Mable Alder 20 Governess b. Middlesex, England
Eliza Fencott 24  Cook b. Herefordshire
Sarah Lewes 24  Housemaid b. Cusop, Herefordshire
Mary Richards 23 Laundry Maid b. Herefordshire
Caroline Miller 30 Nursemaid b. Cambridge, England
Mary Anne Williams 22 Nursemaid b. Breinton, Herefordshire
William Evans 32 Groom b. Herefordshire

1881 – Kings Caple Court Household

Lady Francis Cockburn 46 Wife b. Scotland
Florence Cockburn 19 Daughter b. Radnorshire, Wales
Annie Cockburn 15 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Eleanor Cockburn 11 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Mary Cockburn 8 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
James Stanhope Cockburn 13 Son b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
John Bridges Cockburn 10 Son b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Emily Milner 27 Governess b. Yorkshire
Charles Bickerton 56 Butler, late Private 11th Hussars b. Hereford, Herefordshire
Harry Godwin 15 Errand Boy b. Herefordshire
Mary A. Parry 26 Cook b. Herefordshire
Marie Goidon 21 Lady’s Maid b. France
Mary A. Slade 18 Housemaid b. Somerset

 

1891 – Kings Caple Court Household

Sir Edward C. Cockburn 56 Baronet, late Captain 11th Hussars b. Radnorshire, Wales
Francis Mary Cockburn 57 Wife, General Manager b. Roxburghshire, Scotland
Florence Cockburn 29 Daughter, Musician b. Radnorshire, Wales
Eleanor Cockburn 20 Daughter, Florist b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Mary Cockburn 17 Daughter, Artist b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
William Long 59 Butler b. Gloucestershire
Ann Terry 18 Housemaid b. Herefordshire
Edith Perks 17 Kitchenmaid b. Herefordshire

1901 – Kings Caple Court Household

 Edward C. Cockburn 66 Late Captain 11th Hussars b. Radnorshire, Wales
Francis Mary Elliot Cockburn 66 Wife b. Scotland
Robert Cockburn 39 Major, Army b. Radnorshire, Wales
Florence Cockburn 40 Daughter b. Radnorshire, Wales
Eleanor Cockburn 29 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Mary Cockburn 26 Daughter b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
Elizabeth Birt 55 Cook b. Herefordshire
Emily Haynes 23 Parlour Maid b. Madley, Herefordshire
Kate Cobourn 15 Kitchenmaid b. Hoarwithy, Herefordshire

1921 – Kings Caple Court Household

John L. Smyth b. Ballingham, Herefordshire 1878 Farmer, Employer
Annie Smyth b. Thruxton, Herefordshire 1876 Wife, home duties
Winifred Gardner b. Garway, Herefordshire 1895 Visitor
Syliva Toombs b. Brockhampton, Herefordshire 1903 Servant
Annie Margaret Wear b. Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 1877 Visitor, Drapers Assistant