Set in the lovely countryside on the edge of Much Marcle, Homme house in its original state was built of stone, but all that remains now of that building is the tower. A devastating fire resulted in the house being rebuilt in the early 17th century, and it was further altered in the 19th century. Today it is mainly red brick.
Homme House has been owned since the 17th century by the Kyrle family, but during the second World War was used as a hospital.
In 1674 John Ernle of Burytown, Wiltshire, son of Sir John Ernle who was a Privy Councillor and also Chancellor of the Exchequeir between 1676 and 1689. married Vincentia Kyrle of Much Marcle in Herefordshire and this united the names – their daughter Constantia married but had no children, so she gave her estates to the son of her cousin, James Money.
James Money became Major in the Army, and eventually gained the post of Lieutenant Colonel; he married Eugenia Stoughton. Of their children, only one, William Money, survived and he married Mary Webster – they went on to have a whopping family of 13 children, only losing two along the way! Of these children, the eldest son James Money took over the estates in 1808. He followed the family tradition and went into the army, eventually becoming Major
Major General Sir James Money Kyrle
James was born in 1775, the son of William Money and Mary Webster; he was given the name James Money at birth but in 1809 this was changed to James Money Kyrle by Royal Licence. He succeeded to his father’s estates in 1808 and married in 1811, and in the same year gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. James went on to become Colonel in 1825 and Major General in 1838 before his death in 1843. His marriage was childless, and so the estates passed to his brother William.
William Money Kyrle
William Money was born in 1776 and his birth name was changed to William Money Kyrle by Royal Licence in 1844. He was ordained as Deacon in 1799, and priest in 1801. He and his wife Emma had 8 children
William Money Kyrle
William Money Kyrle was born in 1801 at Homme House, and was the son of Reverend William Money Kyrle and Emma Down; he was admitted to the Inner Temple and entitled to practice as a barrister, but suffered from constant ill health and was possibly a hypochondriac. Although born William Money, he changed his name by Royal Lincence in 1843 to William Money Kyrle. He never married and died in 1868.
John Ernle Money Kyrle
John Ernle Money Kyrle was born in 1812, the son of Reverend William Money Kyre and Emma Down and was given the name John Ernle Money at birth, this was changed to John Ernle Money Kyrle by Royal Licence. He married twice – first Harriet Louisa Sutton in 1842 and secondly Ada Frances Simons in 1865, and eventually gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as well as holding the office of Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.
The Sudden Death of Colonel John Money Kyrle
In 1894 82 year old Colonel John Money Kyrle collapsed and died whilst dressing one Monday morning.
He had just come back from a holiday at the seaside with his family, and everyone thought that his previously poor health and greatly improved, but just before his death he once again complained of feeling unwell.
Heart disease was determined as the cause of death.
He had been a county magistrate for many years and was also Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire; he was strongly Conservative in his politics and was well respected by friends and tenants alike. He married twice, and had children by both marriages, with his son Major Audley Walter Washbourne Money Kyrle inheriting the estate.
Audley Walter Washbourne Money-Kyrle
In 1905 Major Audley Money Kyrle rented Homme House to the Dowager Lady Beauchamp for many years, and she stayed there with her two daughters, Lady Agnes and Lady Maud Lygon; she herself was the sister of Lord Manvers.
Three years later the Major was in Much Marcle, and took the opportunity to join a shooting party at Homme House, where he unfortunately fell down dead. He was fifty five, and left a widow and four children.
Unsolved Child Murder at Homme House
In 1863 some workmen spotted something floating in the pond at Homme House, and on investigation they discovered a baby boy. The inquest revealed that the child was about two weeks old and had been born alive; he seemed of healthy appearance and had been in the water some ten days, but it was strange that no effort had been made to weigh the child down. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against some person or persons unknown.
Fatal Burning at Homme House
Agnes Jones, a 16 year old kitchen maid at Homme House was at work when a cinder feel from the range and landed on her clothing which immediately caught fire. She immediately ran in a panic out into the hall, and Colonel Money Kyrle tried to help her by throwing her to the floor and smothering the flames.
Medical help was called for, but she was so severely burned that she was take to Ledbury Cottage Hospital, where she died from her injuries
1851 – Homme House Household
| William Money Kyrle | 42 | Magistrate for the County of Hereford | b. Exmouth |
| G. Money Kyrle | 35 | Brother, fellow of Kings College, Cambridge | b. Wiltshire |
| John Tyler | 36 | Butler | b. Dormington, Herefordshire |
| Henry Robertson | 22 | Footman | b. Scotland |
| George Parker | 39 | Coachman | b. Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Dew | 35 | Housekeeper | b. Goodrich, Herefordshire |
| Ann Bayley | 29 | Housemaid | b. Mordiford, Herefordshire |
| Sophia Schurven | 38 | Dairy Maid | B. Ayleton, Herefordshire |
Ten years later, it was the Butler who was in charge on census day, and there are some anomalies…….Elizabeth Dew for example was 35 in 1851, and 36 in 1861; this could have been the fault of the enumerator. Although her place of birth appears to vary, the area is the same, as is the case with Sophia Schurven.
1861 – Homme House Household
| John Tyler | 46 | Butler | b. Dormington, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Dew | 36 | Cook | b. Pencraig, Herefordshire |
| Anne Bailey | 40 | Housemaid | b. Mordiford, Herefordshire |
| Sophia Schurven | 49 | Dairy Maid | b. Yatton, Herefordshire |
1871 – Homme House Household
| John Ernle Money Kyrle | 59 | Lt. Colonel in the Army | b. Clifton, Somerset |
| Ada Frances Money Kyrle | 30 | Wife, Homekeeper | b. Hampstead, Middlesex |
| Harriet Mary Money Kyrle | 22 | Daughter | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Alice Eleanor Money Kyrle | 18 | Daughter | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Eugenia Emma Money Kyrle | 16 | Daughter | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Rowland Lacy Money Kyrle | 4 | Son | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Cecil Leigh Money Kyrle | 3 | Son | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Bertha Reuscher | 30 | Governess | b. Prussia |
| Eleanor Dyott | 64 | Visitor | b. London, Middlesex |
| Caroline Doidge (?) | 27 | Visitor’s Lady’s Maid | b. Cornwall |
| Mary Powell | 51 | Cook | b. Canon Pyon, Herefordshire |
| Mary Anne Lucy Evans | 27 | Nurse | b. Crickhowell, Breconshire |
| Mary Anne Morris | 27 | Upper Housemaid | b. Wellington, Herefordshire |
| Harriet Tommey | 24 | Laundry Maid | b. Herefordshire |
| Ellen Freer | 20 | Under Nursemaid | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| Lydia Ellen Drew | 20 | Under Housemaid | b. Linton, Herefordshire |
| Mary Anne Burnett | 20 | Kitchen Maid | b. Bromyard, Herefordshire |
| James John Morris | 38 | Butler | b. Worcestershire |
| George Frederick Hedger | 19 | Footman | b. Arundel, Sussex |
| William Meek | 28 | Coachman | b. Herefordshire |
1881 – Homme House Household
| John Ernle Money Kyrle | 69 | Retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, Magistrate for County of Hereford | b. Clifton, Somerset |
| Ada F. Money Kyrle | 39 | Wife | b. Hampstead, Middlesex |
| Alice E. Money Kyrle | 28 | Daughter | b. Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire |
| Eugenia E. Money Kyrle | 26 | Daughter | b. Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire |
| Violet E. A. Money Kyrle | 2 months | Daughter | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| Harriet M.E. Pope | 32 | Daughter | b. Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire |
| Sybill M.F. Pope | 5 | Grand Daughter | b. Blakemere, Herefordshire |
| Andrew W.E. Pope | 2 | Grandson | b. Preston on Wye, Herefordshire |
| Eugena J. Pope | 6 months | Grand Daughter | b. Preston on Wye, Herefordshire |
| Sarah A. Holmes | 32 | Cook | b. Lincolnshire |
| Mary A.L. Evans | 36 | Lady’s Maid | b. Crickhowell, Brecon |
| Ruth Watkins | 27 | Housemaid | b. Talgarth, Brecon |
| Fanny Robinson | 26 | Laundry Maid | b. Shropshire |
| Elizabeth Morgan | 20 | Housemaid | b. Brecknockshire |
| Rosa E. Kleiser | 20 | Kitchenmaid | b. Herefordshire |
| Marian Cross | 17 | Nursery Maid | b. Madley, Herefordshire |
| Ellen Williams | 25 | Nurse | b. Clapham, Surrey |
| Agnes Williams | 15 | Nursery Maid | b. Mordiford, Herefordshire |
| William Bettington | 33 | Butler | b. Bosbury, Herefordshire |
| Alfred Morgan | 19 | Footman | b. Bridstow, Herefordshire |
| Thomas Stephens | 24 | Coachman | b. Bromsberrow, Herefordshire |
| Thomas Lucas | 22 | Groom | b. Radnorshire |
1891 – Homme House Household
| John E. Money Kyrle | 79 | Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, JP for Herefordshire | b. Clifton, Somerset |
| Ada Money Kyrle | 49 | Wife | b. Middlesex |
| Cecil L. Money Kyrle | 23 | Son, Theological student, BA Oxford | b. Tupsley, Herefordshire |
| Eugenia Money Kyrle | 36 | Daughter | b. Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire |
| Violet A. Money Kyrle | 10 | Daughter | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| Arthur Money Kyrle | 9 | Cousin | b. India |
| Nina Money Kyrle | 8 | Cousin | b. India |
| Ernle W. Money Kyrle | 6 | b. Aberystwith, Wales | |
| Bertha Henshaw | 22 | Governess | b. Essex |
| Albert Collet | 38 | Butler | b. Worcester |
| Joseph Burford | 17 | Footman | b. Redmarley, Gloucestershire |
| James Rowberry | 31 | Coachman | b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire |
| George Forty | 20 | Groom | b. Putley, Herefordshire |
| Susan Bengough | 50 | Cook/Housekeeper | b. Stoke Prior, Herefordshire |
| Mary Evans | 46 | Lady’s Maid | b. Crickhowell, Brecon |
| Eliza England | 35 | Housemaid | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| Ann Counsell | 18 | Housemaid | b. Peterstow, Herefordshire |
| Louisa Ellis | 19 | Kitchen Maid | b. Kings Pyon, Herefordshire |
| Winifred Morris | 18 | Lady’s Maid | b. Malvern Link, Worcestershire |
| Mary Hill | 19 | Nurse | b. Munsley, Herefordshire |
1901 – Homme House Household
| Ann Poppitt | 47 | Housekeeper in Charge | b. Bishops Frome, Herefordshire |
| Celia Edwards | 16 | Housemaid | b. Dymock, Gloucestershire |
| Beatrice Poppitt | 15 | Kitchen Maid | b. Ludlow, Shropshire |
1911 – Homme House Household
| Louisa Jones | 41 | Caretaker | b. Sollers Hope, Herefordshire |
1921 – Homme House Household
| Eliza Mary Wilcholt | b. Victoria, Australia 1880 | Wife |
| Faith Wilcholt | b. Queensland, Australia 1909 | Daughter |
| Ann Mary Wilcholt | b. Llanwarne, Herefordshire 1912 | Daughter |
| Minnie Madeleine Christie | b. Ballymena, Ireland 1885 | Governess |
| Jane Smith | b. Worcestershire 1903 | Under Parlourmaid |
| Leslie Frank Beard | b. Upton on Severn, Gloucestershire 1901 | Chauffeur |
| Amy Charles | b. Wormbridge, Herefordshire 1889 | Cook |
| Hilda Jane Fawks | b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire 1896 | Head Housemaid |
| Irene May Baker | b. Woolhope, Herefordshire 1904 | Kitchen Maid |
| Edith Mary Evans | b. Canon Frome, Herefordshire 1906 | Under Housemaid |
| Mary Elise Lewis | b. Little Dewchurch 1893 | Parlourmaid |