Churches of Dinedor

• St. Andrew's Church - Dinedor

   

   

   

  This little church was not always such a pretty sight

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Back in the mid 19th century, it was reported that

  “the probability is that a large percentage of the number who visit this charming spot never dream that within a very short distance of them when they are overlooking the Holme Lacy side of the hill, there nestles a little church, hidden from view by trees.

  Many times perhaps, they have heard the very humble tintintabulations of the bells and wondered where the sound came from, and on inquiry found it proceeded from Dinedor Church.

  Others have been more curious and have explored the spot where the church is hidden.  If they did, we fear that in some respects they were much disappointed;  for instead of seening that neat little building, comely and clean, holy and solemn in its quietness, which rises in the mind at the thought of a rural parish, a dark grim looking, uninviting edifice stood before them, though it seemed a matter of doubt how long it would stand.”

  The old church was dreadfully dilapidated, with dangerous walls and an all pervading dampness.  The gallery and pews had nothing to recommend them and all in all the church did not do justice to the beautiful surroundings in which it nestled.  After close inspection, it was decided that the church was in such a bad state that restoration was not possible, and the only option was to rebuild the church entirely – to a similar size and character, and using as many of the old materials and features as possible.

  The Rebuilding of Dinedor Church

  On a Monday in June 1867, the foundation stone of the new church was laid under a cloudless sky.  Most of the 250 parishioners gathered to witness the ceremony’

  The new church would have completely new flooring, with wood under the seats and encaustic tiles elsewhere, sourced from Mr. Godwin’s works at Lugwardine.

  The seats in the nave, the pulpit and the stalls as well as the altar table would all be new, and the roof would be slated and not tiled as the old one was.

  The interior walls would be finished with Ashlar stone from Sir Edwyn Stanhope’s quarry at Ballingham, and heating would be provided by one of Rimmington’s apparatuses.

  The tower would not be raised higher, and it was hoped that there would be enough funds to put a new arch within it.

  All in all, the style would be of 13th century, with the builder being Mr. T. Stone of Fownhope and the cost was estimated at between £600 and £700.

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News from the Past Dinedor

• Dinedor News from the Past

  Dinedore in verse, rabies and many horrible deaths

  1830 – Rabies comes to Dinedor

  In December 1830 it was reported that a rabid dog had been seen near Dinedor, and that a child and a pig had been bitten by the animal.

  Several cases of rabies had been confirmed in nearby Monmouthshire, and there were many reports of rabid dogs wandering the countryside, with several people being bitten.

  1835 – Lines Written on Dinedor Hill

  Sweet spot of song!  I seek thy breast

  To muse awhile, unchecked and free;

  As wearied birds that seek a nest,

  and shelter neath some spreading tree,

  I come to lose the sense of ill,

  Amid thy shades, sweet Dinedor Hill.

   

  Far from life’s crowd and clamour rude,

  With wearied frame and fevered brow;

  My spirit courts thy solitude,

  Since the gay throng forsakes thee now,

  and all around is hushed and still

  Save my lone step on Dinedor Hill.

   

  Joy haunted spot!  remembrance turns

  Far from this scene of peace and thee,

  The bounds of time fond fancy spurns,

  and brings me back to childhood’s glee,

  And hours when I have ranged at will

  In boyhood’s bloom on Dinedor Hill.

   

  Sweet spot of song!  When I am gone,

  Some loftier Bard may wake thy praise;

  Haply while musing thus alone,

  He flies the “hum of men” to gaze

  On nature;  spoil her how they will,

  She’ll still be queen on Dinedor Hill.

  1837 – More Verse on Dinedor

  Dinedore! in childhood’s careless hour

  I joy’d thy brow to gain,

  In triumph snatched a token flower

  To prove my toil not vain.

  But soon with other eyes I went

  O’er traces of past ages bent,

  On nature’s treasures gazed intent,

  Till from thy haunts my ripened fancy drew

  Treasures exhaustless yet, and interest every new.

   

  Sweet crested upland!  beauteous knoll!

  Loved in life’s early stage,

  So as the dark years downward roll,

  The solace of my age;

  Still let me find some unknown nook,

  Still by thy side read nature’s book

  Still on the varied landscape look –

  The leafy ringlets round thy summit curled,

  and spreading at they feet, the garden of the world.

  1851 – Accidental Death of Dinedore Man

  John Cotterell of Dinedor was working on the estate of C.T. Bodenham of Rotherwas, raising gravel.

  He was undermining the gravel, and was repeatedly warned of the danger of doing this – he ignored everyone who was concerned for his safety, and eventually a huge mass of gravel fell down, burying him almost completely.

  When John was finally dug out he was taken to Hereford Infirmary, where he lived for a few hours.  The post mortem revealed that he had a broken right thigh;  badly bruised  back and broken spine, and a shattered pelvis.

  1853 – Deaths on The Hereford and Gloucester Railway Works at Dinedore

  In July 1853, John Baker, a married man of Hampton Bishop had taken the job of constructing a road to a quarry in Dinedor, in connection with the Hereford and Gloucester Railway Works.  He had employed two men, Vines and Harpurhy.

  One evening, the man named Vines heard John shout out “look up” and as he heeded the warning he saw John trying to run away from an earth slip, but he was not quick enough and was jammed against the “batter”.  He was pleading for help to be got out, and several men rushed to help but he died soon afterwards.

  Vines said at the inquest that he thought John was not careful enough, and that several times they had all nearly been killed.

  The following year, a workman named Joseph Matthews was employed at the Dinedor tunnel on the railway, and was engaged in letting down a “rib” weighing around 30cwt to which a rope was attached and fixed to another “rib” which had been secured.

  For some reason, the rib slipped and fell against the head and shoulders of Joseph, so that he was violently knocked over against another rib.  He was killed outright, and it was supposed that the neck was compressed between the two pieces of timber causing strangulation.

  1854 – Child Burnt at Dinedore

  Unfortunately, no village in Herefordshire seems to escape from terrible news such as this.

  One afternoon, Mrs. Lewis of Dinedore went to Hereford market, leaving her three children in the house, with the eldest, a 9 year old, in charge.

  At some time between 5 and 6 in the afternoon, five year old James Lewis put the kettle on to prepare tea for his mother’s return and his clothes accidentally caught fire – he was soon engulfed in flames.

  Maria Meredith, a neighbour passed by shortly afterwards and smelled smoke, but on trying the door found it to be locked;  the eldest girl pushed the key under the door, and on entering the house she was confronted with the dreadful sight of the poor boy on his hands and knees, quite dead.  The youngest child was huddled in the corner behind the sofa, very frightened.

  No medical help was sought, it clearly being of no use.

  1863 – Suicide at Dinedore

  William Parry was a thirty six year old man, married to Mary with two small boys.

  William was a stone mason by trade, but in 1863 found work hard to come by and became rather depressed.  He was devastated that he could barely earn enough to support his family in their house at Dinedore, but his wife Mary never realised how upset he really was, even though he had been to the Dispensary asking for something to help his state of mind.

  One evening in November 1863, he appeared to be very restless, and got up early the next monring to light the fire before eating a big breakfast.  He then went to see his invalid father in law, dressed him and gave him breakfast; and performed some daily duties including massaging his wife’s arms because she had been ill and they hurt somewhat.

  William then left the house, giving Mary a long hard last look and that was the last time she saw him alive.  When he had been gone for a while, she sent one of her children to find him, and the child came back and said that his father was in the barn but wouldn’t talk.  Poor Mary rushed to the bar, to find William hanging from the roof.

  The jury at the inquest returned a verdict that “he hung himself whilst labouring under temporary derangement of the mind”.

  1896 – Husband kills wife by Accident at Dinedor

  William Jones, alias Ravenhill, was working in the garden with two other men;  his wife Kate approached him, baby in arms,  and accused him of taking too much cider……further, she threatened to open the tap on the barrel rather than let him drink it.

  William, aged 33, was somewhat annoyed about this.

  He had a jug of cider in his hand at the time, and in temper he threw it at her – unfortunately the jug hit Kate on the head opening up a large wound which started to gush blood.

  Kate tried to get back into the house, but collapsed before reaching the door – when a neighbour rushed to help, Kate said “I am done for” before dying.

  She was 30 years old and left three children including a young baby.

  William was arrested, and the post mortem on Kate showed that the blow had fractured her skull, driving a piece of bone into the brain and cutting an artery.

  A verdict of manslaughter was returned.

   

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People of Dinedor

• Nell Gwynn

  Nell Gwynn was born in a respectable, but rather humble, dwelling in Pipe Lane, Hereford.

  Her father was a smith, but she was orphaned at an early age and went to live with her grandfather at Dinedor.  He was an old soldier who, after many year’s service, had returned to Herefordshire a poor man.  He had no pension, no Chelsea Hospital to fall back on, and they suffered much privation.

  Nell was a pretty brunette, well known for her liveliness, humour and vivacity.

  Nell Gwynne Goes to London

  When her grandfather died, she went to London to seek her fortume and fell in love with a strolling comedian who became manager of the King’s Theatre.  At first she made some money as a flower girl, and then as an orange girl in the lobby of the theatre.

  Before long, her lover introduced her to the stage and one evening King Charles II went to the theatre in order to see one of his favourite actresses perform;  the lady was suddenly taken ill, and Nell went on stage in her place wearing a white pasteboard hat the size of a cart wheel!

  King Charles II and Nell Gwynne

  King Charles was so taken with Nell that he took her away with him that night in his own carriage and she became his favourite lover.  In 1670 she gave birth to a son, but he had no title which rather irked Nell and one day when the King visited her she dangled her baby by one leg over the bannister of the stairs declaring that he was a nameless wretch.  King Charles was so alarmed that he quickly exclaimed “St. Albans”, and Nell was duly appeased……….so came about the first Duke of St. Albans!

  Years later, the King commanded Nell to put the huge hat on once more, saying that if she did she could have anything she wanted.  She put the hat on, and remembering the privations of her poor grandfather at Dinedor, she claimed the establishment of Chelsea Hospital.  This was built and every year the hospitallers drank to the immortal memory of Nell Gwynn.

  The last words of King Charles were “Don’t let poor Nelly starve”;  Nell died in Pall Mall in 1691.

  Many years later Nell’s grandson, Bishop Beauclerk planted the elm trees at the upper walk in the Castle Green, Hereford, which of course sadly no longer exist.

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buildings of Dinedor

• Rotherwas House - History

  The original Rotherwas House was built of timber, with the final house being built in 1730 by Charles Bodenham– it was generally described as one of the finest and oldest seats in the whole country, and had the most glorious Elizabethan, Jacobean and Queen Anne panelling which had been transferred from the former house.
  It was in one of the panelled main rooms of the house that King James 1 was so well entertained that he condensed his thanks into one saying………”we can’t all live at Rotherwas”.
  In 1832 and then again in 1834, the mansion was advertised for let, fully furnished; described as finely situated on the banks of the Wye within two and a half miles of Hereford, with coach houses and stabling; an extensive walled garden; shrubberies etc. and a lawn containing 30 acres of superior meadow ground. Also the deputation over the manors of Dinedor and Lower Bullingham, and the exclusive right of sporting over a well wooded estate of 2500 acres well stocked with game.
  The last tenants of Rotherwas House left in 1912, when it became a barracks for the munitions factory, then a military prison before being demolished in 1926 after falling into disrepair. A dreadfully sad end for a grand and dignified house.
  The splendid panelling was sold to an American, Charles M. Pratt – secretary of the Standard Oil Company, and thus some of the finest examples of Elizabethan craftsmanship has been lost from our country.

  Now all that can be seen is the footprint in the dry earth after the recent heatwave, and that only from the sky.

  The staunchly catholic Bodenham family held Rotherwas as their seat for a considerable period of time.

  The Bodenham Family at Rotherwas House

  Charles Thomas Bodenham

  Born in 1780, Charles was described as a fine specimen of the old English gentleman, hale and vigorous in mind and body throughout his life; he was a man of great integrity and was a fluent public speaker. He was an active member of the Liberal party for many years, and was also was a Magistrate for Herefordshire, and was appointed High Sheriff in 1851.
  He was very much loved, and it was said that he had no enemies.

  However, Charles was no great businessman, and lost a huge amount of money – some of his ill fated ventures included being a Director of the City and County Bank which was in trouble.  He rather foolishly mortgaged the whole of the Rotherwas estate, thus accruing vast debts, and on his death he passed on these debts to his son.

  Charles Bodenham was known for his distinguished bearing and was admired for not appearing to grow old even as he did so. Early one morning in 1865 he was seized with paralysis and never spoke or opened his eyes until his death a week later. At the instruction of his son, Charles de la Barre Bodenham, he was buried at Rotherwas church close to the grave of his mother.

  Charles De La Barre Bodenham

  In 1850, at Oporow, Poland, Charles De la Barre Bodenham married Irena, daughter of Count Morawski who was formerly Prime Minister to the King of Saxony . The celebrations on the day of the married couples return to Rotherwas, and the joyful good wishes of all the tenants; villagers; family and friends proved quite overwhelming for Charles, who made the following emotional speech:

  “I was aware of a kind intention of welcoming the stranger on her arrival in our country, but for a demonstration of a nature so imposing as that which I now regard, and for such an expression of sentiments as you have done me the honour to give utterance to in so cordial an address, I was totally unprepared. It is a demonstration calculated to excite my deepest feelings.
  The bride, who for the first time appears amongst you – the daughter of another country – is equally affected by the cordiality of your welcome, for which, like myself, she has been totally unprepared. Under any circumstances, the emotion with which on this occasion I should have approached that dwelling, which bears for me the sacred name of home, would be very great, but they are now heightened, and the scene is rendered impressive by your presence.
  On the part of the lady, and with her, I have to thank you for a true and heartfelt English welcome to a dear English home. I need not remind you that home does not alone depend upon panelled halls or ancestral oaks; home is in the hearts of those who there surround us. It is with pride and pleasure that I mark the expression of friendship which beams from every face upon the bride, and I have to thank you for thus attempting to prove to her that, although far from the country of her birth, Poland is not lost, but is found in the hearts of the tenants and friends of Rotherwas.
  Charles De La Barre Bodenham died in 1883, bequeathing the estate to his widow, She died 9 years later and was succeeded by her cousin Louis, Count Lubienska who later became Count Lubienski-Bodenham when the family Anglicised.

  The count was a tireless benefactor of Herefordshire, and played a big part in developing the County General Hospital, but he let Rotherwas House to tenants and he and his wife and three sons moved to another part of Herefordshire.

  In 1907, a fire badly damaged Rotherwas House, and with the Count having died two years earlier, the whole estate was sold off
  As a bit of an aside:

  Roman Catholic Relics found in a Stone at Rotherwas

  In 1927, following the partial demolition of the ancient chapel at Rotherwas, a stone was found by the roadside by a woman who decided that it would make a good door stop. She discovered that it had broken in two, and inside was a document with a bottle of holy water; a small bottle of oil; a number of medals and a piece of moss.
  The document read:
  Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
  In honour of the ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. This day September 13th 1857, being the feast of Her Holy Name, this Angus Dei and medals and relics are deposited. We pray our Dear Lady and patrons to accept and bless this Her House and to protect it and all who therein abide, and whatever be the destination of this House may the most Holy Will of God be accomplished, and may His Holy Name be glorified.
  O, Maria, sine labe originale concept, ora pro nobis.
  Charles Thomas Bodenham, Eliza Mary Bodenham, Charles De la Barre Bodenham, Irene Maria Bodenham”
  The document goes on to say:
  “This case contains an angus dei; a bottle of water from Mamnurhus Dungeon, Immaculus Well; oil of St. Walburg; the dust from the tomb of St. Francis; moss from St. Winifred’s Well; a medal of Philumina; a medal blessed by the Cure D’Ars against future ails; a medal of St. Peter and St. Paul; a medal of St. Benedict; a medal of our Lady Crestohawa; and an unreadable medal.
  The medals referred to are supposed to contain healing powers, whilst the angus dei is an ivory ornament with the image of the Virgin Mary engraved on it.

   

  1851 – Rotherwas House Household

  Charles Thomas Bodenham	64	High Sheriff and landed proprietor	b. Rotherwas, Herefordshire
  De la Barre Bodenham	37	Son, Deputy Lieutenant	b. Clifton, Somerset
  Irena Bodenham	24	Daughter in law	b. Poland
  Mercy Pilton	29	School mistress, visitor	b. Belgium
  Alexander Fletcher	40	Landed proprietor, visitor	b. Scotland
  James Lahire	34	Gardener	b. Ireland
  Elizabeth Davies	42	Housemaid	b. Dinedor, Herefordshire

   

  1861 – Rotherwas House Household

  Charles Thomas Bodenham Eliza Bodenham Charles De La Barre Bodenham	77 73 47	Landed proprietor, JP Wife Son	b. Rotherwas, Herefordshire   b. Clifton, Somerset
  Irena H. Bodenham	30	Daughter in law	b. Poland
  Rev. I. Scarisbrick	30	Roman Catholic Priest	b. Lancashire
  Edward S. Gisborne	48	Land Agent	b. Derbyshire
  Benjamin Bucknall	26	Visitor, Architect	b. Gloucestershire
  Edmund P. Pugin	9	Visitor	b. London, Middlesex
  Matilda Pugin	11	Visitor	b. London, Middlesex
  John Vanston	30	Butler	b. Devon
  Mary Groves	45	Housekeeper, widow	b. Bath, Somerset
  Louisa Newman	53	Lady’s Maid	b. Dorset
  Louisa Callies	28	Lady’s Maid	b. Dorset
  Teresa Daughty	35	Housemaid	B. Essex
  Margaret Keathing	20	Housemaid	b. Limerick ??
  Catherine Sexton	21	Kitchen Maid	b. Ireland
  Mary Donovan	16	Scullery Maid	b. Ireland
  Catherine Foley	24	Laundress	b. London, Middlesex
  Hannah Cole	22	Dairy Maid	b. Hereford, Herefordshire
  E. O-Connor	35	Housemaid	b. Limerick, Ireland
  Lucy Ramsden	17	Maid Servant	b. Hereford, Herefordshire
  Henry Ramsden	10	Boy	b. Hereford, Herefordshire
  William Carbett	22	Footman	b. London, Middlesex
  James Conally	17	Stable boy	b. Hereford, Herefordshire

   

  1871 – Rotherwas House  Household

  James Comerford	29	Catholic Priest	b. Ireland
  Julia Donovan	36	Housekeeper	b. Bath, Somersetshire
  William Barry 30	30	Gardener	b. United States of America, British Subject

  1881 – Rotherwas House Household

  Charles D.B. Bodenham	67	Landowner, JP, DL	b. Clifton, Bristol
  Irena Bodenham	48	Wife	b. Poland
  C.M. Berrington	51	Visitor, landowner	b. Bath, Somersetshire
  Cristina Patterson	40	Housekeeper	b. Middlesex
  Ellen Kelly	38	Cook	b. Bandon, Ireland
  Ann Murphy	20	Housemaid	b. Ireland
  Hannah Lyons	29	Housemaid	b. Ireland
  Alice Fitzpatrick	26	Housemaid	b. Ireland
  Josephy Fryer	21	Coachman	b. Hereford
  Frank Fryer	18	Footman	b. Ireland

   

  Unfortunately, the transcription for 1891 is virtually impossible due to fading of the form

  1901 – Rotherwas House Household

  May Mackworth Praed	34	Wife, living on own means	St. Lawrence, Kent
  Cyril W. Mackworth Praed	9	Son	b. Surrey
  Violet Mackworth Praed	3	Daughter	b. Dinedore, Herefordshire
  Laura E. Cale	36	Cook	b. Ashperton, Herefordshire
  Marion Firth	31	Ladies Maid	b. Lincolnshire
  Sarah A. Bell	58	Nurse	b. Lincolnshire
  Mary E. Humphries	12	Housemaid	b. Northamptonshire
  Ada Williams	19	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire
  Harriet Perking	15	Scullerymaid	b. Herefordshire
  Edith E. Saunderson	15	Nursemaid	b. Islington, Middlesex
  Charles A. Pooley	29	Butler	b. Eye, Suffolk
  Charles H. Truman	20	Footman	b. Bradford, Yorkshire

  1911 – Rotherwas House Household

  Robert H. Mackworth Praed	45	Private means	b. Westminster, London
  May Mackworth Praed	44	Private means	b. St. Lawrence, Kent
  Cyril W. Mackworth Praed	19	Son	b. Surrey
  Violet Mackworth Praed	13	Daughter	b. Dinedore, Herefordshire
  Charles A. Pooley	39	Butler	b. Eye, Suffolk
  Laura H. Cale	46	Cook	b. Ashperton, Herefordshire
  Charlotte L. Green	32	Lady’s Maid	b. Derby, Derbyshire
  Annie Coleman	24	Housemaid	b. Warwickshire
  Dorothy Bloomfield	21	Housemaid	b. Fulham, London
  Wernie Tow	24	Kitchenmaid	b. Leicester
  Rose Turner	18	Scullery Maid	b. Eardisley, Herefordshire
  Berthan Balmer	25	Schoolroom Maid	b. Switzerland

  1903 – Shocking Suicide of Rotherwas House Employee

  Joseph Webb was gardener to the above Mackworth Praed family, and was 32 years old with one child – he suffered from varicose veins which had been treated by his doctor, and he had undergone two operations.

  His wife Ella said that one morning after he got up, he had a cigarette and told her that he was going to cheer up;  she went off to a neighbouring farm for some milk, and when she returned she find that he had shot himself in the head – in fact he had virtually blown his head off with a muzzle loading gun.

  Very sadly, his two year old son was in the room at the time of the suicide.

  Read More >

1830 – Rabies comes to Dinedor

In December 1830 it was reported that a rabid dog had been seen near Dinedor, and that a child and a pig had been bitten by the animal.

Several cases of rabies had been confirmed in nearby Monmouthshire, and there were many reports of rabid dogs wandering the countryside, with several people being bitten.

1835 – Lines Written on Dinedor Hill

Sweet spot of song!  I seek thy breast

To muse awhile, unchecked and free;

As wearied birds that seek a nest,

and shelter neath some spreading tree,

I come to lose the sense of ill,

Amid thy shades, sweet Dinedor Hill.

Far from life’s crowd and clamour rude,

With wearied frame and fevered brow;

My spirit courts thy solitude,

Since the gay throng forsakes thee now,

and all around is hushed and still

Save my lone step on Dinedor Hill.

Joy haunted spot!  remembrance turns

Far from this scene of peace and thee,

The bounds of time fond fancy spurns,

and brings me back to childhood’s glee,

And hours when I have ranged at will

In boyhood’s bloom on Dinedor Hill.

Sweet spot of song!  When I am gone,

Some loftier Bard may wake thy praise;

Haply while musing thus alone,

He flies the “hum of men” to gaze

On nature;  spoil her how they will,

She’ll still be queen on Dinedor Hill.

1837 – More Verse on Dinedor

Dinedore! in childhood’s careless hour

I joy’d thy brow to gain,

In triumph snatched a token flower

To prove my toil not vain.

But soon with other eyes I went

O’er traces of past ages bent,

On nature’s treasures gazed intent,

Till from thy haunts my ripened fancy drew

Treasures exhaustless yet, and interest every new.

Sweet crested upland!  beauteous knoll!

Loved in life’s early stage,

So as the dark years downward roll,

The solace of my age;

Still let me find some unknown nook,

Still by thy side read nature’s book

Still on the varied landscape look –

The leafy ringlets round thy summit curled,

and spreading at they feet, the garden of the world.

1851 – Accidental Death of Dinedore Man

John Cotterell of Dinedor was working on the estate of C.T. Bodenham of Rotherwas, raising gravel.

He was undermining the gravel, and was repeatedly warned of the danger of doing this – he ignored everyone who was concerned for his safety, and eventually a huge mass of gravel fell down, burying him almost completely.

When John was finally dug out he was taken to Hereford Infirmary, where he lived for a few hours.  The post mortem revealed that he had a broken right thigh;  badly bruised  back and broken spine, and a shattered pelvis.

1853 – Deaths on The Hereford and Gloucester Railway Works at Dinedore

In July 1853, John Baker, a married man of Hampton Bishop had taken the job of constructing a road to a quarry in Dinedor, in connection with the Hereford and Gloucester Railway Works.  He had employed two men, Vines and Harpurhy.

One evening, the man named Vines heard John shout out “look up” and as he heeded the warning he saw John trying to run away from an earth slip, but he was not quick enough and was jammed against the “batter”.  He was pleading for help to be got out, and several men rushed to help but he died soon afterwards.

Vines said at the inquest that he thought John was not careful enough, and that several times they had all nearly been killed.

The following year, a workman named Joseph Matthews was employed at the Dinedor tunnel on the railway, and was engaged in letting down a “rib” weighing around 30cwt to which a rope was attached and fixed to another “rib” which had been secured.

For some reason, the rib slipped and fell against the head and shoulders of Joseph, so that he was violently knocked over against another rib.  He was killed outright, and it was supposed that the neck was compressed between the two pieces of timber causing strangulation.

1854 – Child Burnt at Dinedore

Unfortunately, no village in Herefordshire seems to escape from terrible news such as this.

One afternoon, Mrs. Lewis of Dinedore went to Hereford market, leaving her three children in the house, with the eldest, a 9 year old, in charge.

At some time between 5 and 6 in the afternoon, five year old James Lewis put the kettle on to prepare tea for his mother’s return and his clothes accidentally caught fire – he was soon engulfed in flames.

Maria Meredith, a neighbour passed by shortly afterwards and smelled smoke, but on trying the door found it to be locked;  the eldest girl pushed the key under the door, and on entering the house she was confronted with the dreadful sight of the poor boy on his hands and knees, quite dead.  The youngest child was huddled in the corner behind the sofa, very frightened.

No medical help was sought, it clearly being of no use.

1863 – Suicide at Dinedore

William Parry was a thirty six year old man, married to Mary with two small boys.

William was a stone mason by trade, but in 1863 found work hard to come by and became rather depressed.  He was devastated that he could barely earn enough to support his family in their house at Dinedore, but his wife Mary never realised how upset he really was, even though he had been to the Dispensary asking for something to help his state of mind.

One evening in November 1863, he appeared to be very restless, and got up early the next monring to light the fire before eating a big breakfast.  He then went to see his invalid father in law, dressed him and gave him breakfast; and performed some daily duties including massaging his wife’s arms because she had been ill and they hurt somewhat.

William then left the house, giving Mary a long hard last look and that was the last time she saw him alive.  When he had been gone for a while, she sent one of her children to find him, and the child came back and said that his father was in the barn but wouldn’t talk.  Poor Mary rushed to the bar, to find William hanging from the roof.

The jury at the inquest returned a verdict that “he hung himself whilst labouring under temporary derangement of the mind”.

1896 – Husband kills wife by Accident at Dinedor

William Jones, alias Ravenhill, was working in the garden with two other men;  his wife Kate approached him, baby in arms,  and accused him of taking too much cider……further, she threatened to open the tap on the barrel rather than let him drink it.

William, aged 33, was somewhat annoyed about this.

He had a jug of cider in his hand at the time, and in temper he threw it at her – unfortunately the jug hit Kate on the head opening up a large wound which started to gush blood.

Kate tried to get back into the house, but collapsed before reaching the door – when a neighbour rushed to help, Kate said “I am done for” before dying.

She was 30 years old and left three children including a young baby.

William was arrested, and the post mortem on Kate showed that the blow had fractured her skull, driving a piece of bone into the brain and cutting an artery.

A verdict of manslaughter was returned.

Her father was a smith, but she was orphaned at an early age and went to live with her grandfather at Dinedor.  He was an old soldier who, after many year’s service, had returned to Herefordshire a poor man.  He had no pension, no Chelsea Hospital to fall back on, and they suffered much privation.

Nell was a pretty brunette, well known for her liveliness, humour and vivacity.

Nell Gwynne Goes to London

When her grandfather died, she went to London to seek her fortume and fell in love with a strolling comedian who became manager of the King’s Theatre.  At first she made some money as a flower girl, and then as an orange girl in the lobby of the theatre.

Before long, her lover introduced her to the stage and one evening King Charles II went to the theatre in order to see one of his favourite actresses perform;  the lady was suddenly taken ill, and Nell went on stage in her place wearing a white pasteboard hat the size of a cart wheel!

King Charles II and Nell Gwynne

King Charles was so taken with Nell that he took her away with him that night in his own carriage and she became his favourite lover.  In 1670 she gave birth to a son, but he had no title which rather irked Nell and one day when the King visited her she dangled her baby by one leg over the bannister of the stairs declaring that he was a nameless wretch.  King Charles was so alarmed that he quickly exclaimed “St. Albans”, and Nell was duly appeased……….so came about the first Duke of St. Albans!

Years later, the King commanded Nell to put the huge hat on once more, saying that if she did she could have anything she wanted.  She put the hat on, and remembering the privations of her poor grandfather at Dinedor, she claimed the establishment of Chelsea Hospital.  This was built and every year the hospitallers drank to the immortal memory of Nell Gwynn.

The last words of King Charles were “Don’t let poor Nelly starve”;  Nell died in Pall Mall in 1691.

Many years later Nell’s grandson, Bishop Beauclerk planted the elm trees at the upper walk in the Castle Green, Hereford, which of course sadly no longer exist.

Now all that can be seen is the footprint in the dry earth after the recent heatwave, and that only from the sky.

The staunchly catholic Bodenham family held Rotherwas as their seat for a considerable period of time.

The Bodenham Family at Rotherwas House

Charles Thomas Bodenham

Born in 1780, Charles was described as a fine specimen of the old English gentleman, hale and vigorous in mind and body throughout his life; he was a man of great integrity and was a fluent public speaker. He was an active member of the Liberal party for many years, and was also was a Magistrate for Herefordshire, and was appointed High Sheriff in 1851.
He was very much loved, and it was said that he had no enemies.

However, Charles was no great businessman, and lost a huge amount of money – some of his ill fated ventures included being a Director of the City and County Bank which was in trouble.  He rather foolishly mortgaged the whole of the Rotherwas estate, thus accruing vast debts, and on his death he passed on these debts to his son.

Charles Bodenham was known for his distinguished bearing and was admired for not appearing to grow old even as he did so. Early one morning in 1865 he was seized with paralysis and never spoke or opened his eyes until his death a week later. At the instruction of his son, Charles de la Barre Bodenham, he was buried at Rotherwas church close to the grave of his mother.

Charles De La Barre Bodenham

In 1850, at Oporow, Poland, Charles De la Barre Bodenham married Irena, daughter of Count Morawski who was formerly Prime Minister to the King of Saxony . The celebrations on the day of the married couples return to Rotherwas, and the joyful good wishes of all the tenants; villagers; family and friends proved quite overwhelming for Charles, who made the following emotional speech:

“I was aware of a kind intention of welcoming the stranger on her arrival in our country, but for a demonstration of a nature so imposing as that which I now regard, and for such an expression of sentiments as you have done me the honour to give utterance to in so cordial an address, I was totally unprepared. It is a demonstration calculated to excite my deepest feelings.
The bride, who for the first time appears amongst you – the daughter of another country – is equally affected by the cordiality of your welcome, for which, like myself, she has been totally unprepared. Under any circumstances, the emotion with which on this occasion I should have approached that dwelling, which bears for me the sacred name of home, would be very great, but they are now heightened, and the scene is rendered impressive by your presence.
On the part of the lady, and with her, I have to thank you for a true and heartfelt English welcome to a dear English home. I need not remind you that home does not alone depend upon panelled halls or ancestral oaks; home is in the hearts of those who there surround us. It is with pride and pleasure that I mark the expression of friendship which beams from every face upon the bride, and I have to thank you for thus attempting to prove to her that, although far from the country of her birth, Poland is not lost, but is found in the hearts of the tenants and friends of Rotherwas.
Charles De La Barre Bodenham died in 1883, bequeathing the estate to his widow, She died 9 years later and was succeeded by her cousin Louis, Count Lubienska who later became Count Lubienski-Bodenham when the family Anglicised.

The count was a tireless benefactor of Herefordshire, and played a big part in developing the County General Hospital, but he let Rotherwas House to tenants and he and his wife and three sons moved to another part of Herefordshire.

In 1907, a fire badly damaged Rotherwas House, and with the Count having died two years earlier, the whole estate was sold off
As a bit of an aside:

Roman Catholic Relics found in a Stone at Rotherwas

In 1927, following the partial demolition of the ancient chapel at Rotherwas, a stone was found by the roadside by a woman who decided that it would make a good door stop. She discovered that it had broken in two, and inside was a document with a bottle of holy water; a small bottle of oil; a number of medals and a piece of moss.
The document read:
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
In honour of the ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. This day September 13th 1857, being the feast of Her Holy Name, this Angus Dei and medals and relics are deposited. We pray our Dear Lady and patrons to accept and bless this Her House and to protect it and all who therein abide, and whatever be the destination of this House may the most Holy Will of God be accomplished, and may His Holy Name be glorified.
O, Maria, sine labe originale concept, ora pro nobis.
Charles Thomas Bodenham, Eliza Mary Bodenham, Charles De la Barre Bodenham, Irene Maria Bodenham”
The document goes on to say:
“This case contains an angus dei; a bottle of water from Mamnurhus Dungeon, Immaculus Well; oil of St. Walburg; the dust from the tomb of St. Francis; moss from St. Winifred’s Well; a medal of Philumina; a medal blessed by the Cure D’Ars against future ails; a medal of St. Peter and St. Paul; a medal of St. Benedict; a medal of our Lady Crestohawa; and an unreadable medal.
The medals referred to are supposed to contain healing powers, whilst the angus dei is an ivory ornament with the image of the Virgin Mary engraved on it.

1851 – Rotherwas House Household

1861 – Rotherwas House Household

1871 – Rotherwas House  Household

1881 – Rotherwas House Household

Unfortunately, the transcription for 1891 is virtually impossible due to fading of the form

1901 – Rotherwas House Household

1911 – Rotherwas House Household

1903 – Shocking Suicide of Rotherwas House Employee

Joseph Webb was gardener to the above Mackworth Praed family, and was 32 years old with one child – he suffered from varicose veins which had been treated by his doctor, and he had undergone two operations.

His wife Ella said that one morning after he got up, he had a cigarette and told her that he was going to cheer up;  she went off to a neighbouring farm for some milk, and when she returned she find that he had shot himself in the head – in fact he had virtually blown his head off with a muzzle loading gun.

Very sadly, his two year old son was in the room at the time of the suicide.

This little church was not always such a pretty sight

Back in the mid 19th century, it was reported that

“the probability is that a large percentage of the number who visit this charming spot never dream that within a very short distance of them when they are overlooking the Holme Lacy side of the hill, there nestles a little church, hidden from view by trees.

Many times perhaps, they have heard the very humble tintintabulations of the bells and wondered where the sound came from, and on inquiry found it proceeded from Dinedor Church.

Others have been more curious and have explored the spot where the church is hidden.  If they did, we fear that in some respects they were much disappointed;  for instead of seening that neat little building, comely and clean, holy and solemn in its quietness, which rises in the mind at the thought of a rural parish, a dark grim looking, uninviting edifice stood before them, though it seemed a matter of doubt how long it would stand.”

The old church was dreadfully dilapidated, with dangerous walls and an all pervading dampness.  The gallery and pews had nothing to recommend them and all in all the church did not do justice to the beautiful surroundings in which it nestled.  After close inspection, it was decided that the church was in such a bad state that restoration was not possible, and the only option was to rebuild the church entirely – to a similar size and character, and using as many of the old materials and features as possible.

The Rebuilding of Dinedor Church

On a Monday in June 1867, the foundation stone of the new church was laid under a cloudless sky.  Most of the 250 parishioners gathered to witness the ceremony’

The new church would have completely new flooring, with wood under the seats and encaustic tiles elsewhere, sourced from Mr. Godwin’s works at Lugwardine.

The seats in the nave, the pulpit and the stalls as well as the altar table would all be new, and the roof would be slated and not tiled as the old one was.

The interior walls would be finished with Ashlar stone from Sir Edwyn Stanhope’s quarry at Ballingham, and heating would be provided by one of Rimmington’s apparatuses.

The tower would not be raised higher, and it was hoped that there would be enough funds to put a new arch within it.

All in all, the style would be of 13th century, with the builder being Mr. T. Stone of Fownhope and the cost was estimated at between £600 and £700.