Churches of Canon Frome

• St. James' Church - Canon Frome

  This lovely little church is actually the third to be built on the site, and sits within yards of Canon Frome Court, the family home of the Hoptons for nearly four hundred years.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  During January in 1934, Canon Frome Church was badly damaged by fire one Saturday night.  Although the Ledbury and Hereford Fire brigades arrived promptly and used water from the lake in the grounds of the nearby Court, the chancel was gutted and the altar, organ, memorial tablets and the valuable stained glass windows were destroyed.

  The tower and the chapel were saved by the firemen, as was Canon Frome Court which was a few yards away, and the church was rebuilt in 1860.

   

  Lychgate

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Font

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Organ

  The current organ in the church of St. James replaced that given by Colonel John Hopton in memory of his mother.
  This brass plaque has been saved and reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Fanny Hunt who passed away 18th October 1903. This organ is dedicated by her son John Hopton.
  The added Salicional (an organ stop with a soft reedy tone), was given by Sybil Hopton in memory of her husband who died lst June 1934.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Memorials

  In most loving remembrance of Sybil Maude Hopton of Canon Frome Court, widow of Colonel John Hopton. Died at Cannes July 3rd 1940. The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God.

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   
  All these memorials are, unusually, very clear and easy to read.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

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Buildings in Canon Frome

• Canon Frome Court History

  In the sixteenth century, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Manor of Nether Frome was purchased by Richard Harford of Bosbury, (later Sir Richard, described as a “Usurer” in parliament) and when he died, his widow Martha leased it to Michael Hopton from Ludlow whom she eventually married, and they built what was known then as the Strong House, a moated building, which event saw the beginning of some 300 years of Hopton ownership of the site. Michael Hopton himself died on 1st April 1668.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  In 1645, during the Civil War, the house came under siege by Cromwell’s Scottish army, and the residents had no choice but to demolish the medieval church in order to build defences.

  The Hoptons at Canon Frome Court

  After the war, the Royalist Sir Edward Hopton and his wife Deborah returned to what was left of the house and church. The church was eventually rebuilt in around 1680 (unusually for the time, in brick) but the only part of this second church that now remains is the tower, with the current church having been built by the Rev. John Hopton in about 1860 in memory of his wife and three of his daughters. He was the eighth generation of the Hopton family to live at Canon Frome Court, which was rebuilt in the eighteenth century. The Rev. John Hopton was actually John Parsons by birth, but his father had been willed the arms and name of Hopton in 1841, as well as the estate. He had 13 children, of which six had died by 1859.
  Dating from around 1786 the present Canon Frome Court was built for Richard Cope Hopton and remained in the family until being bought by the Herefordshire County Council in 1952, who turned it into a school for 13-15 year olds. In 1978 the school was closed, and the Court once again changed hands. It is currently an intentional community, which is approached via a long driveway at the end of which are two large brick pillars dated 1905 (the ornate iron gates can still be seen but these days they are never closed). On top of these are two carvings – one of a Griffin’s head with a severed hand in its mouth, and the other of a chained Talbot hound, resting a paw on St. Andrews Cross. Both of these appear on the Hopton family crest.

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Richard Hopton

   

  In 1829, it was reported that Richard Hopton, the second son of the Rev. J. Hopton, was a somnambulist and on this unfortunate occasion he managed to sleepwalk out of one of his bedroom windows and fell to the ground. Initial hysterical reports suggested that he was dead, but this was not the case. One of the servants heard him fall, and medical help was duly summoned – his worst injury was a broken collar bone, but he was rather badly bruised all over and probably was in an extreme state of shock having been so rudely awoken! However, a few years later in 1835, Richard suffered a burst blood vessel and died.

  John Dutton Hunt Hopton

  John Dutton Hunt Hopton was the only son of Captain John Dutton of Farnshill Park, Radnor, and when in 1899 he married Sybil Maude, the eldest daughter of Walter Mynors Baskerville of Clyro Court and granddaughter of John Hopton of Canon Frome, he was granted the name Hopton by Royal Licence.

  He was by all accounts a very tall gentleman and was not only an excellent shot (shooting in the 1908 London Olympics) he was also a noted musician, being a Director of the Royal Academy of Music and a composer of many waltzes and songs. To further his love of playing the organ, he built a music room at the Court and commissioned an organ to be made by Jardines, who had also built the organs for the Cathedrals of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester.

  John Dutton Hunt Hopton was the founder of the Army Rifle Association, Captain of the Army Eight, and Commandant of the first British Rifle team to visit Australia.  He was also Commandant of the School of Musketry, Hythe, and Chief Inspector of small arms.  On his own rifle range he did a great deal of experimental work with new ammunition.

  1934 – Burial of Colonel John Dutton Hopton

  Colonel Hopton of Canon Frome Court died on 6th June in 1934.  He had shot at Bisley for England on 36 occasions and in his Will he stated that we wished to be buried close to the 1500 yard firing point on the range at Canon Frome, regardless of whether the ground had been consecrated.

  He hinted strongly that it would be a jolly good show if the Bishop did consecrate the patch, and indeed the Bishop of Hereford duly obliged as well as conducting the funeral service.

  A hymn was sung, set to music by the Colonel who was an accomplished musician.

  Later, a lovely white mausoleum was erected over his grave and it could be seen from a great distance as it was on the summit of a hill.

  1940 – Sybil Maude Hopton, the wife of Colonel Hopton, died July 3rd 1940 and left instructions in her Will to be buried beside her husband on the rifle range.

   

  The Hoptons down the years

  October 1839, The Rev. J. Hopton’s wife, Grace Ann aged 53, died at Canon Frome Court.
  September 1841, Grace Anne eldest daughter of above aged 30, married James Poole of the Homend, Ledbury
  October 1855 the late Miss M.P. Hopton bequeathed £100 to Hereford General Infirmary.
  June 15th 1857, death of Anna Maria, youngest daughter of Rev. John Hopton
  December 1870 the death of Rev. John Hopton aged 88
  November 18th 1875 marriage of Walter Thomas Baskerville, of Clyro Court Radnorshire to Bertha Maria, only child of John Hopton of Canon Frome Court and Kemerton Court, Glos.
  November 10 1876 death of charles Edward Hopton aged 52 youngest son of the late Rev. John Hopton
  April 1879 the death of Rev. William Parsons Hopton , born 1802, and son of the late William Hopton of CFC and Kemerton Court. He was the oldest encumbent in the diocese of Hereford. In 1858 was appointed a Prebendary of Hereford; he was a Magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Herefordshire and took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. In 1830 he married Diana Christian, daughter of the late Rev. W. Shuckburgh of the Moot, Downton, Wilts. He leaves three children, Edward, Lft. Colonel 88th regiment (Connaught Rangers), Michael, Vicar of Canon Frome, and Diana, married to Mr. Charles Eales of Eastdon, Devon.
  7th March 1891 death of John Hopton aged 82

  Will of John Hopton

  Valued at £50,871 8s 9d proved by the Executors Colonel Edward Hopton and the Rev. Michael Hopton, to each of whom the testator bequeaths the sum of £200. To his nieces Gwendoline, Winifred and Mauda, daughters of the testators late brother Charles, £100 each, and to his foreman, butler and coachman, £100 each. The testator devises his real estate in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcester to the same uses as the real estate settled on the marriage of his only child Bertha Maria, with Mr. Walter Thomas Mynors Baskerville; but the person entitled is always to bear the name and quarter the arms of Hopton. The residue of the late Mr. Hopton’s estate is left to his daughter, Mrs. Baskerville, for life, with power of appointment to her in favour of her children, or in default of appointment, for her two daughters Sybil and Dorothy
  May 1893
  Christie, Manson and Woods – auctioneers of repute – advertised the forthcoming sale of the late John Hopton’s cellar of wines, which included ports of the vintage 1858 and 1863, plus sherry and Madeira.
  September 1897
  W.T.M Baskerville of CFC and Clyro Court Radnorshire, died at his Radnorshire seat at the age of 58. The eldest son of the late Thomas Baskerville, a former MP for Herefordshire, who assumed the surname Baskerville in lieu of Mynors, the deceased was born in 1839 and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1864 on the death of his father he took over the extensive estates in Herefordshire and Radnorshire

  1857 Evesham Agricultural Show classes

  Whilst perusing the results of the Evesham Agricultural Show for this year as many prominent families took pride in breeding champion stock, I was rather stunned to discover that amongst the classes for pigs, horses, cattle etc., there were also those for people! They were clearly considered less important than “Roots and vegetables” as they came below these on the list, and were under the heading “Labourers and Domestic Servants” and entries were submitted by the employers. The Hoptons were no exception, and in fact one of their “entries” won second prize.
  Classes were as follows:
  Class l.
  Labourers, or labourers’ widows who had brought up the largest family without parochial relief. First prize £2
  Class 2.
  Labourers or servants who had served the greatest number of years for the same master or mistress and who would receive a good character from their employers.
  Class 3.
  Labourers as above, under 40 years of age.
  Class 4.
  As above, but under 20 years of age.
  Class 5
  Female servants, as class 2.
  Class 6
  Female domestic servants above 20 years of age who have lived on the same premises for the longest period, or with the same master or mistress, at yearly wages of not more than £12 and shall receive a good character.
  Class 7
  Female domestic servants as above under 20 years of age.
  Class 8
  To the Shepherd who has reared the greatest number of lambs for the same master or mistress with the least loss of ewes, in proportion to the number of ewes put to the tup, the flock not to be less than 40.
  Classes 9 and 10 also were for shepherds.
  It was striking that in many cases, no second or third places were awarded so one wonders if this was because employers simply couldn’t be bothered , or whether there were not enough worthy entrants. Certainly the prize money for the winners in each category was not to be sniffed at, and the labourers and domestic servants would no doubt have been very glad of it.

  Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1841 census

   

  John Hopton		b. 1786
  Grace Anne Hopton		b. 1816
  Mary Hopton		b. 1821
  Susan Hopton		b. 1821
  Ellen Hopton		b. 1826
  John Graves		b.1816
  Lydia Graves		b. 1821
  Sarah Hill		b. 1801
  Margaretha Weber		b. 1821
  Hannah Rudd		b. 1821
  Mary Williams		b. 1811
  Elizabeth Jones		b. 1816
  Elizabeth Halford		b. 1826
  George Lowe		b. 1811
  Stephen Rowbury		b. 1821
  Samuel Floyd		b. 1826

   

   

  Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1851 census

  John Hopton	b. 1783 Worcestershire	Vicar of Canon Frome
  Anna Maria Hopton	b. 1823 Hereford	Wife
  John Buckle	b. 1813 Chew Magna, Somerset	Son in law
  Ellen Elizabeth Buckle	b. 1819 Stretton Grandison, Herefordshire	Daughter
  Unnamed grandchild	Newborn, b. Canon Frome
  Thomas Philpotts	b. 1824 Ashperton, Herefordshire	Coachman
  Herbert James Breyer	b. 1832 Ashperton, Herefordshire	Groom
  Marianne Pitt	b. 1812 Preston Wynn, Herefordshire	Housemaid
  Ann Adams	b. 1827 Tarrington, Herefordshire	Dairymaid
  Ann Gambling	b. 1824 Chignall St. James, Essex	Cook
  Anna Holmes	b. 1828 Knightwick, Worcestershire	Housemaid
  Ann Reding	b. 1781 Ledbury, Herefordshire	Nurse

   

  Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1861 census

   

  John Hopton	b. 1783 Chacely, Worcestershire	Widower, Vicar of Canon Frome
  Mary Hopton	b. 1811 City of Hereford	Daughter
  Guy Trafford	b. 1821	Son in law, late Captain of W. Yorkshire Militia
  Caroline A. Trafford	b. 1821 Herefordshire	Daughter
  Bertha M. Hopton	b. 1848 Kemerton, Gloucestershire	Grand daughter
  Clare Trafford	b. 1848 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Grand daughter
  Henry Trafford	b. 1854 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Grandson
  Lionel Trafford	b. 1856 Gibralter	Grandson
  Mary Catrill	b. 1810 Milverton, Somerset	Cook and Housekeeper
  Jane Chamberlain	b. 1836 Oxfordshire	Lady’s Maid
  Ann Hyett	b. 1831 Ross on Wye, Herefordshire	Housemaid
  Mary Dyer	b. 1822 Marden, Herefordshire	Dairymaid
  Harriett Hill	b. 1835 Lugwardine, Herefordshire	Laundrymaid
  Fanny Walker	b. 1841 Herefordshire	Housemaid
  Thomas Philpots	b. 1821 Ashperton, Herefordshire	Coachman
  James Beavan	b. 1842 Canon Pyon, Herefordshire	Footman
  William Pritchard	b. 1831 Whitbourne, Herefordshire	Groom
  William Knapton	b. 1845 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Servant
  ? Jones	b. 1837 Newland, Gloucestershire	Lady’s Maid
  Susan Jones	b. 1815 Donnington, Herefordshire	Nurse

  1871, the family were at their other property, Kemerton Court in nearby Gloucestershire

  Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1881 census

  John Hopton	b. 1810	Widower, Head
  Mary Jane Hopton	b. 1831 Canada	Widow, sister in law
  Gwendoline Hopton	b. 1867 North Wales	Niece
  Maud Hopton	b. 1869 South Wales	Niece
  Frances B. Bronches	b. 1852 Lancashire	Visitor
  Caroline Dyson	b. 1860 Fife	Visitor
  Anne Hughes	b. 1847 South Wales	Housekeeper
  Charlotte Thomas	b. 1852 Hampshire	Housemaid
  Sarah Richard	b. 1856 Carmarthenshire	Laundry Maid
  Rosa Barnett	b. 1860 Alderton, Gloucestershire	Cook
  Annie Elizabeth Thomas	b. 1861 Woolhope, Herefordshire	Housemaid
  Laura Ellen Cale	b. 1865 Ashperton, Herefordshire	Kitchen Maid
  James Mitchell	b. 1860 Hanbury, Herefordshire	Footman
  Ernest George Summers	b. 1863 Surrey	Groom

   

  Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1891 census

  Bertha M. Baskerville	b. 1848 Kemerton, Gloucestershire	Head
  Sybil Maud Baskerville	b. 1877 Clyro, Radnorshire	Daughter
  Dorothy Baskerville	b. 1880 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Daughter
  Mary Florence Todd	b. 1866 Dalston Middlesex	Governess
  Edith Williams	b. 1857 St. Martins, Worcestershire	Housekeeper
  Harriet E. Cox	b. 1864 Thenford, Northamptonshire	Domestic Servant
  Charlotte Thomas	b. 1853 Hampshire	Domestic Servant
  Milbrow Miles	b. 1872 Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire	Domestic Servant
  Theresa Lumma	b. 1872 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Domestic Servant
  Befree Hawling	b. 1861 Devon	Domestic Servant
  Frances G. Heath	b. 1876 Canon Frome, Herefordshire	Domestic Servant
  Thomas Moreton	b. 1872 Much Wenlock, Shropshire	Servant
  Thomas Barber	b. 1870 Bishops Frome, Herefordshire	Servant

   

  Canon Frome Court Household and servant in 1911 census

   

  John Hopton	b. 1859 Stroud, Gloucestershire	Army Colonel, retired
  Sybil Hopton	b. 1881 Clyro, Radnorshire	Wife
  Bengough Clarke	b. 1860 Kegworth, Derbyshire	Brother in law
  Sara Voller	b. 1871 Deptford, Surrey	Housekeeper
  Elizabeth Cox	b. 1876 Northamptonshire	Lady’s Maid
  Robert Maylett	b. St. Johns, Worcestershire	Footman
  Edward Frost	b. 1893 Norwich, Norfolk	Footman
  Albert Bloomfield	b. 1887 Munslow, Salop	Chauffeur
  Ethel Chambers	b. 1891 Shucknall Hill, Herefordshire	Scullery Maid
  Harriet Beale	b. 1887 Staffordshire	Laundry Maid
  Daisy Matthews	b.1892 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire	Housemaid
  Belinda Miller	b. 1888 Witney, Oxfordshire	Kitchenmaid
  Annie House	b. 1889 Rugby, Warwickshire	Housemaid
  Mary Sole	b. 1878 Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire	Housemaid
  Sarah Ring	b. 1879 East Grinstead, Surrey	Cook

  Mary Sole b. 1878 Wheaton Aston, Staffs – Housemaid
  Sarah Ring b. 1879 East Grinstead, Surrey – Cook

   

  Canon Frome Court Household 1921

  John Dutton Hopton	b. Stroud Gloucestershire 1859	Col. Registrar Army,  Retired
  Sybil Maude Hopton	b. Clyro, Radnorshire 1877	Wife
  Joseph Robert Davison	b. Itteringham, Norfolk 1877	Butler
  Mary Ann Davison	b. Saxlingham, Norfolk 1880	Parlour Maid
  Florence Kate Merry	b. Berry Hill,  Gloucestershire	Parlour Maid
  Mary Elizabeth Ferris	b. Devon, 1874	Cook
  John Henry Jones	b. Canon Frome, Herefordshire, 1904	Hall Boy
  Julia Hannah Eyre	b. Bradbourne, Derbyshire 1890	Housemaid
  Elsie Maud Bevan	b. Canon From, Herefordshire 1905	Scullerymaid
  Mabel Edith Prosser	b. Hereford, 1894	Lady’s Maid

  Martha Lilian Sayce	b. Haywood, Herefordshire 1895	Housemaid
  Elsie Alice Sayce	b. Haywood, Herefordshire 1903	Housemaid
  Ella Sophia Badham	b. Eggleton, Herefordshire 1903	Kitchen Maid
  Olive Mary Kirkwood	b. Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland 1893	Visitor

   

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News from the past Canon Frome

• News from the Past - Canon Frome

  Fire, burial wishes and a ceiling collapse, plus much more

   1843 – Extension of Hereford & Gloucester Canal to Canon Frome

  In March 1843 Crowley, Batty & Co. posted that they had established a Fly Boat conveyance from Gloucester to Canon Frome which would run twice a week;  the public would be able to have their goods brought by one carrier from all the major cities.

  1891 – Death of John Hopton of Canon Frome Court

  Born in 1809, John Hopton died in March 1891, he being lord of the manor and the owner of the parish of Canon Frome.  He previously lived at Kemerton Court near Tewkesbury and was one of the largest landowners in Herefordshire.

  He was generally known as a kind and generous man, in fact a real English gentleman;  he was deputy lieutenant for Herefordshire and a JP for both Worcester and Gloucester, and was active in public affairs until he went blind.

   

  See:

   Canon Frome Court

  1934 – Fire at Canon Frome Church

  During January in 1934, Canon Frome Church was badly damaged by fire one Saturday night.  Although the Ledbury and Hereford Fire brigades arrived promptly and used water from the lake in the grounds of the nearby Court, the chancel was gutted and the altar, organ, memorial tablets and the valuable stained glass windows were destroyed.

  The tower and the chapel were saved by the firemen, as was Canon Frome Court which was a few yards away, and the church was rebuilt in 1960.

  see:

  St. James Church, Canon Frome

  1934 – Burial of Colonel John Dutton Hopton

  Colonel Hopton of Canon Frome Court died on 6th June in 1934.  He had shot at Bisley for England on 36 occasions and in his Will he stated that we wished to be buried close to the 1500 yard firing point on the range at Canon Frome, regardless of whether the ground had been consecrated.

  He hinted strongly that it would be a jolly good show if the Bishop did consecrate the patch, and indeed the Bishop of Hereford duly obliged as well as conducting the funeral service.

  A hymn was sung, set to music by the Colonel who was an accomplished musician.

  1945 – Ceiling Falls in at Canon Frome Court

  In 1945 the Court was owned by the Hopton family, and the music room where the accident happened was famous for containing one of the biggest privately owned organs in the country.

  During a Victory Ball, part of the ceiling collapsed at around midnight onto the happy dancers, which resulted in many injuries but only one lady,  was taken to Ledbury Cottage Hospital.

   

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In 1645, during the Civil War, the house came under siege by Cromwell’s Scottish army, and the residents had no choice but to demolish the medieval church in order to build defences.

The Hoptons at Canon Frome Court

After the war, the Royalist Sir Edward Hopton and his wife Deborah returned to what was left of the house and church. The church was eventually rebuilt in around 1680 (unusually for the time, in brick) but the only part of this second church that now remains is the tower, with the current church having been built by the Rev. John Hopton in about 1860 in memory of his wife and three of his daughters. He was the eighth generation of the Hopton family to live at Canon Frome Court, which was rebuilt in the eighteenth century. The Rev. John Hopton was actually John Parsons by birth, but his father had been willed the arms and name of Hopton in 1841, as well as the estate. He had 13 children, of which six had died by 1859.
Dating from around 1786 the present Canon Frome Court was built for Richard Cope Hopton and remained in the family until being bought by the Herefordshire County Council in 1952, who turned it into a school for 13-15 year olds. In 1978 the school was closed, and the Court once again changed hands. It is currently an intentional community, which is approached via a long driveway at the end of which are two large brick pillars dated 1905 (the ornate iron gates can still be seen but these days they are never closed). On top of these are two carvings – one of a Griffin’s head with a severed hand in its mouth, and the other of a chained Talbot hound, resting a paw on St. Andrews Cross. Both of these appear on the Hopton family crest.

Richard Hopton

In 1829, it was reported that Richard Hopton, the second son of the Rev. J. Hopton, was a somnambulist and on this unfortunate occasion he managed to sleepwalk out of one of his bedroom windows and fell to the ground. Initial hysterical reports suggested that he was dead, but this was not the case. One of the servants heard him fall, and medical help was duly summoned – his worst injury was a broken collar bone, but he was rather badly bruised all over and probably was in an extreme state of shock having been so rudely awoken! However, a few years later in 1835, Richard suffered a burst blood vessel and died.

John Dutton Hunt Hopton

John Dutton Hunt Hopton was the only son of Captain John Dutton of Farnshill Park, Radnor, and when in 1899 he married Sybil Maude, the eldest daughter of Walter Mynors Baskerville of Clyro Court and granddaughter of John Hopton of Canon Frome, he was granted the name Hopton by Royal Licence.

He was by all accounts a very tall gentleman and was not only an excellent shot (shooting in the 1908 London Olympics) he was also a noted musician, being a Director of the Royal Academy of Music and a composer of many waltzes and songs. To further his love of playing the organ, he built a music room at the Court and commissioned an organ to be made by Jardines, who had also built the organs for the Cathedrals of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester.

John Dutton Hunt Hopton was the founder of the Army Rifle Association, Captain of the Army Eight, and Commandant of the first British Rifle team to visit Australia.  He was also Commandant of the School of Musketry, Hythe, and Chief Inspector of small arms.  On his own rifle range he did a great deal of experimental work with new ammunition.

1934 – Burial of Colonel John Dutton Hopton

Colonel Hopton of Canon Frome Court died on 6th June in 1934.  He had shot at Bisley for England on 36 occasions and in his Will he stated that we wished to be buried close to the 1500 yard firing point on the range at Canon Frome, regardless of whether the ground had been consecrated.

He hinted strongly that it would be a jolly good show if the Bishop did consecrate the patch, and indeed the Bishop of Hereford duly obliged as well as conducting the funeral service.

A hymn was sung, set to music by the Colonel who was an accomplished musician.

Later, a lovely white mausoleum was erected over his grave and it could be seen from a great distance as it was on the summit of a hill.

1940 – Sybil Maude Hopton, the wife of Colonel Hopton, died July 3rd 1940 and left instructions in her Will to be buried beside her husband on the rifle range.

The Hoptons down the years

October 1839, The Rev. J. Hopton’s wife, Grace Ann aged 53, died at Canon Frome Court.
September 1841, Grace Anne eldest daughter of above aged 30, married James Poole of the Homend, Ledbury
October 1855 the late Miss M.P. Hopton bequeathed £100 to Hereford General Infirmary.
June 15th 1857, death of Anna Maria, youngest daughter of Rev. John Hopton
December 1870 the death of Rev. John Hopton aged 88
November 18th 1875 marriage of Walter Thomas Baskerville, of Clyro Court Radnorshire to Bertha Maria, only child of John Hopton of Canon Frome Court and Kemerton Court, Glos.
November 10 1876 death of charles Edward Hopton aged 52 youngest son of the late Rev. John Hopton
April 1879 the death of Rev. William Parsons Hopton , born 1802, and son of the late William Hopton of CFC and Kemerton Court. He was the oldest encumbent in the diocese of Hereford. In 1858 was appointed a Prebendary of Hereford; he was a Magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Herefordshire and took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. In 1830 he married Diana Christian, daughter of the late Rev. W. Shuckburgh of the Moot, Downton, Wilts. He leaves three children, Edward, Lft. Colonel 88th regiment (Connaught Rangers), Michael, Vicar of Canon Frome, and Diana, married to Mr. Charles Eales of Eastdon, Devon.
7th March 1891 death of John Hopton aged 82

Will of John Hopton

Valued at £50,871 8s 9d proved by the Executors Colonel Edward Hopton and the Rev. Michael Hopton, to each of whom the testator bequeaths the sum of £200. To his nieces Gwendoline, Winifred and Mauda, daughters of the testators late brother Charles, £100 each, and to his foreman, butler and coachman, £100 each. The testator devises his real estate in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcester to the same uses as the real estate settled on the marriage of his only child Bertha Maria, with Mr. Walter Thomas Mynors Baskerville; but the person entitled is always to bear the name and quarter the arms of Hopton. The residue of the late Mr. Hopton’s estate is left to his daughter, Mrs. Baskerville, for life, with power of appointment to her in favour of her children, or in default of appointment, for her two daughters Sybil and Dorothy
May 1893
Christie, Manson and Woods – auctioneers of repute – advertised the forthcoming sale of the late John Hopton’s cellar of wines, which included ports of the vintage 1858 and 1863, plus sherry and Madeira.
September 1897
W.T.M Baskerville of CFC and Clyro Court Radnorshire, died at his Radnorshire seat at the age of 58. The eldest son of the late Thomas Baskerville, a former MP for Herefordshire, who assumed the surname Baskerville in lieu of Mynors, the deceased was born in 1839 and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1864 on the death of his father he took over the extensive estates in Herefordshire and Radnorshire

1857 Evesham Agricultural Show classes

Whilst perusing the results of the Evesham Agricultural Show for this year as many prominent families took pride in breeding champion stock, I was rather stunned to discover that amongst the classes for pigs, horses, cattle etc., there were also those for people! They were clearly considered less important than “Roots and vegetables” as they came below these on the list, and were under the heading “Labourers and Domestic Servants” and entries were submitted by the employers. The Hoptons were no exception, and in fact one of their “entries” won second prize.
Classes were as follows:
Class l.
Labourers, or labourers’ widows who had brought up the largest family without parochial relief. First prize £2
Class 2.
Labourers or servants who had served the greatest number of years for the same master or mistress and who would receive a good character from their employers.
Class 3.
Labourers as above, under 40 years of age.
Class 4.
As above, but under 20 years of age.
Class 5
Female servants, as class 2.
Class 6
Female domestic servants above 20 years of age who have lived on the same premises for the longest period, or with the same master or mistress, at yearly wages of not more than £12 and shall receive a good character.
Class 7
Female domestic servants as above under 20 years of age.
Class 8
To the Shepherd who has reared the greatest number of lambs for the same master or mistress with the least loss of ewes, in proportion to the number of ewes put to the tup, the flock not to be less than 40.
Classes 9 and 10 also were for shepherds.
It was striking that in many cases, no second or third places were awarded so one wonders if this was because employers simply couldn’t be bothered , or whether there were not enough worthy entrants. Certainly the prize money for the winners in each category was not to be sniffed at, and the labourers and domestic servants would no doubt have been very glad of it.

Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1841 census

Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1851 census

Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1861 census

1871, the family were at their other property, Kemerton Court in nearby Gloucestershire

Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1881 census

Canon Frome Court Household and servants in 1891 census

Canon Frome Court Household and servant in 1911 census

Mary Sole b. 1878 Wheaton Aston, Staffs – Housemaid
Sarah Ring b. 1879 East Grinstead, Surrey – Cook

Canon Frome Court Household 1921

 1843 – Extension of Hereford & Gloucester Canal to Canon Frome

In March 1843 Crowley, Batty & Co. posted that they had established a Fly Boat conveyance from Gloucester to Canon Frome which would run twice a week;  the public would be able to have their goods brought by one carrier from all the major cities.

1891 – Death of John Hopton of Canon Frome Court

Born in 1809, John Hopton died in March 1891, he being lord of the manor and the owner of the parish of Canon Frome.  He previously lived at Kemerton Court near Tewkesbury and was one of the largest landowners in Herefordshire.

He was generally known as a kind and generous man, in fact a real English gentleman;  he was deputy lieutenant for Herefordshire and a JP for both Worcester and Gloucester, and was active in public affairs until he went blind.

See:

 Canon Frome Court

1934 – Fire at Canon Frome Church

During January in 1934, Canon Frome Church was badly damaged by fire one Saturday night.  Although the Ledbury and Hereford Fire brigades arrived promptly and used water from the lake in the grounds of the nearby Court, the chancel was gutted and the altar, organ, memorial tablets and the valuable stained glass windows were destroyed.

The tower and the chapel were saved by the firemen, as was Canon Frome Court which was a few yards away, and the church was rebuilt in 1960.

see:

St. James Church, Canon Frome

1934 – Burial of Colonel John Dutton Hopton

Colonel Hopton of Canon Frome Court died on 6th June in 1934.  He had shot at Bisley for England on 36 occasions and in his Will he stated that we wished to be buried close to the 1500 yard firing point on the range at Canon Frome, regardless of whether the ground had been consecrated.

He hinted strongly that it would be a jolly good show if the Bishop did consecrate the patch, and indeed the Bishop of Hereford duly obliged as well as conducting the funeral service.

A hymn was sung, set to music by the Colonel who was an accomplished musician.

1945 – Ceiling Falls in at Canon Frome Court

In 1945 the Court was owned by the Hopton family, and the music room where the accident happened was famous for containing one of the biggest privately owned organs in the country.

During a Victory Ball, part of the ceiling collapsed at around midnight onto the happy dancers, which resulted in many injuries but only one lady,  was taken to Ledbury Cottage Hospital.

During January in 1934, Canon Frome Church was badly damaged by fire one Saturday night.  Although the Ledbury and Hereford Fire brigades arrived promptly and used water from the lake in the grounds of the nearby Court, the chancel was gutted and the altar, organ, memorial tablets and the valuable stained glass windows were destroyed.

The tower and the chapel were saved by the firemen, as was Canon Frome Court which was a few yards away, and the church was rebuilt in 1860.

Lychgate

Font

Organ

The current organ in the church of St. James replaced that given by Colonel John Hopton in memory of his mother.
This brass plaque has been saved and reads: “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Fanny Hunt who passed away 18th October 1903. This organ is dedicated by her son John Hopton.
The added Salicional (an organ stop with a soft reedy tone), was given by Sybil Hopton in memory of her husband who died lst June 1934.

Memorials

In most loving remembrance of Sybil Maude Hopton of Canon Frome Court, widow of Colonel John Hopton. Died at Cannes July 3rd 1940. The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God.

 
All these memorials are, unusually, very clear and easy to read.