Aylton Court, a large Georgian house built of brick, was originally owned by Miss Eliza Miles, of Clifton, Gloucestershire and in her final years, Firbeck Hall near Tickhill in Yorkshire. When she died she left the estate at Aylton to her cousin Philip William Skinner Miles. Over the years it was rented out to various tenants some of which are shown below, and recently it was up for sale as a large family house – good to see that it has not been split into flats or turned into a hotel.
1837 – T.W. White sold off his pure bred Hereford cattle, prime flock of sheep, famous cart horses and colts, plus many farming tools and feed stocks when he left the estate.
1841 – Aylton Court Household
| Jane Shayle | 40 | Farmers Wife | b. Herefordshire |
| Eliza Shayle | 19 | Daughter | b. Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Shayle | 18 | Daughter | b. Herefordshire |
| James Shayle | 15 | Son | b. Herefordshire |
| Jane Shayle | 11 | Daughter | b. Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Green | 18 | Domestic Servant | b. Herefordshire |
| Samuel Pafsey (?) | 36 | Servant | b. Herefordshire |
| James Deveraux | 18 | Servant | b. Herefordshire |
| John Gibbon | 13 | Servant | b. Herefordshire |
1851 – Aylton Court Household
| Avis Perry | 56 | Widow of Farmer | b. Oxfordshire |
| Cranley Perry | 20 | Farmers son | b. Oxfordshire |
| William Perry | 16 | son | b. Oxfordshire |
| Alfred Perry | 12 | son | b. Oxfordshire |
| June Williams | 21 | Visitor | b. Worcester |
| John Spencer | 26 | Farm Bailiff | b. Gloucestershire |
| George Rudge | 22 | General Farm Servant | b. Eastnor, Herefordshire |
| Charles Rudge | 28 | General Farm Servant | b. Dymock, Gloucestershire |
| Catherine Walton | 20 | House Servant | b. Cradley, Worcestershire |
Avis Perry above was married to J.J. Perry who died before seeing one of his sons, Marten Perry who went to Queen’s College Birmingham, passed the examination to become a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. During his collegiate course, Marten Perry obtained the Botany Certificate of Honour, the Midwifery silver medal and certificate, and the Governor’s gold medal for conduct.
In 1853, Avis Perry gave up Aylton Court and all the livestock, farming implements, dairy articles, brewing utensils and household furniture were put up for sale by auction.
John Foulger at Aylton Court
Aylton Court was then leased by John Foulger, but in 1855 a terrible tragedy occurred within his family. His 12 year old son, Henry, found a gun in the house which he believed to be unloaded – in fun he pointed it at his sister Emma who was on the staircase, and shot her dead. Emma was buried at nearby Aylton church, and imagine the terrible distress of the family when shortly afterwards the grave was raided and her body was taken. Perhaps Emma’s spirit was disturbed by the grave robbers, because legend has it that she still haunts the staircase where she was shot by her brother. John Foulger left Aylton Court three years later.
1861 – Aylton Court Household
| John Badham | 29 | Farmer | b. Stoke Edith, Herefordshire |
| Mary Ann Powell | 26 | Visitor | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| William Cook | 25 | Visitor, Inn Keeper | b. Leominster, Herefordshire |
| Catherine Harris | 24 | Dairy Maid | b. Dorstone, Herefordshire |
| Robert Bosley | 34 | Ag. Labourer | b. Little Marcle, Herefordshire |
| William Rudd | 17 | Groom | b. Ashperton, Herefordshire |
| George Taylor | 15 | Carters Boy | b. Tarrington, Herefordshire |
The Badham family were at Aylton Court for a brief while, before the Cowles moved in – poor Sarah Cowles had a child more or less every year, and had at least 12.
1871 – Aylton Court Household
| Samuel Cowles | 38 | Farmer | b. Barnwood, Gloucestershire |
| Sarah Cowles | 37 | Wife | b. Corse, Gloucestershire |
| Mary A. Cowles | 9 | Daughter | b. Newent, Gloucestershire |
| Fanny E. Cowles | 8 | Daughter | b. Newent, Gloucestershire |
| Henry J. Cowles | 7 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Francis J. Cowles | 5 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Laura H. Cowles | 4 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Frederick Cowles | 3 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Lilian Cowles | 2 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Edith M. Cowles | 1 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Elijah Lambert | 70 | Uncle | b. Corse, Gloucestershire |
| Elizabeth Lewis | 24 | Governess | b. Monmouthshire |
| Elizabeth Davis | 19 | Domestic Servant | b. Dymock, Gloucestershire |
| Eliza H. Wright | 15 | Domestic Servant | b. Munsley, Herefordshire |
1881 – Aylton Court Household
| Samuel Cowles | 48 | Farmer | b. Barnwood, Gloucestershire |
| Sarah Cowles | 47 | Wife | b. Corse, Gloucestershire |
| Fanny E. Cowles | 18 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Henry J. Cowles | 17 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Frank (Francis) Cowles | 15 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Laura H. Cowles | 14 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Frederick Cowles | 13 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Lilian Cowles | 12 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Edith Cowles | 11 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| John Cowles | 9 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Nancy Cowles | 8 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Kate Cowles | 6 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Lottie Cowles | 5 | Daughter | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Fanny Hodges | 20 | General Servant |
1891 – Aylton Court Household
| Robert Lomas | 48 | Farmer | b. Clifton, Lancashire |
| Phebe Lomas | 50 | Wife | b. Lancaster, Lancashire |
| Eliza Lomas | 22 | Daughter | b. Bardsea, Lancashire |
| Phebe Lomas | 19 | Daughter | b. Rampside, Lancashire |
| George Lomas | 15 | Son | b. Rampside, Lancashire |
| Lucy Lomas | 9 | Daughter | b. Lancashire |
| Herbert Bullick | 17 | Visitor, Bank Clerk | b. West Hartlepool, Durham |
| Jane Gibbons | 56 | General Domestic Servant | b. Dymock, Glos |
| Jane Attwood | 22 | Cook | b. Forthampton, Worcestershire |
1901 – Aylton Court Household
| Arthur Aaron Yapp | 54 | Farmer | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Annie Yapp | 45 | Wife | b. Somerset |
| Humphrey Yapp | 4 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Rose Burton | 24 | General Domestic Servant | b. Leominster, Herefordshire |
| Frederick Jones | 35 | Cowman | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
1911 – Aylton Court Household
| Arthur Aaron Yapp | 65 | Farmer | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Humphrey George Yapp | 14 | Son | b. Aylton, Herefordshire |
| Eliza Jane Willis | 31 | Housekeeper | b. Somerset |
| Annie Willis | 10 | daughter | b. Somerset |
1921 – Aylton Court Household
| Arthur Aaron Yapp | b. Herefordshire 1847 | Farmer |
| Annie Yapp | b. Somerset, 1856 | Wife |
| Humphrey Geo Yapp | b. Aylton, Herefordshire 1897 | Son |
| Rose Burton | b. Leominster, Herefordshire 1877 | General Domestic Servant |