In 1725 the Pateshall family bought Allensmore Court and it remained in their family until it was demolished in 1957 following the death of the last of the family line.
The Pateshalls of Allensmore Court
Throughout their years at Allensmore Court, the Pateshall family proved themselves to be kind and generous – indeed, they donated most of the money needed to restore the church in 1880, and Evan Pateshall donated the land for the building of a village school in 1870. (The school closed in 1957, but the building is now used as a village hall).
Servants were clearly well treated and many remained loyal for many years – in 1863 it was reported that Henry Neat, aged 43, died after many years being the faithful servant of Mrs. Burnam Pateshall; then in 1859, Mrs. Elizabeth Harper died at Allensmore Court aged 53, being described as “the faithful and attached servant of Mrs. Burnam Pateshall”.
In 1939, Alfred Kitson of Hereford, died aged 74 and the headlines were “Faithful Servant – Family Tribute to Dead Employee.” It went on to say that for 60 years he worked in the gardens at Allensmore Court, and served three generations of the Pateshall family, including Lt. Col. Evan P. Pateshall (died 1912) and Col. Henry Evan Pateshall, Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire and Chairman of the County Territorial Association.
Rear Admiral Nicholas Lechmere Pateshall
Nicholas was the fourth son of Edmund Pateshall, born 13th September 1781. He survived his elder brother, Edmund Burnam Pateshall and succeeded to his estates in 1848. He remained on active service until 1816, being engaged in many distinguished actions.
In 1840 he was Mayor of the city of Hereford, and he also became a Justice of the Peace.
He died 18th October 1854 and in 1858 a fine gothic monument in Caen stone was erected in his memory, in the monumental chamber over the family vault in Allensmore Church.
Evan Pateshall
Evan was the youngest son of David Thomas of Radnorshire, and was born December 1817. He was educated in Shrewsbury, and then King’s College London. He became a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire as well as for Brecon and Radnor. He commanded one of the companies of the Hereford Rifle Volunteers.
Evan Pateshall was Mayor of Hereford in 1863, and in that same year he was returned as a member of the Town Council. In 1873, Evan was again returned to the Town Council but Alderman Shellard petitioned against his election on the grounds that he was not a city dweller, and therefore not eligible to sit on the Council. After an official enquiry, the seat was declared vacant.
The following year, Evan contested the MP of the city in the Conservative interest and was elected, however in 1879 he resigned his seat due to ill health.
Evan married Anne Elizabeth in 1842, she being the only child of William Pateshall. He took on the name Pateshall in 1855.
He died on April 9th 1885 aged 67.
Anne Elizabeth Pateshall lived until the good age of 95 when she died in 1910.
A treat for the Wesleyan Sunday School Children
The Hereford Wesleyan Sunday School enjoyed an annual treat, and in 1877 Evan and Anne Pateshall agreed that they could use one of his meadows at Allensmore Court.
140 children duly arrived with teachers; ministers and friends, and a wonderful day was enjoyed, with games of cricket; leaping; swinging and running until hunger stopped play and they all devoured a magnificent tea on the grass.
During the evening Evan turned up to see that all was well, and was pleased to see the children enjoying themselves so much. He then led the whole party on a tour of the garden and lake until it began to get dark.
Everyone finished the day with hymns and a big vote of thanks for Mr. and Mrs. Pateshall before heading back to Hereford in “vans” – sprung, covered carts.
It was reported that it was a most enjoyable day “without any serious injury”!
Edmund Burnam Pateshall
Edmund Burnam Pateshall was a well respected man, and became a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire.
He was the eldest son of Edmund Lechmere, afterwards Pateshall, and later when his mother died in 1820 he assumed by Royal license the additional surname and arms of Burnam.
The Royal License………take a deep breath before attempting to read!
Whitehall, March 1, 1820…….The King hath been pleased to give and grant unto Edmund Pateshall of Allensmore in the county of Hereford, Esq. one of his Majesty’s Lieutenants and in the Commission of the Peace for the said county, eldest son and heir of Edmund Pateshall of Allensmore aforesaid, Esq. deceased, by Ann his wife, only daughter and heir of William Burnam of Westington in the parish of Grendon Bishop in the said county of Hereford, also deceased, his Royal license and authority, that, from an affectionate regard to the memory of his said late honoured mother’s family, he the said Edmund Pateshall and his issue may take and use the surname of Burnam in addition to and preceding that of Pateshall. And also to command that the said Royal concession and declaration be registered in his Majesty’s College of Arms.
in 1804 he married the eldest daughter of James Ingram of Burford, Salop, but they had no children.
Edmund died in 1848 aged 69.
Miss Alice Muriel Pateshall
I do love descriptions of weddings, and Alice’s in 1915 sounded lovely.
“A very pretty and fashionable wedding, and one of considerable interest to West Suffolk was solemnised at St. Mary’s Church, Kington, Herefordshire, when Mr. Windsor Duncan Parker, son of the late Duncan Parker J.P. and of Mrs. Parker, Clopton Hall, Woolpit, Suffolk, was married to Miss Alice Muriel Pateshall, daughter of the late Lieut. Col. Henry Evan Pateshall of Allensmore Court, Hereford. Owing to the war, the marriage took place very quietly. The ceremony was performed by the Lord Bishop of Hereford, assisted by the Rev. R. Pelly. The bride, who was given away by her mother, Mrs. Pateshall, was charmingly attired in a gown of silver toned charmeuse draped with an exquisite old Brussels lace shawl to form an Empire coat, with sprays of myrtle and orange flowers and Brussels net veil. She carried a beautiful bouquet of white carnations, lilies of the valley and white heather, and wore a pearl and diamond necklet, the gift of the bridegroom. There were no bridesmaids; the bride’s mother wore a gown of soft lavender brocade of simple design, with a beautiful blonde lace fichu draped with a velvet flower. Mrs. Duncan Parker, the bridegroom’s mother was attired in black charmeuse draped with black lace.
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1851 census
| Millborough Burnam Pateshall | 67 | b. Barford, Shropshire |
| Elizabeth Harford | 45 | Cook/Housekeeper |
| Emma Robert | 22 | Kitchenmaid, b. Peterchurch, Herefordshire |
| Catherine Preece | 24 | Housemaid, b. Madley, Herefordshire |
| John Baker | 21 | Footman, b. Herefordshire |
| Henry Neal | 30 | Coachman, b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire |
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1861 census
| Evan Pateshall | 44 | Magistrate and land owner, b. Radnorshire |
| Ann E. Pateshall | 46 | Wife, b. Hereford |
| Elizabeth Pateshall | 68 | Mother in law; funds holder, b. Kings Pyon, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Bray | 44 | House Servant, b. Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Price | 27 | House servant, b. Breconshire |
| Thomas Straffan | 25 | Groom, b. Northumberland |
| Mary Ann Woolford | 25 | House Servant, b. Burghill, Herefordshire |
| Margaret Williams | 22 | House Servant, b. Hereford |
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1871 census
| Evan Pateshall | 53 | Magistrate and land owner, b. Radnorshire |
| Anne E. Pateshall | 56 | Wife, b. Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Pateshall | 78 | Mother in Law and fund holder, b. Kings Pyon, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Bray | 54 | Housekeeper, b. Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire |
| Sarah Gwalkin | 37 | Ladies’ Maid, b. Kilpeck, Herefordshire |
| Sarah J. Hinton | 27 | Housemaid, b. Holme Lacy, Herefordshire |
| Ann Griffiths | 19 | Kitchen Maid, b. Pipe and Lyde, Herefordshire |
| Isabella Dearden | 19 | Housemaid, b. Breconshire |
| William Vizard | 18 | Footman, b. Broadway, Worcestershire |
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1881 census
| Evan Pateshall | 63 | Magistrate and land owner, b. Radnor |
| Anne E Pateshall | 66 | Wife, b. Hereford |
| Essex Holcombe | 34 | Nephew, not engaged in any profession, b. Pembroke |
| Elizabeth Bray | 64 | Housekeeper, b. Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire |
| Ellen Terry | 25 | Parlour Maid, b. Somerset |
| Louisa Snook | 21 | Housemaid, b. Glamorgan |
| Alice Williams | 19 | Kitchen maid, b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire |
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1891 census
| Anne E. Pateshall | 76 | Widow, living on own means, b. Hereford |
| Essex Holcombe | 44 | Nephew, Secretary, b. Pembroke |
| Catherine Holcombe | 77 | Sister in law, living on own means, b. Radnorshire |
| Mary E.T. Holcombe | 36 | Niece, living on own means, b. Pembroke |
| Elizabeth Bray | 74 | Housekeeper, b. Herefordshire |
| Eliza Fickling | 27 | Parlour Maid, b. Norfolk |
| Sarah Pugh | 23 | Housemaid, b. Glasbury |
| Mary Ann Cooke | 24 | Kitchen Maid, b. Hereford |
| Herbert Burghall | 15 | Page, b. Allensmore, Herefordshire |
Allensmore Court Household and servants 1901 census
| Anne E. Pateshall | 86 | Widow, b. Hereford |
| Eliza J. Horn | 59 | Visitor |
| Eliza J. Burridge | 37 | Housekeeper, b. Somerset |
| Harriet M. Preece | 32 | Housemaid, b. Goodrick, Herefordshire |
| Edith C. Preece | 25 | Parlour Maid, b. Goodrich, Herefordshire |
| Bertha Lane | 24 | Housemaid, b. Hereford |
| Ellen Parsons | 15 | Kitchen Maid, b. Gloucester |
| Samuel Davies | 15 | Page, b. Eardisley, Herefordshire |
Allensmore Court Household 1921 census
| Henry Evan Pateshall | b. Belgaum, India 1879 | Retired Pay Regular Army, Landowner. Reserve TA |
| Edith Ruth Phyllis Pateshall | b. Guildford, Surrey 1879 | Wife, Home Duties |
| Edward Benson | b. Henley on Thames, 1862 | Visitor |
| Lilian Went | b. Birmingham 1884 | Cook |
| Sarah May Woodmansee | b. Forsbrook, Staffordshire 1906 | Housemaid |
| Winifred Kate Taylor
|
b. Bodenham, Herefordshire 1906 | Between Maid |