Acton Beauchamp was originally in Worcestershire, but became part of Herefordshire in 1897.Like most other Herefordshire villages it was, and still is mostly a farming community, with many of the cottages being from the 17th and 18th centuries although there is some more modern build there too.

Acton Beauchamp gained its name from the Beauchamp family who owned the manor, and is situated on a hill

The Roaring Water

At one time there was a very old farm house adjacent to a rather spasmodic spring, The Roaring Water, and near to this grew a holy thorn which was reputed to be a scion of the one at Glastonbury and which came into flower on Christmas Eve. So many people traipsed over the farmer’s land in order to see this, that he lost patience and destroyed the thorn – after which act he had a rather nasty accident and broke both his arm and his leg. Shortly afterwards, his farm burnt to the ground! If any genealogist reading this knows that this farmer was their ancestor, then I would love to hear from you.

Churches of Acton Beauchamp

• St. Giles Church - Acton Beauchamp

  This lovely church in Acton Beauchamp sits on the top of a hill, with beautiful views , and although there is no proper path it was well worth the climb over the grass. The bell tower in St. Giles houses three bells, two of which are dated mid 15th century and are believed to be amongst the oldest in the country.

  

   

   

  Font

  The font in St. Giles dates from the 15th century, though sadly shows some damage sustained during the Reformation.

  

   

  Memorials

  Henry Brace

  Henry Brace, died 9th May 1773 aged 72. Also Ann his wife who died 5th April 1767 aged 75. Also their son Henry who died 16th June 1773 aged 39 and Ann Racster their granddaughter who died 20th August 1782 aged 19. Also Richard, son of Henry, died 22nd September 1785 aged 49

  

   

   

  Thomas Heming

  Thomas Heming died 19th September 1777 aged 38, also Mary his wife who died 26th April 1776 aged 38 and Mary their only daughter who died 15th Feb 1834 aged 58. Also their son Richard died 8th May 1834 aged 61, and John Postans Heming who died 2nd May 1845 aged 54 with his wife Harriet on 3lst December 1830 aged 54

  

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People of Acton Beauchamp

News from the Past Acton Beauchamp

• Acton Beauchamp News from the Past

  Suicide, shocking depravity and more

   1827 – Farmer Killed by Bull

  Thomas Loton, a farmer in Acton Beauchamp was smoking his pipe whilst standing in his fold yard.

  For some reason, his bull attacked him and gored him to death.

  1843 – Transportation for Life

  Stephen Fudger was convicted  of rape of a country girl at Acton Beauchamp, and was sentenced to be transported for life.

  1851 – Suicide of a Farmer at Acton Beauchamp

  John Roper of Stinton’s Farm, Acton Beauchamp had been depressed for some time, mainly because of the illness of his wife.

  His wife went to stay with her father in law in Tedstone Delamare for a few days,  and then John Roper left his home intending to go and pick her up.  Unfortunately, he succombed to his addiction to drink and stopped off to down a few……rather more than a few …… and he never made it to see his wife, but eventually returned home some three days later.

  John did go to get his wife later that day, and although rather down in the dumps he didn’t cause anyone any alarm, and went to bed quite happily.  However, he rose at four in the morning to call the servants, and it is thought that at this time he took a quantity of agricultural arsenic – unsurprisingly he said that he felt ill and went back to bed, calling for water  of which he drank vast amounts.

  John started being sick but refused medical attention and within a short time he died.

  At the inquest, attention was drawn to his alcoholism and occasional depression, and the jury returned a verdict of death from the effects of arsenic taken while in a state of temporary insanity.

  1860 – Depravity at Acton Beauchamp

  James Bannister, a twelve year old boy, was charged with raping a four and a half year old girl Hannah -the daughter of Thomas Elcocks, a farmer of Acton Beauchamp.

  James entered the employ of Mr Elcock during the previous year, and part of his duties was to take the girl and her younger sister to school in the village.  On one occasion, on returning home, Hannah was crying and said that James had been hurting her, but her mother ignored it thinking it was just a children’s fight.

  Eventually though,Hannah grew weak and was unable to walk so she was taken to Mr. Shelton, the surgeon at Bromyard.  The truth became clear after an examination, and James was arrested.  He admitted that on that very day he had twice raped Hannah in the cart house.

  Poor Hannah was badly traumatised both mentally and physically, and when she was taken into court in the arms of a nurse everyone was convinced that she had died and the surgeon was hastily called for.  However, Mr.Shelton assured everyone that she was still alive but he was doubtful whether she would live very long and understandably, her mother was in a dreadful state in the court room.

  James was described as “sharp”, and had remained unmoved throughout the court proceedings;  meanwhile his mother cried bitterly and at the end begged the Bench to bail out her boy.  This was finally agreed upon.

  1863 – Execution

  James Webb was convicted of stealing nine sheep at Acton Beauchamp, belonging to Mr. Elcocks of Colwall.

  He was executed at Hereford Gaol on 22nd August 1818

   

  1863 – Tragic death of child at Acton Beauchamp

  Richard Elcox was the four year old son of Mr. T. Elcox of Acton Beauchamp.

  It seems that he was trying to reach a fire hook over the fire, and his clothing caught fire – his screams alterted his father, but by the time he reached his child he was dreadfully burnt, and no amount of medical assistance could save him.

  Richard died the following day.

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 1827 – Farmer Killed by Bull

Thomas Loton, a farmer in Acton Beauchamp was smoking his pipe whilst standing in his fold yard.

For some reason, his bull attacked him and gored him to death.

1843 – Transportation for Life

Stephen Fudger was convicted  of rape of a country girl at Acton Beauchamp, and was sentenced to be transported for life.

1851 – Suicide of a Farmer at Acton Beauchamp

John Roper of Stinton’s Farm, Acton Beauchamp had been depressed for some time, mainly because of the illness of his wife.

His wife went to stay with her father in law in Tedstone Delamare for a few days,  and then John Roper left his home intending to go and pick her up.  Unfortunately, he succombed to his addiction to drink and stopped off to down a few……rather more than a few …… and he never made it to see his wife, but eventually returned home some three days later.

John did go to get his wife later that day, and although rather down in the dumps he didn’t cause anyone any alarm, and went to bed quite happily.  However, he rose at four in the morning to call the servants, and it is thought that at this time he took a quantity of agricultural arsenic – unsurprisingly he said that he felt ill and went back to bed, calling for water  of which he drank vast amounts.

John started being sick but refused medical attention and within a short time he died.

At the inquest, attention was drawn to his alcoholism and occasional depression, and the jury returned a verdict of death from the effects of arsenic taken while in a state of temporary insanity.

1860 – Depravity at Acton Beauchamp

James Bannister, a twelve year old boy, was charged with raping a four and a half year old girl Hannah -the daughter of Thomas Elcocks, a farmer of Acton Beauchamp.

James entered the employ of Mr Elcock during the previous year, and part of his duties was to take the girl and her younger sister to school in the village.  On one occasion, on returning home, Hannah was crying and said that James had been hurting her, but her mother ignored it thinking it was just a children’s fight.

Eventually though,Hannah grew weak and was unable to walk so she was taken to Mr. Shelton, the surgeon at Bromyard.  The truth became clear after an examination, and James was arrested.  He admitted that on that very day he had twice raped Hannah in the cart house.

Poor Hannah was badly traumatised both mentally and physically, and when she was taken into court in the arms of a nurse everyone was convinced that she had died and the surgeon was hastily called for.  However, Mr.Shelton assured everyone that she was still alive but he was doubtful whether she would live very long and understandably, her mother was in a dreadful state in the court room.

James was described as “sharp”, and had remained unmoved throughout the court proceedings;  meanwhile his mother cried bitterly and at the end begged the Bench to bail out her boy.  This was finally agreed upon.

1863 – Execution

James Webb was convicted of stealing nine sheep at Acton Beauchamp, belonging to Mr. Elcocks of Colwall.

He was executed at Hereford Gaol on 22nd August 1818

1863 – Tragic death of child at Acton Beauchamp

Richard Elcox was the four year old son of Mr. T. Elcox of Acton Beauchamp.

It seems that he was trying to reach a fire hook over the fire, and his clothing caught fire – his screams alterted his father, but by the time he reached his child he was dreadfully burnt, and no amount of medical assistance could save him.

Richard died the following day.

Font

The font in St. Giles dates from the 15th century, though sadly shows some damage sustained during the Reformation.

Memorials

Henry Brace

Henry Brace, died 9th May 1773 aged 72. Also Ann his wife who died 5th April 1767 aged 75. Also their son Henry who died 16th June 1773 aged 39 and Ann Racster their granddaughter who died 20th August 1782 aged 19. Also Richard, son of Henry, died 22nd September 1785 aged 49

Thomas Heming

Thomas Heming died 19th September 1777 aged 38, also Mary his wife who died 26th April 1776 aged 38 and Mary their only daughter who died 15th Feb 1834 aged 58. Also their son Richard died 8th May 1834 aged 61, and John Postans Heming who died 2nd May 1845 aged 54 with his wife Harriet on 3lst December 1830 aged 54