In the mid 16^th century the Garnstone estate was granted to trustees by James Tomkyns for his own use along with his wife Margery, and his descendants remained there until 1661.  At this time it became part of the settlement made upon Anne Tomkyns on her marriage to Roger Vaughan, and it was sold to Colonel Birch, a successful officer in Cromwell’s army.

Colonel Birch was originally a pack horse driver, travelling and trading his own goods, and he was so successful at defending these goods from Parliamentarians that he was noticed by Cromwell.  Cromwell was so impressed that he offered Birch a commission in his troop, and in 1645 Colonel Birch managed to capture Hereford which pleased Parliament no end.  He later became MP for Leominster and later Weobley until 1691 when he died.

Samuel Peploe (1)

Samuel Peploe was educated at Oxford University and was ordained a priest in 1692;  becoming Vicar of Preston, Lancashire in 1700.  He had a hatred of the Jacobites, which was further fuelled by the damage that they did to his property and his loyalty to the government eventually ensured his nomation to Bishop of Chester in 1725.  When he died in 1752 his son John succeeded him as warden of Manchester and inherited the Garnstone estate.

John Peploe Birch b. 1742 – 1805

Married Anne Clowes b. 1743,  a girl who was not without her own means.  John’s father Samuel (above) had left Garnstone estate to him in trust, to be inherited at the age of 21 provided that John adopted the surname Birch.  This he did, keeping Peploe as his middle name.

This couple never appeared to live at  Garnstone, preferring to live in Barnstone or London despite the fact that John was appointed High Sheriff of Herefordshire.  However John left Garnstone Estate to Anne who lived for several more years, and both of them were buried at Weobley.

John and Anne’s son, Samuel, inherited the Garnstone Estate.

Garnstone Castle

Designed by John Nash and built in 1807 for Samuel Peploe, Garnstone Castle was an extremely large and rather beautiful building with its Gothic towers, battlements and stunning views which was constructed to impress rather than for defence purposes.  ( Eastnor Castle was another example of this.)  Materials were sourced from the estate, and bricks were made locally – green sandstone was used for the seven inch courses, but eventually this was proved to be a mistake as it was too soft and it needed replacing in later years.  There were other flaws in the design, including the use of lead for the vast flat roof…….this leaked dreadfully especially after heavy snowfall, necessitating much manpower and many hours to clear the snow from the roof, using specially designed shovels.

All the floors were made of oak from the grounds, and oak was also used for the doors …… no expense was spared on the interior;  however, the cost of coal to heat this vast building was enormous and over the years the drain on the family’s finances must have been considerable.

The mansion stood on a gentle slope with magnificent views in all directions.  On the south side of the house was a beautiful flower garden with numerous roses and herbaceous plants, bordered by an iron railing beyond which was the deer park and rookery.  This was said to be one of the finest parks in England, and there was a herd of some 200 Black deer – not a breed as such but a variant in the same way that white deer can sometimes occur in herds, and very rare.

In the grounds were magnificent cedars, ancient oaks and elms, and there was a splendid avenue of 22 Wellingtonias bordering the drive up to the Castle.

There was an extensive kitchen garden, which although positioned well with regard to the house was north facing and therefore not altogether productive.  There were however many good fruit trees, as well as two vineries;   one peach house and a fig house.

There were 17 farms all with good tenants with the rental amounting to around £7,300 a year.

Samuel Peploe (2)

Born in 1774 in Lancashire, Samuel married Katherine Frances, daughter of Sir George Cornewall, 2^nd Bart. Of Moccas Court, Herefordshire

Samuel was educated at Eton, and took a great interest in music and the arts;   later he took the trouble to learn both French and Italian and was fluent in these languages – he was a most charming and considerate man, never talking down to those in lower walks of life yet comfortable in the company of high society.  He was a philanthropist, donating large sums of money to local causes and took a keen interest in the Weobley school for the poor, as an example – he provided a sumptuous dinner of roast beef and plum pudding along with good cider for the children when they had finished their exams.

He was described as one of the County’s most distinguished gentleman, who as a Magistrate showed great wisdom which was always guided by justice;   he was an eminent agriculturist and had a fine flock of sheep including Ryelands, Leicester and Southdowns.  In 1841 he was elected Governor of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.  Samuel also became Lord Lieutenant 1840

Samuel was a liberal and enlightened landlord, earning himself great respect and love from friends and tenants alike.

Samuel Peploe died in April 1845  and although he had been ill  for some time it was sudden and unexpected,  indeed in 1844 it was reported that his health was much improved and there were hopes of a good recovery.

 Royal Grants

1845

Copied from the Gazette on 23^rd May

The Queen has been pleased to grant unto Daniel Peploe Webb of Garnstone in the county of Hereford, eldest son and heir of Daniel Webb of Audley Square in the county of Middlesex, deceased, her Royal licence and authority that he and his issue may (in compliance with a direction in the last will and testament of the said Samuel Peploe) henceforth take and use the surname of Peploe only, instead of that of Webb, and bear the arms of Peploe quarterly, in the first quarter, with those of his own family;  such arms being first duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the Heralds’ Office, otherwise the said licence and permission to be void and of none effect”.

1866

Copied from The Edinburgh Gazette, 20^th July

The Queen has been pleased to give and grant unto John Birch Webb, Clerk, Vicar of Weobley, in the county of Hereford, and of Garnstone, in the said county, second but eldest surviving son and heir of Daniel Webb, of Audley Square, in the county of Middlesex, Esquire, deceased, by Anne, his Wife, Sister of Samuel Peploe, of Garnstone aforesaid, Esquire, deceased, Her Royal licence and authority that he and his issue may (in. compliance with A proviso contained in the last will and testament of the said Samuel Peploe,)- henceforth take and use the surname of Peploe” only, instead of that of Webb, and bear the arms of Peploe quarterly, in the first quarter, with those of his own family; such arms being first duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the College of Arms, otherwise the said licence to be void and of none effect: And also to command that the said Royal concession and declaration be recorded in Her Majesty’s College of Arms.

Daniel Peploe Peploe

Daniel Peploe Peploe was appointed High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1846 at a Court held in Buckingham Palace and he then arrived for the Lent Assizes in an elegant carriage drawn by four superb horses, and escorted by many representatives of the principal families in Herefordshire;  the Garnstone tenantry; the most respectable citizens and numerous attendants which formed a cavalcade of vehicles and horsemen not seen since the revered Thomas Andrew Knight of Downton Castle filled the office of High Sheriff.

1851 Garnstone Castle Household

1861 Garnstone Castle Household

Daniel Peploe Peploe (2)

Born in 1829 to the Reverend John Birch Peploe and Annie Molyneaux,  the second Daniel Peploe was educated at Rugby and then Trinity College.

He married Eliza Theophilia Debonnaire in Ludlow, Shropshire – he was a Major in the 4^th Dragoon Guards and served in the Crimea War.

Daniel was also a J.P. and was an MP for Hereford between 1874 and 1889

He died 4^th November 1887 in Florence, Italy, his will being proved by his wife Eliza and Daniel Henry Theophilus Peploe, his son, who were the executors.  The estate amounted to £25,619 16s 6d.

1871 Garnstone Castle Household

Fitzgerald Cornwall Peploe

Daniel Peploe’s son, Fitzgerald Cornwall Peploe was born 3^rd September 1862, and shunning the British Army to the disgust of his father he travelled to Canada to learn about farming.  His heart however was not in it, and finally he followed his dream and his talent to study sculpture in Florence, then Paris and Rome.  He became an extremely accomplished sculptor, and settled in New York where he produced some outstanding works including a bust of Lady Randolph Churchill.

He never married, and rumour has it that he was a little over fond of the drink – then again what great artist didn’t have their vices.

He died aged just 45 of heart disease and was buried at the Kensico Cemetery, New York.

The following two census returns showed the castle being manned by a skeleton staff.

1881 Garnstone Castle Household

1891 Garnstone Castle Household

1901 Garnstone Castle Household

October 1899

The whole of the Garnstone Castle estate was sold for £150,000 to  Joseph Verdin

Sir Joseph Verdin at Garnstone Castle.

Born on 4^th January 1838 in Northwich, Chestire,  Joseph Verdin was a  JP and Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire, becoming a Baronet in 1896 and knighted in 1897.

Joseph Verdin & Sons Salt Business

Along with his brothers, Joseph was involved in the extensive family salt business;  there were six salt plants employing a very large workforce and they were the largest salt manufacturers in Great Britain.  The brothers became very wealthy, and used some of their riches to help the local community, including educational facilities for their own workforce, and various infirmaries.  Things went well in the 1880s, but problems began to arise with subsidence in areas surrounding the brine pumps, and although Sir Joseph set up a trust to help compensate those affected by the subsidence, an Act in 1891 which provided compensation for property owners made the Trust pointless so he used the money to help various schools and hospitals etc.  Eventually the salt business was ruined by the formation of the Salt Union in 1888 and in the end, still a bachelor,  he and his sister Mary moved to Garnstone Castle in 1900 where he became JP for Herefordshire and then High Sheriff in 1903.

Sir Joseph became a very popular country squire, sparing no expense in keeping up the estate and household and was something of a philanthropist.  A regular visitor to Garnstone Castle was Norman Verdin, the eldest son or Sir Joseph’s brother;  himself a JP for the county of Cheshire and Captain in the Cheshire Yeomanry, and heir to the childless Sir Joseph.

1919

Soldiers Returning from the War are Entertained at Garnstone Castle

On 18^th September the grounds of Garnstone Castle were opened to the ex service men of the Weobley district, first and foremost to welcome the demobilised men but also the residents from surrounding villages.  The band of the Hereford Working Boys Home played gamely throughout the afternoon, and there was much varied entertainment as well as organised races.

Afterwards a good meat tea was served in a large marquee, including beef;  roast mutton;  hams;  tongues etc. and glorious puddings, which was followed by dancing.

Sir Joseph replying to a speech of gratitude said that he had no wish to be thanked as he had only done what was his duty – to welcome home the men who had fought for the country.

He remained at the Castle until his death in December 1920, his sister Mary having died in 1903.

1911 Garnstone Castle Household

Richard Norman Harrison Verdin

In 1909 Richard Norman Harrison Verdin, educated at Harrow and Magdalen College Oxford, married Miss Alison Macfie Barbour of Bolesworth Castle near Chester, an event which the inhabitants of Weobley were keenly interested in, given that the pair would eventually take ownership of Garnstone Castle.

Indeed Richard (known as Norman) proved to be as kind and philanthropic as his Uncle when he moved to Garnstone in 1931, and he became Chairman of the Weobley Parish Council and Chairman of the Managers of Weobley School.  He was also a President of the Three Counties Agricultural Show and sat on the boards of many local interests – maintaining interest in all activities until he died.

He was survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter when he died on October 22^nd 1956 aged 79,  but left unsettled estate of £137,322 0s 2d.  The settled land grant however,  had already been issued to Lt. Col Richard B. Verdin retired, of Nantwich, Cheshire.

One year after probate was granted on the estate one final lavish ball was held before Garnstone Castle was demolished, perhaps because it was just too expensive to keep going.

An ancient hollow oak tree at Moreton on Lugg, going by the name of Eve,  had an impressive circumference of some 62 feet.   An enterprising railway worker used it as a makeshift house, and he managed to add a brick chimney and doorway  and also thatched a roof.

All very cosy and when he had finally finished with it,  the tree house was used for storage until 1862 when Great Western Railway installed a station master for Moreton on Lugg station.  Tickets were sold from this unique little “building” until a new station was erected.

(Picture kindly sent to me by Jeff Lane, taken from The Wonder Book of Railways – without such input I would miss so much interesting information on Herefordshire’s past)

Unfortunately, possibly because of work done on the railway embankment which meant that water pooled around the base of the tree, the tree eventually rotted and finally was toppled

]]> https://herefordshirepast.co.uk/buildings/moreton-on-lugg-railway-station/feed/ 0 https://herefordshirepast.co.uk/buildings/history-of-putley-court/ https://herefordshirepast.co.uk/buildings/history-of-putley-court/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2020 20:46:06 +0000 https://herefordshirepast.co.uk/?p=5294 Built 1712 with extensions late 18th century the acres belonging to this mansion have long been known for its excellent fruit production

The Stocks of Putley Court

John Skinner Stock

John Skinner Stock came from a wealthy Gloucestershire family and took possession of Putley court in 1781 but died a relatively short time later in 1795 when the estate was passed to his brother William Stock, a druggist as there were no children from John’s marriage to Susannah.

Although John had been well respected in Putley along with Susannah, they spent little time on the estate, and in fact both were buried in Gloucester.  However the pair were generous to the poor of Putley whilst living, and left bequests to the poor women and children.

William Stock

After the death of Susannah,  John Skinner Stock’s brother took ownership of Putley Court and he did choose to live there.

William died in 1812,  and although his son Charles was down to inherit the estate,  William had been aware that leaving him too much capital would have been a bad idea as he was not the most steady of characters, so a trust was formed allowing Charles to inherit the estate but not the money.  This appears to be immaterial as Charles was most likely dead.

Lieutenant William Stock

Mary James, previously married daughter of William Stock, was widowed and she went on to marry William’s nephew, Lt. William Stock in 1820 – he was her toy boy being a good 10 years younger – and the pair took up residence in Putley Court.

Lt. William began his Navy life as an able seaman and gradually progressed to the rank of  Lieutenant in 1807 and he served on the Royal Sovereign – Flagship for Vice Admiral Collingwood, which was crucial in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Back at Putley Court, William set about modernising the house, but he died suddenly at the tender age of 43 in 1828,  and being known as a most honourable and hospitable man, he was sorely missed.

His wife, a pious Christian, died just one year later.

John Rodway Stock

The will of Lt. William Stock gave Putley Court to his youngest brother, John Rodway Stock, who lived there with his wife Susan.

John had served to the Bengal Native Infantry as Captain, progressing to Major in later years.

It seems that life at Putley Court was not totally the be all and end all for the pair, and they moved to Cheltenham where he died in 1868.

1855

The Putley Court estate was offered for sale by auction; including the Manor of Putley and the mansion house along with outbuildings; water corn mill; farm houses; cottages and 316 acres of arable, meadow, pasture, orchard and woodland.
The estates are in the midst of good roads and at convenient distances from Hereford and Gloucester, and the town of Ledbury.

1857

Putley Court mansion put up for let…..partly furnished or unfurnished on a lease or yearly….with lawns, shrubberies, fruit and kitchen garden; with or without 23 acres of rich orchard and meadow land.
The house comprised entrance hall; dining room; breakfast room; drawing room; small drawing room; 5 bedrooms; dressing rooms; six secondary bedrooms with a principal and back staircase.
The offices comprised a small servants’ waiting hall; butlers’s pantry; store room; best kitchen; back kitchen; scullery; larder, and excellent cellars. Dairy, stables; coach house, harness room, and cider mill.
The property is in the middle of good hunting country and the tenant may have the shooting over 600 acres of land.

Lame Horse at Putley court leads to Court Case

There was a major court case in 1858, concerning a horse bought by John Rodway Stock from a dealer in Ledbury, Mr. William Scattergood.
On 27th January the dealer sold John a grey cob which he verbally warranted to be sound and quiet in all respects; relying on this warrant, John paid £38 for the horse…….£28 of which was a cheque and £10 being the value of a horse that John gave in part exchange so to speak.
After the horse was inspected by a vet called Mr. Thomas and proclaimed to be sound and quiet as described, it was left with John and the horse that he was giving in part exchange was taken back to Ledbury.

Trouble Afoot

For some 11 weeks John used the horse and liked it very much; he never used it for long journeys, mostly just the five miles to Ledbury and back two or three times a week, but on 13th April the horse went stiff and began to stumble.
On the 15th of the same month on a slightly longer journey the horse again went lame, and it took two and a half hours to get back home. A few days later John contacted the dealer to say that he was going to have the horse examined again and if it was found to be unsound then he would return him.
The horse was sent to Hereford for inspection by Mr. Musgrave, veterinary surgeon, who pronounced the horse to have been unsound for months due to ossification of the side cartilages of the fore feet and gave a certificate to that effect.
The dealer was asked to take back the horse, but he refused, so John asked yet another vet, Mr. Hall of Hereford, for his opinion……..it was the same as that given by Mr. Musgrave; he said that there was ossification in the cartilages in both fore feet, of many months’ standing; the ossification must have commenced before the purchase of the horse by John. Ossification is the termination of inflammation and generally begins in horses from their being worked before they should be when young. Acting on these opinions, John sent the horse to the dealer in Ledbury, but he refused to receive it so the horse was put at livery at the Feathers Hotel to await the decision of the court.

The dealer, William Scattergood denied in court that he had ever verbally warranted the horse sound.

A difference of Opinion

The original vet, Mr. Thomas had another look at the horse and this time found the disease as described by Mr. Hall and Mr. Musgrave, but said that it could have been caused by bad shoeing or by being driven fast, or even by being put away in a cold stable whilst still hot from work, and also considered that the disease could develop in just three to eight weeks, thus disagreeing with the other two vets.
The judge explained to the jury the points at issue, saying that a difference in opinion existed among the veterinary surgeons and called their attention to two points; whether there was indeed a warranty, and whether the unsoundness existed at the time of sale.

The Verdict

The jury consulted for an hour and a half then returned with a verdict in favour of the dealer; they added that they were of the opinion that a warranty of soundness had been given by the defendant, but the horse was not proved to be unsound at the time of sale.
A new trial was requested by John.

Two years later, house is up for let again in 1860, furnished or unfurnished.

Then a little later in 1862 all the household furniture was for sale by auction, comprising various suites of dining, drawing and bedroom and other apartments of the mansion, with the numerous excellent culinary and other requisites of the servants’ offices; dairy; Brewhouse and cellars, together with the carriages, dairy cows, sheep, pigs and a great variety of effects.

1866

sees Putley court up for sale by auction, along with Hall Court at nearby Kinaston.

1896

Launcelot John Cockroft Riley, eldest son of J. Riley, celebrated his coming of age with lavish festivities, including dinner and fireworks.

1901

Putley Court described as possibly the prettiest and best cultivated fruit farm in the county.  At this time owned by Mr. Riley, some forty acres of fruit were laid out on the slope of a hill;  20 acres were plum trees which were planted in 1881, and apples were set between them to come into their own when the plum trees go past their best in 20 years.

Between some of the other trees (pears and cherry) Mr. Riley had planted strawberries, and elsewhere there were gooseberries and black currants.

Herefordshire Cider – “Dreadful Draught”

As a by the by, the describer above was rather less pleased with Herefordshire’s cider, saying that “I drank cider – family cider is the correct appellation – the memory of which, or of its effects, will never leave me so long as I may live.  This dreadful draught which tastes like steel filings mixed with vinegar and mud, is, it appears, compounded of more or less rotten apples heaped up in orchards for pigs and fowls to feed, whereof the juice expressed into dirty casks may be at times diluted with water from a neighbouring horse pond!”

1906

Again Putley Court plantations attracted great praise, and in this year many of the plum trees had to have their branches well supported by props due to profusion of fruit.  Varieties included Belle de Levaine;  Czars;  Victorias and Rivers’s early prolifics.

1910 – Butler at Putley Court charged with Theft

Charles Edward Lambert, a Butler at Putley Court was charged with the theft of various items;  namely six bottles of brandy, one bottle of cider, one bottle of whisky, four bottles of claret, three scrubbing brushes, two black lead brushes, three hand brushes, one sponge, one brass scrubbing brush, three melons, one box of soap, two packets of black lead, two pieces of soap, two pots of shaving cream, one bottle of boot polish, one piece of emery cloth, three eggs, one tine of tea, two pounds of sugar, three glass jars, one box of polishing powder and one jar of jam.  The whole valued at £4 6s.

Launcelot Riley, living at Putley Court with his father to whom Charles was Butler.  Charles was spotted taking a bag to his room and Launcelot was suspicious so later on he conducted a search of the room in the presence of Charles and found all the articles listed above which he could identify as belonging to his father.  The police were called, and when Charles confessed and said “All I can say is that I am very sorry” he was arrested.

In court, the prisoner pleaded guilty and asked if he could be dealt with under the First Offenders Act – it was stated by Supt. Phillips that there was nothing previously known against the prisoner and that he had been a Butler at Putley Court for seven years, with ten years’ character.

Charles was sentenced to two months’ hard labour at Hereford Gaol, with the Bench considering it a serious offence……the prisoner had been placed in a position of responsibility and he had abused the confidence placed in him.  He was liable to a six month imprisonment sentence but as this was his first offence it was reduced to two months, and he was told to think himself lucky.

John Rodway Stock, died in Cheltenham in 1868 aged 75

1841 – Putley Court Household

1851 – Putley Court Household

1861 – Putley Court Household

1871 – Putley Court Household

John Riley lived at Putley Court from 1872 until 1922, and was a fair and respected man – not only an excellent fruit grower, he also kept Longhorn Cattle and Tamworth Pigs as well as well bred sheep.

In 1927 his children erected the Putley village hall in his honour.

It is remarkable that so many of the children of John and Lucy Riley remained living at home and were unmarried.

1881 – Putley Court Household

1891 – Putley Court Household

1901 – Putley Court Household

1911 – Putley Court Household

1835 – Death of small child by Fire at Putley

Elizabeth Pocknell was just two years old when she strayed too close to the hearth and her clothes caught fire.

Sadly her injuries were too severe and she died.

1910 – Adders at Putley

Several adders were discovered during July on the Hoar House Farm in the occupation of W. and C. Godsall.

Whilst pulling weeds in a wheatfield, a man experienced an adder jumping high into the air from the ground, whilst a shed skin measuring over 2 feet long was found in the rickyard.

1840 – Lines Written on the Mound at the Back of the Treago Arms, St. Weonards

How hath my childhood lov’d to sport upon

A rude fantastic hillock at the back

of our old mansion;  round its rugged top

The lofty firs would bend them to the breeze –

And oft at fall of day, with boding sound,

Would cause a terror to my childish heart,

And make me leave the spot in pallid haste,

As my fix’d eye would rest upon some tomb

Within the ancient churchyard close beneath.

How doth maturer age e’en now delight

To stand upon that haunt of early days, and think

On those lov’d forms which glided round me thn

As in a fairy vision!  Oh childhood!

Thou happiest, purest portion of our days,

Why wilt thou not remain?  they very act

Is friendship, love, and unity – no guile,

No coldness – but all fervor and delight –

Religion’s purity is in each thought;

And feelings such as fail in later years

Are then in bright development – each eye

Is beaming with parental love, so oft

Forgotten in the worldly strife, which draws

Us on in after life – corrodes our hearts,

And freezes up our nature’s noblest warmth.

Yes, all those thoughts possess my soul whene’er

I cast my eyes upon that rustic mound.

1855 – Concealment of Birth at St. Weonards

An inquest was held following the discovery of the body of a new born child which had been buried in St. Weonards.

William Jenkins stated that he saw Lucy Gwatkin in a meadow with a spade in her hand at around 11 o’clock in the morning, and when talking to his mother two months later it became clear that Lucy had been obviously pregnant until that time and then appeared not to be.  This was verified by several witnesses.

William’s mother then became concerned and went to the spot that her son had described, where helped by a hedger she searched until two flat stones were found barely covered by some leaves, underneath which they could see the toes of a child. They immediately called for help.

It transpired that Lucy had consistently denied being pregnant, despite her growing size, and it was thought that Daniel Johnson was the father as he had frequently visited Lucy – however Daniel said that it wasn’t him and he wanted nothing to do with it.

On the morning that the child was found buried Lucy was apparently ill in bed, but nobody heard her crying out as if in labour – however when she got up she looked thin and unwell.  She still denied that she had been pregnant and said that there was no baby.

Post Mortem on the child

The post mortem was carried out by Mr. John Morris of Hereford, and he said that the male child was a full term fine child weighing 7lbs 8oz, and was 18 inches long.  He was of the opinion that the child had not lived for long after birth, but that he had breathed because the lungs floated in water showing that air had entered the cells.   Although he conceded that it was slightly possible that delivery was incomplete because babies could take a breath before arriving in the outside world.

There was too much decomposition on the body to determine whether there were any signs of violence but Mr. Morris did not think that the child had died from loss of blood.  The umbilical cord had not been tied off.

The Verdict

The jury returned a verdict of Found Dead on the child, and added that Lucy Gwatkin was the mother of the child and had concealed the birth.

1891 – Fatal Accident at St. Weonards

In April 1891, Mr. James Embry a 59 year old farmer of Villendra, St. Weonards, left his house and took an unbroken two year old colt into a nearby field where he mounted it without a saddle.

The colt went quietly for a little while then suddenly bolted;  after some 100 yards the horse stumbled into a ditch and threw Mr. Embry to the other side.  The accident was seen by a lad who was in the field at the time, and he ran to help but found the poor man unconscious, so he rushed to the house for help.

James was carried into the house and Dr. Doig of Ross was sent for, but all medical assistance was to no avail and James never regained consciousness.  He left a widow and six daughters.

1910 – Tragic Suicide at St. Weonards

Mr. John Evans, aged 54,  of Moor Farm, St Weonards had been missing from his home for nearly two weeks, during which time no stone had been left unturned in the search for him.

Sadly his body was found in Darren Wood Garway, two miles from his home;   he had hung himself with a handkerchief looped over a hazel sapling.

At the inquest, John’s eldest son John Edgworth Evans,  said when he had last seen his father he seemed to be suffering from a bad cold and was rather unwell, but did not appear to be depressed.    He said that he had no financial difficulties and was a deeply religious man, however some 7 or 8 years previously he had had a period of depression.

It transpired that a short time before his death, John had visited some friends and whilst away had consulted Dr. Stevens of Cardiff, who was a specialist in nervous diseases.  Dr. Stevens confirmed the visit and said that John was very depressed with no obvious cause, and also that he felt that his state of mind was affected.

After further witness accounts, the Jury concluded that the deceased committed suicide during a period of mental aberration, brought forward by excessive religious zeal on a constitution very much run down.

In other words, suicide whilst temporarily insane.

1889 – Sad Death of Preston Wynne Man

Charles Bethell was a 62 year old labourer who was single and described as a sober steady man.

Charles was sent one Saturday morning to Mr. Philip Holloway of Lower Town Farm, Preston Wynne, to fetch some harvest beer with a horse and cart.  The horse was a quiet one.

A witness saw Charles on Aylestone Hill in Hereford, where he suddenly fell off the cart backwards and slipped under a wheel.  The horse stopped, and two men ran to help – they backed the cart off Charles and picked him up.  Charles said that he would be fine if they just held him up for a bit, but he had lost the use of his legs – he spoke clearly and was able to tell them who the horse and cart belonged to.

Charles was taken to the Infirmary, and Mr. Nicholson the House Surgeon found the his skull was fractured and his spinal cord was severed.  He was still conscious, but he died three days later.

Thomas was born in 1770 in the parish of Clifford;  at 17 he bought himself a commission as Ensign in the 14th Regiment, then from March 1793 until April 1795 he served with his regiment in Flanders.  He engaged in all the actions and sieges during those notorious campaigns, and experienced the horror of the British Army’s retreat from Dunkirt to Bremen.

The troops were more than two weeks without any food apart from the odd vegetable, and our hero Thomas survived for 8 days on nothing but raw onions – all this in the most severest cold weather.

When the 14th returned home, it was sent to the West Indies to take part in the reduction of the French and Spanish islands – during this time Thomas succeeded to the command of the regiment, both as Major and Lieutenant Colonel.  He was to escape death in the trenches and on the battle field on more than one occasion, and was once wounded through his hips by a musket ball.

He was exceptionally brave, and exhibited great qualities of discipline and leadership.  Unfortunately, ill health forced his return home and he resigned his command to General Sir James Watson.

In 1808 he recieved the commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regiment of North Herefordshire Militia, and he went on to take that regiment to the highest condition.

Eventually Thomas Powell retired to a quiet spot in Herefordshire, where he discarded his duties of landlord;  magistrate and gentleman – much to the delight and affection of all his friends and neighbours.

Thomas was a great agriculturist, being Chairman of the West Herefordshire Agricultural Association;  he was ever ready to help the poor and it was thought that when he died there would be broken a connecting link between the upper, middle and lower classes of society in Herefordshire.  He was a staunch supporter of civil and religious liberty, and his influence amongst local voters was great.

On his death he left one son, the then vicar of Dorstone, and he was buried at Clifford Church on 26th April 1856.

The house, parts of which date back to the 12th century,  is massive and very attractively sits in a beautiful park with woodland and a lake on the very edge of the border between Herefordshire and Wales;   the drive is an incredible mile long, and one can well imagine how enjoyable it would have been for guests to ride up to the house in their carriages, taking in the views of the spectacular park land.  The Mynde  has recently enjoyed complete renovation before being put on the market and both the interior and exterior is mouth wateringly beautiful.  The price was somewhat mouthwatering too!

The Pye family at the Mynde

The Pye family came from Wales and were originally middle class.

The Mynde became home to the Pye family in the mid 1400s, starting with John Pye who married Agnes Andrews – a very wealthy heiress.  By continuing to marry well, the Pye family kept ownership of the Mynde through to around 1709  – indeed they became one of the richest families in Herefordshire.  However as was frequently the case, virtually all the fortune was spent by subsequent heirs – mostly on supporting the Royalist cause, and the Mynde had to go.

Duke of Chandos at The Mynde

The house was acquired by the Duke of Chandos who immediately added the glorious King’s Hall with its Buggatti and Attari plasterwork.

This enormous room, 60 feet long and 30 feet high, has huge Corinthian pilasters flanking panels of plasterwork depicting representations of music, painting, sculpture and architecture.  The ceiling has a roundel and painted allegorical figures on clouds.

In the 1720s both the house and park were remodelled.

The Symons Family

Richard Symons, a wealthy London merchant, bought the Mynde Estate in 1740, he had one son, John and two daughters Elizabeth and Anna Sophia, upon whom he entailed the estate in settlement.  He directed that whoever inherited the estate must take on the surname and arms of Symons.

John and Elizabeth both died, but Anna married Richard Peers and her children were Richard and Elizabeth (who married Sir Charles Blunt, Baronet.

Richard Symons (1743 – 1796)

Richard went on to inherit the Mynde estate and duly adopted the surname of Symons;  he was created a baronet in 1774 but died unmarried in 1796 when the title died out.

Richard was returned unopposed for Hereford in three elections

On Richard’s death, The Mynde passed to Thomas Raymond, the grandson of Richard Symons youngest sister, Anna;  he went on to succeed to the estate in 1796 and took the surname and arms of Symons.  Thomas married Mary Chapman and they had four children:  Thomas Hampton;  Richard Harcourt;  Charles Frederick Raymond and Mary Ann Jane.

He died in 1818 and was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas Hampton who married Elizabeth, second daughter of the Rev. Dr. Hannington, Prebendary of Hereford.

Their children were Thomas George;  Henry Longden;  Elizabeth Fanny;  Ellen Jane and Mary Anne Brookland.

Thomas died in 1831 and was succeeded by Thomas George, his eldest son.

Legends surrounding The Mynde

Next to the parkland at the Mynde is Devil’s wood, and the belief is that if the timber is felled then the owner of the Mynde, or his heir, will die within a year.    The curse may relate to a wych elm which grew on a mound in the park, and it is believed that a witch was burnt here.

Another tree legend says that if a branch breaks from a particular tree close to Mynde House, it heralds the death of the owner;  and if apple trees blossom twice in one season someone in the house will die.

As for ghosts, a former squire of the Mynde  is said to wander around near to the house, and a coach pulled by six headless horses with a headless coachman has been seen pulling up at the house.

1841 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household

1851 – The Mynde Household

1861 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household

1871 –  The Mynde (Mynde House) Household

1881 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household

In 1901 Mynde house was totally unoccupied.

1911 – The Mynde (Mynde Park) Household

1829 – Letter from T.A. Knight of Downton regarding the chemist M. Leuchs and stopping the fermentation of wine with charcoal

Mr. Knight wrote to the editor of the Hereford Journal saying that the eminent continental chemist, M. Leuchs had said that he had discovered that if charcoal was added to fermenting new wine, the fermentation would stop.  He said that if it was then drawn off and put into other vessels the wine would not ferment again and that it could safely be bottled.

Mr. Knight believed that this being the case, it could also be applied to cider and perry.  He said that charcoal which had recently been “in a state of ignition” quickly absorbs air – but it was yet to be ascertained how much charcoal a hogshead of cider for example would require.  He did however feel that about 5lbs would be enough, with this amount being reduced whilst warm to a fine powder and mixed well with the liquor.

The charcoal could be obtained from an oven when heated, or from a wood fire.

Mr. Knight said that when the charcoal was first put into cider or perry, the colour would be almost that of ink, but charcoal being insoluble in water and of a greater specific gravity, it would sink to the bottom of the cask leaving the colour and taste of the liquor unchanged.

Mr. Knight went on to explain that charcoal has many different powers and properties – combined with a small amount of oxygen or water it intoxicates in brandy and other spirits;   a good eleven ounces of it is breathed off from the lungs of humans within the space of 24 hours;  it suffocates in the state in which it is exhaled from fermenting liquors.   It is a soft powder in the state in which it should be mixed with fermenting liquors, but it is the hardest of substances when it becomes a diamond.

It is therefore, he said, impossible to decide into what new combinations it may enter, nor what injurious or beneficial effect it may have on fermenting liquors……….his opinion was however that it would not produce any injurious effects.

1862 – Fatal Accident at Downton on the Rock

During the course of the erection of a spire at the new church at Downton on the Rock, one man died and two others were badly injured.

Mr. and Mrs. Knight of Downton Castle had donated the cost of the spire, and five men were working more than 60 feet up when one of the stays gave way and the derrick at the top of the tower collapsed taking part of the scaffolding and three of the men with it.

Richard Roberts died within minutes – he was a single man;  the other two men, Charles Harris and Thomas Woodhouse were cared for by Henry Hodges, a Ludlow surgeon and J. Jacman of Leintwardine before being carried to the Castle for further care, and they were expected to make a full recovery.

1843 – Duck Stealing at Downton on the Rock

William Yapp was given eighteen months imprisonment for stealing ducks at Downton on the Rock

James M. Parsons Hopton

In 1845 James Parsons Hopton married Miss Poole, the eldest daughter of Edward Poole of The Homend, and the occasion was reported with great rapture – it was very evident how highly esteemed the Hopton family was.

The village of Ewias (Ewyas) Harold was transformed after a good month’s work by the residents – it had been decided that a subscription was needed to carry out all the preparations and people held the Hoptons and Pooles in such high regard that the money was raised in no time at all.
Firstly a fine heifer was bought with a due proportion of cider to regale the labourers of Ewias (Ewyas) Harold and Dulas, and arrangements were made for the poor women and children to feast on plum cake and cider. Every house was decorated, and on the morning of the wedding the bells of the church “pealed forth their brazen harmony” and a battery of cannon at Ewias Harold “thundered forth an invitation to the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood to hasten to the scene of the approaching festivity”.
“In the air, a thousand streamers flaunted fair,
Various in shape, device and hue –
Green sanguine, purple, red and blue,
Broad, narrow, swallow-tailed and square,
Scroll, pennon, pencil, bandrol there,
O’er every dwelling flew”

There were wonderful arches with inscriptions of good wishes for the couple, and beautiful decorations everywhere.
At 2 o’clock people sat down to an excellent dinner at the Dog Inn after which were the usual speeches and toasts; Mr. Parry’s band was in attendance, and eventually it led nearly two thousand people in procession from the Dog Inn to Pontrilas Bridge where they were received with much cheering. On returning, the band marched next to the carriage playing the favourite airs on these occasions.
Mr. J. Lewis of the Trap House with his good lady liberally plied 200 women and children with tea and plum cake, and the Sunday school children of Abbey Dore were also given tea and plum cake by Mrs. Wm. Gough. Why was it ALWAYS plum cake?!)
Mr. J. Hopton, with his usual kindness gave all his tradesmen and labourers a wonderful dinner at Dulas Court, with a sumptuous dinner also being provided for his tenantry at the Lion Inn, Abbey Dore.

James was a Magistrate and also a Captain in the North Gloucester Militia.

Christmas at Dulas

The poor of the parishes of Ewias Harold and Dulas were always well supplied with both beef and coal, the gift of James M.P. Hopton, and his wife was in the habit of distributing warm clothing to the poor at Christmas.
On Christmas Eve in 1851 for example, more than sixty boys and girls who were scholars of the National School of Ewyas Harold were given a feast of roast beef, puddings etc. supplied by Mrs. James Hopton, after being given the pleasant task of drawing the enormous Yule log which was blazing in the fireplace of the ancient dining room.
On Christmas Day itself, fifty three servants and workmen along with their wives feasted on old English food in the entrance hall of Dulas Court, in the company of their much respected employer J.P. Hopton and his wife.
On New Year’s Eve a ball was laid on for the tenantry and tradesmen.
All in all, it is clear that the Hoptons were a kind and generous family, and were much loved in return.

1853 James Hopton gave up his mountain farm and sold the whole of his celebrated flock of mountain sheep which had been carefully bred by crosses from Jonas Webb’s Downs and Mr. Edwards Shropshire Downs.
He also sold a great deal of livestock from Dulas Court, including 16 prime Herefordshire cows and heifers; fat sheep; ewes and lambs; many horses and 2 pigs. Also a thrashing machine and a broad wheel waggon; also an assortment of farming tools and an excellent gig and harness plus a 4 wheeled carriage.

The death of James Michael Parsons Hopton

James Michael Parsons Hopton died on 8th November 1855 at Cirencester from injuries caused by the upset of his dog cart. He was 46.
James had been driving the dog cart in Earl Bathurst’s park near Cirencester, with his wife and groom alongside. For some reason the horses became spooked and the groom jumped down hoping to reach the horses’ heads in order to calm them, but he never made it and the dog car was overturned with both James and his wife being thrown to the ground with some force. The groom rushed to help the pair who were unconscious, and then sought help – the injured couple were taken home and medical aid was administered, but Captain Hopton had multiple injuries including severe concussion of the brain from which he never recovered.
Mrs. Hopton, although seriously hurt did recover physically but was dreadfully shocked by the death of her husband, who was later described as being a senior captain in the militia and much loved by his brother officers and men. In the locality of Dulas, his loss was deeply regretted; he was an affectionate husband and parent; a kind landlord; a most friendly county gentleman and an inestimable friend to the poor.
James died intestate.

Dulas Court for Sale in 1857

In 1857 Dulas court along with 333 acres of land was put up for auction, and the following year all the household furniture was put up for sale:
“principally in deeply carved oak and marqueterie; comprising suitable appointments for two reception rooms and four bedrooms, selected at great expense and of corresponding character, presenting an opportunity rarely met with to purchase articles of this description.
Tapestry suitably fitted for four bedrooms; Turkey and other carpets; the furniture for seven other bedrooms; 14 goose feather beds in good condition; sets of blankets, counterpanes with usual appointments; Indian and other china; cut and engraved glass; a large collection of sporting requisites; large and small telescopes; numerous pieces of deeply carved oak; oil paintings; prints and engravings; sundry lots of gold coins from Charles 1st; ditto of silver from Edward 6th; ditto of copper; various ditto of medals; library of books; superior old port; 50 dozens of bottled cider; kitchen and culinary articles; stoves, engines etc.
Following this sale, a whole wealth of wines; Madeira; Sherry, brandy etc. as well as paintings; telescopes; rifle; spirit level and sundry other effects which were unsold before, an auction was arranged for later in the month of May.

Robert Feilden

Lt. Col. Robert Feilden was born in 1824 in Canterbury, Kent, being one of the Rev. Robert Mosley’s three sons.

He became known as the Warrior Son, and led the advance guard at the Seige of Sebastapol whilst serving in the 44th Regiment of Foot.

He married Louisa Willis in 1858 and although the couple had five children, she tragically died after giving birth to a stillborn baby in 1868.

When he took over Dulas Court he set about major renovations and improvements, and also had a church built within the grounds.

In 1861 Robert Feilden resigned his commission as Captain in the 1st Herefordshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in order to be appointed Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Administrative Battalion.

Battallion Drill at Kington

The third battalion drill of the season of the Herefordshire Rifle Volunteers took place in August 1863 in Kington.  The Volunteers were not so numerous as was expected, but the companies of Hereford, Leominster, Ross, Ledbury and Bromyard arrived by train in the morning, where many of the Kington Volunteers with their great little brass band were waiting.

The Battallion marched into Kington commanded by Col. Feilden who had also arrived by train with the Hereford brass band.

Kington welcomed the Battallion with pretty decorations, each shop sporting patriotic flags:  (this is an interesting snapshot of the shops at the time)

Kington Shops in 1863

Duke Street

Mr. Davies, Grocer

Mr. Cook, Nag’s Head

High Street

Mr. Meredith, draper,

Mrs. Wishlade, butcher,

Mr. T. Luntley, Tailor

Mrs. Stanway, chemist

Mr. J. Morris, shoemaker

Mr. Pearce, chemist

Mr. T. Skarratt, draper

Mr. H. Skarratt, jeweller

Mr. A.E.Purchase, grocer

Mr. Powell, Lamb Inn

Mr. H.W. Morris, chemist

Mr. Parker, draper

Mr. Welson, wine vaults

Mr. Price, White Horse

Mr. H. Hatton, butcher

Mr. Hurry, printer

Mr. Davies, baker

Mr. James Peene, ironmonger

Mr. John Boulter, boot maker

In 1863 he was nominated for the office of High Sheriff, a post that he later took up.
He died at Dulas Court in 1874

Dulas Court Household 1851

Dulas Court Household 1861

Dulas Court Household 1871

Dulas Court Household 1881

Dulas Court Household 1891

Dulas Court Household 1901

Dulas Court Household 1911

The original house is thought to be 15^th century, and was built on the site of a Roman encampment, Ariconium – it was doubtless the scene of many  battles between contending armies and a great many Roman coins and other relics have been turned up by the plough in the fields adjoining the house.   Included in these are some fine old bronze coins in mint condition, amongst which were those embossed with Caesar, Agrippa and others.  Sadly much of the site of Ariconium was destroyed in 1785.

Richard Ap Meryk

In 1441 Richard Ap Meryk was born in the house, and he later became the customs officer to Henry VII and then the founder member of Bristol’s Society of Merchant Adventurers;  he ended up with his own Merchant’s Mark – basically a trade mark – and was exceedingly wealthy.  Richard altered his name to Ameryk, and  rumour has it, that he gave his name to America, and certainly the Meryk family crest which boasts stars and stripes could be the origin of the American Flag.

A descendant, Walter Meyrick, left Bollitree House  as it was known then, to his nephew Thomas Hopkins Merrick from Pencoyd in 1776 and here comes the sorry tale.

Thomas Hopkins Merrick

Thomas Hopkins Merrick was deeply in love with a Spanish lady, but she declared that she couldn’t possibly live in England unless it was to be in a castle – Thomas duly set about transforming the façade of Bollitree House to give it some vague appearance of a castle, but his lady was unimpressed and Thomas was left out of pocket and without his bride.siBder s

By 1789uchow forms someone’s back garden wall, but is visible from the r

By 1789 the hapless Thomas Hopkins Merrick was dead, and his entire stock of farming utensils and impliments etc. were sold by auction.  These consisted of five wagons;  three carts;  ploughs;  drays;  harrows and rolls.  Also all his furniture and household goods, along with a chaise and harness for four horses.

The Palmer Family

It appears that the Palmer family who then took over Bollitree Castle were related in some way to the Merricks as Merrick was used as a middle name for a son for a Palmer descendant.  For many years Mr. George Merrick, a Saddler in Ross on Wye proudly sold Swedish Turnip Seed as grown by Mr. Palmer at Bollitree

A pack of hounds was kept at the castle, and the surrounding countryside provided excellent hunting grounds.  The Castle  also had an excellent reputation for cider production, especially under the Palmer family;  George Palmer made bottled cider and perry which was favourably compared with the best champagne.

George Palmer was also a grower of excellent quality crops, and he was a kindly gentleman who gave many people cause to think of him fondly.  For example, George let the Weston Cricket Club use one of his fields, and this along with other things prompted the Club to present him with a lovely silver goblet.  The inscription read “Presented to George Palmer Esq. by the members of the Weston Cricket Club, in remembrance of his many kindnesses to them.  Season 1868”

In 1903 Bollitree Castle and Estate was put up for sale – “An excellent opportunity will be offered to capitalists, sportsmen and others”.

The description included “the property is highly adapted for a breeder of pedigree stock or for a sportsman, being in the centre of a good hunting district, close to a good market town, with the land in a high state of cultivation.”

It was further said that it was hoped that a thoroughly good sportsman and agriculturist would become the new owner;  live there, and do his utmost to show sport, and, with horse, dog and gun, join in the merry hunt of fur and feather;  as well as the production of blood stock, beef, mutton and corn for which the land is eminently qualified.  The well known strength and quality of Bollitree cider and perry was also mention, and it was hoped that production would continue.

Charles Watkins duly moved into Bollitree Castle in 1903, but whether he had bought the property or was simply renting it I have yet to ascertain.  He was certainly a man of means, and his son C.R. Watkins was selected in the same year to row No. 6 in the Cambridge boat in the following year’s inter varsity boat race.  His weight was 13 stone if anyone is interested!

1841 – Bollitree Castle Household

1851 – Bollitree Castle Household

1861 – Bollitree Castle Household

1871 – Bollitree Castle Household

1881 – Bollitree Castle Household

In 1891 William Marfell was still at Bollitree,

1901 – Bollitree Castle Household

1911 – Bollitree Castle Household

1921 – Bollitree Castle Household

I am not convinced that the transcription of “Gammond” is correct – it actually looks more like Jammond, but I cannot find anything to confirm either name.

John Partridge was guilty of pulling down the remaining ruined walls of Penyard Castle in order to use the stone for his building projects.

In  1856 William Stubbs bought the house and went on to have eight children with his wife Jane Charlotte.  Jane had a special interest in the hospital at Ross on Wye, and paid entirely for a ward there for severely ill people as well as donating land adjoining the recreation ground for the use of the patients ;  she also freely gave to other local charities.

William Stubbs died in 1871 and left the house to his children, but after the death of his son Major General William Henry Stubbs, the house passed into the ownership of his five sisters, and it was then that they changed the name from Lower Weston to Penyard House, as shown on the census returns – it can be confusing because there is a separate Lower Weston House, which is a much older mansion.

The sisters lived at Penyard House for many years, but eventually they decided to leave and in 1900 the house was put up for sale but it repeatedly failed to achieve its reserve;  it was a further two years before it was bought by Robert Law Harkness.

Sales Particulars for the sale of Penyard House

Penyard House – containing handsome and lofty drawing room;  dining room, morning room;  panelled business room;  vestibule;  hall and corridor;  chief and secondary staircases;  17 capacious, lofty and airy bed, dressing and workrooms;  modernly fitted WCs;  bathroom and lavatory with hot and cold;  laundry;  store rooms;  servants hall;  dairy fitted with up to date milk coolers and walls lined with white porcelain tiles;  larders;  pantries and complete culinary offices;  lofty arched cellars with fitted wine bins;  the whole bountifully supplied with water.

Approved drainage system.

Detached and modern stabling for 8 horses;  harness room;  hay and corn rooms;  Coachhouse area for 6 carriages and 2 cottage residences.

At a separate sale in 1902, the following effects belonging to the Misses Stubbs were also on offer:

Superior Broughham Waggonette;  pony carriage, station cart, donkey gig, London and Ross-made saddlery;  capital Cob gelding;  mare donkey;  2 store pigs;  in calf dairy cows and heifers etc.;  poultry, runs and coops;  light road waggons;  carts;  gears;  96 iron hurdles;  farm implements;  garden appointments;  cucumber frames;  greenhouse plants etc.

Also 500 volumes of books;  a grand harmonium in walnut case;  Spanish mahogany book cases with escritoire;  wardrobes;  chests of drawers;  washstand;  dressing and other tables;  cheval glass;  clocks;  china and glass;  iron and brass bedsteads;  feather beds;  mattresses;  linen and glass cupboards;  box mangle and kitchen and culinary requisites.

Robert Law Harkness was born in 1852 in Malvern, and married Mary Robina Tregonwell, but they had no children.  He died in 1914, but Mary stayed in the house until her death in 1824.

Robert Alfred Lowth inherited the house, and he and his wife Nancy Eva Aikin Sneath lived there until 1935 when they sold it and it became the Wye Hotel.

In 1984 the house was bought by the charity The Leadership Trust Foundation, and they sympathetically restored the building and grounds.

Penyard House is now once again a hotel and wedding venue

1851 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1861 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1871 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1881 –  Penyard House Household

1891 –  Penyard House Household

1901 –  Penyard House Household

1911 –  Penyard House Household

1921 – Penyard House Household

 1889 – Withington Flower Show

Having held a very successful  horticultural exhibition in 1888, Withington decided to go bigger and better in 1889.

The show was held in the Whitestone Meadow, with floral exhibits being shown in a large marquee.

A special feature of the exhibition was a good collection of honey in the comb;  in sections and in jars, shown by Mr. W. Smith, Butler at Thingehill.

The cottagers’ class attracted wonderful vegetables, with potatoes showing strongly.

Among other exhibits were lovely wild flower collections, some being made up into the shape of a church, and others a house etc.

It was reported that the specimens shown were of superior quality to most shows of the kind, and the entries were well up on the previous year.

Other Attractions at the Flower Show

Elsewhere on the field the band of the 4th Battalion K.S.L.I under Mr. W. James played a good selection of music.

1900 – Railway Station at Withington Improved

It was said that for some time the accommodation at Withington Station had been insufficient, so the Railway Company carried out many improvements.

1901 – Fatal Injury on hay stack at Withington

Mr. William Mellins who occupied White House Farm at Withington lost his balance whilst standing on a pile of hay, and fell of awkwardly.

William suffered a severe back injury and he died the following morning.

The Clive Family

The Clive family arrived at Whitfield House in the 1790s, having previously lived at Wormbridge Court and descendants continued to live in the mansion until recent times.

Kitty Clive

Kitty was an excellent writer of plays and a very good actress – Horace Walpole was so admiring of her that he gave her a cottage, Clivedon, at Strawberry Hill and also wrote an epitaph which is inscribed on a monumental urn:
“Ye smiles and jests still hover round,
This is mirth’s consecrated ground,
Here lived the laughter-loving dame
A matchless actress, Clive her name.
The comic muse with her retired
And shed a tear when she expired”
As written in the Hereford Journal in 1850:
“Mrs. Clive was the most famous actress, in her peculiar line, that ever trod the stage; her equal is not to be found in theatrical history, either before or since the era in which she flourished. Her mirth was so genuine, that whether it was restrained to the arch sneer, and the suppressed half laugh, widened to the broad grin, or extended to the downright honest burst of loud laughter, the audience were sure to accompany her. She excelled alike in chambermaids; the affected or capricious lady of fashion, country girls, romps, hoydens, and dowdies, superannuated beauties, viragoes and humourists.”
Kitty Clive was just as bubbly and entertaining in her private life, and maintained an unsullied reputation whilst attracting friends of both sexes of high rank.

She performed in Dublin, as well as Covent Garden and did her last performance on 24th April 1769 – The Wonder and Lethe – before retiring.

Kitty Clive died on 6th December 1785

The Rev. Archer Clive

The Rev Archer Clive was the second son of Edward Bolton Clive (MP for Hereford)
He received the education that would prepare him for duties both clerical and laie, which he so ably discharged, at Oxford, where he became a B.A. in 1821 and M.A, in 1823. He was ordained a deacon in 1825 and priest in the following year.
The Rev. Archer Clive occupied a stall as prebend of Pyon Parva in Hereford Cathedral from 1850 and became Chancellor of the choir of the Cathedral in 1868, and he was the highly esteemed Rector of Solihull, Warwickshire from 1829 to 1847.
Archer was appointed chief steward of the city of Hereford on the death of the Right Honourable Sr. George Cornewall Lewis in 1863 and he was also a JP for Herefordshire; a deputy Lieutenant; Chairman of the Lunatic Asylum Committee; Lord of the manors of Treville and Wormbridge, and patron of the joint livings of Wormbridge and St. Devereaux.
Archer Clive married Caroline Meysey Wigley, and they had one son, Charles Meysey Bolton Clive who succeeded to the property, and one daughter who became the wife of Colonel Greathead.
In 1861 the Rev Archer Clive hosted a “brilliant assemblage of neighbours and friends. He clearly had a great many, as there were at least 96 horses and 46 carriages which all required stabling and storing – many of the visitors were staying in the house so it must have been a noisy and jolly household.
Dancing began at around ten o’clock to the competently played music of the Monmouthshire Militia Band with refreshments being served in the entrance hall, which with its exquisitely painted panels was greatly admired as a true work of art.

At midnight, supper was laid out in the dining room as follows:
10 brace of pheasant
10 couples of fowls du roti
6 ditto au Bechamel
3 ornamental hams
6 ornamental tongues
2 Dindon gelatine en aspic
2 ditto du roti
6 salad d’Homeul
6 ditto Italienne
6 Gelee de Noyau
6 Gelee au viu
8 Gelee a l’orange
4 Gatian Neapolitan
6 dishes Italian Merangue
6 ditto mince pies
6 ditto French pasty
6 ornamental Savoy cakes
20 ditto fancy biscuits

The chef of the household was Mrs. Gurney who made sure that the feast was presented  in a splendid manner.

After supper, everyone went back to the ballroom and continued dancing until dawn.
Archer Clive acted on the Finance Committee and was a faithful guardian of the ratepayers’ interests. He did much to promote the sociability of the county of Herefordshire by the establishment of the Herefordshire Club, and although he dined with the great he never forgot the poor and was an attentive and kind friend to same.
He was described as a model country gentleman and an encouraging and liberal landlord. He gave generously to charities of every kind, and listened “with kindly patience” to the tales of distress from the poor.

The Rev Archer Clive died in 1878

Charles Meysey Bolton Clive

Charles Meysey Bolton Clive was born in 1842 and died in 1883. He was married on 10th January 1867 to Lady Katherine Elizabeth Mary Julia Fielding and they had six children; Marjory Katharine Clive, Mabel Adelaide Clive, Percy Clive, Wilfred Clive, Robert Clive and one other.

Charles became Dept. Lieut. Of County of Hereford and was a J.P. for Herefordshire. Educated at Balliol College.

Percy Clive

Percy Archer Clive was born in 1873, his great great grandfather being a first cousin of Clive of India, and became a British army officer and Liberal Unionist MP.
He was the eldest son of Charles Meysey Bolton Clive and was educated at Eton before going on to Sandhurst Military Academy. He married Alice Muriel, daughter of Colonel G.F. Dallas and together they had five children – his youngest son, Lewis Clive, won a gold medal for rowing at the 1932 Olympics
Percy’s military career began with the Grenadier Guards in 1891 and he fought in the Boer War, and then again in World War 1 – he was wounded twice, and was given bravery awards as well as being mentioned in Despatches. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards when he was killed in action in 1918 at Bucquoy. He was the twentieth MP (or former MP) to die whilst fighting in WW1, and his memorial in Hereford Cathedral records that he “died a gallant death”. Percy was attempting to rescue a fallen comrade, but was shot.

Fire at Whitfield House

A fire broke out at Whitfield House in 1899, and a telegram was sent to Hereford Police Station requesting help. The fire brigade immediately set off under the command of Captain Richardson – it took them nearly an hour to cover the nearly nine miles, and the horses must have been exhausted on arrival. Once they arrived, it was found that some of the outbuildings were well alight but not Whitfield House itself.
The buildings were tenanted by a Wheelwright named Morgan and were stuffed full with the produce of around 40 acres, and the fire brigade lost no time in bringing the fire under control; a great deal of hay and some of the buildings were saved……….the tenant was not insured, but more surprisingly neither was the owner, Mr. P.A. Clive.

1851 – Whitfield House Household

1861 – Whitfield House Household

1871 – Whitfield House Household

The rest of the household is very hard to decipher due to faded, poor writing and there is little point in guessing.   However there were 19 servants:   Governess, Cook, Nurse, Ladys Maid, Butler, Coachman, Footman, Groom, another Coachman,  another groom, maid, kitchen maid, dairy maid, two housemaids a scullery maid and one indecipherable.

1881 – Whitfield House Household

1891 – Whitfield House Household

1901 – Whitfield House Household

1911 – Whitfield House Household

Thomas Andrew Knight was responsible for developing much of the fruit and vegetables that we enjoy now, and he was mentioned in Darwin’s The Origin of Species for his work on cultivated plants.

Click here to read more about Thomas Knight at Downton Castle.

Richard Payne Knight

Richard Payne Knight was born in 1750, and was a sickly child who didn’t attend school until he was 14; he went on the Grand Tour to Italy in 1767 and remained there for a few years. Richard returned to Italy time and again and by all accounts at this time he was rather a shy young man, and a tad dull but remarkably intelligent.

 
However, once back in Herefordshire he set about designing and building the castellated mansion, Downton Castle  near Ludlow, and he achieved some acclaim for his unorthodox architectural skills. He was better received for his natural landscape designs.

 
Richard Payne Knight became an MP and retained his Ludlow seat for 22 years; he wrote poetry in his spare time, but his offerings didn’t go down well with pundits such as Horace Walpole – he ended up being blackballed by the Literary Club in 1795 and became known as “the Pagan”. All this notwithstanding, he was a founder of the British Institution in 1805, and never stopped striving to expand his literary and fine art knowledge.
In 1809 Richard gave Downton Castle to his brother Thomas, and went to London where he enjoyed endless dinner parties, and ate rather more than any person should – in consequence of which he became somewhat large and died of a stroke in 1824.
He was buried in the churchyard at Wormsley.

Click here for more on Downton Castle and Richard Payne Knight

Wormsley Grange passed through many hands down the years; for example in the 1830s it was lived in and farmed by a Mr. Reynolds. When he packed up and moved out the following advert appeared in the local papers which leads me to believe that Mr. Reynolds was a keen breeder of horses:
Sale of Valuable Live and Dead Stock
Grey Mare, Derby, 6 years old.
Grey Mare, Jolly, 6 years old
Black Gelding, Surly, 6 years old
Black Mare, Diamond, 6 years old
Black Mare, Lester, 6 years old
Black Mare, Bunting, 6 years old
Black Mare, Blackbird in foal to Suffolk horse
Entire Suffolk horse, aged, warranted perfectly sound; a good worker, free from vice and a sure foal getter.
Brown Cart Gelding, rising 3 years by Young Merriman, dam Blackbird
Chestnut Filly rising 2 by Suffolk Horse, dam Blackbird
Chestnut Colt, rising 2 by Suffolk Horse, dam Bunting
Yearling Colt by Suffolk House, dam Bunting

Bay Gelding, 16 hands, aged, quiet in harness
Brown Galloway filly, 4, with good action
Brown filly, 15 hands, in fine condition, 5, by General
Brown filly, rising 4 dam by Lishmahago
Brown gelding rising 3, by Young Merriman, dam by Master Henry (promising to make a fine match horse)
Grey Gelding rising 3, by Fitznoble, dam by Ludlow (a very promising colt)
Chestnut Colt rising 2, by Tom Brown, dam by Lishmahago
Bay colt, rising 2, by Suffolk horse
Yearling black Filly by Suffolk horse, dam by Lishmahago

Following Mr. Reynolds came Edmund Leader, who specialised in pure bred Hereford cattle, all of which were descended from the celebrated herd of Mr. Wheeler of Ivington.
On his death in 1841, all the stock was put up for sale, along with the contents of Wormsley Grange and the advertisement gives an insight into how the house was furnished:

Excellent Brussels carpets; hearth rugs, fenders and fire irons; handsome mahogany 12 foot dining table; mahogany and other chairs; mahogany round two leaf and Pembroke tables; mahogany sofa with satin hair covering; oil table covers; clock faced barometer; butler’s tray and stand; excellent 8 day clock; a splendid Spanish mahogany four post bedstead with cornice poles, brass rings and elegant drab damask furniture; other four post and tent bedsteads, straw palliasses, superior goose feather beds, bolsters and pillows; Witney blankets, Marseilles quilts and cotton counterpanes; elegant mahogany wardroble, mahogany and other chests with drawers, swing dressing glasses; wash stands and chamber ware; night commodes and dressing tables; bed-round carpets and chamber horses; roller blinds; eight pairs of flaxen sheets, twelve pillow cases; 6 damask tablecloths; 12 chamber towels etc. and a large variety of dairy, kitchen and culinary requisites. A quantity of china, glass and earthenware.

Edward Farr then took over Wormsley Grange, and he remained there until his death; his wife died a few years later and their eldest son Richard took over the running of the farm.

Wormsley Grange remains a working farm to this day.

1851 – Wormsley Grange Household

1861 – Wormsley Grange Household

1871 – Wormsley Grange Household

1881 – Wormsley Grange, Household

1891  – Wormsley Grange Household

1839 – Proposed New Chapel at Yatton

A request went out to architects and builders to submit plans and estimates for a new Chapel at Yatton by 1st May 1839.

Many concerts and entertainment evenings were arranged at Yatton in order to raise funds for the school.

1900 – Concert at Yatton

A successful concert took place in the schoolroom at Yatton, with the proceeds going into the school funds.

Mr. Sidney Cotton of Dean’s Place arranged the programme which went down well with the audience and all the performers were well received.

There were also great efforts made to raise money for the Chapel of Ease fund.

1888 – Entertainment at Yatton in aid of Chapel of Ease

There was a good attendance at the entertainment organised by the Rev. J. Thomas, and the following programme was well received:

Yatton School Children – Christmas Carol

Hons. Sybil and Miss Lyttelton – Duet, Airs from Lucrecia Borgia

Rev. J. Thomas – Reading “Curing a Cold”

Mr. Hartland – Song “Yeoman’s Wedding”

Rev. Arthur Dyer – Song, “My Queen”

Hon. Sybil Lyttelton – Solo

Mr. J. Turner – Song “Bulls won’t Bellow”, encored

Mr. Counsell – Song, “He, She and the Postman”, encored

Lady Lyttelton – “Selections of National Airs”

Mr. Hartland – Song “Two Spoons” encored

Miss Wightman – Song

Mr. J. Turner – Song “Old Messmates”

Hon Miss Lyttelton – Valse by Chopin

Rev. Arthur Dyer – Song “In Sheltered Vale”

Mr. Counsell – Song “How did you leave the Pigs” encored

1901 – Yatton man has Fatal Wagon Accident

Joseph Gladwyn, 61,  lived at Yatton, and had been employed as Waggoner to Mr. Price of Higford Farm at Yatton for some time.

One day he went with the second Waggoner, Henry Forty of Gamage Cottage Much Marcle, to Dymock station with a team of four horses to fetch some coal.  Another man, William Trigg went with them with a cart and horse.

As they returned home with the coal (apparently sober), Joseph decided to ride on the shaft of the wagon as he had been walking some 11 miles in all.  It is unclear what happened next as nobody actually saw the accident, but just past Bodenham Farm Joseph yelled to the horses to stop, and Henry turned to see Joseph lying on the road with a wheel of the wagon on his foot.

William Trigg arrived, and they managed to back the wagon off Joseph’s foot, and assuming that this was his only injury they asked Mr. Richards from Bodenham Farm to take Joseph by trap to the hospital at Ross on Wye.

Joseph was examined at the hospital, and found to have a compound fracture of the left leg;  a fracture of the right thigh and suspected severe internal injuries as well as suffering from shock.

The legs were set, but the cause was lost from the start and Joseph died that same night.

The verdict at the inquest was “accidental death”, and it was assumed that the wagon had run over his whole body and not just his foot.

Frequently the Coachman would be afforded accommodation close to the main house and stables, and he would be required to take care of the maintenance of any coach or carriage as well as the horses, and be available to drive whenever needed.

The Coachman not only had to be a proficient and careful driver, he also needed to be honest as he was entrusted with the purchase of good quality hay, straw and feed for the horses, and he needed an extensive knowledge of equine care.  He had to be able to recognise and treat simple ailments, but understand too when more specialised help should be sought

If the Coachman was not lucky enough to have the services of a Groom then the total care of the horses and stables fell to him, as well as all the cleaning of the carriage/s and the tack.

When the household was large there were often several horses and ponies and many different carriages, and in this case the Coachman would have several stablemen or boys under him.  He would supervise and organise the daily work and make sure that the horses were properly cared for and exercised if necessary;  if any of the men failed to meet strict standards, or mistreated the horses, then the Coachman had the authority to fire them on the spot.  He would also have a man whose sole job was to clean, repair and take care of all the harnesses, saddles and bridles.

Not only that, but she had to get up before anyone else, and not go to bed until long after everyone had retired.

Scrubbing was the order of the day – pots;  saucepans;  kettles as well as any steps leading to the outside doors, and then there were all the general utensils and crockery to wash.  She would also keep all the other servants quarters clean as well as constantly washing the kitchen floor.

Other duties included going out to select vegetables as requested by the cook, and then preparing them for cooking.

Depending on how many other servants were employed,  the Scullery Maid could also be expected to clean out all the fires and then relay them ready for lighting – this of course to be done quickly and quietly before the rest of the household awoke.

A typical Day in the life of a Scullery Maid

She would get up around 5.30/6.00 a.m., then after making her bed go to the kitchen to stoke up the range.

Once the other servants were up and about, the Scullery Maid had to collect all their chamber pots, empty them and clean them thoroughly before replacing them in the rooms.

Then the scrubbing really started – the kitchen and all adjoining rooms such as the Scullery and pantries, which all had to be completed before the cook arrived to start breakfast for the servants.  Once breakfast was over, the table had to be cleared and the dishes washed.

Throughout the day it was a constant round of clearing the kitchen table and scrubbing and cleaning to keep the kitchen spotless and the pans constantly available, apart from one hour in the afternoon when the Scullery Maid could catch her breath and have some time to herself.  Whole days off were very rare.

Of course there was no hot water gushing conveniently from a tap, so it made the work all the more hard.

This then was a truly horrible, and very badly paid job, but for many young girls (sometimes even only 9 years old) it was a hopeful rung on the ladder to a better position and most worked their fingers to the bone in an attempt to be noticed and given the chance.

Despite being the lowest of jobs, it did at least give poor girls a roof over their heads and it was better than being stuck in the Work House.

Finally a rather stark description by a chap called Arthur Munby who married a Scullery Maid, and when he first set eyes on her he recorded the scene:

She stood at a sink behind a wooden dresser backed with choppers and stained with blood and grease, upon which were piles of coppers and saucepans that she had to scour;  piles of dirty dishes that she had to wash.  Her frock, her cap, her face and arms were more or less wet, soiled, perspiring and her apron was a filthy piece of sacking, wet and tied round her with a cord.  The den where she wrought was low, damp, ill smelling, windowless, lighted by a flaring gas jet, and, full in view, she had on one side a larder hung with raw meat, on the other a common urinal;  besides the many ugly, dirty implements around her.

His duties in the 19th century included looking after the wine cellar and ensuring that the bottles were kept in the best condition;  he also had the nerve wracking task of cleaning and caring for the crystal glasses, china,  silver and gold.

Generally, the Butler oversaw all the other servants alongside the Housekeeper and he made sure that the household ran smoothly – his daily duties were many, and he was the chap who announced the arrival of guests;  waited at table;  locked up at night/opened up in the morning;  took care of the master’s clothes and wound the many clocks in the house.

Although the Butler had no rigid uniform, he was expected to be always dressed impeccably, and generally when waiting at tea and dinner he would wear a white shirt with a black waistcoat.  Gloves were nearly always worn, usually white and made of cotton.

If there was no Valet employed by the master, then the Butler would assume this role – he would also act as Valet for male guests.

The Daily Routine of the Butler

At crack of dawn the Butler would ensure that the dining room was ready for breakfast, including setting the table in households where footmen were in short supply.  He would then serve the breakfast after which the master would issue orders for the day.

He himself would carefully take away the china and plate for cleaning.

At mealtimes, the Butler laid the table and when the meal was ready he announced to the family and guests that lunch was served.  He always stood behind the master’s chair, ready to supervise the serving of the meal and to ensure that all wishes were catered for smoothly.

He made sure that all the fires were lit and maintained as and when necessary, and was always ready to answer the door or a summons by the bell.

The Wine Cellar

This is where the Butler had to show exceptional skill and knowledge.  He suggested appropriate purchases to his master, and had to know the price and qualities of each wine……he alone was in charge of the cellar, and he kept a log of each bottle, showing when bought and when it had been drunk.

The master of the household had to be able to trust his Butler implicitly to not only spend money wisely on excellent wines, but also to keep those wines in top condition – a bad wine selection at dinner could make the owner of the household a laughing stock!

Sometimes the wine came ready bottled, and sometimes the Butler had to fine down the wine in wood before bottling it himself.

He was also required to be proficient in book keeping and knowledgeable about all things farm related – right down to the milking of a cow.  Many estate owners wanted their Bailiffs to be able to work on their own initiative as well as coming up with new money saving ideas.

Very often a farm labourer gained the trust of the farmer, and after some years was promoted to the post of Bailiff.

He was an officer of the law, and dealt with minor offences in the area – he was a fairly important chap but  not necessarily well educated.

The Beadle was instantly recognisable in his state-coat and large hat;  he carried a big staff in one hand and a small whippy cane in the other, and it seems that a prerequisite for job was a dislike of children…….Charles Dickens did his research well!    He was appointed by the vestry, but actually had little authority although he had many chores such as acting as town crier and keeping order at church services, as well as dealing with recalcitrant children and parishioners.

 
David was educated at Lichfield grammar school, before going to a theatrical academy opened at Edial by Samuel Johnson – the academy didn’t do well, and eventually in 1737 Samuel Johnson and David who had formed a friendship headed for London, where David became a wine salesman in the family firm before pursuing his dream of being an actor and playwright.

David Garrick the Actor

David Garrick starting his acting career anonymously as he didn’t want his family to know that he was following what was regarded generally as a low profession, and even after the death of his mother in 1740 he was still reluctant to confess. He appeared in several plays where he was reasonably well received but failed in his attempts to work at Covent Garden or Drury Lane.
In 1741 though, everything changed. He gave a phenomenal performance as Richard III at the Goodman’s Fields Theatre in London and he began to act under his real name as well as telling his father what he was up to. He became an overnight sensation and went on to play many diverse roles brilliantly.

 
In April 1747 some of David’s friends helped him to raise money in order to buy the lease of the Drury Lane Theatre, and he and his new partner James Lacy turned the theatre into one of the finest in Europe. David had high standards and didn’t suffer slackers, be they actors or technicians, and there was a high turnover at the Theatre – however he cherished those that he found favourable, even eschewing chances to play Macbeth again after his leading lady in the play, Hannah Pritchard, died in 1768.

One change at the theatre that took him a good 15 years to bring into effect was the banning of inebriated men from sitting on the stage; something that could never be imagined now.
The theatre layout was very class conscious, with the upper gallery being for working classes; the next level down was for middle classes, and the lower boxes were for the gentry. The pit in front of the stage was used by professionals, and the boxes at the very top of the auditorium were used by prostitutes who were on the lookout for business.

David made other innovatitive changes at the Drury Lane Theatre, replacing the candles with oil lamps in the auditorium, and using lanterns to light the stage. His clever business sense saw him reap the rewards, and he built a large mansion on the banks of the river in Hampton to add to his other residences in London.

David Garrick the Man

David was no great oil painting, but possibly his charisma made it easy for him to attract women, and for a while he lived with Peg Woffington, an actress who specialised in cross dressing parts including Rosalind in As You Like It. Eventually Garrick brought the relationship to a close.
He married Eva Maria Veigel, a Roman Catholic Austrian opera dancer, in 1749; they were to have no children but the marriage was a happy one and despite her lack of English, she threw herself into lavish entertainment with her husband. In 1763 they embarked on a continental tour, but Eva was in great pain with her back, possibly a slipped disc, and David nearly died of typhoid in Munich.

 
David had a great many influential friends, including Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, both of whom immortalised him in oils;   he also had shares in several newspapers of the time, and lately it has been suggested that he indulged in more than a little self-promotion, writing numerous wonderful reviews of his own performances. There is no doubting his excellence as an actor and businessman, but certainly his many articles praising his own acting prowess would have fuelled the public’s adoration.

 
David Garrick retired from the stage and sold his share of the Drury Lane patent in 1775, before settling down to enjoy his retirement. He became a member of Johnson’s Literary Club which met once a week for dinner and discussion, and at Hampton he loved spending time in his garden with his dogs and relatives, or indoors in his library.

Death of David Garrick

David had always had kidney problems, and whilst staying at Althorp with Lord and Lady Spencer during the New Year celebrations of 1779 be suddenly became very ill. He returned to his house in Adelphi Terrace, where he died. He was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.

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Robert Jones was born in Monmouth in 1857, and joined the 24th Regiment of Foot aged 19 in 1876.  He was one of 11 to receive the Victoria Cross for their part in the battle at Rorke’s Drift when a tiny force of around 100 soldiers defended a small mission station against the Zulu warriors.

At the age of 21, Private Jones along with Private William Jones, defended the wards at Rorke’s Drift hospital and they saved many of the patients in there;   using just his bayonet, Robert Jones managed to beat back the Zulus despite suffering four spear wounds and a stray bullet injury.   He not only managed to survive but he went on to help evacuate several hospital patients from the blazing building……..he was the last man to escape  before it burnt to the ground.  His bravery was rewarded when he was given the VC medal by Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht in 1879.

When Robert Jones left the army he settled in Peterchurch in Herefordshire, and married Elizabeth Hopkins…..the pair went on to have five children, whilst he worked on a farm.  However his mental health deteriorated, whilst he suffered frequent nightmares relating to his part in the battle at Rorke’s Drift, and in 1898 he was discovered dead with gunshot wounds to his head.   The inquest recorded a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane.

Sadly this verdict had a bearing on how Robert Jones was buried, and although his VC gave him the right to a decent burial in the Churchyard at Peterchurch, some petty rules still applied and his coffin had to be taken into the churchyard over the wall rather than through the gate, and his headstone had to face away from all the others.

Very touchingly, on 22nd January of this year (2019) Robert Jones’ grave was honoured by the Royal Welsh Regiment;  The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Welsh attended a graveside dedication and laid a wreath.

The above photos were obtained from the following website:   https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1199289

Down the years Upper Court was let to farmers; the turnover being fairly regular. When it was advertised for let once again in 1911, it was described as follows:
Four reception rooms; nine bedrooms; bathrooms, (hot and cold) and usual offices. Stables, hunting and shooting.
Upper Court is now a bed and breakfast venue

1841 – Upper Court Household

1851 – Upper Court Household

1861 – Upper Court Household

1871 – Upper Court Household

1881 – Upper Court Household

1901 – Upper Court, Herefordshire

 1897 – Fatal Accident At Eye

Thomas Phillips was 56 years old and a farm labourer, having a wife Mary.

One evening, Thomas was working in the hay barn along with Henry Cook and Joseph Williams.  Steps were against a load of hay, and Thomas climbed up to the top and grabbed hold of the hay to help himself up – unfortunately he never made it on to the hay stack, and he fell back down to the stone floor.

Joseph Williams immediately went to his aid, and found Thomas bleeding from the nose but conscious.

Thomas went home and had some tea, then told his wife that he had worked hard and was “done now”.   Later that evening the doctor was called, and he discovered that Thomas had a fractured skull and had fallen into a coma;   there was nothing that could be done to save his life, but he was made as comfortable as possible until he died shortly afterwards.

At the inquest a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

1901 – The Occasion of the Cantata at Eye

The occasion of the Cantata began with the breaking up of the Vicarage Home School;  during the afternoon parents and friends gathered at the Vicarage, and the schoolroom had been decorated for the event.

There was an exhibition of a selection of the term’s work, which highlighted the standard and reputation of the school.  There were paintings;  wild flower collections;  needlework and carving examples, with prizes being handed out to the children.

Tea was provided for a price, and this money combined with the offertory taken at the Cantata went towards the choir and organist fund.

The sacred concert began at 5.15 with a packed church, and the proceedings were declared to be absolutely delightful with Handel’s Largo the memorable feature of the occasion.

1912 – Maid spends an unpleasant night at Moreton Lodge

Fanny Brown was a 17 year old maid who worked for the Reverend Samuel Henry at Moreton Lodge.

Late one night, The Rev. Henry ran into Fanny’s bedroom, shouting that his wife had cut her own throat and that their baby was covered in her blood.

Fanny tended to the baby, and laid her down with two other small children before offering to go for help, the the Vicar stopped her saying that it would all wait until the morning;  he then took off his clothes and went to sleep on Fanny’s bed.

Some time later the Rev. Henry got up and asked for some breakfast before he set off to Leominster for help, but Fanny was frightened by his demeanour so took the baby to some neighbours before making the meal – a meal which the Rev. did not appear to enjoy.  It must have been really bad, because he then went to his study and shot himself, albeit not fatally.

When the police arrived, having been summoned by the neighbour, they found the Rev. holding his revolver, and his wife in her bedroom with her throat and wrist slashed.

The Inquest

Dr. Charles Robinson stated that evidence showed that she could not have committed suicide, and that death had been by the Vicar’s razor.

The jury quickly found Henry guilty of murder, but this was overturned when it was revealed that he was being treated by a doctor for mental problems.

The Vicar’s wife, Bertha Mary Henry is buried in Eye churchyard, and in 1925 Samuel Henry died aged 51 in Broadmoor.

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

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

1851 – Pembridge Castle Household

1861 – Pembridge Castle Household

1871 – Pembridge Castle Household

1881 – Pembridge Castle Household

1891 – Pembridge Castle Household

1901 – Pembridge Castle Household

1909 – Suicide at Leysters

George Henry Reynolds was a 19 year old labourer living at Leysters and in the employ of farmer Robert Mercer.

George came from Liverpool, and had been a bad lad and was in a reformatory school before going to work for the farmer, but  he was unhappy about having to fund his brother who was still in the reformatory;  those who knew him thought that he was a “strange tempered” chap.

One day George was found with a gunshot would, which initially appeared to be the result of an accident, but just before he died he confessed to the doctor treating him that it was an intentional act.

At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind

Servant Boy Charged with Incendiary Fire at Preston Court

In 1849 a fire on 3rd April reduced the extensive farm buildings of Mr. John Davis of Preston Court in Preston on Wye to a pile of rubble; at the same time a large quantity of feed, waggons, carts and farming implements were destroyed. Three barns, four beast houses, a stable and many sheds and other outbuildings over roughly three quarters of an acre were demolished with no walls remaining standing – fortunately all the animals were rescued, but it was not an easy task.

The buildings were only insured for £500, and this was nowhere near enough to cover the cost of the damage. It was reported that the blaze was so large and terrifying that at least 2000 people turned up to try to help.

There was no doubt that someone had deliberately set fire to the property but at first there were no suspects – then a couple of days later circumstances arose which led people to believe that John Jones, a 14 year old servant of Mr. Davis, was the perpetrator of the deed. In fact, Jones himself later confessed to Mr. Davies’ sister, saying that he used a Lucifer match – he hoped that because he had owned up he would be forgiven.

John Jones was the youngest of several boys, and his father, an out and out Chartist, lived close to Preston Court. Mr. Davis had always been very kind to Jones and his parents  and had helped him and his brothers as they grew up, giving them work and trying to guide them into adulthood.

Apparently on the morning of the fire he had been reprimanded by Mr. Davis for neglecting the horses, and he was told not to go near them again while the job was given to another boy.   Perhaps this had annoyed Jones, who was of limited intelligence, enough to set the fire.

The Court Hearing

John Jones was described as having a “heavy stupid appearance” and when he first arrived at Preston Court he appeared quite nonchalant about the whole thing, even enjoying bread and cheese and a mug of cider, (provided by the ever kind John Davis) but by the end of the proceedings he seemed to realise the seriousness of his position and burst into tears. His previous lies when first questioned were picked apart and after many witness statements as well as his own admission,  his guilt was without doubt.

John Jones was convicted of setting fire to the farm buildings at preston court and sentenced to 15 years transportation. He was ordered by the Secretary of State to Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of White.

1851 – Preston Court Household

1861 – Preston Court Household

1871 – Preston Court Household

1881 – Preston Court Household

1891 – Preston Court Household

1901 – Preston Court Household

1911 – Preston Court Household

1849 – Accident at Preston on Wye Wake

At a wake held at Ploughfield (also known as Plovill) one Sunday, Joseph Pitt was indulging in a rather inappropriate bout of wrestling and managed to break his leg.

He was take to the Infirmary at Hereford.

1877 – Scarlet Fever at Preston on Wye

The Inspector of Nuisances for the Weobley District, Mr. Lloyd, reported an outbreak of scarlet fever in a cottage at Preston on Wye.

The house had to be whitewashed and the well had to be properly protected, the pump having rotted and the water supply being insufficient.

The agent of the property had been instructed by the owner to attend to the necessary requirements.

1844 – Reward offered for information on fire starter at Brinsop

£100 and a free pardon to any accomplice of the incendiary was offered.

“Whereas some evil disposed person or persons did, about the hour of four o’clock in the morning of Friday 19th January, wilfully and maliciously set fire to a barn and other buildings at Brinsop, in the occupation of Mr. Thos. Lewis, whereby the same were entirely destroyed.

Any person who will give such information to Mr. George Adams, Superintendent of the Police Force as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the offender or offenders will, upon such conviction, be paid a reward of fifty pounds by John Lee Esq. the proprietor of the premises, and fifty pounds by Her Majesty’s government.

A free pardon will be granted to any accomplice, except the person who actually set fire to the premises!

The house is a beautiful timber building which suits the surroundings of the nearby Herefordshire Black and White village trail, and sits within large grounds which include ponds and landscaped gardens and orchards.
When oak panelings were removed during restoration, an ancient inscription was found over the fireplace in the state bedroom, supposed to have been used by Charles II after the battle of Worcester, and it was as follows: “Honner Him in Heart that souffered on the crosse for thee and worship him”.
When the old staircase was removed, a three pound cannon ball was found lodged in the wall.
The Blount family owned the house and the manor of Orleton for many many years, from 1655 to 1907 with it being passed down through the generations .
The last of the Blounts, Archibald Henry Blount died on 17th June 1907 aged 66 and left his manor at Orleton and the estate to the Yale university at New Haven, Connecticut, USA to be used or sold as they saw fit for their purposes; the following year the Orleton Manor and estate were put up for sale and it became home for a new family.

Orleton Manor Household – 1911

Described as charmingly situated on the right bank of the River Wye, with a glorious view of the countryside including a stretch of the river spanned by the Bredwardine Bridge.

In moonlight, this scene was said to be enchanting.

The grounds abounded with wonderful trees, including Pinus Cephalonica;  Adiantifolia;  Salisburia;  Magnolia and a weeping oak.

The Cedar of Lebanon at Bredwardine Vicarage

In 1821 the Rev. N.D.H. Newton came to Bredwardine as curate;  he was a wealthy man who loved trees and botany, and he happily set out the gardens, including the planting of a Cedar of Lebanon.  The vicar himself dug the huge hole, and together with his servant Thomas Parsons, he planted the tree which flourished and grew over the years to the delight of successive occupants of the vicarage.

The tree was regularly measured, and on 25th August 1891 the circumference had increased by 22 inches in thirteen years which was some vigorous growth.

In 1895 the weather was exceptionally dry, and the tree began to wither and decay;  large trenches were cut around the trunk and gallons of water were poured in but to no avail.   The tree  finally died in 1896 – coincidentally the same year that the last surviving child of the Rev. Newton died.

The tree was left standing  for a couple of years before it was reduced to a stump whereby the ivy took hold.

1859 – Fatal Accident at Bacton

Daniel Morgan was a 45 year old married man with three children.

One day he was hauling timber in Bacton Wood with John Davies;  as they were bringing in a load of timber the horses were halted, and Daniel Morgan went to tie the wheel, and thinking that he had done so he called to John to go on.  He was knocked down and the wheel went on to his body.

John Davies quickly unhooked the horses and attached them to the back of the carriage in an effort to get the wheel off Daniel but he was unable to do it alone.  By the time that help arrived it was too late, and Daniel was dead.

Now all that can be seen is the footprint in the dry earth after the recent heatwave, and that only from the sky.

The staunchly catholic Bodenham family held Rotherwas as their seat for a considerable period of time.

The Bodenham Family at Rotherwas House

Charles Thomas Bodenham

Born in 1780, Charles was described as a fine specimen of the old English gentleman, hale and vigorous in mind and body throughout his life; he was a man of great integrity and was a fluent public speaker. He was an active member of the Liberal party for many years, and was also was a Magistrate for Herefordshire, and was appointed High Sheriff in 1851.
He was very much loved, and it was said that he had no enemies.

However, Charles was no great businessman, and lost a huge amount of money – some of his ill fated ventures included being a Director of the City and County Bank which was in trouble.  He rather foolishly mortgaged the whole of the Rotherwas estate, thus accruing vast debts, and on his death he passed on these debts to his son.

Charles Bodenham was known for his distinguished bearing and was admired for not appearing to grow old even as he did so. Early one morning in 1865 he was seized with paralysis and never spoke or opened his eyes until his death a week later. At the instruction of his son, Charles de la Barre Bodenham, he was buried at Rotherwas church close to the grave of his mother.

Charles De La Barre Bodenham

In 1850, at Oporow, Poland, Charles De la Barre Bodenham married Irena, daughter of Count Morawski who was formerly Prime Minister to the King of Saxony . The celebrations on the day of the married couples return to Rotherwas, and the joyful good wishes of all the tenants; villagers; family and friends proved quite overwhelming for Charles, who made the following emotional speech:

“I was aware of a kind intention of welcoming the stranger on her arrival in our country, but for a demonstration of a nature so imposing as that which I now regard, and for such an expression of sentiments as you have done me the honour to give utterance to in so cordial an address, I was totally unprepared. It is a demonstration calculated to excite my deepest feelings.
The bride, who for the first time appears amongst you – the daughter of another country – is equally affected by the cordiality of your welcome, for which, like myself, she has been totally unprepared. Under any circumstances, the emotion with which on this occasion I should have approached that dwelling, which bears for me the sacred name of home, would be very great, but they are now heightened, and the scene is rendered impressive by your presence.
On the part of the lady, and with her, I have to thank you for a true and heartfelt English welcome to a dear English home. I need not remind you that home does not alone depend upon panelled halls or ancestral oaks; home is in the hearts of those who there surround us. It is with pride and pleasure that I mark the expression of friendship which beams from every face upon the bride, and I have to thank you for thus attempting to prove to her that, although far from the country of her birth, Poland is not lost, but is found in the hearts of the tenants and friends of Rotherwas.
Charles De La Barre Bodenham died in 1883, bequeathing the estate to his widow, She died 9 years later and was succeeded by her cousin Louis, Count Lubienska who later became Count Lubienski-Bodenham when the family Anglicised.

The count was a tireless benefactor of Herefordshire, and played a big part in developing the County General Hospital, but he let Rotherwas House to tenants and he and his wife and three sons moved to another part of Herefordshire.

In 1907, a fire badly damaged Rotherwas House, and with the Count having died two years earlier, the whole estate was sold off
As a bit of an aside:

Roman Catholic Relics found in a Stone at Rotherwas

In 1927, following the partial demolition of the ancient chapel at Rotherwas, a stone was found by the roadside by a woman who decided that it would make a good door stop. She discovered that it had broken in two, and inside was a document with a bottle of holy water; a small bottle of oil; a number of medals and a piece of moss.
The document read:
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
In honour of the ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. This day September 13th 1857, being the feast of Her Holy Name, this Angus Dei and medals and relics are deposited. We pray our Dear Lady and patrons to accept and bless this Her House and to protect it and all who therein abide, and whatever be the destination of this House may the most Holy Will of God be accomplished, and may His Holy Name be glorified.
O, Maria, sine labe originale concept, ora pro nobis.
Charles Thomas Bodenham, Eliza Mary Bodenham, Charles De la Barre Bodenham, Irene Maria Bodenham”
The document goes on to say:
“This case contains an angus dei; a bottle of water from Mamnurhus Dungeon, Immaculus Well; oil of St. Walburg; the dust from the tomb of St. Francis; moss from St. Winifred’s Well; a medal of Philumina; a medal blessed by the Cure D’Ars against future ails; a medal of St. Peter and St. Paul; a medal of St. Benedict; a medal of our Lady Crestohawa; and an unreadable medal.
The medals referred to are supposed to contain healing powers, whilst the angus dei is an ivory ornament with the image of the Virgin Mary engraved on it.

1851 – Rotherwas House Household

1861 – Rotherwas House Household

1871 – Rotherwas House  Household

1881 – Rotherwas House Household

Unfortunately, the transcription for 1891 is virtually impossible due to fading of the form

1901 – Rotherwas House Household

1911 – Rotherwas House Household

1903 – Shocking Suicide of Rotherwas House Employee

Joseph Webb was gardener to the above Mackworth Praed family, and was 32 years old with one child – he suffered from varicose veins which had been treated by his doctor, and he had undergone two operations.

His wife Ella said that one morning after he got up, he had a cigarette and told her that he was going to cheer up;  she went off to a neighbouring farm for some milk, and when she returned she find that he had shot himself in the head – in fact he had virtually blown his head off with a muzzle loading gun.

Very sadly, his two year old son was in the room at the time of the suicide.

In 1831 John Scudamore Lechmere, was at  Fownhope Court, when his only daughter Catherine J.A. Lechmere died suddenly at her brother’s house in Lugwardine.

The Lechmeres of Fownhope Court

The Lechmere family were generally well respected in Herefordshire, but one chap frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Thomas Lechmere

Thomas Lechmere was born in 1819, and married Elizabeth Eckley in 1846
Thomas Lechmere was a bit of a lad it seems, and maybe not the most pleasant of characters even though he was a Magistrate for the county and a landed proprietor. In 1869 he was charged at Hereford City Police Court with being drunk; with assaulting his wife, and refusing to leave the residence of Mr. J. Cleave when required to do so.

Mr. J. Gwillim, solicitor, appeared in support of the charge.
Mr. Cleave, also a solicitor and clerk of the peace for the country, stated that Thomas Lechmere called at his house in Bridge Street, Hereford, during the evening and asked to see his wife who was there at the time. Thomas said that he was going to take her home and that he would not leave without her…….he was horribly drunk, and appeared deranged with disgustingly coarse language and conduct. During his tirade, his wife came into the room and she flatly refused to go home with him, whereupon Thomas ran at her and hit her such a violent blow that the crack could be heard in a distant room.
Mr. Cleave went on to say that he knew that this was not the first time that Thomas had assaulted his wife, and in fact she had been beaten by him on several occasions which was why she was at his house that day.
Thomas Lechmere was remanded in custody, surprisingly admitting that it was all true.

Thomas Lechmere in trouble again

In 1876, Thomas was once again in trouble (incredibly he was still a Magistrate), and was fined for being drunk and incapable whilst in charge of a horse and trap in Ethelbert Street, Hereford. The case had been held back for a few days, as Thomas was too ill to attend, and when it was finally heard, he pleaded guilty and not only paid the fine, but also put money into the poor box.
This then was a man who was possibly an alcoholic, or prone to excessive drinking when he became violent and unreasonable but then when sober, genuinely regretted his actions.
Throughout the marriage, and despite Thomas’s treatment of her, Elizabeth went on to have a prodigious amount of children.

1861 – Fownhope Court Household

1871 – Fownhope Court Household

1881 – Fownhope Court Household

Hans Hamilton Howard Brooke

Hans Hamilton Howard Brooke,  born 1^st April 1849 at Castle Howard was the son of R. Howard Brooke  and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.  He died at Fownhope Court on 16^th June 1890

Colonel Sir Robert Bridgford

Colonel Sir Robert Bridgford KCV owned Fownhope Court in the early 1900s;  he was born in 1836 and was active in his father’s business in Manchester – Messrs. J.T. Bridgford and Sons, land agents etc.  He was heavily involved with the Volunteer movement, for which he gained due recognition – for over thirty four years he was in command of the battalion, and the War Office repeatedly extended his term of service.

Sir Robert contracted a serious illness in 1901 after working himself into the ground,  and knew that he would not be able to continue as head of the battalion for much longer

He was created a Companion of the Bath in 1885, and received a knighthood in the year of the Coronation.

His interest in Herefordshire included being the agent for the Brockhampton Estate, and he owned the Upper Newton estate at Kinnersley.  He also bred pedigree Hereford cattle;   was a JP for both Lancashire and Herefordshire, and was Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

He died in May 1905 after a long illness initially contracted in Africa whilst training the Imperial Yeomanry.

Walter Spencer

The Rev Walter Spencer lived at Fownhope Court for many years;  he was the father of Lady Greenwood wife of Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland.  He was a virtual recluse, taking his pleasure from a glorious collection of old china and wood carvings and hee himself was a talented wood carver.

At the end of his life he was very ill, confined to his bed for three years before he died of heart disease

1911 – Fownhope Court Household

1921 – Fownhope Court Household

How lovely it must have been to be brought a cup of tea in the morning, then had your bath run for you whilst your freshly pressed clothes were laid out ready for you to be helped into before your hair was dressed to perfection. What delicious comfort it would have been to know that when you came home after a long night out, the fire would be blazing in your bedroom and your maid would be waiting to make your passage into bed a swift and enjoyable one, all the while knowing that any gossip that you shared would be treated with the utmost discretion.

The Lady’s Maid had to be a skilled seamstress, not only making new dresses of every description but also repairing and caring for old ones and she also had to be a pretty good hairdresser and be willing and able to clean the bedroom and set it fair several times a day.

Meals were taking in the Servants Hall, but the rest of the time the Lady’s Maid could expect to be summoned to help her mistress at any time of day.

A good Mistress would have made life pleasant enough for her servant, but an ill tempered one was a different matter altogether and when looking through census records it is sometimes easy for one to spot which households have a high turnover of servants, and which retain loyal staff for many years.

Baron Robert Price

Born 14th January 1653 Robert Price was to become Common Councilman for Hereford; Town Clerk for Gloucester; Attorney General, Glamorgan; Steward to Queen Catherine of Braganza; council member in the Marches of Wales; Second Justice on the Brecon Circuit; Serjeant at Law and Baron of the Exchequer.

He had a rather wicked tongue, but was a smooth enough talker to get himself out of trouble although he himself was rather easily offended!

In 1679 Baron Robert Price married Ann Rodd who was one of the heiresses to Foxley.and in 1717 he set about building a mansion there.

When he found that his wife was having an affair with the son of Thomas Neale, her cousin, Robert sued Neale for enticing his wife away and making her pregnant – he won £1,500 damages, but Price refused to divorce her. They agreed on an amicable separation, and he gave her £400 pounds a year with an annuity of £120 in his will. All previous settlements were revoked, so that he had sole and happy possession of his wife’s inheritance!

Robert Price was a keen politician and also made very sure that he was liked by the Hanoverian Court before the death of Queen Anne, and was made Judge of the Common Please by George II. He died in Kensington in 1733 and was buried at Yazor.

In his will he left many bequests to the poor, as well as a maintenance for a Minister to read morning and evening prayers in a Hereford church.

Sir Uvedale Price

Foxley Manor passed down to Sir Uvedale Price, grandson of Robert, and he made his mark on the estate by enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape rather than creating the more formal gardens favoured at the time, inspired by his visit to Switzerland during his Grand Tour where he fell in love with the glorious and natural scenery. he also bought more land to extend the estate at Foxley.
Sir Uvedale had an essay published on the subject in 1794.

Uvedale Price died at the age of 39 on 6th November 1844 at Bishopstone.

Sadly,  Sir Uvedale Price’s son Sir Robert got himself into heavy debt, and the whole estate was put up for sale in 1855

It was described thus:

The noble and extensive domain of Foxley with the manors and advowsons, one of the most influential and important residential estates in the country within eight miles of the city of Hereford.

The accommodation was suitable for a large establishment and family of wealth and distinction.  There was an entrance and inner hall;  dining room;  billiard room;  library and study, as well as a suite of rooms used as a saloon, breakfast room and drawing room.

There were numerous bedrooms, dressing rooms, servants quarters and Housekeeper and Butler rooms.

Within the estate were more than three farmhouses, as well as a water corn mill;  blacksmith’s and Wheelwright’s shops, and many cottages for workpeople and their families.

John Davenport and the Rev. George Horatio Davenport

Foxley Manor was sold to John Davenport in 1856, who proceeded to rebuild much of the house. John Davenport was the eldest son of a china manufactuer; when he died in 1862 his second son the Rev George Horatio Davenport inherited the house and he in his turn made huge improvements and renovations to the estate buildings.

The Rev. George Davenport arranged a marriage with Miss Dashwood of Stanford Hall in 1866, and the  day was observed as a general holiday on the Foxley Estate.

The band of the Herefordshire Militia were engaged, and there was much dancing, singing and other amusements, with tea and plum cake for the children.

It was also discussed that a stained glass window be made for the church in commemoration of the event, and this memorial window was duly made at the extensive stained glass works of Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

In WW2 the Americans used Foxley Manor as a military hospital, and after that the house became dilapidated and was eventually demolished in 1948 although the 19th century stable block survives and has been converted for residential use.

1861 – Foxley Manor Household

1881 – Foxley Manor Household

1891 – Foxley Manor Household

1901 – Foxley Manor Household

1911 – Foxley Manor Household

1882 – Kings Caple Court for sale

In 1882 Kings Caple Court was sold by auction, and was purchased for Sir Edward Cludde Cockburn, Bart.   by his agent Mr. F. Bodenham.  The price paid was £9,020.  From the Census records, it appears that Edward and his wife and family were already living in the Court.

Edward Cludde Cockburn

Edward Cockburn was born at Downton near Kington in 1834, and  went to Exeter College, Oxford, matriculating in 1853.   In 1854 he entered the Army subsequently serving at the end of the Crimean War in the 11^th Hussars,  and was promoted to Captain in 1857;   he retired the following year.

Edward Cockburn married Mary Ann Francis Elliot, a daughter of Mr. R.K. Elliot of Harwood and Clifton in 1859, and they went on to have several children – strangely his wife managed to produce alternate daughters and sons!

Edward was Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire, and became High Sheriff in 1866.

The Cockburn family lived at Kings Caple Court until around 1901 when it was tenanted out to Mr. Bennett;  however Mr Bennet was not to linger long at the property and maybe the following is part of the reason why.

The Nuisance at King’s Caple Court.

It seems that the drains and sewage system were in a dreadful state;  the drain from the cellar was totally blocked and although it had been suggested that this be lowered, because the outlet into the pond was higher than the floor of the cellar this was impossible.

The cesspool and sewage tank were full and in a dreadful state and all in all the Sanitary Authority considered the property to be unfit for human habitation.

Also, the cellar used as a dairy had an untrapped drain leading into the fold, and the inspector stated that the milk was not fit to be drunk – as soon as the owner knew this he stopped having the milk, but didn’t warn the tenant Mr. Bennett.  The owner also refused to do anything about the drainage, despite the stench going into the house.  (Maybe this is why he moved over to Pennoxstone Court!).

The owner of King’s Caple Court, Edward Cockburn,  was instructed to commence rectification work immediately or face a summons.

At this time Edward Cockburn was living at nearby Pennoxstone Court which he also owned, and which was originally a 17^th century farm before being turned into a country house in the early 18^th century.  The present house was built in the late 19^th century after being purchased by Edward Cockburn.

In 1903 Edward died suddenly in December at Pennoxstone Court, and his obituary included some doubt as to his title of Sir.   The papers said that Debrett stated that though James Cockburn of Ryslaw was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628 the patent is not on record, and neither did the title appear in Mylne’s list of Nova Scotia Baronetcies.  Debrett also said that though the title was assumed by Captain Cockburn, his right to the dignity had not been established or recorded.

In 1904, Edward’s son  Robert was forced to write to the papers to defend his father against the claims that he had “assumed” the title of Baronet.  He pointed out that his father had inherited the title on the death of his father, Sir. W.S.R. Cockburn,  when he succeeded to the baronetcies of Cockburn in 1671, and Ryslaw in 1628.

Edward left a personal estate to the value of £25,715 2s, and left all his property to his eldest son Robert.

Lady Cockburn was recorded in various ways on the census records, but her maiden name was Mary Ann Frances Elliot.

1861 – Kings Caple Court Household

1871 – Kings Caple Court Household

1881 – Kings Caple Court Household

1891 – Kings Caple Court Household

1901 – Kings Caple Court Household

1921 – Kings Caple Court Household

In 1124 Hugh gave the church of St. Waird at Kilpeck to the monks of St. Peter of Gloucester, along with the chapel of Our Lady which was within the now ruined Kilpeck Castle.

Hugh’s son Henry took the surname of Kilpeck from the castle, it being his principal seat.

Next came John de Kilpeck who in 1200 obtained a charter from  King John that neither himself nor his heirs would lose their bailiwick in the Forest of Hereford, but when he died shortly afterwards, his heir Hugh was very young, so all his lands were given to the custody William de Cantelupe, the brother of the Bishop of Hereford.

John de Kilpeck’s son, Hugh married Egidia, and and they had two daughters as heirs.   Her two daughters Isabel and Jane married William Walerand and Philip Marmion respectively and the barony of Kilpeck was merged with that of Marmion.

1885 – Humber National School

The school was said to have done extremely well – Her Majesty’s Inspector said that 92% of the children passed their standard.

The Excellent Merit grant was obtained and the full grant for class subjects was awarded.

The results very much reflect the efforts of the new Master, Mr. T.S. Annandale, as well as his predecessor Mr. F.H. Erye who left at Easter

1896 – Sons Accused of Assaulting Father at Humber

John and George Parry, labourers of Humber, aged 23 and 18,  were charged with assaulting and beating  their father George Parry.

George Parry had gone into Leominster in order to take out a summons against his sons, and on returning home ordered them out of the house saying that he had the backing of the police.  They refused to go, and pushed him out then locked the door.

George went round to the back door, but that too was locked so he set off to go to the police;  suddenly a gun went off behind him and he saw that his youngest son was holding the gun and assumed that he had fired at him, but he knew that here was no shot in it, only powder.

A neighbour stated that she heard the commotion and saw an axe outside the door and the two boys were at the window……she said that George Parry asked her to go and find a policeman, but the son George said that if she did he would put out her bloody lights, and his father’s.  After that she heard the gunshot.

It seems that the boys had been increasingly difficult since the loss of their mother, and although George Parry had tried to be both father and mother, they were aggressive and difficult to live with – hence the summons to order them out of the house.

At the hearing, father George was a rather unwilling witness despite being in “bodily fear”.  The Bench considered that the charge of assault was proved against both boys, and said that the charge of firing a gun at their father was serious – and that it was lucky that it wasn’t loaded.

The sentence in the end was lenient, just 14 days hard labour.

John Coke

John Coke built the original Hall Court at Kynaston, Much Marcle in the early 1600s, almost certainly on or near the site of an earlier building.

This is just a brief outline of John Coke’s life, but any amount of detailed information on his political journey can easily be found online.
John Coke was born in 1563, his father being a rather wealthy lawyer, and was educated first at Westminster before attending Trinity college, Cambridge in 1576. He gained a scholarship in 1580 going on to take his BA. On the death of his father, his time at Cambridge might have been curtailed, but with the generous help of his brother he managed to finish his studies; he was to later return as a lecturer.
John Coke became friends with Fulke Greville, and worked with him for some time, gaining a reputation for being trustworthy and capable. The pair enjoyed a rise in office in both Parliament and Royal circles, but also fell hard after Queen Elizabeth’s death.

There was a rather unpleasant side to John Coke, in that during the war of the 1620s he managed to avoid using any of his own money to help with the cost of military action, whilst others around him were digging deeply into their pockets. He used  money gained from his office to buy estates.
Ironically, during his time as chief Clerk to Greville, treasurer of the navy, he found out that many naval officials were only concerned with lining their own pockets, and he and Greville did their best to bring about reforms. Unfortunately Greville was forced to resign and Coke went too.
At this time he was 40 and with time on his hands he married Marie Powell in Herefordshire; they lived with her father for a while whilst Hall Court was being built.
It wasn’t too long though before he and Greville were on the rise again and he became very well thought of and respected, being elected MP for Warwick in 1621 – it seems that he and his wife then spent little time at Hall Court and it was put out for rent.
John Coke died in 1644 in Tottenham

Hall Court becomes a Rental Property

In 1781 Hall Court was advertised for let – boasting orcharding, meadow pasture and arable land amounting to two hundred and forty acres, together with another adjoining farm called The Porch.

For many years, Hall Court was tenanted by William Smith, a man who on his death aged in 1861 aged 71 was described as highly respected.
Shortly afterwards, an auction was arranged to sell all William’s farming stock and implements, all the household furniture and livestock.

1841 – Hall Court Household

1861 – Hall Court Household

1881 – Hall Court Household

1901 – Hall Court Household

1911 – Hall Court Household

In 1836 John Caesar Hawkins was at Elton Hall, and he married Louisa Georgiana Letitia. John was the eldest son of Sir John Caesar Hawkins Bart.

Captain Joseph Baker R.N.

In 1841 Captain Joseph Baker R.N was in residence although whether this was before or after the family shown on the census below I do not know;  he was born in 1767 and became an officer in the Royal Navy.

At the age of 20 he joined HMS Europa, where he was picked by George Vancouver to be  be 3^rd Lieutenant on HMS Discovery,  with Peter Puget 2^nd Lieutenant – these two were to become firm lifelong friends.  They set out for a round the world survey, and Joseph Baker turned out to be an excellent surveyor and chartmaker.  After the mapping of the Pacific Northwest Coast during this expedition,  a large volcano was named after him, being dubbed Mount Baker.

At times during this voyage Joseph Baker commanded Discovery, and it was he who brought her back to the Thames on completion of their five year mission.

John saw further Naval service in the Baltic, and was captain of Tartar – a ship which eventually came to a sticky end.   Although there was a court martial, Captain Baker and all officers and crew were honourably acquitted.  He was never again to go to sea but remained good friends with Puget who lived nearby.

He married Elizabeth Weverman in 1797, and they had 9 children.

He died in 1817 in Presteigne, Radnorshire.

The Salwey Family

The Salwey family owned Elton Hall for a great many years, although for much of the time the house was rented out and it seems that they rarely lived there themselves, preferring instead to reside at nearby Moor Park in the Ludlow district.
Alfred Salwey born 1841 and aged 21 married Margaret Frances Salwey aged 22 in 1862, citing Elton Hall as his residence at the time.
After the marriage, Alfred and his new wife returned to EltonHall,where the tenantry and various gentlemen had formed a cavalcade to meet and welcome them home. The hills were alive with the music from a rustic band and triumphal arches were decorated and covered in flags. When the happy couple arrived at the Hall, toasts were drunk to them following which Alfred thanked everyone for their kind greetings. A dinner was provided for the tenantry at the house of Mr. T. Griffiths, and in the afternoon the wives and children of the poor were given tea and cake.

After the family and a few friends had eaten at the Hall, dancing commenced and continued until the early hours.

Alfred Salwey died in 1902

Colonel John Colvin

In 1842 a very interesting man in the shape of  Colonel John Colvin was in residence having retired from the Bengal Engineers.

He was born in Scotland in 1794, and at the age of 15 John went to India where he joined the Bengal Enginners and went on to serve for 27 years during which time he fought in two battles.  Whilst there he also gained the title of Father of Indian Irrigation due to his involvement in the building of canals in northern India and after proving himself a excellent enginner, was made Superintendent of the Delhi canals.

Whilst in India John Colvin developed an interest in fossils, and many that he found he gave to museums both in Bengal and Britain.

On his return to England in 1838 he met and married a Herefordshire girl,  Josephine Puget Baker,  and threw himself into Herefordshire life doing so many wonderful things for the County.

John Colvin took an active interest in the running of the Ludlow Workhouse and became a JP at Wigmore;  he built a school at Leintwardine and was Secretary of the Ludlow Natural History Society.  He was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1838 Coronation Honours.

It seems incredible that he had any free time, but it seems that he did and spent it growing prize vegetables and fishing.

John Colvin died in 1871.

Elton Hall for Rent

In 1846 an advertisement described Elton Hall thus:
“To be let furnished, Elton Hall with or without the exclusive right of sporting over upwards of 900 acres of land and extensive woods.
The house consists of a large entrance hall; drawing room; dining room and study, with four best bedrooms and dressing rooms, and three other good bedrooms. Spacious kitchen, Brewhouse, servants’ hall and other excellent offices and servants’ apartments. Coach houses and stables for eight or ten horses. The parish church is near to the house and Elton Hall is within five miles of Ludlow and stands in a healthy situation commanding extensive views over surrounding beautiful country between Downton Castle and Wigmore.

1860 The Coming of Age of Edward Salwey’s Daughter

When the daughter of Edward Salwey reached her coming of age the event was celebrated both at Elton Hall and Abbey Grange at Wigmore, both of these having been inherited by Miss Salwey and her sister Harriet.
The cottagers’ wives were presented with tea and plum cake on the Monday evening, and on Tuesday the peasantry arrived – dressed in their holiday clothes and wearing neat rosettes. Both villages were heavily decorated with flags, and a lively band played music. From an early hour, a cannon proclaimed the importance of the day, and bread and beef was given to all the cottagers. The villagers dined on a whole sheep roasted outside and cider flowed liberally as many rustic sports were entered into with great good humour. A huge bonfire was lit on one of the hills as dark descended, and so ended in all the simplicity and happiness of rural life, the day when Miss Salwey reached 21.

The next evening, a ball was given at Elton Hall for the tenantry and their friends and it was very well attended.

In 1909 W.J. Lowe was in residence

1841 – Elton Hall Household

1871 – Elton Hall Household

1911 – Elton Hall Household

The original Cheney court dated from the 15th century, and up until the mid 1800s was called China Court, the house being enlarged in around 1870 and then tragically lost forever when it burnt down in 1888, although the private chapel still remains.

This is the modern replacement.

 
Legend has it that at one time there were two strange rooms in the house – Heaven and Hell. Heaven being adorned with paintings and panels of Sybils and boasting a ceiling full of cherubims. Hell was merely a closet of incredible depth, supposedly used when the house was a monastery in medieval times.
It was bought by a Mr. John Jones in the mid 1800s and he quickly sold it on to James Moilliet of Abberley Hall in Worcestershire, who then considerably improved and updated the house – he being from a family of great wealth and owner of many properties. On James’ death in 1878, Cheney Court was inherited by his son, also James. He decided to rent the house out and it was taken on by Alfred John Monson, although James did stipulate that one room had to be set aside for storage of some of his valuables, including pictures and a library of books.

Alfred John Monson

Alfred Monson rented Cheney Court over a two year period in 1887 and 1888. He was a good horseman and loved hunting, keeping several horses for the purpose, as well as a pack of Harriers.

Mr. Monson started a private school for civil and military instruction, and it grew to quite a size; he employed a nurse, cook, housemaid and scullery maid, as well as a butler, a page boy and some gardeners. The pupils, mostly with wealthy parents, stayed at the house and paid for their tuition and keep, for the oldest the fee was around £200 a year – their ages ranging from 12 to 25. They were well fed and looked after, and at least one boy kept his hunter in the stables.
His wife was young and sweet natured, and became very friendly with one of the older pupils, with her husband giving permission for them to go walking or driving alone together. I am not sure whether anything should be read into this!

People gossiped that the household expenses etc. must surely be at least two thousand pounds per year, a huge sum at the time, and it seems that Monson began to run into difficulties.

The Fires at Cheney Court

Soon after all this, Monson took out insurance policies, and within an indecently short time a hayrick burned down but of course the loss was covered. The next fire was not long in coming, this time in the butler’s pantry, which was thought to have started with the accidental lighting of paraffin, but this time it was discovered and put out before too much damage was done.
The next fire was potentially horrible; at the beginning of July 1887 the beautiful stables set right next to the house were seen to be alight – villagers sent for the neighbouring fire brigades whilst throwing water on the flames with whatever receptacles they could find. Then came the awful realisation that the horses were still in the stables and the door was locked. Mr. Monson seemed to have forgotten this until the villagers yelled at him to set the horses free, but he merely mumbled something that couldn’t be heard amidst the general clamour and did nothing.
In despair, the villagers grabbed axes and other implements and proceeded to bash down the doors so that the terrified horses could be released – the stables were totally destroyed. Take note – Mr. Monson had insured the horses and the building for quite a large sum.
Early in the morning of 27th July 1888, some men who were walking to work saw flames shooting from the roof of Cheney Court; at the time, only the butler was in the house and as he was asleep in a back room he didn’t at first hear the shouts of alarm outside. Eventually stones thrown at his window woke him up, and he managed to scramble to safety whilst messengers were organised to ride for the Ledbury and Bromyard Fire Brigades, but by the time they arrived much of the building had been engulfed and all the firemen could do was try to prevent the fire spreading to the servants quarters.
Cheney Court was destroyed but it was “lucky” that the fire happened when it did, as only two days before the Monsons and servants were in residence. Monson had instructed the servants to leave the house just one day before the fire, and also on that day Mrs. Monson went to London. Later that day, Mr. Monson was taken to Ledbury Station by the butler who then returned to the Court – walking around the house he saw nothing awry and went to bed.
The fire was put down to an overheating incubator in the library, and virtually nothing of the contents could be saved, including Mr. Molliet’s valuable belongings. Rumours abounded that the fire was set deliberately, but nobody could prove it conclusively. Mr. Monson had of course insured his furniture for a hefty £2000 and Mr. Molliet had insured the house for £4000, and his valuables stored in the one room were also well insured.

Alfred Monson’s Debts begin to spiral

Mr. Monson had a reputation for not paying his bills, although his servants were always paid on time, but he did try to settle some debts when the pupils’ fees became due. However Ledbury and Bromyard tradesmen began to refuse to send him goods unless he sent money with the order, and the County Court bailiff served many processes on him.
The vicar, and the father of one of the pupils acted as security for him for a large sum of money, but eventually the vicar had no choice but to make Monson bankrupt, after which Monson and his wife moved away. Occasionally he returned to Bishops Frome and stayed with the vicar, and on one of these times the local butcher called on him to ask for £90 which was owed him for meat. Monson said that he had not yet received the insurance money from the fire and so couldn’t pay, but it has to be said that as soon as he did get an instalment from the insurance company he immediately sent some money to the butcher. The rest of the debt was paid in full later on. Actually, Monson did pay off several debts once he received all the insurance money.
He left Herefordshire for good, and tried but failed to start a stud in Leicestershire, to supply horses for hunts. He then disappeared off the radar until the Ardlamont case.
After his acquittal (see below) it seems that Monson delved into the seedy world of money lending, and was eventually imprisoned for five years in 1898 for his part in insurance fraud.
On his release, Monson went to South Africa, where he  married Agnes Maud Day in 1881 – it is believed that they had at 7 or more children.

Monson worked in various capacities in South Africa, including as a tutor and also he attempted to set up a stud farm using a different name but details of this and of any success are not documented.

The Ardlamont Mystery

A murder case known as the Ardlamont Mystery involved Mr. Cecil Hambrough, the victim and pupil of Mr. Monson, one time tenant of Cheney Court, the possible murderer.
There is a great deal about this case out there on the internet if anyone wishes to look further, but basically despite evidence which appeared to nail Monson, he was given a “not proven” verdict at the trial.

1851 China Court (Cheney Court) Household

1871 Cheney Court Household

1881 – Cheney Court Household

Presumably, the stud owner shown below with his wife was housed above the stables, as the Court itself was in ruins.

1901 – Cheney Court Household

In good repair, the ground floor had an entrance hall;  breakfast, dining and drawing rooms;  Butler’s pantry;  kitchen;  back kitchen and water closet.  The second floor had five large bedrooms with four dressing rooms, and in the attics were six more bedrooms and a dressing room.  There were good cellars, a dairy and other offices.

In the garden there was a gardener’s house and a large hot house within a walled surround.

The house was advertised for rent in 1824, and again in 1825 and I have not ascertained whether it was indeed let – but shortly afterwards Pudleston House was bought by the Rev. John Wood Duppa who remained there until his death in 1840 at the age of 79, when the estate was put up for sale.  There was a separate auction for his collection of valuable books, amounting to over one thousand, mostly on the subject of Divinity, and also one for his herd of pedigree cattle.    He had been an active magistrate for Herefordshire, and was Rector of Pudleston and Perpetual Curate of Hatfield.  His wife Jane  died in 1836 aged 77 being described as a lady of most exemplary piety and benevolence.

Elias Chadwick

In 1845 Pudleston Court was again up for sale, and was bought by Elias Chadwick born 1813 in Lancashire.

As was the fashion at the time, Elias Chadwick determined to display his wealth and importance via the medium of bricks and mortar and decided to completely rebuild Pudleston Court.  He  employed J.T. Brearley, an architect from Liverpool and the end result was indeed a most impressive mansion with castle overtones.

Elias Chadwick was known for his generous nature, as an example, in 1847 he distributed warm blanks to the poor of the parish during a harsh winter.  He was also President of the Tenbury Wells Horticultural and Floral Society as well as J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant, and Director of the Leominster and Kington Railway company where he held shares.  He was also a director of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway.  In fact there were few important pies in Herefordshire that he did not have a very large finger in.

In 1854 he was High Sheriff of Herefordshire and frequently gave lavish dinners at Pudleston Court.

1861 saw him initiated into the mysteries of the Ancient Order of Foresters when he was made an honorary member – he duly showed his appreciation by presenting them with a very handsome donation to augment the funds.  In this same year, Elias and his butler were involved in a train crash on the Worcester line – Elias suffered severe injuries to his leg, but the butler escaped with shock.

Again in 1861, the Mayor, Aldermen, Town Council, the Vicar and 60 other people of Leominster made public an invitation to Elias Chadwick;  they were wishing to show their admiration and thanks for his many acts of munificence towards the institutions of Leominster, and his general kindless and courtesy, and thus invited him to join them at a Dinner at the Oak Hotel in Leominster.

Elias was asked to choose the day, and the dinner was then scheduled for 5^th February 1862, with tickets going on sale for 10s 6d.  This did include a bottle of wine and a dessert!

Elias Chadwick was  an active Freemason and attained at least the rank of Junior Warden.

1864 saw Elias Chadwick’s wife in ailing health

Elias Chadwick continued his generous ways, and each winter he gave large amounts of coal to the poor of the parish and to the school – he does truly appear to have been a greatly loved and admired man throughout Herefordshire.

Things go awry for Elias Chadwick

Then came the bombshell accusation.

In 1865 Elias Chadwick, aged 52 at that time, was charged along with a Butler by the name of Henry Merton, “ with committing an unnatural offence of the gravest description. “  The penalty for which only recently had been death.  The case for the prosecution was totally reliant on the evidence of one witness, which turned out to be uncorroborated.  Also character witnesses for Elias came forward to say that it was unthinkable that such a kind and well loved as well as moral man could carry out such an act.  There were similar character witnesses for Henry Merton, and eventually the Magistrates declared that there was insufficient evidence, and the men were released.

It is of course possible that Elias and Henry did have a thing going on, and these days there would be no case to answer for;  so was it someone with a grudge who reported seeing them together in the graveyard that night when in fact it was a lie, or was Elias a latent homosexual who succumbed to his feelings when his wife was ailing?  We will never know!  Certainly, the endless articles and references to Elias prior to this date spoke glowingly of his generosity and kindness as well as his supremely likeable character – all qualities that I have seen in gay men that I have met and come to know.

However, the matter did not appear to end there as in 1868 a man named Paris Francis White was charged at Leominster Magistrates Court with an attempt to blackmail Elias Chadwick.  Paris wrote letters to Elias, demanding money with threats about exposing details of his personal life which he would wish to conceal.

I can find no more articles relating to Elias Chadwick after 1868, and in 1875, he died at Pudleston Court.

The Rev. Anthony Benn

(http://www.quaritch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/The-Photographic-Portrait.pdf)

The Rev Anthony Benn, the son of Captain Benn R.N. of Cumberland, was rector at Woofhardisworthy in Devon from 1866 until 1872.  He married Elizabeth Mansell, and they moved to Pudleston Court where he was lord of the manor and patron of Pudleston.

In 1873 his marriage fell apart when he discovered his wife’s fondness for other men, and he went to Court for the dissolution of his marriage – accusing Elizabeth of adultery with Lieutenant Uvedale Okeden of the 10^th Hussars and also with a Francis Whitson.  Elizabeth then filed a cross petition, charging her husband with many acts of cruelty during their time in Woofardisworthy and asked for a judicial separation;  but by a subsequent order of the court she amended her petition and added a charge of adultery by The Rev Anthony Benn with a Mrs. Eliza Whitley in Brompton in May 1871.

The proceedings were put on hold in the hope that a settlement out of court could be agreed.  A decree nisi was eventually obtained and the decree was made absolute in 1874.  Perhaps this was a case of six of one and half a dozen of another.

The Rev. Anthony Benn died at Pudleston Court in 1904, having bequeathed Pudleston to one of his sons, Charles Anthony – Barrister at law – who also inherited much of his wealth.  Another son, Herbert Robert was left the property in Devon.

He was buried at Pudleston Church.

Anthony Benn’s son Herbert Robert Benn settled in New Zealand at Lake Okareka near Rotorua,  but stayed in contact with his family. A person in New Zealand who is researching his life is interested to know whether there are any Benn or Maunsell descendents / relatives who know of any family stories, photographs etc. from this time. This person has stories and photographs which relate to Herbert Benn’s life in New Zealand.  If you have interests in this family, please contact me here, and I will forward your details.

Charles Anthony Benn

Charles Anthony Benn was a student at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge,  reading Geology.  He was something of an athlete, gaining successes in middle and long distance running, and was also something of an expert in growing nectarines!

Charles Anthony Benn lived at Pudleston Court briefly, but then put the house on the market in March 1905, along with most of the furniture and valuables which included  bedroom suites;  beds and bedding;  cheffoniers;  cabinets;  carved oak bookcases and hall furniture;  billiard table by Thurston;  unique Elizabethan, Jacobean and other silver;  guns, phaeton;  dog cart;  brown mare and many agricultural items.  (I do hope that the brown mare went to a kind home – with such a sparse description I worry!).

He donated some of the items however to local causes, including the Hereford Public Library and Museum, who received a large geological collection –  birds’ eggs, eight cases of stuffed birds and fifty volumes for the library lending department.  Charles also gave them £10 towards the cost of a proper cabinet for the geological specimens.

Charles also bequeathed property and land to Trinity Hall College and the sale of these funded a bursary.

Herbert Robert Benn

Herbert Robert Benn was born 25th September 1869, and was educated at Kingsley College;  Ramsgate College and Sherborne School.  Originally keen to take Holy Orders, Herbert decided instead to attend the Downton Agricultural College in Wiltshire.

By 1909 George Ernest Wright was in residence and  he was still there in 1911, but then during the second World War, the house was taken over by the Red Cross who used it as a convalescent home for injured members of the armed forces.

It was next turned into special school.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heinj  was born in 1927 in the Netherlands, grandson of the founder of a huge supermarket chain, and he purchased Pudleston Court in the late 20^th century for himself and his wife, Monique.   He completely restored Pudleston Court, which by this time was somewhat run down and then turned his attention to neglected and shabby parts of Hereford, turning what was near wasteland by the river Wye into the smart and popular Left Bank.  and became an important benefactor for Hereford Cathedral.

In 1944 Albert was struck down with polio and eventually became confined to a wheelchair.  In the end, he was unable to leave his bed and he died in 2011.

Two years after Albert’s death, the Court was up for sale again, but now it had 20 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, electricity and central heating.

Pudleston Court is still privately owned.

1851 Pudleston Court Household

In 1861 Elias was travelling

1871 Pudleston Court Household

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