Breinton lies just a couple of miles west of Hereford, but despite being so close to the city it is gloriously peaceful and rural.

However this peace and seclusion is under threat with the “pressing need” for more housing, and villages like Breinton could well be swallowed up by the city of Hereford as it expands ever outwards.

Churches of Breinton

• St. Michael's Church - Breinton

  St. Michael’s is a delightful church, steeped in history which starts in the 12th century. It underwent complete restoration in the latter part of the 19th century.

  The east Window above the altar was a memorial to Edmund du Buisson and his wife Charlotte, installed in 1914 (the original window was also dedicated to the du Buisson family)
  There are windows dedicated to members of the tragic Eckersall family………..Frederick died in 1865 at 31 after “long and patient suffering”. He was the only son of the Rev. Charles and Mrs. Mary Anne Eckersall. Frederick’s sister Catherine, died in 1849 at the age of 18, and another sister, Agnes, died at only 5.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Font

  The font at St. Michael’s was part of the renovation carried out in 1867

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Memorials

  William Symonds Cooke

  William Symonds Cooke, son of Thomas and Helen, surgeon in the service of the East India Company. Died in camp near Visapour in December 1821 aged 25.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Captain Rudhall Booth

  Captain Rudhall Booth, died 29th October 1653 whilst in command of the Holy Island Garrison. (His brother Charles went into exile with King James 1 and died in France).

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Edward Charles Bulmer

  There is a memorial dedicated to Edward Charles Bulmer……..during the second world war when he was in the RAF he was tragically killed when a stricken bomber returning to the airfield veered off course, and Charles was struck by a wing tip. He and many others of the Bulmer family lived in the parish of Breinton, but most were actually buried at Credenhill or St. Nicholas.

   
  Outside amongst the graves are some gems: Charles Vincent Gorton has a line of music on his stone, from the Apostles, by Elgar. The grave is part of the famous Elgar trail.

   
  Charles Hassard Wilfred Dodgson lies buried near the West door of the church….he lived in Breinton House and was related to another Dodgson who is more commonly known as Lewis Carroll.
  Thomas Pritchard, and his wife Ann who died March 1820 aged 82.

   

   

   

   

  Read More >

People of Breinton

• The du Buisson family

  The du Buisson family feature large in the history of this parish

  In 1867 Lucy du Buisson played a harmonium for the first time ever at a service. The du Buisson family were responsible for building the rectory, which is now Breinton Grange, althought they themselves lived at Breinton Court, and they also were instrumental in building the school which could cope with 40 children. Sadly, the aforementioned Lucy, who was one of five children, was mostly very unwell, and although she married the son of the Curate after a delay when she contracted Chickenpox, this was shortlived as a month after their honeymoon Lucy died. Perhaps some blame can be laid at the door of a drunken coachman, who some years earlier went off the road when bringing Lucy and her brother back home from a party in the depths of a freezing winter…….they all ended up in the pond! This could not have been good for anyone’s health. Also given to the church by the du Buisson children were the oak lectern (in memory of George Proctor) and a crucifix in memory of Lionel Thomas Ricketts.

  Read More >
• John Cranston

  In 1785, a Glaswegian by the name of John Cranston developed huge nurseries in the Breinton parish and one of his sons, James, was responsible for planting most of the Cedar trees around Hereford. Both men are buried under a Cedar of Lebanon tree planted by James in the churchyard and the name of Cranston lives on in the shape of an onion – Cranston’s Excelsior – which was named in their honour.

  Read More >
• Dr. Henry Graves Bull

  Dr. Henry Graves Bull founded the British Mycological Society (the study of fungi),

  He was also a pioneer of modern anaesthetics as well as looking for ways to improve the general health of people in Herefordshire. He was a keen naturalist, and along with the Rev. Charles Bulmer (of cider fame) he researched orchards in general and cider making in particular.
  His grave is in Breinton churchyard.

  Read More >
• Captain Rudhall Booth

  An ancestor of Captain Rudhall Booth was Bishop Booth of Hereford.

  The family were much embroiled in the English Civil Wars, and Rudhall died whilst commanding the Holy Island Garrison. He had a brother, Charles, who was exiled with King James l, and he died in France. Charles had a son, also called Charles, who having renounced the English Government was unable to return to Breinton to claim his estate. He secretly, with the help of a friend, leased the land to the Dean of Hereford, but when the friend died, his housekeeper Alice Shaw inherited the land. Eventually the whole estate was gifted to Thomas Cooke of Kinnersley who had built up a thriving Tannery in Weobley. Thomas passed on the land to his brother James Cooke who was a bookseller at the British Museum in London, and James returned to Herefordshire. James had one son, Thomas, who after going to Eton and Oxford became a Barrister, then later a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hereford County Militia.

  Read More >

News from the Past Breinton

• Breinton News from the Past

  Scuffles and Accidents at Breinton

  1819 – Terrible Fire at Breinton

  During one Sunday evening in October 1819, a fire broke out in the flue of an oven on the premises of a poor old carpenter at Breinton;  he also acted as constable for the village.

  The fire was so intense that in no time at all it had destroyed two tenements belonging to John Preece – one was the the old carpenter’s lodging where he lived with his wife, and the other was inhabited by his son with a pregnant wife and seven children.  Also consumed by the fire was a barn full of grain and hay;  a stable;  cider mill and other buildings.

  Thankfully these people were all saved, although it was touch and go, but all their possessions and furniture were destroyed – anything that was left was shamefully looted by low life who were pretending to help.

  An appeal went out from The Rev. Taylor of Hereford, and William Waring of Upper Breinton, for charitable donations of any sort.

  1845 – Death from Drunkenness at Breinton

  Edward Mitchell, the landlord of the Coach and Horses pub at Breinton, went to Hereford one Friday evening after Christmas, and became extremely drunk.

  He was taken home in a fly, and put to bed by his wife and a servant, but some time during the night he got himself up.  Still being dreadfully unsteady on his feet, he fell down the stairs and cracked his head on the stone floor.

  Help was called for, but it was too late and Edward died almost instantly.

  1850 – Woman Scuffles with Father in Law at Breinton

  Mrs. Vale of Breinton took her father in law to court, accusing him of assaulting her.

  She said that her father in law had been trying to break up her marriage, and that he went to her house to ask her to give up some of her furniture.  She declined to do this, and a row commenced – the father in law started to throw apples at her through the window which eventually broke.

  The quarrel continued, and when Mrs. Vale went outside, her father in law hit her several times.  Witnesses said that they saw the incident, and the defendant admitted having hit Mrs. Vale, but said that it was in self defence as she had been “pitching in to him right and left”.

  Mrs. Vale’s husband was in court and he rather took his father’s side, which led to some heated arguing for almost an hour.  Eventually the Bench had heard enough, and decided that both parties were at fault.

  The defendant was giving a trifling fine, plus expenses.

  1862 – Man dies in Cart Accident at Breinton

  Thomas Preece of Burcott Row was employed by Mr. Lewis of Breinton.

  One Wednesday afternoon in June 1862, he was spotted on his horse and cart, galloping at full tilt along the Breinton road.  He was thrown from the cart, and so badly injured that he died soon afterwards.

   

   

  Read More >

1819 – Terrible Fire at Breinton

During one Sunday evening in October 1819, a fire broke out in the flue of an oven on the premises of a poor old carpenter at Breinton;  he also acted as constable for the village.

The fire was so intense that in no time at all it had destroyed two tenements belonging to John Preece – one was the the old carpenter’s lodging where he lived with his wife, and the other was inhabited by his son with a pregnant wife and seven children.  Also consumed by the fire was a barn full of grain and hay;  a stable;  cider mill and other buildings.

Thankfully these people were all saved, although it was touch and go, but all their possessions and furniture were destroyed – anything that was left was shamefully looted by low life who were pretending to help.

An appeal went out from The Rev. Taylor of Hereford, and William Waring of Upper Breinton, for charitable donations of any sort.

1845 – Death from Drunkenness at Breinton

Edward Mitchell, the landlord of the Coach and Horses pub at Breinton, went to Hereford one Friday evening after Christmas, and became extremely drunk.

He was taken home in a fly, and put to bed by his wife and a servant, but some time during the night he got himself up.  Still being dreadfully unsteady on his feet, he fell down the stairs and cracked his head on the stone floor.

Help was called for, but it was too late and Edward died almost instantly.

1850 – Woman Scuffles with Father in Law at Breinton

Mrs. Vale of Breinton took her father in law to court, accusing him of assaulting her.

She said that her father in law had been trying to break up her marriage, and that he went to her house to ask her to give up some of her furniture.  She declined to do this, and a row commenced – the father in law started to throw apples at her through the window which eventually broke.

The quarrel continued, and when Mrs. Vale went outside, her father in law hit her several times.  Witnesses said that they saw the incident, and the defendant admitted having hit Mrs. Vale, but said that it was in self defence as she had been “pitching in to him right and left”.

Mrs. Vale’s husband was in court and he rather took his father’s side, which led to some heated arguing for almost an hour.  Eventually the Bench had heard enough, and decided that both parties were at fault.

The defendant was giving a trifling fine, plus expenses.

1862 – Man dies in Cart Accident at Breinton

Thomas Preece of Burcott Row was employed by Mr. Lewis of Breinton.

One Wednesday afternoon in June 1862, he was spotted on his horse and cart, galloping at full tilt along the Breinton road.  He was thrown from the cart, and so badly injured that he died soon afterwards.

The family were much embroiled in the English Civil Wars, and Rudhall died whilst commanding the Holy Island Garrison. He had a brother, Charles, who was exiled with King James l, and he died in France. Charles had a son, also called Charles, who having renounced the English Government was unable to return to Breinton to claim his estate. He secretly, with the help of a friend, leased the land to the Dean of Hereford, but when the friend died, his housekeeper Alice Shaw inherited the land. Eventually the whole estate was gifted to Thomas Cooke of Kinnersley who had built up a thriving Tannery in Weobley. Thomas passed on the land to his brother James Cooke who was a bookseller at the British Museum in London, and James returned to Herefordshire. James had one son, Thomas, who after going to Eton and Oxford became a Barrister, then later a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hereford County Militia.

He was also a pioneer of modern anaesthetics as well as looking for ways to improve the general health of people in Herefordshire. He was a keen naturalist, and along with the Rev. Charles Bulmer (of cider fame) he researched orchards in general and cider making in particular.
His grave is in Breinton churchyard.

The east Window above the altar was a memorial to Edmund du Buisson and his wife Charlotte, installed in 1914 (the original window was also dedicated to the du Buisson family)
There are windows dedicated to members of the tragic Eckersall family………..Frederick died in 1865 at 31 after “long and patient suffering”. He was the only son of the Rev. Charles and Mrs. Mary Anne Eckersall. Frederick’s sister Catherine, died in 1849 at the age of 18, and another sister, Agnes, died at only 5.

Font

The font at St. Michael’s was part of the renovation carried out in 1867

Memorials

William Symonds Cooke

William Symonds Cooke, son of Thomas and Helen, surgeon in the service of the East India Company. Died in camp near Visapour in December 1821 aged 25.

Captain Rudhall Booth

Captain Rudhall Booth, died 29th October 1653 whilst in command of the Holy Island Garrison. (His brother Charles went into exile with King James 1 and died in France).

Edward Charles Bulmer

There is a memorial dedicated to Edward Charles Bulmer……..during the second world war when he was in the RAF he was tragically killed when a stricken bomber returning to the airfield veered off course, and Charles was struck by a wing tip. He and many others of the Bulmer family lived in the parish of Breinton, but most were actually buried at Credenhill or St. Nicholas.

 
Outside amongst the graves are some gems: Charles Vincent Gorton has a line of music on his stone, from the Apostles, by Elgar. The grave is part of the famous Elgar trail.

 
Charles Hassard Wilfred Dodgson lies buried near the West door of the church….he lived in Breinton House and was related to another Dodgson who is more commonly known as Lewis Carroll.
Thomas Pritchard, and his wife Ann who died March 1820 aged 82.

In 1867 Lucy du Buisson played a harmonium for the first time ever at a service. The du Buisson family were responsible for building the rectory, which is now Breinton Grange, althought they themselves lived at Breinton Court, and they also were instrumental in building the school which could cope with 40 children. Sadly, the aforementioned Lucy, who was one of five children, was mostly very unwell, and although she married the son of the Curate after a delay when she contracted Chickenpox, this was shortlived as a month after their honeymoon Lucy died. Perhaps some blame can be laid at the door of a drunken coachman, who some years earlier went off the road when bringing Lucy and her brother back home from a party in the depths of a freezing winter…….they all ended up in the pond! This could not have been good for anyone’s health. Also given to the church by the du Buisson children were the oak lectern (in memory of George Proctor) and a crucifix in memory of Lionel Thomas Ricketts.