Pembridge Castle, originally called Newland Castle sits on the Welsh border and was thought by some to have been built by Matilda de Valery, wife of William Braose, in the late 12th century or early 13th. However, others say that the castle was built by Ralph de Pembridge in 1135. Whatever the truth, the Pembridge family were in residence in 1208 and it was probably at this time that the name changed from Newlands to Pembridge.

Sir Richard Burley

Possession of the Castle went from the Pembridge family to Sir Richard Burley, born in 1337, who was the eldest son and heir of Sir John Burley and his wife Amicia, the elder of the two sisters of Sir Richard Pembrugge.
He married Beatrice de Stafford without license, but was later pardoned – there were no children.
At the battle of Auray in Britanny on Michaelmas day 1364, Burley was given the command of the van along with Sir Robert Knolls and Sir Walter Hewett, and he is reported to have distinguished himself on many occasions during this campaign. Of particular note was his role in the battle in which Du Guesclin was imprisoned and Charles de Blois killed.
In 1382 he was elected into the Order of the Garter, and took the place of the deceased Earl of Suffolk near to the Prince’s side.
In 1386 letters of protection allowed him to move into Gascony, but one year later dreadful disease decimated the English army in Spain and under a convention with the enemy Richard Burley withdrew to Vilhalpando in Leon to try to recover. After some considerable time he succumbed to the disease and died on 23rd May 1387.
He is buried in Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

 Edward Tudor;  the Hoptons ; Sir Walter Pye and Thomas Bartlett

Pembridge Castle then went to Edward Tudor the half brother of Henry V1.
In 1445 the Castle passed into the vast Hopton family who later sold it to Sir Walter Pye.
After the Civil War when the castle was used as a Royalist outpost and suffered great damage during the siege of 1644, it was sold to George Kemble who set about making the castle fit to live in again.

 
Tenant farmers were in residence in the 18th century until the early 20th century when Thomas Bartlett, doctor, antiquarian and bishop of an obscure Anglo Orthodox sect, restored the castle; the gatehouse was repaired; the walls were rebuilt with new crenellations and the south gatehouse tower was rebuilt.

1841 – Pembridge Castle Household

Jonas Keddle 60 Farmer
Sarah Keddle 68
George Keddle 25
Henry Keddle 20
Sarah Keddle 22
Charlotte Keddle 18
Thomas Keddle 23
Eliza Keddle 22
Alfred Keddle 3
Morgan Keddle 2

 

There seems to be some confusion in the camp over the actual birth dates of Jonas and Sarah!

1851 – Pembridge Castle Household

Jonas Keddle 69 Farmer b. Somerset
Sarah Keddle 71 Wife b. Dorset
George Keddle 34 Son b. Monmouthshire
George H. Selway 13 Visitor b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Susannah Arkwell 19 Servant b. Herefordshire
Thomas Lewis 17 Farm Labourer b. Herefordshire
Thomas Arker 18 Farm Labourer b. Herefordshire

1861 – Pembridge Castle Household

William Nelmes 37 Farmer b. Gloucestershire
Sarah Nelmes 38 Wife b. Breconshire
Mary B. Nelmes 14 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
William Nelmes 12 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
John A Nelmes 8 Son b. Llangarron, Herefordshire
Elizabeth A Nelmes 6 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
George Nelmes 4 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Emily J. Nelmes 2 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Julia B. Nelmes 1 mth Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Lilian Larkman 26 Governess b. London
Sarah Walters 20 Servant b. Monmouthshire
Mary Scrivens 15 Servant b. Monmouthshire
James Phelps 22 Carter b. Aston Ingham, Herefordshire
James Powell 17 Servant b. Monmouthshire
William Roberts 13 Carters Boy b. St. Weonards, Herefordshire

1871 – Pembridge Castle Household

William Nelmes 47 Auctioneer and farmer b. Gloucestershire
Sarah Nelmes 40 Wife b. Breconshire
Mary B. Nelmes 24 Daughter b. Kentchurch, Herefordshire
John E. Nelmes 18 Son b. Llangarran, Herefordshire
Elizabeth A. Nelmes 16 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
George F. Nelmes 14 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Emily J. Nelmes 12 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Julia B. Nelmes 10 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Albert E. Nelmes 8 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Mary Hambory 19 General Servant b. Monmouthshire
James Walters 32 Farm Servant b. Monmouthshire
George Davies 38 Farm Servant b. Llangarran, Herefordshire
William Herring 20 Farm Servant b. Llangarran, Herefordshire

1881 – Pembridge Castle Household

Robert N. Dampier 40 Farmer b. Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Martha M. Dampier 39 Wife b. Yarlington, Somerset
Catherine A. Dampier 8 Daughter b. Manson, Monmouthshire
Robert R. Dampier 6 Son b. Manson, Monmouthshire
Florence M. Dampier 4 Daughter b. Manson, Monmouthshire
Alexander E. Dampier 2 Son b. Pembridge Castle, Herefordshire
Catherine Dampier 80 Mother, widow b. Axminster, Devon
Nicholas Dampier 43 Brother, Farmer b. Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Anna M. Humphries 19 Visitor b. Dixton, Monmouthshire
Caroline Jones 18 General Servant b. Monmouthshire
Philip Nurse 19 Indoor farm servant b. Llangarren, Herefordshire
Charles Prosser 17 Indoor farm servant b. Dixton, Monmouthshire

1891 – Pembridge Castle Household

Catherine Williams Farmer’s Widow 72 b. Carmarthenshire
John Williams Son 40 b. Breconshire
Richard Williams Son 35 b. Breconshire
William Williams Son 37 b. Breconshire
Elizabeth Williams Daughter 39 b. Breconshire
Ann Williams Daughter 33 b. Breconshire
Ann Williams Visitor 2 b. Breconshire

 

1901 – Pembridge Castle Household

James M. Jones 46 Farmer b. Walterstone, Herefordshire
Clara C. Jones 42 Wife b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire
Magera E Jones 11 Daughter b. Walterstone, Herefordshire
Reginald J. Jones 9 Son b. Walterstone, Herefordshire
Harold W. Jones 8 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Clifford R. Jones 6 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Percy W. Jones 5 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Harvy W. Jones 4 Son b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Elsie M Jones 2 Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Evelyn S. Jones 8 mths Daughter b. Welsh Newton, Herefordshire
Martha A Mainwaring 21 Domestic Servant b. Lyonshall, Herefordshire
William H. Sanders 32 Farm Bailiff b. Welland, Worcestershire