In 1793 The Woodhouses moved away and Aramstone House was advertised for let, either furnished or unfurnished, for 3, 5 or 7 years and described thus:

Description of Aramstone House

Situated on a beautiful dry, healthy healthy spot on the banks of the river Wye in the parish of Kings Caple, a huge red brick mansion, consisting of a breakfast parlour;  dining parlour;  drawing room;  another parlour;  library;  housekeeper’s room;  six bedrooms on the first floor and six in the attic, with dressing rooms and closets.  New stove grates and other grates in all rooms.

Servants hall;  butlers pantry;  kitchen;  Brewhouse;  dairy;  larder and other offices, with servants bedrooms;  very large vaulted cellars;  and excellent stables for twenty horses.  Coach houses for five carriages;  two large granaries;  a dove house;  large walled garden;  two hot houses;  forcing house;  greenhouse;  icehouse;  cold bath, shrubberies and pleasure grounds.

It took some  time before a suitable tenant was found for this impressive house.

1808 – Aramstone House

In 1808, Aramstone House was once again up for rent, then in 1814 John Woodhouse was back in his family seat (or one of them anyway – he also owned Yatton Court in Aymestry), and he remained there for many years before finally putting the house up for auction in 1865, at which time Vice Admiral Hillyar was in residence.  He was followed by the Rev. Clement Ley, and I assume (but may be wrong of course) that the house didn’t sell and these two people were tenants.

It does seem that one way and another, descendants of John Woodhouse retained ownership of Aramstone House until the mid 20^th century.

In 1861 Aramstone House was being looked after by a caretaker.

1871 – Aramstone  House Household

1881 – Aramstone House Household

1891 – Aramstone House Household

1901 – Aramstone House Household

1908

Mr. Lea in residence;  outbreak of fire in the storeroom which destroyed books chairs and other articles.  The fire was thought to be caused by mice nibbling matches and causing them to ignite.

1911 Aramstone House Household

In 1957 the then owner, Mrs. Barbara Wyndham Williams found herself unable  to cope with the heavy burden of taxation on the house coupled with urgently required repairs and modernisation and decided to demolish Aramstone unless a new tenant could immediately be found. She estimated that at least £10,000 would be needed for the repairs alone.

However, the Minister of Housing and Local Government held an enquiry to decide whether to confirm a provisional order that he had made to restrict any alteration or demolition of the house.

As a result of that enquiry, the Minister said that nothing should be done until a scheduled article about Aramstone House had appeared in a national Magazine, in the hope that it would provoke interest from a suitable tenant.

Sadly, despite the magazine plug the house remained empty and Aramstone House was demolished later that year;  it was not the only one to suffer this fate, and several other wonderful and very old houses were destroyed at this time in history.

Some of the garden features survive, including the ice house and dovecote.

1882 – Kings Caple Court for sale

In 1882 Kings Caple Court was sold by auction, and was purchased for Sir Edward Cludde Cockburn, Bart.   by his agent Mr. F. Bodenham.  The price paid was £9,020.  From the Census records, it appears that Edward and his wife and family were already living in the Court.

Edward Cludde Cockburn

Edward Cockburn was born at Downton near Kington in 1834, and  went to Exeter College, Oxford, matriculating in 1853.   In 1854 he entered the Army subsequently serving at the end of the Crimean War in the 11^th Hussars,  and was promoted to Captain in 1857;   he retired the following year.

Edward Cockburn married Mary Ann Francis Elliot, a daughter of Mr. R.K. Elliot of Harwood and Clifton in 1859, and they went on to have several children – strangely his wife managed to produce alternate daughters and sons!

Edward was Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire, and became High Sheriff in 1866.

The Cockburn family lived at Kings Caple Court until around 1901 when it was tenanted out to Mr. Bennett;  however Mr Bennet was not to linger long at the property and maybe the following is part of the reason why.

The Nuisance at King’s Caple Court.

It seems that the drains and sewage system were in a dreadful state;  the drain from the cellar was totally blocked and although it had been suggested that this be lowered, because the outlet into the pond was higher than the floor of the cellar this was impossible.

The cesspool and sewage tank were full and in a dreadful state and all in all the Sanitary Authority considered the property to be unfit for human habitation.

Also, the cellar used as a dairy had an untrapped drain leading into the fold, and the inspector stated that the milk was not fit to be drunk – as soon as the owner knew this he stopped having the milk, but didn’t warn the tenant Mr. Bennett.  The owner also refused to do anything about the drainage, despite the stench going into the house.  (Maybe this is why he moved over to Pennoxstone Court!).

The owner of King’s Caple Court, Edward Cockburn,  was instructed to commence rectification work immediately or face a summons.

At this time Edward Cockburn was living at nearby Pennoxstone Court which he also owned, and which was originally a 17^th century farm before being turned into a country house in the early 18^th century.  The present house was built in the late 19^th century after being purchased by Edward Cockburn.

In 1903 Edward died suddenly in December at Pennoxstone Court, and his obituary included some doubt as to his title of Sir.   The papers said that Debrett stated that though James Cockburn of Ryslaw was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628 the patent is not on record, and neither did the title appear in Mylne’s list of Nova Scotia Baronetcies.  Debrett also said that though the title was assumed by Captain Cockburn, his right to the dignity had not been established or recorded.

In 1904, Edward’s son  Robert was forced to write to the papers to defend his father against the claims that he had “assumed” the title of Baronet.  He pointed out that his father had inherited the title on the death of his father, Sir. W.S.R. Cockburn,  when he succeeded to the baronetcies of Cockburn in 1671, and Ryslaw in 1628.

Edward left a personal estate to the value of £25,715 2s, and left all his property to his eldest son Robert.

Lady Cockburn was recorded in various ways on the census records, but her maiden name was Mary Ann Frances Elliot.

1861 – Kings Caple Court Household

1871 – Kings Caple Court Household

1881 – Kings Caple Court Household

1891 – Kings Caple Court Household

1901 – Kings Caple Court Household

1921 – Kings Caple Court Household