It is famous for being the meeting place of  “Jack of Kent” who was a sort of mythical Welsh Dr. Faustus who baffled even the devil and who constantly outsmarted him in bargains and challenges

Churches of Kentchurch

• St. Mary's Church - Kentchurch

  St. Mary’s Church at Kentchurch was rebuilt in 1859 by the Scudamores of Kentchurch Court, but retained the 13th century style. Some features from the original church were used, including a monument to John Scudamore 1616 which also shows his family in the shape of his wife and ten children.

  

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Buildings in Kentchurch

• Kentchurch Court History

  Kentchurch Court dates back to the 14th century and has been the home of the Scudamore family for all of its long life, currently being cared for by the latest in the long line of Lucas-Scudamores.

  The Scudamore family at Kentchurch Court

  The Scudamores were hugely influential in the West of England, and the Kentchurch branch became separate from the line that developed at Holme Lacy – their coat of arms consisted of two opposing quarters containing stirrups and leathers, and the other two quarters contain a crossed square with an inverted triangle at the bottom
  The crest is a crown, from which a bear’s paw reaches upwards.
  The lineage of Scudamores leading up to the 18th century went something like this:
  John Scudamore – married Eleanor from Carmarthenshire.
  Their son Thomas – married Margaret
  His eldest son, James (who lived at the time of Henry 7th) married Joan Sibell Baskerville of Eardisley
  Their daughters were co heirs to Kentchurch Court, and daughter Joan married her cousin, Philip Scudamore of Rowlestone.
  Their son was John, who leased land in Langua in 1562. H married Margaret Pollard.
  Their son was Thomas, who first married Jane Scudamore of Holme Lacy, then Agnes White, and finally Anne Middlemore who was a widow.
  His named successor was John Scudamore, who married Amy Starkey of Chester. They had eight sons and one daughter. He died in 1616.
  His heir was John, who married Elizabeth Cooke of Highnam, Gloucester. He died in 1670
  The next heir was John who married Mary Lloyd of Salop; they had six sons and three daughters
  Yet another John then took over Kentchurch Court, and on his death was succeeded by his grandson….
  William Scudamore, who married Penelope Lechmere of Hanley Castle. He died in 1741, and as his only son, John, died before he did, Kentchurch Court passed to his cousin.
  Now we are getting more up to date.

  Col. John Scudamore

  John Scudamore was baptised in 1727, and married Sarah Wescombe.
  He modernised Kentchurch Court during the 18th century, and in 1773 the interior was totally redesigned but before the renovation could be completed John died and it was not until the 1820s that work continued when his son, John Lucy Scudamore inherited the house.
  Col. John Scudamore was a Hereford Magistrate, and he was clearly very cross when he posted the following advertisement in 1794 after poachers attacked the deer on his land:
  “Whereas some evil disposed persons did, on Wednesday night, the 23rd inst. Enter Kentchurch Park in this county and wilfully and maliciously kill and destroy three bucks and wound several others; and there being also great reason to apprehend that several other deer were at the same time taken and carried off – Whoever will discover the offender or offenders, so that he or they may be brought to justice, shall receive a reward of Twenty Guineas, to be paid on conviction of each offender, exclusive of the reward allowed by Act of Parliament”
  At the time, twenty guineas was a great deal of money, and it must have been very tempting for accomplices in the “evil deed” to come forward with information, especially as John went on to state that if this should happen, there would be no come back on that person or persons.
  I suspect that poaching had become an increasing problem for him, and he was coming to the end of his patience.
  He died 4th July 1796, was succeeded by his eldest son.

  John Scudamore

  John was a Colonel in the Duke of Ancaster’s regiment of Light Dragoons, and after the death of his father he was elected MP for Hrereford. He married Lucy Walwyn in 1797
  who died in childbirth in 1798. The child lived, and on the death of John in 1805 John Lucy Scudamore inherited the estate.

  Col. John Scudamore

  Col. John Lucy Scudamore was born in 1798 and died in 1875, and was given Kentchurch Court by his mother.
  Poaching was clearly still a big problem on the Estate, and in 1835 John Lucy Scudamore’s tenants jointly expressed great regret at the expense and trouble incurred for the preservation of his game. They decided to preserve the game on their respective farms for the sole use of John Lucy Scudamore, and resolved to prosecute any poachers at their joint expense, even signing a declaration to this effect.

  The tenants of Kentchurch Court 1835

  William Bill John Price
  Thomas Hill James Goode
  John Gwillim William Rollands
  John Parker Partridge Sims
  James Prosser Joseph Garland
  Lewis Davis Richard Arther
  John Cook William Par
  Richard Morgan Thomas Pool
  John Beavan David Gilbert
  John Woodhill Thomas Williams
  William Holley William Lloyd
  Thomas Beavan

  In 1841 there was still stealing from the Estate, but this time, the poaching was not game but tame rabbits from Kentchurch Court, and James Hoskins of Garway was found guilty at Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years transportation, which sounds incredibly harsh, but to be fair he had only just been released from Hereford gaol where he was held for housebreaking!

  The Re-0pening of the Lower Road courtesy of Colonel Scudamore

  In 1861 the newspapers reported as follows:
  “…We believe that the public generally will be gratified to learn that the road leading from Monmouth Cap to Llanfihangel and Abergavenny, known by the name of the Lower Road, and which for several years past has been impassable, is now undergoing thorough repair by the direction of Colonel Scudamore of Kentchurch Court. This gentleman has recently purchased the road of the railway company. The country will no doubt fully appreciate the privilege of again obtaining the use of a road so desirable as the one in question, on the payment of a moderate toll. “
  He proved to be the final in the Kentchurch Court line of true Scudamores, as his only son tragically died as a child in 1832 aged just 9 years.

  Laura Adelaide Scudamore

  Laura Adelaide, daughter of Colonel John Lucy Scudamore, was born in 1831 and died in 1912; she inherited Kentchurch Court from her father and whilst she married twice she only produced one son courtesy of husband number two whom she married in 1852 – the Hon. Edward Lucas P.C. M.P. of County Monaghan, Ireland. This son was Edward Lucas.

  Edward Lucas Scudamore

  Edward was born in 1853, and took on the additional surname and arms of SCUDAMORE by Royal Licence on 30th November 1900 thus ensuring that the name of Scudamore continued at Kentchurch Court which was made over to him whilst his mother was still alive.
  Educated initially at Eton, he went on to Christ Church Oxford and became a Magistrate for Monmouthshire and Radnorshire; High Sheriff of County Monaghan, and Lt. Colonel and Honorary Colonel 4th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry.
  Edward was selected as the Liberal candidate for the city of Hereford, in opposition to Mr. J.S. Arkwright, and voters were reminded that in 1886 he opposed Sir James Rankin the Leominster, but was heavily defeated.
  He married Sybil Frances in December 1900, and died 9th March 1917, leaving a son to take over the Court.
  As a matter of interest, George Bernard Shaw was a good friend of Sybil and often paid her a visit.

  John Harford Stanhope Lucas Scudamore

  John Harford Stanhope Lucas Scudamore was born in 1902 and saw service during WW11 as Lt. Commander. He married three times, the third wife being the only child of the 12th Earl of Chesterfield, the widow Lady Evelyn Patricia. John added Stanhope to his name from this earl.
  He had just one son, John Edward Stanhope Lucas Scudamore, who now lives at Kentchurch Court with his wife who is the owner.

  Flood at Kentchurch Court

  In 1959 the Court suffered a major flood, which caused massive destruction. The carpets on the ground floor were ruined, as were much of the furnishings and much of the house had to be demolished.
  However, massive support from volunteers who tirelessly worked to save as much as possible made restoration viable, even though it took some two years for everything to dry out sufficiently for the family to return to the Court.

  Very unhelpfully, the Scudamore family were rarely at home at the time of the Census over the years, and mostly just a skeleton staff was manning the fort, so one assumes that the family were either away visiting or up in London perhaps.

  Kentchurch Court Household and servants 1841

  Laura Adelaid Scudamore	10
  George Beathem	40
  Sarah Beatham	40
  Louisa Charles	40

  Kentchurch Court Household and servants 1851

   

  John L. Scudamore	53	Lt. Col. Landed Proprietor, b. London
  Laura Scudamore	54	Wife b. Herefordshire
  Adelaide Scudamore	19	Daughter, b. London
  Martha Powell	42	Servant b. Burghill, Hereford
  Elizabeth Holman	20	Servant b. Herefordshire
  Catherine Hunt	29	Servant b. Bath Somerset
  Elizabeth Bishop	20	Servant b. Bishopstone, Herefordshire
  Mary Ann Cooke	30	Servant b. Herefordshire
  Frederick Nelson	40	Servant, b. Sweden
  James Hutchison	45	Servant b. Scotland
  Robert White	29	Servant b. Herefordshire
  William King	19	Servant

  Kentchurch Court Household 1861

   

  George Singleton	50	Butler b. Richmond, Surrey
  William Heaver	40	Coachman, b. Sussex
  Richard Lott	15	Page b. Bristol
  Ann Landon	28	Housemaid b. Cambridgeshire
  Susan Bayford	36	Housekeeper
  Sarah Smith	21	Housemaid b. Radnorshire
  Jemima Young	23	Kitchenmaid b. Worcestershire
  Harriet Rowland	18	Scullery Maid b. Herefordshire
  Alice Coke	21	Kitchenmaid b. Presteign, Radnorshire

   

  Kentchurch Court Household 1871

  Elizabeth Price	25	Housemaid b. Radnorshire
  Susan Barrell	20	Kitchenmaid b. Kilpeck Herefordshire
  Thomas Williams	26	Groom b. Clodock, Herefordshire
  Mary Smith	23	Visitor, kitchenmaid out of employment, b. Garway, Herefordshire

   

  Kentchurch Court Household 1881

  Martha Baker	32	Stillroom Maid b. Huntington, Herefordshire
  Rachel Vaughan	20	Housemaid b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire
  Robert Pearson	66	Gardener, b. Yorkshire

  Kentchurch Court Household 1921

  Joseph Shaw	b. Kildare, Ireland 1856	Barrister and Director of Company
  Muriel M. Shaw	b. Marylebone, London 1891	Daughter, Home duties
  Emily E. Smashall	B. Burwash, Sussex 1859	Cook
  Agnes E. Ottley	b. Fobbing, Essex 1876	Maid
  Frederick J. Jean	b. Cornwall 1858	Butler
  E. Mabel Mitchell	b. Glamorganshire 1896	Nursemaid
  Elizabeth F. Sawkins	b. Herefordshire 1898	Kitchen Maid
  Jessie A.M. Drew	b. Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales 1898	Housemaid
  Mary E. Bowcott	b. Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire 1904	Housemaid
  Doris T. Lawrence	b. Wormbridge, Herefordshire 1906	Scullery Maid
  Leonard G. Young	b. Sussex 1899	Footman
  George Hoggins	b. Herefordshire 1903	Pantry Boy
  Sydney V. Stacke	b. Bloomsbury, London 1897	Groom/Motor Car

  Present day Kentchurch Court

  This lovely building is thriving in its new life as a venue for weddings, and it is also open to visitors by appointment.

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News from the Past Kentchurch

• Kentchurch News from the Past

  Tales of a streaker, games of bandy,  and drownings

  1807 – The Death of Rev. Gilbert of Kentchurch

  At the end of October 1807, the 45 year old Rev. Gilbert went to the Goitree, Monmouthshire for a day of cock shooting with some friends.

  He was walking a little way ahead, down the side of a wood, when the gun belonging to one of his friends accidently went off, with the charge hitting him in the head and removing one ear.

  The friends were indescribably upset, and rushed him to a farm house where he “lingered”  for three days with the utmost resignation and forgiveness of the friend who shot him, before dying.

  He was buried at Kentchester.

  1835 – The Rev. William Bowen of Kentchurch

  The Lord Bishop of Hereford revoked the Rev. William Bowen’s license as Curate of Kentchurch after he performed a supposedly clandestine marriage between Miss Merewether, sister of the Dean of Hereford, and Mr. Wesley, Organist at Hereford Cathedral.  The ceremony was performed at Ewyas Harold were the Rev Bowen was vicar and officiating minister.

  However, the Archbishop of Canterbury annulled this revocation, much to the delight of the Rev’s parishioners who thought very highly of him.

  1838 – Tragic Drowning at Kentchurch

  Phillip Lewis, just 9 years old, was working for Mr. Jones of Court a Grove Farm, Kentchurch, and was sent to Ewyas Harrold on an errand.

  He didn’t return by nightfall, and the next day his body was found in a deep rivulet near Kentchurch.

  1841 – Transportation for Stealing Rabbits

  James Hoskins of Garway parish was found guilty of stealing tame rabbits from Kentchurch Court.

  Just a few months early he had been in the County Gaol for housebreaking, and perhaps this was taken into account when the terrible sentence of seven years’ transportation was declared at the Quarter Sessions for Monmouthshire.

  1844 – Quarterly Tables of Mortality in Kentchurch

  In June it was reported that Measles was rife in the area, although so far only one death had occurred from the disease.

  1848 – A Game of “Bandy” Causes Trouble for the Kentchurch Mail.

  Bandy is a game played on ice with a curved stick and a ball as opposed to a puck.  In this instance it would seem to be more likely that the game was just being played in the road.

  Thomas Jones, driver of the Kentchurch mail, was on his way into Hereford when he came across several lads playing bandy at Blackmarstone.  Thomas called out to them, asking if they could stop the game until he had passed, but they ignored him and continued playing.

  Unfortunately, a piece of the wooden ball that they were hitting flew off and hit one of the horses which made it panic, and the resulting plunging and kicking destroyed the harness.  Horse and mail cart were stabled, and Thomas carried on with his letters to the post office on foot.

  The problem caused by boys playing bandy in the city and suburbs was becoming worse, and calls were being made for the police to put a stop to the nuisance.

  1852 – Railway Accident at Kentchurch

  William Jones aged 24 of Abingdon, Surrey, had been working on the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway at Kentchurch for a month along with his friends.

  They were engaged in building an embankment, and William’s job was to drive the wagons full of soil to the end of the embankment;  one wheel of the wagon was always “spragged”, which mean being tied with a stick, when going down a slope and William was trying to do this when he somehow got caught up between the stick and the wagon and was thrown to the floor.  The wheels went over his legs, breaking them badly, and he died of blood loss two hours later.

  1853 – Man dies in Kentchurch Cess Pool

  William Barratt was a railway worker who was at the time out of work, and he came to Kentchurch to meet with a friend, John Letts, with whom he had worked on the Great Northern Railway.

  Although William was not really a drinking man, he went with his friend to the Bridge Inn where they stayed until late, and at one point William had a fight with a chap named King.   John Letts went home finally, and assumed that William would follow afterwards.

  When the landlord, Mr. Powell went outside, he was horrified to see the face of a man on the top of the cess pool, and yelling for help, he managed to remove the man who turned out to be William Barratt, but he was quite dead.

  There was a great deal of puzzlement as to how William actually ended up where he did – the only opening to the drain where the body was found was a tiny space between two privies, which was protected by a hurdle.  Above this hurdle, and between the top of it and the roof, was a small hole just big enough for a man to pass through, and through which William must somehow have gone.

  If foul play was not the cause, then it was thought that the poor chap thought that the privy was an outhouse and climbed over the hurdle searching for somewhere to sleep.

  1857 – Officer of the Inland Revenue Rides to his Death

  In February 1857, Sydney Heming, an Officer of the Inland Revenue, went to the Pontrilas Inn for a quick drink and left at around 8.30 p.m, quite sober by all accounts.

  A farmer rode with him for a short way, but complained that Sydney was riding much too fast on such a frosty night and dropped back whilst Sydney cantered on.

  Not long afterwards, he was find lying in the road with his horse standing nearby;  he was immediately taken to the Bridge Inn where he was eventually examined by Mr. Lane the surgeon from Grosmont…….Sydney was quite dead.

  1861 – Streaker in Kentchurch

  Charles Sullis was arrested on a charge of “obscenely exposing his person” by running naked along the road in Kentchurch for a bet on 18th June.

  Luckily for Charles, the witnesses could not be completely sure of his identity, due to the speed with which he ran and the fact that he had no clothes on!

  He was duly discharged.

  1862 – Col. Scudamore’s Gamekeeper has Serious Accident

  On New Year’s Day, Col. Scudamore’s gamekeeper was walking alongside a laden wagon when the horses bolted.  The poor man was knocked over and the wheels of the wagon went over him, breaking his thigh and lower leg, as well as one of his arms.

  He was taken to Hereford infirmary where he was said to be doing as well as could be expected.

  One of the most common accidents in Herefordshire in the 19th century was just this sort of thing, and frequently the outcome was death as this report illustrates:

  Thomas Hanbury who was employed by Co. Scudamore of Kentchurch Court, was on his way  back from Pontrilas station where he and another labourer had  collected some furniture.

  He tripped and fell, and the wagon went straight over him.  He was taken to Hereford Infirmary but died shortly afterwards.

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The Scudamore family at Kentchurch Court

The Scudamores were hugely influential in the West of England, and the Kentchurch branch became separate from the line that developed at Holme Lacy – their coat of arms consisted of two opposing quarters containing stirrups and leathers, and the other two quarters contain a crossed square with an inverted triangle at the bottom
The crest is a crown, from which a bear’s paw reaches upwards.
The lineage of Scudamores leading up to the 18th century went something like this:
John Scudamore – married Eleanor from Carmarthenshire.
Their son Thomas – married Margaret
His eldest son, James (who lived at the time of Henry 7th) married Joan Sibell Baskerville of Eardisley
Their daughters were co heirs to Kentchurch Court, and daughter Joan married her cousin, Philip Scudamore of Rowlestone.
Their son was John, who leased land in Langua in 1562. H married Margaret Pollard.
Their son was Thomas, who first married Jane Scudamore of Holme Lacy, then Agnes White, and finally Anne Middlemore who was a widow.
His named successor was John Scudamore, who married Amy Starkey of Chester. They had eight sons and one daughter. He died in 1616.
His heir was John, who married Elizabeth Cooke of Highnam, Gloucester. He died in 1670
The next heir was John who married Mary Lloyd of Salop; they had six sons and three daughters
Yet another John then took over Kentchurch Court, and on his death was succeeded by his grandson….
William Scudamore, who married Penelope Lechmere of Hanley Castle. He died in 1741, and as his only son, John, died before he did, Kentchurch Court passed to his cousin.
Now we are getting more up to date.

Col. John Scudamore

John Scudamore was baptised in 1727, and married Sarah Wescombe.
He modernised Kentchurch Court during the 18th century, and in 1773 the interior was totally redesigned but before the renovation could be completed John died and it was not until the 1820s that work continued when his son, John Lucy Scudamore inherited the house.
Col. John Scudamore was a Hereford Magistrate, and he was clearly very cross when he posted the following advertisement in 1794 after poachers attacked the deer on his land:
“Whereas some evil disposed persons did, on Wednesday night, the 23rd inst. Enter Kentchurch Park in this county and wilfully and maliciously kill and destroy three bucks and wound several others; and there being also great reason to apprehend that several other deer were at the same time taken and carried off – Whoever will discover the offender or offenders, so that he or they may be brought to justice, shall receive a reward of Twenty Guineas, to be paid on conviction of each offender, exclusive of the reward allowed by Act of Parliament”
At the time, twenty guineas was a great deal of money, and it must have been very tempting for accomplices in the “evil deed” to come forward with information, especially as John went on to state that if this should happen, there would be no come back on that person or persons.
I suspect that poaching had become an increasing problem for him, and he was coming to the end of his patience.
He died 4th July 1796, was succeeded by his eldest son.

John Scudamore

John was a Colonel in the Duke of Ancaster’s regiment of Light Dragoons, and after the death of his father he was elected MP for Hrereford. He married Lucy Walwyn in 1797
who died in childbirth in 1798. The child lived, and on the death of John in 1805 John Lucy Scudamore inherited the estate.

Col. John Scudamore

Col. John Lucy Scudamore was born in 1798 and died in 1875, and was given Kentchurch Court by his mother.
Poaching was clearly still a big problem on the Estate, and in 1835 John Lucy Scudamore’s tenants jointly expressed great regret at the expense and trouble incurred for the preservation of his game. They decided to preserve the game on their respective farms for the sole use of John Lucy Scudamore, and resolved to prosecute any poachers at their joint expense, even signing a declaration to this effect.

The tenants of Kentchurch Court 1835

William Bill John Price
Thomas Hill James Goode
John Gwillim William Rollands
John Parker Partridge Sims
James Prosser Joseph Garland
Lewis Davis Richard Arther
John Cook William Par
Richard Morgan Thomas Pool
John Beavan David Gilbert
John Woodhill Thomas Williams
William Holley William Lloyd
Thomas Beavan

In 1841 there was still stealing from the Estate, but this time, the poaching was not game but tame rabbits from Kentchurch Court, and James Hoskins of Garway was found guilty at Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years transportation, which sounds incredibly harsh, but to be fair he had only just been released from Hereford gaol where he was held for housebreaking!

The Re-0pening of the Lower Road courtesy of Colonel Scudamore

In 1861 the newspapers reported as follows:
“…We believe that the public generally will be gratified to learn that the road leading from Monmouth Cap to Llanfihangel and Abergavenny, known by the name of the Lower Road, and which for several years past has been impassable, is now undergoing thorough repair by the direction of Colonel Scudamore of Kentchurch Court. This gentleman has recently purchased the road of the railway company. The country will no doubt fully appreciate the privilege of again obtaining the use of a road so desirable as the one in question, on the payment of a moderate toll. “
He proved to be the final in the Kentchurch Court line of true Scudamores, as his only son tragically died as a child in 1832 aged just 9 years.

Laura Adelaide Scudamore

Laura Adelaide, daughter of Colonel John Lucy Scudamore, was born in 1831 and died in 1912; she inherited Kentchurch Court from her father and whilst she married twice she only produced one son courtesy of husband number two whom she married in 1852 – the Hon. Edward Lucas P.C. M.P. of County Monaghan, Ireland. This son was Edward Lucas.

Edward Lucas Scudamore

Edward was born in 1853, and took on the additional surname and arms of SCUDAMORE by Royal Licence on 30th November 1900 thus ensuring that the name of Scudamore continued at Kentchurch Court which was made over to him whilst his mother was still alive.
Educated initially at Eton, he went on to Christ Church Oxford and became a Magistrate for Monmouthshire and Radnorshire; High Sheriff of County Monaghan, and Lt. Colonel and Honorary Colonel 4th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry.
Edward was selected as the Liberal candidate for the city of Hereford, in opposition to Mr. J.S. Arkwright, and voters were reminded that in 1886 he opposed Sir James Rankin the Leominster, but was heavily defeated.
He married Sybil Frances in December 1900, and died 9th March 1917, leaving a son to take over the Court.
As a matter of interest, George Bernard Shaw was a good friend of Sybil and often paid her a visit.

John Harford Stanhope Lucas Scudamore

John Harford Stanhope Lucas Scudamore was born in 1902 and saw service during WW11 as Lt. Commander. He married three times, the third wife being the only child of the 12th Earl of Chesterfield, the widow Lady Evelyn Patricia. John added Stanhope to his name from this earl.
He had just one son, John Edward Stanhope Lucas Scudamore, who now lives at Kentchurch Court with his wife who is the owner.

Flood at Kentchurch Court

In 1959 the Court suffered a major flood, which caused massive destruction. The carpets on the ground floor were ruined, as were much of the furnishings and much of the house had to be demolished.
However, massive support from volunteers who tirelessly worked to save as much as possible made restoration viable, even though it took some two years for everything to dry out sufficiently for the family to return to the Court.

Very unhelpfully, the Scudamore family were rarely at home at the time of the Census over the years, and mostly just a skeleton staff was manning the fort, so one assumes that the family were either away visiting or up in London perhaps.

Kentchurch Court Household and servants 1841

Kentchurch Court Household and servants 1851

Kentchurch Court Household 1861

Kentchurch Court Household 1871

Kentchurch Court Household 1881

Kentchurch Court Household 1921

Present day Kentchurch Court

This lovely building is thriving in its new life as a venue for weddings, and it is also open to visitors by appointment.

1807 – The Death of Rev. Gilbert of Kentchurch

At the end of October 1807, the 45 year old Rev. Gilbert went to the Goitree, Monmouthshire for a day of cock shooting with some friends.

He was walking a little way ahead, down the side of a wood, when the gun belonging to one of his friends accidently went off, with the charge hitting him in the head and removing one ear.

The friends were indescribably upset, and rushed him to a farm house where he “lingered”  for three days with the utmost resignation and forgiveness of the friend who shot him, before dying.

He was buried at Kentchester.

1835 – The Rev. William Bowen of Kentchurch

The Lord Bishop of Hereford revoked the Rev. William Bowen’s license as Curate of Kentchurch after he performed a supposedly clandestine marriage between Miss Merewether, sister of the Dean of Hereford, and Mr. Wesley, Organist at Hereford Cathedral.  The ceremony was performed at Ewyas Harold were the Rev Bowen was vicar and officiating minister.

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury annulled this revocation, much to the delight of the Rev’s parishioners who thought very highly of him.

1838 – Tragic Drowning at Kentchurch

Phillip Lewis, just 9 years old, was working for Mr. Jones of Court a Grove Farm, Kentchurch, and was sent to Ewyas Harrold on an errand.

He didn’t return by nightfall, and the next day his body was found in a deep rivulet near Kentchurch.

1841 – Transportation for Stealing Rabbits

James Hoskins of Garway parish was found guilty of stealing tame rabbits from Kentchurch Court.

Just a few months early he had been in the County Gaol for housebreaking, and perhaps this was taken into account when the terrible sentence of seven years’ transportation was declared at the Quarter Sessions for Monmouthshire.

1844 – Quarterly Tables of Mortality in Kentchurch

In June it was reported that Measles was rife in the area, although so far only one death had occurred from the disease.

1848 – A Game of “Bandy” Causes Trouble for the Kentchurch Mail.

Bandy is a game played on ice with a curved stick and a ball as opposed to a puck.  In this instance it would seem to be more likely that the game was just being played in the road.

Thomas Jones, driver of the Kentchurch mail, was on his way into Hereford when he came across several lads playing bandy at Blackmarstone.  Thomas called out to them, asking if they could stop the game until he had passed, but they ignored him and continued playing.

Unfortunately, a piece of the wooden ball that they were hitting flew off and hit one of the horses which made it panic, and the resulting plunging and kicking destroyed the harness.  Horse and mail cart were stabled, and Thomas carried on with his letters to the post office on foot.

The problem caused by boys playing bandy in the city and suburbs was becoming worse, and calls were being made for the police to put a stop to the nuisance.

1852 – Railway Accident at Kentchurch

William Jones aged 24 of Abingdon, Surrey, had been working on the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway at Kentchurch for a month along with his friends.

They were engaged in building an embankment, and William’s job was to drive the wagons full of soil to the end of the embankment;  one wheel of the wagon was always “spragged”, which mean being tied with a stick, when going down a slope and William was trying to do this when he somehow got caught up between the stick and the wagon and was thrown to the floor.  The wheels went over his legs, breaking them badly, and he died of blood loss two hours later.

1853 – Man dies in Kentchurch Cess Pool

William Barratt was a railway worker who was at the time out of work, and he came to Kentchurch to meet with a friend, John Letts, with whom he had worked on the Great Northern Railway.

Although William was not really a drinking man, he went with his friend to the Bridge Inn where they stayed until late, and at one point William had a fight with a chap named King.   John Letts went home finally, and assumed that William would follow afterwards.

When the landlord, Mr. Powell went outside, he was horrified to see the face of a man on the top of the cess pool, and yelling for help, he managed to remove the man who turned out to be William Barratt, but he was quite dead.

There was a great deal of puzzlement as to how William actually ended up where he did – the only opening to the drain where the body was found was a tiny space between two privies, which was protected by a hurdle.  Above this hurdle, and between the top of it and the roof, was a small hole just big enough for a man to pass through, and through which William must somehow have gone.

If foul play was not the cause, then it was thought that the poor chap thought that the privy was an outhouse and climbed over the hurdle searching for somewhere to sleep.

1857 – Officer of the Inland Revenue Rides to his Death

In February 1857, Sydney Heming, an Officer of the Inland Revenue, went to the Pontrilas Inn for a quick drink and left at around 8.30 p.m, quite sober by all accounts.

A farmer rode with him for a short way, but complained that Sydney was riding much too fast on such a frosty night and dropped back whilst Sydney cantered on.

Not long afterwards, he was find lying in the road with his horse standing nearby;  he was immediately taken to the Bridge Inn where he was eventually examined by Mr. Lane the surgeon from Grosmont…….Sydney was quite dead.

1861 – Streaker in Kentchurch

Charles Sullis was arrested on a charge of “obscenely exposing his person” by running naked along the road in Kentchurch for a bet on 18th June.

Luckily for Charles, the witnesses could not be completely sure of his identity, due to the speed with which he ran and the fact that he had no clothes on!

He was duly discharged.

1862 – Col. Scudamore’s Gamekeeper has Serious Accident

On New Year’s Day, Col. Scudamore’s gamekeeper was walking alongside a laden wagon when the horses bolted.  The poor man was knocked over and the wheels of the wagon went over him, breaking his thigh and lower leg, as well as one of his arms.

He was taken to Hereford infirmary where he was said to be doing as well as could be expected.

One of the most common accidents in Herefordshire in the 19th century was just this sort of thing, and frequently the outcome was death as this report illustrates:

Thomas Hanbury who was employed by Co. Scudamore of Kentchurch Court, was on his way  back from Pontrilas station where he and another labourer had  collected some furniture.

He tripped and fell, and the wagon went straight over him.  He was taken to Hereford Infirmary but died shortly afterwards.