Pencraig Court is a fairly large house lying between Ross on Wye and Monmouth, with wonderful views over the River Wye, and beautiful grounds; although it is presently being used as a hotel, it hasn’t been altered so drastically that it could not be turned back into a private residence.
In the early 1800s, the house was owned by George Little, and after his death in 1826, Pencraig Court was put up for let – furnished for three years, (or unfurnished for the remainder of a term from Christmas 1825). It was very amply furnished and described as having a good entrance hall; staircase; dining room; library; drawing room with a greenhouse attached and leading to the gardens; seven chambers and a water closet on the first floor; four good attics; kitchen; dairy; servants hall; butler’s pantry; housekeeper’s room; store room; china closet; back stairs; a Coach House for two carriages, stabling for five horses etc. etc. with twenty acres of meadow and orchard.
Ten years later, in 1837, Pencraig Court was once again up for let, fully furnished. This time it only had two attics but there were eleven bedrooms. It was said to be in good repair and recently furnished, as well as being one of the most desirable on the banks of the River Wye.
By the early 1800s, Thomas Brook had bought Pencraig Court – he was a keep breeder of livestock, and was elected a member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. His wife had been married before, and brought two children to the marriage. Thomas died in 1850 and left Pencraig Court to his son Thomas, who moved in with his wife in the 1850s
1851 – Pencraig Court Household
| Sarah Ann Brook | 52 | Widow | b. Bermondsey, Surrey |
| Lavinia Riley | 24 | Daughter | b. Bermondsey, Surrey |
| Virginia Riley | 21 | Daughter | b. Bermondsey, Surrey |
| Albert Brook | 16 | Son | b. Essex |
| Mary Elizabeth Taylor | 33 | Upper Servant | b. Lambeth, Surrey |
| Marry Ann Smith | 29 | Cook | b. Gloucestershire |
| Mary Burgoyne | 27 | Housemaid | ? |
| Abel Smith | 24 | Footman | b. Oxfordshire |
1861 – Pencraig Court Household
| Thomas Brook | 29 | Captain Royal Monmouth Militia | b. Bushey, Herefordshire |
| Helena Brook | 29 | Wife | b. Pembroke |
| Elliot I Brook | 3 | Son | b. Goodrich, Herefordshire |
| Sarah A. Brooks | 24 | Sister | b. Leytonstone |
| Mary A. Smith | 38 | Cook | b. Gloucestershire |
| Elizabeth Preece | 32 | Lady’s Maid | b. Sellack, Herefordshire |
| Mary Bryan | 25 | Housemaid | b. Hentland, Herefordshire |
| Sarah Kell | 21 | Kitchenmaid | b. Chew Magna, Somerset |
| James Sandy | 27 | Footman | b. Diss, Norfolk |
| William Smith | 32 | Coachman | b. Gloucestershire |
| George Sanderson | 16 | Groom | b. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire |
1863 the house was put up for sale, and was eventually bought by William Beever
1871 – Pencraig Court Household
| William H. Beever | 43 | Landowner and Clergyman | b. Denbighshire |
| Hannah J. Beever | 40 | Wife | b. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Edith M.H. Beever | 15 | Daughter | b. Cowbridge, Glamorgan |
| Ellen H. Beever | 12 | Daughter | b. Cowbridge, Glamorgan |
| Anna Minlieuverber (?) | 33 | Governess | b. Germany |
| Celia Roberts | 14 | Kitchenmaid | b. Monmouthshire |
| Martha White | 13 | Under Housemaid | b. Wantage |
| Susannah Watkins | 30 | Cook | b. Merionethshire |
| Martha Davis | 31 | Housemaid | b. Glamorganshire |
| Elizabeth Morgan | 32 | Lady’s Maid | b. Glamorganshire |
1881 – Pencraig Court Household
| Vincent M.H. Beever | 20 | Son of Owner, Articled Clerk | b. Glamorganshire |
| William J.H. Beever | 26 | Son of Owner, Farmer | b. Glamorganshire |
| Elizabeth Allsop | 29 | Cook | b. Tipton, Staffordshire |
| Clara Aitken | 19 | Housemaid | b. Stoneleigh, Warwickshire |
The house was again put up for sale, and was bought by Robert Spelman Marriott who lived there for many years, although at times he was in London, as was the case in 1901
1891 – Pencraig Court Household
| Robert Spelman Marriott | 29 | Living on own means | b. Norfolk |
| Blanche H. Marriott | 30 | Wife | b. Dringhouses, Yorkshire |
| Juliet Marriott | 5 | Daughter | b. London |
| Emily Wilding | 41 | Cook | b. Gloucestershire |
| Hannah Jackson | 28 | Parlourmaid | b. Crawford, Middlesex |
| Leah Drew | 21 | Housemaid | b. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire |
1911 – Pencraig Court Household
| Robert Spelman Marriott | 49 | Living on own Means | b. Narborough, Norfolk | |
| Blanche Harriet Christina Marriott | 50 | Wife | b. Dringhouses, Yorkshire | |
| Anna Elizabeth Poppleton | 29 | Cook | b. Yorkshire | |
| Mary Ann Gardner | 30 | Parlourmaid | b. Tuffley, Gloucestershire | |
| Blanche Annie Morgan | 31 | Housemaid | b. Llangarron, Herefordshire | |
| Sarah Bayliss | 24 | Lady’s Maid | b. Brobury, Herefordshire | |
| Polly Weaver | 16 | Kitchenmaid | b. Howle Hill, Herefordshire | |