Aylton is a tiny village near to the market town of Ledbury  and its current population of around 100 is not much different to what it was 150 years ago. What HAS changed however is that the large farms, such as Court Farm and the White House, are now private houses and the surrounding land is farmed by those living outside the village. There are no shops, and little in the way of amenities;   many of the farms and farm buildings are listed.
Aylton history goes back a very long way indeed, much further than the church, and there is reference to a shire meeting during the reign of King Cnut in the 11th century which was held to thrash out a family dispute.

Means of making a livelihood from the surrounding land have changed with the times, and there are now few hopyards and even fewer orchards – despite the fact that Herefordshire is well known still for both.

Churches of Aylton

• Aylton Parish Church

  This church is delightfully simple with it’s origins in the early 12th century.  There are two bells, the larger of which is circa 1639, and the smaller is possibly 12th century which makes it one of only two of this date in Herefordshire.

  Aylton church originally accommodated between 40 and 50 people, and was used as a “chapel of ease” to two other adjoining parishes.  It became clear that it was not big enough inside, so in around 1870 two of the old pews were removed from the chancel, and they were replaced by open sittings.  This reduced the considerable size of the pulpit and reading desk.

  A harmonium was also installed.

  The alterations were paid for by the Rev. W.J. Morrish.

   

  The patronage of Aylton Parish church runs alongside the ownership of Court Farm. First records show Robert Bray as owner in 1276, and then in the 16th century it belonged to the Walwyn family who lived at Hellens, Much Marcle (just down the road). The Harley family from Brampton Bryan, Knighton, took over in 1619 until 1900 when the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral became patrons of the living, and so it remains to this day.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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  The date is somewhat uncertain, but it is possibly Norman.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

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Buildings of Aylton

• Aylton Court History

  Aylton Court, a large Georgian house built of brick, was originally owned by Miss Eliza Miles, of Clifton, Gloucestershire and in her final years, Firbeck Hall near Tickhill in Yorkshire. When she died she left the estate at Aylton to her cousin Philip William Skinner Miles. Over the years it was rented out to various tenants some of which are shown below, and recently it was up for sale as a large family house – good to see that it has not been split into flats or turned into a hotel.
  1837 – T.W. White sold off his pure bred Hereford cattle, prime flock of sheep, famous cart horses and colts, plus many farming tools and feed stocks when he left the estate.

   

  1841 – Aylton Court Household

  Jane Shayle	40	Farmers Wife	b. Herefordshire
  Eliza Shayle	19	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Shayle	18	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  James Shayle	15	Son	b. Herefordshire
  Jane Shayle	11	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Green	18	Domestic Servant	b. Herefordshire
  Samuel Pafsey (?)	36	Servant	b. Herefordshire
  James Deveraux	18	Servant	b. Herefordshire
  John Gibbon	13	Servant	b. Herefordshire

  1851 – Aylton Court Household

  Avis Perry	56	Widow of Farmer	b. Oxfordshire
  Cranley Perry	20	Farmers son	b. Oxfordshire
  William Perry	16	son	b. Oxfordshire
  Alfred Perry	12	son	b. Oxfordshire
  June Williams	21	Visitor	b. Worcester
  John Spencer	26	Farm Bailiff	b. Gloucestershire
  George Rudge	22	General Farm Servant	b. Eastnor, Herefordshire
  Charles Rudge	28	General Farm Servant	b. Dymock, Gloucestershire
  Catherine Walton	20	House Servant	b. Cradley, Worcestershire

  Avis Perry above was married to J.J. Perry who died before seeing one of his sons, Marten Perry who went to Queen’s College Birmingham, passed the examination to become a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.  During his collegiate course, Marten Perry obtained the Botany Certificate of Honour, the Midwifery silver medal and certificate, and the Governor’s gold medal for conduct.

  In 1853, Avis Perry gave up Aylton Court and all the livestock, farming implements, dairy articles, brewing utensils and household furniture were put up for sale by auction.

  John Foulger at Aylton Court

  Aylton Court was then leased by John Foulger, but in 1855 a terrible tragedy occurred within his family.  His 12 year old son, Henry, found a gun in the house which he believed to be unloaded – in fun he pointed it at his sister Emma who was on the staircase, and shot her dead.  Emma was buried at nearby Aylton church, and imagine the terrible distress of the family when shortly afterwards the grave was raided and her body was taken.  Perhaps Emma’s spirit was disturbed by the grave robbers, because legend has it that she still haunts the staircase where she was shot by her brother.   John Foulger left Aylton Court three years later.

  1861 – Aylton Court Household

  John Badham	29	Farmer	b. Stoke Edith, Herefordshire
  Mary Ann Powell	26	Visitor	b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire
  William Cook	25	Visitor, Inn Keeper	b. Leominster, Herefordshire
  Catherine Harris	24	Dairy Maid	b. Dorstone, Herefordshire
  Robert Bosley	34	Ag. Labourer	b. Little Marcle, Herefordshire
  William Rudd	17	Groom	b. Ashperton, Herefordshire
  George Taylor	15	Carters Boy	b. Tarrington, Herefordshire

  The Badham family were at Aylton Court for a brief while, before the Cowles moved in – poor Sarah Cowles had a child more or less every year, and had at least 12.

  1871 – Aylton Court Household

  Samuel Cowles	38	Farmer	b. Barnwood, Gloucestershire
  Sarah Cowles	37	Wife	b. Corse, Gloucestershire
  Mary A. Cowles	9	Daughter	b. Newent, Gloucestershire
  Fanny E. Cowles	8	Daughter	b. Newent, Gloucestershire
  Henry J. Cowles	7	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Francis J. Cowles	5	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Laura H. Cowles	4	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Frederick Cowles	3	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Lilian Cowles	2	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Edith M. Cowles	1	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Elijah Lambert	70	Uncle	b. Corse, Gloucestershire
  Elizabeth Lewis	24	Governess	b. Monmouthshire
  Elizabeth Davis	19	Domestic Servant	b. Dymock, Gloucestershire
  Eliza H. Wright	15	Domestic Servant	b. Munsley, Herefordshire

   

  1881 – Aylton Court Household

  Samuel Cowles	48	Farmer	b. Barnwood, Gloucestershire
  Sarah Cowles	47	Wife	b. Corse, Gloucestershire
  Fanny E. Cowles	18	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Henry J. Cowles	17	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Frank (Francis) Cowles	15	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Laura H. Cowles	14	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Frederick Cowles	13	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Lilian Cowles	12	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Edith Cowles	11	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  John Cowles	9	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Nancy Cowles	8	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Kate Cowles	6	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Lottie Cowles	5	Daughter	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Fanny Hodges	20	General Servant

  1891 – Aylton Court Household

  Robert Lomas	48	Farmer	b. Clifton, Lancashire
  Phebe Lomas	50	Wife	b. Lancaster, Lancashire
  Eliza Lomas	22	Daughter	b. Bardsea, Lancashire
  Phebe Lomas	19	Daughter	b. Rampside, Lancashire
  George Lomas	15	Son	b. Rampside, Lancashire
  Lucy Lomas	9	Daughter	b. Lancashire
  Herbert Bullick	17	Visitor, Bank Clerk	b. West Hartlepool, Durham
  Jane Gibbons	56	General Domestic Servant	b. Dymock, Glos
  Jane Attwood	22	Cook	b. Forthampton, Worcestershire

   

  1901 – Aylton Court Household

  Arthur Aaron Yapp	54	Farmer	b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire
  Annie Yapp	45	Wife	b. Somerset
  Humphrey Yapp	4	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Rose Burton	24	General Domestic Servant	b. Leominster, Herefordshire
  Frederick Jones	35	Cowman	b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire

   

  1911 – Aylton Court Household

  Arthur Aaron Yapp	65	Farmer	b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire
  Humphrey George Yapp	14	Son	b. Aylton, Herefordshire
  Eliza Jane Willis	31	Housekeeper	b. Somerset
  Annie Willis	10	daughter	b. Somerset

   

  1921 – Aylton Court Household

  Arthur Aaron Yapp	b. Herefordshire 1847	Farmer
  Annie Yapp	b. Somerset, 1856	Wife
  Humphrey Geo Yapp	b. Aylton, Herefordshire 1897	Son
  Rose Burton	b. Leominster, Herefordshire 1877	General Domestic Servant

  Read More >

News from the Past Aylton

• Aylton News from the Past

  A Drowning, an assault and various tragedies

  1789 – Drowning in pool at Aylton

  William Morris, a pauper in his forties, was found drowned in a pool at Aylton.

  At the inquest no mark of violence was said to be evident, but there was also nothing to suggest how he came to be drowned.

  The supposition was that he was washing his hands after cutting hop wires, and accidently fell in, after which due to age and infirmaties he was unable to get out again.

  1841 – A Grand Old Age

  Thomas Lewis of Aylton died on 17th August 1841 at the incredible (for the time) age of 101.

  He rented the parsonage farm of Aylton for the last 63 years of his life, and was always an early riser – he continued farming until the last three years of his life.

  1852 – Assault on Child at Aylton

  Emma Butcher, aged 9, who lived with her father Thomas and her mother at Aylton, was at work with her mother at Mrs. Perry’s of Aylton.

  Late afternoon, Emma was sent home to feed the pig and to prepare the potatoes for supper, which instructions to return to Mrs Perry’s straight afterwards.  When she had finished her chores, Emma locked the door and set out to go back to her mother, but on the way met Thomas Mutlow – a dealer in rags and songs.

  Thomas asked Emma if her mother was about, and when he was told that she was not, he grabbed Emma and indecently assaulted her.  When she cried, he gave her two combs, then took them from her and gave her two songs instead.

  Poor Emma struggled as much as she could, and then in a flash of inspiration told Thomas that there was a man coming through the orchard, whereupon he let her go and she ran as fast as she could in a very distressed state, until she came across her mother on her way home.  A group of men assembled and they found Thomas a short distance from the house – he admitted touching the girl, but said that he was drunk…….then he struck out at both a man and a woman with his fist.

  A policeman took him to Ledbury, and when he was hauled before the bench he was fined £4 plus costs, which he was unable or refused to pay.  He was therefore sent to prison for two months.

  1863 – Tragic death at Aylton

  A little girl by the name of Elizabeth Preece, the daughter of a Ledbury labourer, was living with her aunt and uncle at Jacobs Leys in Aylton in order to help look after her poorly uncle.

  Early one afternoon she went out to the pump in order to rinse a teapot, but she was too short to reach the handle and hand learned to climb up onto the stone trough in order to do so.  On this occasion, when she jumped back down onto the stonework on top of the well, it gave way and she dropped into the deep well which was full of water.

  A short while afterwards, Elizabeth’s aunt went outside and noticed the teapot on the floor as well as the hole by the well and immediately called for help, but by the time Elizabeth was pulled out it was too late.

  1867- Fatal Accident At Aylton – Drunks are not always Drunks

  Charles Pritchard, a 26 year old waggoner for Johnathan Williams of Aylton, was driving a team carrying home a load of coal from Ledbury.

  Near Flights Farm, it is thought that he stumbled and fell and one of the wagon wheels passed over his head, crushing it dreadfully and killing him instantly.

  At the inquest, it was stated that Charles was a drunkard, and was probably drunk at the time,  and a verdict to that effect was returned.  However, it later came to light that he suffered from a severe illness, and that he often appeared to be drunk when it was far from the case.

  This misconception is still common today, with people assuming the fallen on pavements are drunk, when often they are ill.

   

  Read More >

1841 – Aylton Court Household

1851 – Aylton Court Household

Avis Perry above was married to J.J. Perry who died before seeing one of his sons, Marten Perry who went to Queen’s College Birmingham, passed the examination to become a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.  During his collegiate course, Marten Perry obtained the Botany Certificate of Honour, the Midwifery silver medal and certificate, and the Governor’s gold medal for conduct.

In 1853, Avis Perry gave up Aylton Court and all the livestock, farming implements, dairy articles, brewing utensils and household furniture were put up for sale by auction.

John Foulger at Aylton Court

Aylton Court was then leased by John Foulger, but in 1855 a terrible tragedy occurred within his family.  His 12 year old son, Henry, found a gun in the house which he believed to be unloaded – in fun he pointed it at his sister Emma who was on the staircase, and shot her dead.  Emma was buried at nearby Aylton church, and imagine the terrible distress of the family when shortly afterwards the grave was raided and her body was taken.  Perhaps Emma’s spirit was disturbed by the grave robbers, because legend has it that she still haunts the staircase where she was shot by her brother.   John Foulger left Aylton Court three years later.

1861 – Aylton Court Household

The Badham family were at Aylton Court for a brief while, before the Cowles moved in – poor Sarah Cowles had a child more or less every year, and had at least 12.

1871 – Aylton Court Household

1881 – Aylton Court Household

1891 – Aylton Court Household

1901 – Aylton Court Household

1911 – Aylton Court Household

1921 – Aylton Court Household

1789 – Drowning in pool at Aylton

William Morris, a pauper in his forties, was found drowned in a pool at Aylton.

At the inquest no mark of violence was said to be evident, but there was also nothing to suggest how he came to be drowned.

The supposition was that he was washing his hands after cutting hop wires, and accidently fell in, after which due to age and infirmaties he was unable to get out again.

1841 – A Grand Old Age

Thomas Lewis of Aylton died on 17th August 1841 at the incredible (for the time) age of 101.

He rented the parsonage farm of Aylton for the last 63 years of his life, and was always an early riser – he continued farming until the last three years of his life.

1852 – Assault on Child at Aylton

Emma Butcher, aged 9, who lived with her father Thomas and her mother at Aylton, was at work with her mother at Mrs. Perry’s of Aylton.

Late afternoon, Emma was sent home to feed the pig and to prepare the potatoes for supper, which instructions to return to Mrs Perry’s straight afterwards.  When she had finished her chores, Emma locked the door and set out to go back to her mother, but on the way met Thomas Mutlow – a dealer in rags and songs.

Thomas asked Emma if her mother was about, and when he was told that she was not, he grabbed Emma and indecently assaulted her.  When she cried, he gave her two combs, then took them from her and gave her two songs instead.

Poor Emma struggled as much as she could, and then in a flash of inspiration told Thomas that there was a man coming through the orchard, whereupon he let her go and she ran as fast as she could in a very distressed state, until she came across her mother on her way home.  A group of men assembled and they found Thomas a short distance from the house – he admitted touching the girl, but said that he was drunk…….then he struck out at both a man and a woman with his fist.

A policeman took him to Ledbury, and when he was hauled before the bench he was fined £4 plus costs, which he was unable or refused to pay.  He was therefore sent to prison for two months.

1863 – Tragic death at Aylton

A little girl by the name of Elizabeth Preece, the daughter of a Ledbury labourer, was living with her aunt and uncle at Jacobs Leys in Aylton in order to help look after her poorly uncle.

Early one afternoon she went out to the pump in order to rinse a teapot, but she was too short to reach the handle and hand learned to climb up onto the stone trough in order to do so.  On this occasion, when she jumped back down onto the stonework on top of the well, it gave way and she dropped into the deep well which was full of water.

A short while afterwards, Elizabeth’s aunt went outside and noticed the teapot on the floor as well as the hole by the well and immediately called for help, but by the time Elizabeth was pulled out it was too late.

1867- Fatal Accident At Aylton – Drunks are not always Drunks

Charles Pritchard, a 26 year old waggoner for Johnathan Williams of Aylton, was driving a team carrying home a load of coal from Ledbury.

Near Flights Farm, it is thought that he stumbled and fell and one of the wagon wheels passed over his head, crushing it dreadfully and killing him instantly.

At the inquest, it was stated that Charles was a drunkard, and was probably drunk at the time,  and a verdict to that effect was returned.  However, it later came to light that he suffered from a severe illness, and that he often appeared to be drunk when it was far from the case.

This misconception is still common today, with people assuming the fallen on pavements are drunk, when often they are ill.

Aylton church originally accommodated between 40 and 50 people, and was used as a “chapel of ease” to two other adjoining parishes.  It became clear that it was not big enough inside, so in around 1870 two of the old pews were removed from the chancel, and they were replaced by open sittings.  This reduced the considerable size of the pulpit and reading desk.

A harmonium was also installed.

The alterations were paid for by the Rev. W.J. Morrish.

The patronage of Aylton Parish church runs alongside the ownership of Court Farm. First records show Robert Bray as owner in 1276, and then in the 16th century it belonged to the Walwyn family who lived at Hellens, Much Marcle (just down the road). The Harley family from Brampton Bryan, Knighton, took over in 1619 until 1900 when the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral became patrons of the living, and so it remains to this day.

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The date is somewhat uncertain, but it is possibly Norman.