Gatley Park along with the manor of Leinthall Starkes were originally owned by the Crown and the park itself goes back to the Middle Ages, but at the beginning of Elizabeth l reign they were given to one William Home; from him through the Croft family until they were conveyed in 1633 to Sir Sampson Eure, a President of the Coucil in the Marches.
Lying just outside the village of Leinthall Earls, the house was rebuilt in the early 17th century, and many improvements and enlargements were made in both the 19th and 20th centuries.
When Sir Sampson’s son died, his widow sold Gatley Park to Philip Dunne in 1678 and the Dunne family kept possession down the centuries – as far as I know they still own it now.
The Dunne Family of Gately Park
Originally from Wales, the Dunne family possessed land on the Welsh border, but once they had bought Gatley Park they concentrated on Leinthall, improving and enlarging their estates.
Captain Martin Dunne
In 1899 Captain Martin Dunne married the Hon. Daphne Rendel at St. Margarets church, Westminster. The bride wore a wedding gown of rich white satin duchesse, draped in Empire fashion with chiffon and Brussels lace, caught in with a belt of ermine and finished with a trail of orange blossoms.
Her full court train was lined with satin and had many tiny frills of fine gauze. She also wore a unique tulle veil over a wreath of orange blossom and a lovely pearl necklace, and carried a bouquet of rare exotic flowers tied with white satin streamers.
Daphne had 8 bridesmaids, who wore white Irish poplin, trimmed with fichus of deep cream lace and chiffon and edge with mink fur. They had yokes of lace over drawn chiffon with long sashes of pale blue crepe de chine, and white picture hats lined with tucked blue chiffon and trimmed with brown ostrich feathers.
The Captain and his lady later retired to Clumberhurst House in Guildford lent by the sister of the bride, before travelling to Cannes for their honeymoon.
1858 Thomas Dunne’s Gamekeeper
Thomas Partington, Gamekeeper to Thomas Dunne and living at Gatley Cottage, already had three children under four years old when his wife gave birth to triplets, all of which were strong and healthy.
The vicar of Aymestrey, the Rev. J. Rogers, along with some local ladies, began raising money to help the family live more comfortably, and others were soon encouraged to help.
Sir Thomas Dunne
Sir Thomas Dunne was Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, and held the office from 1977 until 2008. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victoria Order.
When he retired from the post of Lord Leiutenant, some 2000 people gathered at Hereford Cathedral to watch Sir Thomas and Lady Dunne attend the service of celebration, although most had to content themselves with standing outside.
The Dunnes were give engraved vases to mark the occasion.
Tenants of Gatley Park
W. Winnall tenanted the estate for a while in the 1800s, but on his death in 1863 at Delamere Crescent, Paddington, London aged 63, the executors of his will put all his livestock up for auction having no wish to carry on at Gatley Park. The considerable farm stock was as follows:
70 head of pure bred Hereford Cattle
21 waggon horses; cart and nag colts
50 pigs (first quality)
Implements of husbandry, store and hogshead casks etc.
It is interesting to read what constituted necessary equipment for farming in those days, i.e.
3 Broad wheeled wagons; l narrow wagon; 5 broad and narrow wheel carts; 13 Coulter corn drill; hay machine; double cylinder Cambridge roller; horse hay rake; 2 rimmed presser; 2 land rollers; 9 iron and wood ploughs; 3 scufflers; chain and breast iron harrows and numerous other articles.
James Duggan took over the tenantry, and late in life took himself a second, very young, wife who produced several more children for him.
1841 – Gatley Park Household
| William Winnall | 20 | Farmer |
| Anne Winnall | 20 | Wife |
| William Winnall | ||
| Jane Ann Winnall | ||
| Elizabeth Walker | 53 | Servant |
| Ann Ponston | 20 | Servant |
| Sarah Hawkins | 20 | Servant |
| John Lane | 40 | Ag. Labourer |
| William Mountford | 20 | Ag. Labourer |
| John Hegeson | 20 | Ag. Labourer |
1861 – Gatley Park Household
| William Winnall | 61 | Farmer of 500 acres | b. Shropshire |
| Anne Winnall | 65 | Wife | b. Worcestershire |
| John Jones | 19 | Servant | b. Burrington, Herefordshire |
| John Jones | 16 | Groom | b. Wigmore, Herefordshire |
| Thomas Price | 27 | General Servant | b. Yarpole, Herefordshire |
| Sarah Berry | 29 | Dairy Maid | b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
1881 – Gatley Park Household
| James Duggan | 64 | Farmer | b. Old Radnor, Radnorshire |
| Mary Duggan | 28 | Wife | b. Ashleworth, Gloucestershire |
| Eliza A. Duggan | 28 | Daughter, (child of James’ previous wife?) | b. Gladestry, Radnorshire |
| William J. Duggan | 4 | Son | b. Kington, Herefordshire |
| George H. Duggan | 2 | Son | b. Kington Herefordshire |
| Edward Duggan | 1 | Son | b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
| Ann Piliner | 20 | Domestic Servant | b. Edvin Ralph, Herefordshire |
| George Williams | 16 | Groom | b. Yarpole, Herefordshire |
| William Youngash | 23 | Cowman | b. Kingsland, Herefordshire |
| George Franks | 50 | Visitor | b. London |
1891 – Gatley Park Household
| Harriet Dunne | 60 | Widow living on own means | b. East Indies |
| Catherina Russell | 52 | Visitor living on own means | b. Bombay, East Indies |
| John Tuffin | 46 | Butler | b. Richmond, Surry |
| Elizabeth Scott | 30 | Lady’s Maid | b. Grantham, Lincolnshire |
| Amelia Parry | 22 | Housemaid | b. Hereford |
| Mary Jones | 16 | Under Housemaid | b. Merrionethshire |
| Ellen Whittall | 41 | Cook | Brimfield, Herefordshire |
1901 – Gatley Park Household
| Harriet Frances Dunne | 70 | Widow living on own means | b. India |
| Gertrude Laura Russell | 62 | Sister, living on own means | Bombay, India |
| Jane Morris | 72 | Cook | b. Richards Castle, Herefordshire |
| Gertrude Grace Judd Tucker | 23 | Lady’s Maid | b. Newport, Monmouthshire |
| Mary Berry | 42 | Sick Nurse/Housemaid | b. Aymestrey, Herefordshire |
1911 – Gatley Park Household
| Harriet Frances Dunne | 79 | Widow living on private means | b. India |
| Martha J. Skyrme | 54 | Cook | b. Vowchurch, Herefordshire |
| Annie Cole | 20 | Lady’s Maid | b. Madresfield, Worcestershire |
| Mary James | 22 | Parlourmaid | b. Montgomeryshire |
| Katherine Elizabeth Russell | 76 | Sister, living on private means | b. Bombay, India |