Yatton Court was built in around 1780 on the site of an existing half timbered building, and has been much extended and renovated over the centuries. The house is set in the most glorious park which was created in the late 18th century by the then owner, John Woodhouse (1716-1792) In 1796, the Court was advertised for let, described as “A large commodious new built house, with extensive shrubberies and pleasure ground, the river Lugg running through the garden, many acres of ground, beautiful woods, a large fish pond, and a garden walled and planted with the choicest fruits”.
John Woodhouse at Yatton Court
In the early 1800s Yatton Court was owned by John Woodhouse who was a Governor of Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals, and was for many years one of the Directors of the East India company as well as a major landowner in Herefordshire (he also owned Aramstone House in Kings Caple). He was outlived by his wife Elizabeth, who died in 1817 aged 93 “in full possession of her faculties”.
She was said to be a little short tempered at times, and not easy to get on with, but behind the scenes she was forever doing her best for the poor, widowed and orphaned in the neighbourhood and was severely missed after her death. She had an incredible sixteen children, and her pregnancies and subsequent labours were not easy but she survived to tell the tale. Eventually though, her many illnesses took their toll.
The descendents of this couple went on to keep Yatton Court in the family until the end of the 20th century although the house was rented out on occasion, and in 1828, George Ferguson was in residence, before Elizabeth Jane Woodhouse returned to the house with her husband the Rev. T.T.Lewis, although again, in the early 1850s, the house was rented to T.B.Beasley – when he left in 1852 he sold much of his furniture; it all sounded lovely…..
Modern drawing and dining room furniture in rosewood and fine Spanish mahogany.
Tudor four post and half tester bedsteads, suitably clothed.
Spanish mahogany chests of drawers.
Washing and toilet tables
Brussels and Scotch carpets
A bay hack horse, a bay pony, a dog cart (nearly new) and other effects.
1861 – Yatton Court Household
| Elizabeth Jane Woodhouse Lewis |
48 |
Widow, landowner |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Agnes Woodhouse Lewis |
21 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Edith Woodhouse Lewis |
18 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Philip Davies |
22 |
Butler |
b. Little Birch, Herefordshire |
| Anne Goode |
29 |
Cook |
b. Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire |
| Emma Edgkish |
23 |
Lady’s Maid |
b. Eye, Herefordshire |
| Ellen Goode |
16 |
Kitchen Maid |
b. Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Alston |
19 |
Visitor |
b. London |
During the year of 1861, Agnes Woodhouse Lewis, daughter of the Rev. T.T Lewis who was the husband of Elizabeth in the table above, married George Rodney Ward, and by the next census, the couple had moved into Yatton Court to take over the running of it.
1871 – Yatton Court Household
| John George Rodney Ward |
40 |
Land Agent |
b. Over Stowey, Somerset |
| Agnes Woodhouse Ward |
31 |
Wife |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Mary I. Ward |
47 |
Sister, Land owner |
b. Somerset |
| Thomas B. Ward |
7 |
Son |
b. Brampton Brian |
| Agnes E. Ward |
5 |
Daughter |
b. Over Stowey, Somerset |
| Mabel Ward |
2 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Arthur Ward |
8 months |
Son |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Charlotte Botwood |
24 |
Nurse |
b. Bucknell |
| Selina Nicholls |
17 |
Nursery Maid |
b. Bucknell |
| Ann Wheeler |
26 |
Cook |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Griffiths |
23 |
Maid |
b. Burrington |
| Elizabeth Stragwood |
17 |
General Servant |
b. Aymestrey |
1881 – Yatton Court Household
| John George Rodney Ward |
50 |
House Agent and JP for Hereford County |
b. Over Stowey, Somerset |
| Agnes W. Ward |
41 |
Wife |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Agnes E. Ward |
15 |
Daughter |
b. Over Stowey, Somerset |
| Mabel Ward |
12 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Isabella A. Ward |
3 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Kate Ward |
55 |
Sister |
b. Over Stowey, Somerset |
| Anne Lewis |
68 |
Visitor |
b. Ludlow |
| Elvira Deverell |
36 |
Governess |
b. St. Lucia, West Indies. British Subject |
| Charlotte Botwood |
34 |
Nurse |
b. Bucknell |
| Edith Leggett |
18 |
Nursemaid |
b. Suffolk |
| Ellen Crowe |
20 |
Parlour Maid |
b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Priscilla Evans |
26 |
Housemaid |
b. Radnor |
| Jane Hughes |
22 |
Cook |
b. Bucknell |
| Catherine Mason |
20 |
Kitchen Maid |
b. Redstone, Salop |
1891 – Yatton Court Household
| James Watkins |
49 |
Farmer |
b. Radnorshire |
| Mary Watkins |
36 |
Wife |
b. Radnorshire |
| James Watkins |
9 |
Son |
b. Bucknell, Herefordshire |
| John Watkins |
8 |
Son |
b. Bucknell, Herefordshire |
| Thomas Watkins |
7 |
Son |
b. Bucknell, Herefordshire |
| Edward Watkins |
6 |
Son |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| David Watkins |
5 |
Son |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| William Watkins |
3 |
Son |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Rachel Annie Watkins |
2 |
Daughter |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Josiah Watkins |
5 mths |
Son |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Mary Ann Sayers |
16 |
General Servant |
b. Herefordshire |
| Jessie Payne |
17 |
Nurse |
b. Yatton, Herefordshire |
| James Thomas |
29 |
Farm Servant |
b. Radnorshire |
| Charles Bowen |
20 |
Shepherd |
b. Radnorshire |
| Francis Lowe |
15 |
Farm Servant |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Henry Oliver |
30 |
Farm Servant |
b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
1901 – Yatton Court Household
| George Jenkins |
65 |
Gardener |
b. Eardisley, Herefordshire |
| Ann Jenkins |
75 |
Wife |
b. Kington, Herefordshire |
1911 – Yatton Court Household
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| Emmanuel Edward Shearman |
33 |
Butler |
b. Hants |
| Jean Kennedy |
41 |
Cook and Housekeeper |
b. Ecclefechan, Dumfrieshire |
| Lizzie Thomson |
30 |
Head Housemaid |
b. Glasgow |
| Ada Catherine Styler |
21 |
Kitchenmaid |
b. Alcester, Warwickshire |
| Fanny Kathleen Ledingham |
15 |
Between Maid |
b. Aberdeenshire |