Brampton Bryan is a tiny village, located near to the Welsh and Shropshire borders.

During the Civil War, this little village was once the location of a fairly big battle as is described in detailed in the link to Brampton Bryan Hall on the right.

Churches of Brampton Bryan

• St. Barnabas Church - Brampton Bryan

  The church of St. Barnabas dates from the mid 17th century and was one of just six erected during the English Commonwealth. There was an earlier church, which was razed to the ground in the civil war of 1643 when Brampton Bryan castle was under siege.

  

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Buildings in Brampton Bryan

• Brampton Bryan Hall History

  This beautiful, still privately owned, house sits close to the Shropshire border, and was built in 1660 at the end of the Civil War after the destruction of Brampton Bryan Castle. In the mid 18th century it was much enlarged and renovated, and the owners have kept the building in excellent condition, indeed it was featured in Howards End.

  The Harley family have passed the property down through generations since Domesday, although originally they lived in the Castle, which was more fortified house than castle, and the current owner is president of the Historic Houses Association,

  Sir Robert Harley at Brampton Bryan Hall

  Sir Robert Harley, K.B. married three times, his last wife being Brilliana Conway the daughter of Lord Conway – one of the first soldiers and statesmen of the age. Sir Robert was described as a man of the highest worth and public spirit, and was a conspicuous member of the Long Parliament where he represented Hereford, although was previously a member for Radnor. He was also a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

  Lady Brilliana Harley

  Lady Brilliana was twenty four years younger than Robert, but was a very strong and highly intelligent woman so perhaps the pairing was far more suitable than had she married a much younger man. Whilst Robert attended the sittings of the Long Parliament in London in November 1640, Brilliana took care of all his interests at home, but keenly followed the proceedings of that memorable Parliament.
  Lady Brilliana wrote frequent letters, and in January to wrote to her son who had joined his father in London “now your father and you are from me, my contentment is in the happy proceedings of the Parliament, which makes amend for your father’s long absence”
  Then in the February, she wrote “I rejoice that your father is well, and that is my comfort in his absence. I could wish I could undergo some of the pains for him, but I would have him act the understanding part”
  In March she wrote “I hope that the Lord will give your father double strength to undergo the weight of these employments which lie on him”.

  The Brave Defence of Brampton Bryan Castle by Lady Brilliana Harley

  Loyalist Herefordshire was in some turmoil, and Lady Brilliana found herself facing resentment and even hatred wherever she went – she was threatened with an assault on Brampton Castle, and was frightened for her own safety being alone with no friends, and without her husband or son. At first she wanted to leave the castle to its fate, and was horrified by the hate and abuse assailing her husband and herself, although she herself had done nothing to merit it.
  However, she squared her shoulders and resolved to stay to defend the castle and contents for as long as she could, despite the fact that she was unwell and of mild character. Firstly she set about stocking weapons and ammunition, but initially had problems because although the powder and matches arrived, there was no sign of the muskets. She had been told that only qualified people could make the shot, so she asked a plumber to write to Worcester in the hope that it could be kept secret. She ordered fifty weight of shot, but worried that it might not be enough, and asked her son to ask her husband about it. She also wrote to her husband Sir Robert, pleading for instructions as to how best to defend herself when attacked.
  One has to wonder whether she was hoping that Sir Robert would order her away from Herefordshire, given that she wrote to her son asking him to ask her husband whether she had enough shot, and then wrote to her husband asking how to defend herself……whether this was the case or not, no such order was given and she declared that she was unafraid and put her faith in God. Her health was failing, but her courage deepened when the danger grew – everyone was against her, and the harassment increased; the collecting of her rents was banned, and all her horses were taken away; nobody was allowed to leave the castle and in December 1642 she wrote a letter to her son outlining her sorrow and distress. She feared that the stockpiles of food would run out, and that the barns would be burnt.
  The Marquis of Hertford threatened her with a siege, but it never happened and she was understandably very relieved and put it down to God’s work. A council of war was held in Hereford, and it was determined to blow up Brampton Castle, but the troops who were to carry this out had to go to help the besieging forces at Gloucester so once again Brilliana and the castle was reprieved, although the intimidation continued unabated.
  Coningsby, Governor of Hereford, and other Royalists swore to drive away her cattle and starve her out, but Brilliana kept her faith in God. She wrote another letter – “their aim is to enforce me to let those men I have, go, that then they might seize upon my house and cut our throats by a few rogues, and then say they knew not who did it; for so they say they knew not who drove away the six colts, but Mr. Coningsby keeps them, though I have written to him for them. They have used all means to let me have no man in my house, and tell me that then I shall be safe, but I have no cause to trust them”
  Brilliana was asked to surrender, with a threat of being treated as a traitor and attacked as such, but she remained defiant saying that as long as her husband wanted her to defend the castle then she would do so, but her situation was becoming dire……..food was running out, and everyone was against her. Remarkably, the castle once again escaped attack when at the battle of Highnam the Royalists were defeated by the Parliamentary forces, and other defeats followed including the surrender of Hereford. For the moment, Brampton Castle was safe and Brilliana could gather her wits and some more provisions.
  On 25th July Brilliana and her small band of followers prayed to God for help as they faced the enemy gathered at the base of the castle led by Sir William Vavasour. The attack was terrible; all the castle buildings were destroyed, including the mill some distance away; the parish church; the parsonage and numerous other houses. Disgust was later voiced at the way that the besiegers poisoned a stream which supplied the village with water, and shot a cook with a poisoned bullet.
  Brilliana wrote again to her son, telling him that William Vavasour had left after the attack, leaving Mr. Lingen with the soldiers and she was praying that she would not fall into their hands. Fortunately, at the end of six long weeks, the besiegers left.

  The End of Brilliana and Brampton Bryan Castle

  In October 1643, Brilliana wrote to her son Ned informing him that she had a horrible cold, and expressing hope that the Lord would make her better – unfortunately she grew more ill, and on 31lst October 1643 she died of pneumonia.
  In the spring of 1644, Brampton Bryan castle fell to the Royalists after another siege, and was destroyed, but the Royalist cause was lost and Sir Robert Harley was given today’s equivalent of over a million pounds in compensation for the destruction of his home.

  General George Staunton

  Before 1881, Brampton Bryan was spelt Brampton Brian and was listed as partly being in Radnorshire, and in 1871 the occupants of Brampton Bryan Hall were General George Staunton, his wife Henrietta (nee Cooper) and their seven children. They married on 15th November 1859, and George died on 4th April 1880. He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath.
  George and Henrietta married on 15th November 1859, and had their first two children in South Africa before returning to England. Although they lived at Brampton Bryan Hall for several years, they were probably renting from the Harleys, who never relinquished ownership.

  Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1871

  George Staunton	62	Major General	b. London
  Henrietta Staunton	37	Wife	b. London
  Mary E. Staunton	9	Daughter	b. Cape of Good Hope
  Gertrude A. Staunton	7	Daughter	b. Cape of Good Hope
  Beatrice A. Staunton	5	Daughter	East Allington, Devon
  Henrietta Staunton	4	Daughter	b. Somerset
  William B. Staunton	2	Son	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  Ethel C. Staunton	2	Daughter	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  Edward M. Staunton	10 months	Son	b.Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  William Jones	52	Butler	b. Seven Oaks, Kent
  Jane Jones	36	Housekeeper	b. Bath
  Emily M. Roberts	27	Nurse	b. Salop
  Emma A. Pafsey (?)	27	Upper Housemaid	b. Bockleton, Worcestershire
  Elizabeth A. Warren	17	Under Nurse	b. Gloucestershire
  Frances R. Roberts	17	Under Nurse	b. Salop
  Ann Evans	20	Under Housemaid	b. Talgarth, Brecon
  Gemma Allen	22	Kitchenmaid	b. Haverford West, Wales

   

  Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1881

  Robert W.D. Harley	35	Landowner	b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire
  Patience A Harley	26	Wife	b. Eye, Herefordshire
  Robert G.G. Harley	1	Son	b. London
  Augusta M. Rodney	62	Visitor	b. Cheltenham
  Jane Rowberry	42	Nurse	b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire
  Henry Lincoln	36	Butler	b. Yorkshire
  Ann Parkinson	34	Lady’s Maid	b. Lancashire
  Annie Taylor	35	Cook	b. Tirley, Herefordshire
  Susan Barron	25	Housemaid	b. Devonshire
  Ellen Tantrum	17	Nurse	b. Shropshire
  Henry W.P. Humphreys	35	Groom	b. London
  Samuel R. Evans	17	Stable Boy	b. Shobdon, Herefordshire

  Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1891

  Robert W.D. Harley	43	J.P. living on own means	b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire
  Patience A. Harley	36	Wife	b. Berrington, Leominster, Herefordshire
  Robert G.G. Harley	11	Son, private scholar	b. London
  Dorothy Harley	9	Daughter, private scholar	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  Sybil Harley	7	Daughter, private scholar	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  Patience Harley	5	Daughter	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  John R.H. Harley	2	Son	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire
  Alice Jervis	30	Governess	b. Surrey
  Bernard Pears	24	Tutor	b. Surrey
  Mary J. Richards	45	Cook	b. Dudleston, Salop
  Annie Davidson	28	Nurse	b. Berrington, Leominster, Herefordshire
  Euphenua Robertson	26	Lady’s Maid	b. St. Andrews, Edinburgh
  John Timpson	32	Butler	b. Yorkshire
  Joseph J. Hughes	21	Footman	b. Wigmore, Herefordshire
  Annie E. Jones	31	Housemaid	b. Richards Castle, Herefordshire
  Sarah Stubbs	26	Kitchen Maid	b.Montgomeryshire Castle
  Louise Frances	16	Nursery Maid	b. Radnorshire
  Mary E. Watkins	19	Housemaid	b. New Invention, Salop
  Jane E. Sprag	20	Scullery Maid	b. Chatwall, Salop
  Edward Hughes	24	Groom	b. Berrington, Herefordshire
  Charles Watts	18	Boy	b. Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire

  Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1901

  Thomas W. Wood	31	Butler	b. Darlington, Durham
  Phoebe Simpkin	33	Cook	b. Kimberley, Nottinghamshire
  Martha F. Sutton	22	Lady’s Maid	b. Salop
  Frederic R. Thomas	20	Footman	b. Frome, Somerset
  James Griffiths	14	Hall Boy	b. Salop
  Rose E. Fry	26	Housemaid	b. Devon
  Agnes Cartlidge	21	Housemaid	b.Stoke Heath, Salop
  Agnes V. Hall	18	Housemaid	b. Bucknell, Herefordshire
  Christina Morgan	16	Kitchenmaid	b. Dundee
  Catherine Griffiths	24	Scullery Maid	b. Bicton Heath, Salop
  Alfred Davies	26	Groom	b. Astley Abbott, Salop

   

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• Brampton Bryan Castle

  Brampton Bryan Castle sat on a floodplain close to the River Teme, from where they could keep a close eye on the route from Wales through to Ludlow.

  Although the castle appears in the Domesday book of 1086 it is not clear exactly when it was built, but it was known to belong to Ralph de Mortimer before passing to the Harley family to whom it belongs to this day along with estates at Brampton Bryan.
  In the 17th century, the Civil War saw the castle almost completely destroyed, but the ruins can still be seen.

  See Brampton Bryan Hall for full details.

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News from the past Brampton Bryan

• Brampton Bryan News from the Past

  Some rather horrible deaths

  1847 – Fatal Gun Accident at Brampton Bryan

  An inquest was held at the Oxford Arms, Brampton Bryan on the body of William Hatfield.

  William had been working as a groom in the service of the Rev. Mr. Murray, and may witnesses claimed that for some considerable time he had been very depressed, but nobody was actually a witness to the supposed accident.

  William had borrowed a gun saying that he wanted to shoot sparrows (why would one want to shoot sparrows?), and when he was found and then examined by the surgeon, James Williams, “his head was literally blown to atoms and his brains scattered about”.

  The surgeon decided that the position of the body and that of the gun showed the shooting to be quite accidental, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

  1847 – Accidental Death at Brampton Bryan

  George Bailey, a 70 year old man with five children, was working for the Earl of Oxford.

  On the day of the accident, George was working in Pedwardine Wood along with two other men, loading faggots on to a wagon.  Something startled the horses, and George fell off the wagon under the wheels which went over him and killed him outright.

  1848 – Death by Flatulence

  Ann Black, the housekeeper for Mr. Marston of Brampton Bryan, died suddenly.

  At the inquest the jury were told that she had constantly suffered from flatulence and was frequently “much swollen”.

  The verdict was Natural Death.

  1860 – Death of man who fell on Hoe at Brampton Bryan Fair

  Richard Owen, a 65 year old labourer died in the Union Workhouse a few days after an accident at Brampton Bryan fair.

  Richard had gone to the fair looking for employment in turnip hoeing, but late in the evening he had a fall and the point of the turnip hoe he was holding punctured his hip.

  T. Jackson, a surgeon of Leintwardine, was called to attend him and he gave instructions for Richard to be moved to the Workhouse as he was suffering from exhaustion through loss of blood.

  Richard remained alive for a while, during which time he told the Governor of the workhouse that his accident was the fault of the policeman on duty at the fair.  He said that he was sitting in the Blacksmith’s penthouse when the policeman grabbed him and threw him into the road, where he sustained the injury.

  When he died of his injuries, an enquiry was held but no evidence was found to support the allegations against the policeman, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

  1867 – Horrible Death at Brampton Bryan

  William Price aged 51 and a married man, was employed as a labourer for John Cooke of Brampton Bryan, and was working on a steam thrashing machine to thrash out peas.

  William was wearing gloves, and one of them became caught in the machinery which immediately dragged in his arm which was mangled all the way up to his shoulder.  Then his head hit the drum of the machine and his skull fractured.

  A surgeon, Mr. Scott of Knighton, was hastily called, but William died shortly afterwards.

  William had been a member of the George and Dragon Friendly Society, Knighton, and his friends there wanted to pay for the funeral, but John Cooke paid for everything himself, and told William’s widow to keep the club’s money to help herself and her children make ends meet.

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People of Brampton Bryan

• Robert Harley

  Born in 1661, his father was Sir Edward Harley Robert Harley.
  Robert was an exceptionally important parliamentarian, and was described as a “ political wizard and master of schemes” but he was also known to be a tricky character.
  He became Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1689; Speaker of the House of Commons in 1701; Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1710; Treasurer in 1711; Housekeeper, St. James’ Palace in 1714
  He was a Presbyterian who loved the country life, and who took pains to deplore bad behaviour in others, but who also sided with villains; cheated on his wife appallingly and became rather too fond of the drink.

   

  Robert Harley’s Childhood

  Robert’s father was a domineering chap, and his insistence on strict religious routines plus his self important beliefs had a lasting effect on Robert – so much so that for all of his life he never entirely shook himself free of religious meditations.  Robert was also made to set great store by family ties and friendships.

  When a young lad, Robert was noted at school to be cunning and sly, and there must have been quite a conflict within the boy because although he had been brought up with a very strict moral code, or maybe because of this, he learnt to play his role according to who he was with.

  Robert Harley in Parliament

  Robert arrived in Parliament via a by-election for a Cornish Borough, and almost immediately delivered his maiden speech which was well received.   He wheedled his way around his father’s, Sir Edward Harley, many colleagues and friends in the House in order to win a seat in Leominster, Herefordshire,  at the election of 1690, and succeeded in being endorsed by the House purely because of the way that people felt about his father and it had little to do with the merits of Robert.

  Robert threw himself into parliamentary work, and was successful although not entirely well liked as people distrusted his tricky nature.  In 1691 he became Commissioner of Accounts which he found to be hard work, but he loved it and learned fast, although he made few friends.  He spent more and more time in London, and disgusted his father by turning to the bottle big time, but stoutly denied that he was drinking – actually he wriggled neatly out of it by claiming that he didn’t frequent public houses.

  It would seem that Robert could be described as being obsessed with politics, and even when he was told that his pregnant wife Elizabeth back in Brampton Bryan had smallpox and was seriously ill he refused to leave London.  Five days later he was informed that both she and the baby were dead, and his grief did seem to be real…….for a short time.   It seems so sad that Elizabeth was reported to have declared that she was pleased that she had smallpox in Herefordshire and not London so that she did not disturb his work, and that she loved him to bits.

  Robert Harley attacked by the Lewis brothers

  Robert returned for a visit to Brampton Bryan then carried on to Radnor in Wales for a by election in the county.  Two men, the Lewis brothers, who held Robert responsible for their decline in power, set upon him in New Radnor, and if it were not for his considerable fencing skills he may well have been killed.

   

   

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Although the castle appears in the Domesday book of 1086 it is not clear exactly when it was built, but it was known to belong to Ralph de Mortimer before passing to the Harley family to whom it belongs to this day along with estates at Brampton Bryan.
In the 17th century, the Civil War saw the castle almost completely destroyed, but the ruins can still be seen.

See Brampton Bryan Hall for full details.

The Harley family have passed the property down through generations since Domesday, although originally they lived in the Castle, which was more fortified house than castle, and the current owner is president of the Historic Houses Association,

Sir Robert Harley at Brampton Bryan Hall

Sir Robert Harley, K.B. married three times, his last wife being Brilliana Conway the daughter of Lord Conway – one of the first soldiers and statesmen of the age. Sir Robert was described as a man of the highest worth and public spirit, and was a conspicuous member of the Long Parliament where he represented Hereford, although was previously a member for Radnor. He was also a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

Lady Brilliana Harley

Lady Brilliana was twenty four years younger than Robert, but was a very strong and highly intelligent woman so perhaps the pairing was far more suitable than had she married a much younger man. Whilst Robert attended the sittings of the Long Parliament in London in November 1640, Brilliana took care of all his interests at home, but keenly followed the proceedings of that memorable Parliament.
Lady Brilliana wrote frequent letters, and in January to wrote to her son who had joined his father in London “now your father and you are from me, my contentment is in the happy proceedings of the Parliament, which makes amend for your father’s long absence”
Then in the February, she wrote “I rejoice that your father is well, and that is my comfort in his absence. I could wish I could undergo some of the pains for him, but I would have him act the understanding part”
In March she wrote “I hope that the Lord will give your father double strength to undergo the weight of these employments which lie on him”.

The Brave Defence of Brampton Bryan Castle by Lady Brilliana Harley

Loyalist Herefordshire was in some turmoil, and Lady Brilliana found herself facing resentment and even hatred wherever she went – she was threatened with an assault on Brampton Castle, and was frightened for her own safety being alone with no friends, and without her husband or son. At first she wanted to leave the castle to its fate, and was horrified by the hate and abuse assailing her husband and herself, although she herself had done nothing to merit it.
However, she squared her shoulders and resolved to stay to defend the castle and contents for as long as she could, despite the fact that she was unwell and of mild character. Firstly she set about stocking weapons and ammunition, but initially had problems because although the powder and matches arrived, there was no sign of the muskets. She had been told that only qualified people could make the shot, so she asked a plumber to write to Worcester in the hope that it could be kept secret. She ordered fifty weight of shot, but worried that it might not be enough, and asked her son to ask her husband about it. She also wrote to her husband Sir Robert, pleading for instructions as to how best to defend herself when attacked.
One has to wonder whether she was hoping that Sir Robert would order her away from Herefordshire, given that she wrote to her son asking him to ask her husband whether she had enough shot, and then wrote to her husband asking how to defend herself……whether this was the case or not, no such order was given and she declared that she was unafraid and put her faith in God. Her health was failing, but her courage deepened when the danger grew – everyone was against her, and the harassment increased; the collecting of her rents was banned, and all her horses were taken away; nobody was allowed to leave the castle and in December 1642 she wrote a letter to her son outlining her sorrow and distress. She feared that the stockpiles of food would run out, and that the barns would be burnt.
The Marquis of Hertford threatened her with a siege, but it never happened and she was understandably very relieved and put it down to God’s work. A council of war was held in Hereford, and it was determined to blow up Brampton Castle, but the troops who were to carry this out had to go to help the besieging forces at Gloucester so once again Brilliana and the castle was reprieved, although the intimidation continued unabated.
Coningsby, Governor of Hereford, and other Royalists swore to drive away her cattle and starve her out, but Brilliana kept her faith in God. She wrote another letter – “their aim is to enforce me to let those men I have, go, that then they might seize upon my house and cut our throats by a few rogues, and then say they knew not who did it; for so they say they knew not who drove away the six colts, but Mr. Coningsby keeps them, though I have written to him for them. They have used all means to let me have no man in my house, and tell me that then I shall be safe, but I have no cause to trust them”
Brilliana was asked to surrender, with a threat of being treated as a traitor and attacked as such, but she remained defiant saying that as long as her husband wanted her to defend the castle then she would do so, but her situation was becoming dire……..food was running out, and everyone was against her. Remarkably, the castle once again escaped attack when at the battle of Highnam the Royalists were defeated by the Parliamentary forces, and other defeats followed including the surrender of Hereford. For the moment, Brampton Castle was safe and Brilliana could gather her wits and some more provisions.
On 25th July Brilliana and her small band of followers prayed to God for help as they faced the enemy gathered at the base of the castle led by Sir William Vavasour. The attack was terrible; all the castle buildings were destroyed, including the mill some distance away; the parish church; the parsonage and numerous other houses. Disgust was later voiced at the way that the besiegers poisoned a stream which supplied the village with water, and shot a cook with a poisoned bullet.
Brilliana wrote again to her son, telling him that William Vavasour had left after the attack, leaving Mr. Lingen with the soldiers and she was praying that she would not fall into their hands. Fortunately, at the end of six long weeks, the besiegers left.

The End of Brilliana and Brampton Bryan Castle

In October 1643, Brilliana wrote to her son Ned informing him that she had a horrible cold, and expressing hope that the Lord would make her better – unfortunately she grew more ill, and on 31lst October 1643 she died of pneumonia.
In the spring of 1644, Brampton Bryan castle fell to the Royalists after another siege, and was destroyed, but the Royalist cause was lost and Sir Robert Harley was given today’s equivalent of over a million pounds in compensation for the destruction of his home.

General George Staunton

Before 1881, Brampton Bryan was spelt Brampton Brian and was listed as partly being in Radnorshire, and in 1871 the occupants of Brampton Bryan Hall were General George Staunton, his wife Henrietta (nee Cooper) and their seven children. They married on 15th November 1859, and George died on 4th April 1880. He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath.
George and Henrietta married on 15th November 1859, and had their first two children in South Africa before returning to England. Although they lived at Brampton Bryan Hall for several years, they were probably renting from the Harleys, who never relinquished ownership.

Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1871

Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1881

Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1891

Brampton Bryan Hall Household – 1901

1847 – Fatal Gun Accident at Brampton Bryan

An inquest was held at the Oxford Arms, Brampton Bryan on the body of William Hatfield.

William had been working as a groom in the service of the Rev. Mr. Murray, and may witnesses claimed that for some considerable time he had been very depressed, but nobody was actually a witness to the supposed accident.

William had borrowed a gun saying that he wanted to shoot sparrows (why would one want to shoot sparrows?), and when he was found and then examined by the surgeon, James Williams, “his head was literally blown to atoms and his brains scattered about”.

The surgeon decided that the position of the body and that of the gun showed the shooting to be quite accidental, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

1847 – Accidental Death at Brampton Bryan

George Bailey, a 70 year old man with five children, was working for the Earl of Oxford.

On the day of the accident, George was working in Pedwardine Wood along with two other men, loading faggots on to a wagon.  Something startled the horses, and George fell off the wagon under the wheels which went over him and killed him outright.

1848 – Death by Flatulence

Ann Black, the housekeeper for Mr. Marston of Brampton Bryan, died suddenly.

At the inquest the jury were told that she had constantly suffered from flatulence and was frequently “much swollen”.

The verdict was Natural Death.

1860 – Death of man who fell on Hoe at Brampton Bryan Fair

Richard Owen, a 65 year old labourer died in the Union Workhouse a few days after an accident at Brampton Bryan fair.

Richard had gone to the fair looking for employment in turnip hoeing, but late in the evening he had a fall and the point of the turnip hoe he was holding punctured his hip.

T. Jackson, a surgeon of Leintwardine, was called to attend him and he gave instructions for Richard to be moved to the Workhouse as he was suffering from exhaustion through loss of blood.

Richard remained alive for a while, during which time he told the Governor of the workhouse that his accident was the fault of the policeman on duty at the fair.  He said that he was sitting in the Blacksmith’s penthouse when the policeman grabbed him and threw him into the road, where he sustained the injury.

When he died of his injuries, an enquiry was held but no evidence was found to support the allegations against the policeman, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

1867 – Horrible Death at Brampton Bryan

William Price aged 51 and a married man, was employed as a labourer for John Cooke of Brampton Bryan, and was working on a steam thrashing machine to thrash out peas.

William was wearing gloves, and one of them became caught in the machinery which immediately dragged in his arm which was mangled all the way up to his shoulder.  Then his head hit the drum of the machine and his skull fractured.

A surgeon, Mr. Scott of Knighton, was hastily called, but William died shortly afterwards.

William had been a member of the George and Dragon Friendly Society, Knighton, and his friends there wanted to pay for the funeral, but John Cooke paid for everything himself, and told William’s widow to keep the club’s money to help herself and her children make ends meet.

Robert Harley’s Childhood

Robert’s father was a domineering chap, and his insistence on strict religious routines plus his self important beliefs had a lasting effect on Robert – so much so that for all of his life he never entirely shook himself free of religious meditations.  Robert was also made to set great store by family ties and friendships.

When a young lad, Robert was noted at school to be cunning and sly, and there must have been quite a conflict within the boy because although he had been brought up with a very strict moral code, or maybe because of this, he learnt to play his role according to who he was with.

Robert Harley in Parliament

Robert arrived in Parliament via a by-election for a Cornish Borough, and almost immediately delivered his maiden speech which was well received.   He wheedled his way around his father’s, Sir Edward Harley, many colleagues and friends in the House in order to win a seat in Leominster, Herefordshire,  at the election of 1690, and succeeded in being endorsed by the House purely because of the way that people felt about his father and it had little to do with the merits of Robert.

Robert threw himself into parliamentary work, and was successful although not entirely well liked as people distrusted his tricky nature.  In 1691 he became Commissioner of Accounts which he found to be hard work, but he loved it and learned fast, although he made few friends.  He spent more and more time in London, and disgusted his father by turning to the bottle big time, but stoutly denied that he was drinking – actually he wriggled neatly out of it by claiming that he didn’t frequent public houses.

It would seem that Robert could be described as being obsessed with politics, and even when he was told that his pregnant wife Elizabeth back in Brampton Bryan had smallpox and was seriously ill he refused to leave London.  Five days later he was informed that both she and the baby were dead, and his grief did seem to be real…….for a short time.   It seems so sad that Elizabeth was reported to have declared that she was pleased that she had smallpox in Herefordshire and not London so that she did not disturb his work, and that she loved him to bits.

Robert Harley attacked by the Lewis brothers

Robert returned for a visit to Brampton Bryan then carried on to Radnor in Wales for a by election in the county.  Two men, the Lewis brothers, who held Robert responsible for their decline in power, set upon him in New Radnor, and if it were not for his considerable fencing skills he may well have been killed.