The name Mynde may well be a variation on the Welsh word “mynydd” which refers to a mountain, or heathland – certainly the Long Mynde up the road in Shropshire is a large hill so this could be correct.
The house, parts of which date back to the 12th century, is massive and very attractively sits in a beautiful park with woodland and a lake on the very edge of the border between Herefordshire and Wales; the drive is an incredible mile long, and one can well imagine how enjoyable it would have been for guests to ride up to the house in their carriages, taking in the views of the spectacular park land. The Mynde has recently enjoyed complete renovation before being put on the market and both the interior and exterior is mouth wateringly beautiful. The price was somewhat mouthwatering too!
The Pye family at the Mynde
The Pye family came from Wales and were originally middle class.
The Mynde became home to the Pye family in the mid 1400s, starting with John Pye who married Agnes Andrews – a very wealthy heiress. By continuing to marry well, the Pye family kept ownership of the Mynde through to around 1709 – indeed they became one of the richest families in Herefordshire. However as was frequently the case, virtually all the fortune was spent by subsequent heirs – mostly on supporting the Royalist cause, and the Mynde had to go.
Duke of Chandos at The Mynde
The house was acquired by the Duke of Chandos who immediately added the glorious King’s Hall with its Buggatti and Attari plasterwork.
This enormous room, 60 feet long and 30 feet high, has huge Corinthian pilasters flanking panels of plasterwork depicting representations of music, painting, sculpture and architecture. The ceiling has a roundel and painted allegorical figures on clouds.
In the 1720s both the house and park were remodelled.
The Symons Family
Richard Symons, a wealthy London merchant, bought the Mynde Estate in 1740, he had one son, John and two daughters Elizabeth and Anna Sophia, upon whom he entailed the estate in settlement. He directed that whoever inherited the estate must take on the surname and arms of Symons.
John and Elizabeth both died, but Anna married Richard Peers and her children were Richard and Elizabeth (who married Sir Charles Blunt, Baronet.
Richard Symons (1743 – 1796)
Richard went on to inherit the Mynde estate and duly adopted the surname of Symons; he was created a baronet in 1774 but died unmarried in 1796 when the title died out.
Richard was returned unopposed for Hereford in three elections
On Richard’s death, The Mynde passed to Thomas Raymond, the grandson of Richard Symons youngest sister, Anna; he went on to succeed to the estate in 1796 and took the surname and arms of Symons. Thomas married Mary Chapman and they had four children: Thomas Hampton; Richard Harcourt; Charles Frederick Raymond and Mary Ann Jane.
He died in 1818 and was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas Hampton who married Elizabeth, second daughter of the Rev. Dr. Hannington, Prebendary of Hereford.
Their children were Thomas George; Henry Longden; Elizabeth Fanny; Ellen Jane and Mary Anne Brookland.
Thomas died in 1831 and was succeeded by Thomas George, his eldest son.
Legends surrounding The Mynde
Next to the parkland at the Mynde is Devil’s wood, and the belief is that if the timber is felled then the owner of the Mynde, or his heir, will die within a year. The curse may relate to a wych elm which grew on a mound in the park, and it is believed that a witch was burnt here.
Another tree legend says that if a branch breaks from a particular tree close to Mynde House, it heralds the death of the owner; and if apple trees blossom twice in one season someone in the house will die.
As for ghosts, a former squire of the Mynde is said to wander around near to the house, and a coach pulled by six headless horses with a headless coachman has been seen pulling up at the house.
1841 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household
| Thomas Symons | 20 |
| Louisa Symons | 20 |
| Thomas French | 45 |
| Robert Hill | 30 |
| John Folkes | 20 |
| Charles Dawkins | 25 |
| James Jones | 20 |
| Mary Ann French | 35 |
| Marie Connor | 20 |
| Ann Jonsen | 25 |
| Maria Minnet | 20 |
| Mary Fortunatus |
1851 – The Mynde Household
| John Pritchard | 53 | labourer | b. Cluddock Herefordshire |
| Elenor Pritchard | 51 | Wife, Housekeeper | b. Cluddock, Herefordshire |
| Mary Ann Roberts | 16 | General Servant | b. Orcop, Herefordshire |
| Thomas Bridgewater | 27 | Groom | b. Kinglsand, Herefordshire |
| Mary Ann Bridgewater | 33 | Wife | b. Herefordshire |
| Henry Bridgewater | 3 | Son | b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire |
| Charles Bridgewater | 8mths | Son | b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire |
| Ann Beavan | 10 | General Servant | b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire |
1861 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household
| Thomas George Symons | 42 | J.P.Widower | b. Clifton, Gloucestershire |
| Susanna McKay | 37 | Housekeeper | b. Scotland |
| Charlotte Phillipps | 31 | Housemaid | b. Herefordshire |
| Ann Lutman (?) | 21 | Dairymaid | b. Orcop, Herefordshire |
| Maria Trumper (?) | 18 | Under Housemaid | b. Allensmore, Herefordshire |
| Emily Bethell | 18 | Kitchen Miad | b. Allensmore, Herefordshire |
| William Hall | 22 | Groom | b. Nottinghamshire |
| Job James | 18 | Footman | b. Monmouth |
1871 – The Mynde (Mynde House) Household
| Emma Matthews | 31 | Cook | b. Monkland, Herefordshire |
| Ellen Reece | 31 | Laundress | b. Kington, Herefordshire |
| Annie Townshend | 21 | Housemaid | b. Eastnor, Worcestershire (now Herefordshire) |
| Isabella Jones | 16 | Kitchenmaid | b. Kinnersley, Herefordshire |
| James Wigley | 18 | Footman | b. Wenlock, Shropshire |
| William Able | 21 | Groom | b. Penrith, Cumberland |
| George Mitchell | 19 | Groom | b. Devon |
1881 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household
| C.A. Lutwyche | 57 | Widow, no profession | b. Liverpool, Lancashire |
| H. Latham Lutwyche | 24 | Son | b. Liverpool, Lancashire |
| Harold McLane | 31 | Son in Law | b. Stroud, Gloucestershire |
| Mary H. McLane | 34 | Daughter | b. Liverpool, Lancashire |
| Harold L. McLane | 2 | Grandson | b. Abergavenny, Monmouthshire |
| Mary Lilney | 34 | Visitor | b. Liverpool, Lancashire |
| Mary Callon | 40 | Cook | b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire |
| Mary Ann Jones | 26 | Housemaid | b. Wellington, Herefordshire |
| Emily Beavan | 17 | Housemaid | b. Breconshire |
| Mary Whitney | 15 | Kitchenmaid | b. Much Birch, Herefordshire |
| George Drew | 31 | Butler | b. Wellington Heath, Herefordshire |
| Oliver Sheasby | 25 | Valet | b. Worcestershire |
| James Cutter | 23 | Groom | b. Hereford, Herefordshire |
| Ann Abberley | 24 | Nurse | b. Bredwardine, Herefordshire |
| Emma Smith | 36 | Housemaid | b. Hereford, Herefordshire |
| Annie Powell | 19 | Kitchenmaid | b. Herefordshire |
| Harriett Clarke | 16 | Housemaid | b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire |
In 1901 Mynde house was totally unoccupied.
1911 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household
| Thomas Reid Waugh Davidson | 62 | Lt. Colonel Army, retired | b. Rawalpindi, Bengal |
| Elizabeth G. Davidson | 65 | Wife | b. Kirkby Fleetham, Yorkshire |
| Charles Bywater | 32 | Coachman | b. Downhammarket, Norfolk |
| Herbert John Berran | 26 | Gardener | b. Radnorshire |
| Curtis J. Williams | 19 | Gardener | b. Ribsford, Worcestershire |
| George Thomas Meadman | 22 | Gardener | b. Orcop, Herefordshire |
| William Vonsden | 22 | Footman | b. Staplehurst, Kent |
| Frederick Charles Frith | 18 | Footman | b. Minsterworth, Gloucestershire |
| Lydia Lloyd Roberts | 27 | Cook | b. Kington, Herefordshire |
| Florence Watkins | 23 | Kitchenmaid | b. Llanwarne, Denbyshire |
| Amy Niole (?) | 18 | Scullery Maid | b. Herefordshire |
| Mary Jane Niargo (?) | 25 | Housemaid | b. Bodenham, Herefordshire |
| Louisa James | 33 | Housemaid | b. Somerset |
| Ethel Goring | 17 | Housemaid | b. St. Devereux, Herefordshire |
| Leah Vaughan | 42 | Lady’s Maid | b. Radnorshire |