Churches of Dewsall

• St. Michael & All Angels Church - Dewsall

  This utterly delightful 13th century church was recently under threat of closure, but it thankfully appears that the local community are doing all that they can to prevent this happening.

   

  This photograph was very kindly submitted by Crispin Pemberton

   

   

   

  

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Buildings in Dewsall

• Dewsall Court History

  Dewsall Court is not the most impressive of the country houses in Herefordshire, but it is lovely and has survived the years since it was first built in the 17th century by Richard Pearle in spite of an application to knock it down in the mid twentieth century.

  Henry James Brydges

  The Pearle family lived in the Court for over a hundred years, one of the descendants being Henry James Brydges who was born in 1673 to Mary Pearle and Sir John Brydges. He became MP for Hereford, and then Paymaster of the Forces Abroad during the War of the Spanish Succession. By various means, Henry James Brydges amassed a large fortune equating to way over £50 million in today’s money. Sadly though, James was something of a spendthrift and also invested unwisely, resulting in an almost total loss of his fortunes in the South Sea Bubble financial crash and in 1731 all his estates including Dewsall were sold to Guys Hospital.

  Sir Charles Clore

  Guys sold Dewsall Estate to Sir Charles Clore in the mid 20th century, by which time it was in some disrepair, and he wanted to demolish the house.  He got as far as removing the roof before the Council stepped in and made him put it back.  He never lived at Dewsall.

  Dewsall Court Restored and given a New Lease of Life

  Dewsall Court was purchased in 1989, at which time it was in dire need of renovation – the family, who still own it, turned it into the beautiful property that it is today .   It was a family home until 2010, when they turned it into a thriving event/wedding venue.  What better setting for that special occasion!

   

  Dewsall Court Household 1841

   

  Sarah Jenkins	80	Farmer
  Ann Jenkins	65	Farmer
  ? Jenkins	58	Farmer
  Margaret Addiss	51	Labourer
  Mary Williams	22	Labourer
  Ellen Johnston	17	Labourer
  James Weaver	30	Bailiff
  Samuel Loyd	26	Labourer
  John Robin	18	Labourer
  Richard Powell	17	Labourer
  Richard Jenkins	15	Labourer
  William Walters	10	Labourer
  John Lane	35	Labourer
  John Baker	23	Labourer

  Guys Hospital Rent out Dewsall Court

  In 1844 James Price was in residence

  Peregrine Prince

  During the mid 19^th century the owner was Peregrine Prince but he himself lived at St. Nicholas, Hereford, renting Dewsall Court to farmers.    He was a keen breeder of cattle and sheep, and won prizes at such shows as The Smithfield

  By 1859, Peregrine Prince decided to relinquish his agricultural pursuits, and put up for sale all the cattle, sheep etc. from the Dewsall Estate.

  The next residents at Dewsall Court were the Morris family, and they were to remain for over 30 years.  Walter Morris, head of the household was elected a member of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1861 and was a very successful and relatively wealthy farmer.  He was kindly to his labourers, and was apt to give lavish dinners for them after the harvest had been successfully brought in.

  Walter’s daughter, Mary Caroline, died of diphtheria aged just 17 whilst at Dinan, France

   

   

  Dewsall Court Household and Servants 1871

   

  Walter Morris	52	Farmer of 530 acres employing 12 men and 2 boys, b. Weston Beggard, Herefordshire
  Walter William Morris	19	Son, Farmer, b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Frederick John Morris	17	Son b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Dorothy Ann Morris	22	Daughter b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Maria Elizabeth Morris	12	Daughter b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Amy  Gertrude Morris	9	Daughter b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Pearce	43	Governess, b. Bath
  Eliza Damis	22	Servant b. Worcestershire
  Sophia Powell	29	Servant, b. Herefordshire
  William Damis	19	Servant b. Stoke Lacy

   

   

  Dewsall Court Household and servants 1881

   

  Walter Morris	68	Farmer of 528 acres employing 12 men and 2 boys, b. Herefordshire
  Walter William Morris	28	Son b. Yazor, Herefordshire (died 7th May 1888 at Dewsall Court)
  Arthur H. Morris	24	Son b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Maria E. Morris	21	Daughter b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Amy Gertrude Morris	18	Daughter b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Pearce	52	Companion, b. Somerset
  Elizabeth King	27	Cook b. Herefordshire
  Mary Sandford	21	Housemaid b. Herefordshire
  John Morgan	20	Groom b. Callow, Herefordshire

   

   

  Dewsall Court Household and Servants 1901

   

  Arthur Morris	45	Farmer b. Yazor, Herefordshire
  Edith Morris	31	Wife b. Prestbury, Cheshire
  Walter A. Morris	2	Son b. Herefordshire
  Frederick A. Morris	1	Son b. Herefordshire
  Clara M. Dawes	24	Cook b. Belmont, Herefordshire
  Ellen M. Knight	19	Nurse b. Ruardean, Gloucestershire
  Farnham J. Moss	16	Groom b. Haywood, Herefordshire

  Dewsall Court Household 1921

  Rees Edwards	b. Radnorshire, Wales 1873	Farmer, Employer
  Mabel K. Edwards	b. Hereford 1880	Wife, Home Duties
  Ada Louise Verrill	b. Peterchurch, Herefordshire 1900	Domestic Help
  Frank Jones	b. Dewsall, Herefordshire 1904	Horseman

  These wonderful photographs have been kindly supplied by Arthur Henry Morris’s granddaughter, and I would ask that you do not use them without contacting me as permission will need to be sought.

  This shows the occasion of her father’s Christening (Walter Andrew Morris) in 1898, and Arthur Henry Morris is standing behind his wife, Edith.

  Amy Gertrude Morris (shown on the 1881 census) is the elegant lady holding the baby’s bootee.

   

   

   

  

  Edith Morris in front of Dewsall Court

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

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News from the Past Dewsall

• Dewsall News from the Past

  Underweight butter, a load of bull and assault

  1844 – Underweight Butter Seized at Dewsall

  The Inspector of Weights and Measures, Mr. James, seized a large amount of butter from Mr. Price of Dewsall, having found it to be well under the weight it was advertised as being.

  Mr. Price pleaded ignorance to the deficit, and blamed the scales, but the magistrate said that the butter must be forfeited despite this because had it been sold it would have the poorer people who would have suffered most.

  The butter, amounting to about 9lbs, was given to the poor of the district.

  1854 – Never Trust a Bull

  John Handcocks, 55 and unmarried, worked for Daniel Pearce of Monkall in the parish of Much Dewchurch and was in charge of the cattle.

  He was ordered to take a bull, which had never been led by the halter before, to the Hill of Eaton near Ross, and another man, Edwin Watkins was to accompany him. Daniel Pearce initially walked with them, but because the bull seemed well behaved he turned round and went home. Mr. Pearce had owned the bull for some time, and it had never shown any aggression.

  On went the pair with the bull, and all was fine and dandy until they came to a meadow in Dewsall belonging to the Vicar, when the animal started to play up…….he was restless and threatening, so John Handcocks tried to calm him by scratching his face, but to no avail and eventually in self defence John started to hit the bull around the head to keep him away.

  The bull totally lost its temper and charged at its handler, knocking him down before kneeling on him. Not content with this, the bull proceeded to try to gore John with his horns, and the poor man pleaded with Edwin to help him.

  Having no stick, Edwin started to pelt the enraged animal with stones (not designed to calm it down one would think) which diverted attention and eventually he was able to safely drive it away from John. However, poor John could not feel his legs at this stage and had to be carried to a nearby house, where he kept saying that it was his fault for scratching the bull’s head.

  John was sent by horse and cart to the Infirmary, and the bull was taken back to the Monkhall with no further problems.

  Sadly John Handcocks was completely paralysed from the waist down and had difficulty breathing, and shortly after his admittance to the Infirmary he died.

  1856 – Assault on Girlfriend’s Mother

  James Lewis, a labourer of Dewsall was charged with assaulting Mrs. Susan Trumper of Allensmore.

  James had fallen in love with Emma, but her mother, Susan Trumper, was not happy with the relationship and tried to put a stop to it.

  James was not happy – he lost his temper and threw Mrs. Trumper to the floor, then threatened to kill her with a knife. Mr. Trumper intervened and took the knife from him, but James was desperate and falling to his knees, implored Emma to marry him.

  The magistrates sadly had no romance in their souls and fined him heavily.

  1856 – Death of Rev Thomas Phillipps’ Daughter at Dewsall

  Emma, aged just nine years, second daughter of the Rev. Thomas Phillips, Vicar of Dewsall, died.

  1858 – The Vicar gives Children Tea and Cake then suffers another devastating loss at Dewsall

  The Rev. T. Phillips (also reported as “Phillipps) and his wife and daughter entertained the children of Callow and Dewsall with tea and plum cake on the rectory lawn.

  In return, the children sang their school songs, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

  It is particularly sad in view of this happy scene, that some 7 years later in 1865, Anthony Phillips the son of the Rev. Phillips and his wife, drowned whilst swimming at Tenby on holiday.

  He was 16 and had just left school with a promising career ahead of him, but it seems that he went for a swim with his brother and a friend named Sparks. The sea was rough, and Sparks got into some difficulties so Anthony’s brother went to held him, whilst yelling to Anthony to get back to land. Unfortunately, as still happens these days, the current and roughness of the sea were too much, and Anthony was carried out to sea.

  1860 – Summoned for Stealing Sticks

  Ellen Wood, the wife of a waggoner (sorry for the spelling, but that’s how it was) who earned just 8s a week and had to support a family of five, was summoned for taking sticks belonging to the proprietors of Guy’s Hospital, Dewsall.

  She was fined 1d, with 6d damages and costs of 16s and 6d.

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Henry James Brydges

The Pearle family lived in the Court for over a hundred years, one of the descendants being Henry James Brydges who was born in 1673 to Mary Pearle and Sir John Brydges. He became MP for Hereford, and then Paymaster of the Forces Abroad during the War of the Spanish Succession. By various means, Henry James Brydges amassed a large fortune equating to way over £50 million in today’s money. Sadly though, James was something of a spendthrift and also invested unwisely, resulting in an almost total loss of his fortunes in the South Sea Bubble financial crash and in 1731 all his estates including Dewsall were sold to Guys Hospital.

Sir Charles Clore

Guys sold Dewsall Estate to Sir Charles Clore in the mid 20th century, by which time it was in some disrepair, and he wanted to demolish the house.  He got as far as removing the roof before the Council stepped in and made him put it back.  He never lived at Dewsall.

Dewsall Court Restored and given a New Lease of Life

Dewsall Court was purchased in 1989, at which time it was in dire need of renovation – the family, who still own it, turned it into the beautiful property that it is today .   It was a family home until 2010, when they turned it into a thriving event/wedding venue.  What better setting for that special occasion!

Dewsall Court Household 1841

Guys Hospital Rent out Dewsall Court

In 1844 James Price was in residence

Peregrine Prince

During the mid 19^th century the owner was Peregrine Prince but he himself lived at St. Nicholas, Hereford, renting Dewsall Court to farmers.    He was a keen breeder of cattle and sheep, and won prizes at such shows as The Smithfield

By 1859, Peregrine Prince decided to relinquish his agricultural pursuits, and put up for sale all the cattle, sheep etc. from the Dewsall Estate.

The next residents at Dewsall Court were the Morris family, and they were to remain for over 30 years.  Walter Morris, head of the household was elected a member of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1861 and was a very successful and relatively wealthy farmer.  He was kindly to his labourers, and was apt to give lavish dinners for them after the harvest had been successfully brought in.

Walter’s daughter, Mary Caroline, died of diphtheria aged just 17 whilst at Dinan, France

Dewsall Court Household and Servants 1871

Dewsall Court Household and servants 1881

Dewsall Court Household and Servants 1901

Dewsall Court Household 1921

These wonderful photographs have been kindly supplied by Arthur Henry Morris’s granddaughter, and I would ask that you do not use them without contacting me as permission will need to be sought.

This shows the occasion of her father’s Christening (Walter Andrew Morris) in 1898, and Arthur Henry Morris is standing behind his wife, Edith.

Amy Gertrude Morris (shown on the 1881 census) is the elegant lady holding the baby’s bootee.

Edith Morris in front of Dewsall Court

1844 – Underweight Butter Seized at Dewsall

The Inspector of Weights and Measures, Mr. James, seized a large amount of butter from Mr. Price of Dewsall, having found it to be well under the weight it was advertised as being.

Mr. Price pleaded ignorance to the deficit, and blamed the scales, but the magistrate said that the butter must be forfeited despite this because had it been sold it would have the poorer people who would have suffered most.

The butter, amounting to about 9lbs, was given to the poor of the district.

1854 – Never Trust a Bull

John Handcocks, 55 and unmarried, worked for Daniel Pearce of Monkall in the parish of Much Dewchurch and was in charge of the cattle.

He was ordered to take a bull, which had never been led by the halter before, to the Hill of Eaton near Ross, and another man, Edwin Watkins was to accompany him. Daniel Pearce initially walked with them, but because the bull seemed well behaved he turned round and went home. Mr. Pearce had owned the bull for some time, and it had never shown any aggression.

On went the pair with the bull, and all was fine and dandy until they came to a meadow in Dewsall belonging to the Vicar, when the animal started to play up…….he was restless and threatening, so John Handcocks tried to calm him by scratching his face, but to no avail and eventually in self defence John started to hit the bull around the head to keep him away.

The bull totally lost its temper and charged at its handler, knocking him down before kneeling on him. Not content with this, the bull proceeded to try to gore John with his horns, and the poor man pleaded with Edwin to help him.

Having no stick, Edwin started to pelt the enraged animal with stones (not designed to calm it down one would think) which diverted attention and eventually he was able to safely drive it away from John. However, poor John could not feel his legs at this stage and had to be carried to a nearby house, where he kept saying that it was his fault for scratching the bull’s head.

John was sent by horse and cart to the Infirmary, and the bull was taken back to the Monkhall with no further problems.

Sadly John Handcocks was completely paralysed from the waist down and had difficulty breathing, and shortly after his admittance to the Infirmary he died.

1856 – Assault on Girlfriend’s Mother

James Lewis, a labourer of Dewsall was charged with assaulting Mrs. Susan Trumper of Allensmore.

James had fallen in love with Emma, but her mother, Susan Trumper, was not happy with the relationship and tried to put a stop to it.

James was not happy – he lost his temper and threw Mrs. Trumper to the floor, then threatened to kill her with a knife. Mr. Trumper intervened and took the knife from him, but James was desperate and falling to his knees, implored Emma to marry him.

The magistrates sadly had no romance in their souls and fined him heavily.

1856 – Death of Rev Thomas Phillipps’ Daughter at Dewsall

Emma, aged just nine years, second daughter of the Rev. Thomas Phillips, Vicar of Dewsall, died.

1858 – The Vicar gives Children Tea and Cake then suffers another devastating loss at Dewsall

The Rev. T. Phillips (also reported as “Phillipps) and his wife and daughter entertained the children of Callow and Dewsall with tea and plum cake on the rectory lawn.

In return, the children sang their school songs, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

It is particularly sad in view of this happy scene, that some 7 years later in 1865, Anthony Phillips the son of the Rev. Phillips and his wife, drowned whilst swimming at Tenby on holiday.

He was 16 and had just left school with a promising career ahead of him, but it seems that he went for a swim with his brother and a friend named Sparks. The sea was rough, and Sparks got into some difficulties so Anthony’s brother went to held him, whilst yelling to Anthony to get back to land. Unfortunately, as still happens these days, the current and roughness of the sea were too much, and Anthony was carried out to sea.

1860 – Summoned for Stealing Sticks

Ellen Wood, the wife of a waggoner (sorry for the spelling, but that’s how it was) who earned just 8s a week and had to support a family of five, was summoned for taking sticks belonging to the proprietors of Guy’s Hospital, Dewsall.

She was fined 1d, with 6d damages and costs of 16s and 6d.

This photograph was very kindly submitted by Crispin Pemberton