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

Churches of Kings Caple

• St. John the Baptist Church - Kings Caple

  The church of St. John the Baptist at Kings Caple is 13th century, however there were additions in the 14th century which included the tower.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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  Memorials

  Memorials to the Woodhouse family

  The main memorial in the centre reads as follows:

  Thomas Marrett, son of Thos Marrett, Gent, by Frances his wife, daughter of William Hoskyns of Gent, who died without issue Jan. 2nd 1725, leaving only 2 sisters, Elizabeth wife of Francis Woodhouse of Larpott, Gent, and Frances, wife of Joseph Watts, Clerk – being the last of the Marretts of Aramstone whose settlement there (as appears by Deeds) was earlier than y 1oth of HEN.6

  This monument was erected by his nephew, Francis Woodhouse.

   

  Bottom Left:

  In memory of Francis Woodhouse Esq., Eldest son of Francis Woodhouse Gent. by Eliza his wife, sister to Thomas Marrett Esq.

  He departed this life the 21st day of January 1745 in the 54th year of his age.

   

  Bottom Right:

  In memory of Anne, the wife of Francis Woodhouse, daughter and heiress of Thomas Price of the borough of Leominster, by Susanna his second wife one of the daughters of John Wittington of Gent.

  She departed this life 14th November 1740 and lies buried in Leominster Church aged 40

   

  The top right and left memorials are bowed, and are difficult to read.

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  This rather beautiful memorial reads as follows:

  To the memory of ELIZA, widow of the late John Woodhouse Esq of Aramstone and Yatton Court in this County, and daughter of the late Rev. William Holcombe, Canon of St. Davids.

  She departed this life December 12th 1833 aged 63 years.

  This tablet is erected by her grand daughter E.J. Woodhouse Ferguson of Yatton Court in gratitude for her parental care and sincere sorrow for her irreparable loss.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Bier

  Original and beautifully preserved Bier

   

   

   

  

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News from the Past Kings Caple

• Kings Caple News from the Past

  Tales of accidents, assault and other stuff

  1800 – Step Mother Kills Child

  An 8 year old girl by the name of Anne Collins of King’s Caple was unfortunate enough to have a really wicked stepmother, who constantly and horribly abused her until eventually the poor girl died.

  1841 – Wagon Accident for King’s Caple Farmer

  For every village there are umpteen reports of accidents very similar to this one:

  Mr. James Tingle, a farmer of King’s Caple had taken his team of horses and wagon to Walford in order to pick up a load of lime.  On his way back he had to go through the ford across the River Wye at Sellack, where he slipped and fell.

  The wagon wheel went over him, badly breaking his left arm and bruising most of his body.  Unlike many such cases, James survived.

  1853 – Incredible Escape on Railway Tunnel Works

  Workmen involved in constructing a tunnel at King’s Caple had 15cwt of blasting powder in their magazine, but somehow had left a barrel with 3 or 4 lbs of the powder outside the tunnel.

  A young lad for reasons known only to himself decided to try to explode the barrel by lighting a match…….he was badly injured of course, but luckily the bulk of the powder was not affected by the explosion.

  Soon after, the men saw smoke coming from the magazine, and with heroic bravery they fetched water to throw over it, and happily they succeeded in preventing a catastrophe.  When they rolled the barrels of powder out of the magazine to be dried out, one of them fell to bits from the burning that the wood had sustained.

  A very near miss for a great many men.

  1854 – Indecent Assault at King’s Caple

  A rather drunk George Butler of King’s Caple indecently assaulted Sarah, the wife of John Wilson – John was less than amused, and gave him a thorough beating.

  When in court, George said that he didn’t know what he was doing as he had had too much to drink – he was convicted of aggravated assault and was put in gaol for three months with hard labour.

  1859 – Native of King’s Caple Drowns in America

  Thomas Brisland, a carpenter,  left King’s Caple and emigrated to the United States.  On 10th July 1858 he went for a swim in a river, and never came out.

  1862 – Alleged Neglect of Duty by Parish Doctor

  Benjamin Brown was working as a labourer on the farm of Mr. Ratcliffe of Street-house, King’s Caple.

  Whilst breaking up firewood, Benjamin was suddenly taken ill, and the parish doctor was immediately called, but he failed to turn up and before too long the poor chap died.

  At the inquest the doctor was castigated for neglect of duty, and was duly cautioned.

  1862 – Woman Killed by Lightning at King’s Caple

  During a violent thunderstorm over King’s Caple, three women who were working in a field on Penalt Farm ran for shelter under a tree.  When the lightning increased they became frightened, and a Mrs Collins ran for the farm leaving the other two, Lewis and Edwards, under the tree.

  Lightning hit the tree and broke it in two, killing the woman named Lewis and so badly injuring Edwards that she was not expected to survive

  1867 – Unprecedented Rainfall at King’s Caple

  In early September 1867, W. Clement Ley wrote to the Hereford Time with the following report:

  “It may interest some of your readers to know that in the terrific thunderstorm which passed over this part of the county on Tuesday afternoon, there fell at this place as much as 2.40 inches of rain in three quarters of an hour.  The rain was mingled with large hailstones and accompanied by the most tremendous thunder and lightning.  We had four distinct thunder storms during the day, and the total rainfall as measured by my guage was 2.96 inches.  This is a greater amount than any that has fallen in 24 hours since August 13th 1857, but the fall of nearly 2 and a half inches, or one tenth of the whole mean annual rainfall in less than an hour, is I think, quite unprecedented.”

  1893 – Sad Death of Widow at Kings Caple

  74 year old Walter Preece, a labourer of King’s Caple, had died after a long illness and was due to be buried in King’s Caple graveyard.

  As his widow, Maria Preece aged 53, was getting ready for the funeral she suddenly felt ill and called out to her daughter Bessie to bring her a drop of whisky.

  By the time that Bessie arrived with the whisky, her mother was dead.

  Walter’s funeral was delayed by an hour, and his widow was buried in the same churchyard a couple of days later.

  Read More >

Buildings Kings Caple

• King's Caple Court - History

  Kings Caple Court is an 18th century red brick mansion.

   

  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

  George Ratcliffe	69	Farmer	b. Gloucestershire
  Hannah Ratcliffe	67	Wife	b. Windrush, Gloucestershire
  Hannah Ratcliffe	9	Daughter	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  Charles Ratcliffe	8	Son	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  Eleanor Ratcliffe	6	Daughter	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  George Ratcliffe	5	Son	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  James Ratcliffe	3	Son	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  Anne Arkells	30	Sister in Law	b. Windrush, Gloucestershire
  Mary Constable	19	Governess	b. Monmouthshire
  Mary Dobbins	19	Cook	b. Dewchurch, Herefordshire
  Annie Newman	17	Housemaid	b. Stroud, Gloucestershire

   

  1871 – Kings Caple Court Household

  E.C. Cockburn	36	Landowner, Magistrate	b. New Radnor, Radnorshire, Wales
  Mary Ann Francis Cockburn	37	Wife	b. Scotland
  Florence Cockburn	10	Daughter	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Robert Cockburn	9	Son	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Annie Cockburn	5	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  James Stanhope Cockburn	3	Son	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Eleanor Cockburn	1	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  John Brydges Cockburn	0	Son	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Alice Mable Alder	20	Governess	b. Middlesex, England
  Eliza Fencott	24	Cook	b. Herefordshire
  Sarah Lewes	24	Housemaid	b. Cusop, Herefordshire
  Mary Richards	23	Laundry Maid	b. Herefordshire
  Caroline Miller	30	Nursemaid	b. Cambridge, England
  Mary Anne Williams	22	Nursemaid	b. Breinton, Herefordshire
  William Evans	32	Groom	b. Herefordshire

  1881 – Kings Caple Court Household

  Lady Francis Cockburn	46	Wife	b. Scotland
  Florence Cockburn	19	Daughter	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Annie Cockburn	15	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Eleanor Cockburn	11	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Mary Cockburn	8	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  James Stanhope Cockburn	13	Son	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  John Bridges Cockburn	10	Son	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Emily Milner	27	Governess	b. Yorkshire
  Charles Bickerton	56	Butler, late Private 11th Hussars	b. Hereford, Herefordshire
  Harry Godwin	15	Errand Boy	b. Herefordshire
  Mary A. Parry	26	Cook	b. Herefordshire
  Marie Goidon	21	Lady’s Maid	b. France
  Mary A. Slade	18	Housemaid	b. Somerset

   

  1891 – Kings Caple Court Household

  Sir Edward C. Cockburn	56	Baronet, late Captain 11th Hussars	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Francis Mary Cockburn	57	Wife, General Manager	b. Roxburghshire, Scotland
  Florence Cockburn	29	Daughter, Musician	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Eleanor Cockburn	20	Daughter, Florist	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Mary Cockburn	17	Daughter, Artist	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  William Long	59	Butler	b. Gloucestershire
  Ann Terry	18	Housemaid	b. Herefordshire
  Edith Perks	17	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire

  1901 – Kings Caple Court Household

  Edward C. Cockburn	66	Late Captain 11th Hussars	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Francis Mary Elliot Cockburn	66	Wife	b. Scotland
  Robert Cockburn	39	Major, Army	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Florence Cockburn	40	Daughter	b. Radnorshire, Wales
  Eleanor Cockburn	29	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Mary Cockburn	26	Daughter	b. King’s Caple, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Birt	55	Cook	b. Herefordshire
  Emily Haynes	23	Parlour Maid	b. Madley, Herefordshire
  Kate Cobourn	15	Kitchenmaid	b. Hoarwithy, Herefordshire

  1921 – Kings Caple Court Household

  John L. Smyth	b. Ballingham, Herefordshire 1878	Farmer, Employer
  Annie Smyth	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire 1876	Wife, home duties
  Winifred Gardner	b. Garway, Herefordshire 1895	Visitor
  Syliva Toombs	b. Brockhampton, Herefordshire 1903	Servant
  Annie Margaret Wear	b. Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 1877	Visitor, Drapers Assistant

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• Aramstone Court History

  The original Aramstone House dated back to the early 17^th century, when it was owned by the Marrett family, then it passed to the Woodhouse family through marriage.  Francis Woodhouse rebuilt the house in around 1730 and it stood in gorgeous grounds close to the River Wye.  Outside features included an ice house;  a cold bath, glasshouses and a dovecote.

  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

  Robert Wyndham Smith	60	Landowner	b.Monmouthshire
  Alice Woodhouse Smith	30	Wife	b. Yatton Court, Aymestry, Herefordshire
  Robert Wyndham Smith Woodhouse	5	Son	b. Bridstow, Herefordshire
  John Wyndham Smith Woodhouse	4	Son	b. Bridstow,Herefordshire
  Elija Edward Thomas	27	Coachman	b. Shrewsbury, Shropshire
  George Davis	25	Footman	b. Bromfield, Shropshire
  Ann Moore	50	Cook	b. Durham
  Selina Davis	29	Nurse	b. Wiltshire
  Emma Davies	22	Housemaid	b. Shropshire
  Alice Spencer	19	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire

   

  1881 – Aramstone House Household

  Robert Wyndham Smith	70	Landed Proprietor	b. Monmouthshire
  Alice Wyndham Smith	40	Wife	b. Yatton Court, Aymestry, Herefordshire
  Laura Portman	48	Cook	b. Hay on Wye, Breconshire
  Selina Davies	38	Housemaid	b. Studley, Wiltshire
  Jane Price	20	Under Housemaid	b. Kington, Herefordshire
  John Pugh	28	Butler	b. Clunbury, Shropshire
  Edward Rice	16	Under Groom	b. Gloucestershire

   

  1891 – Aramstone House Household

  Robert Wyndham Woodhouse Smith	25	Living on own means	b. Bridstow, Herefordshire
  John Wyndham Woodhouse Smith	24	Living on own means	b.Bridstow, Herefordshire
  Thomas Jones	71	Retired Farmer	b. Monmouthshire
  Louisa Jones	39	Housekeeper	b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth White	49	Widow, Cook	b. Gloucestershire
  Annie ?	32	Parlourmaid	b. Birley, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Heatton	17	Kitchenmaid	b. Bridstow, Herefordshire
  Alfred Evans	16	Stable Boy	b. Peterstow, Herefordshire

   

  1901 – Aramstone House Household

  William Forsyth	51	Indian Medical Surgeon	b. Scotland
  Ada Drummond Forsyth	36	Wife	b. Scotland
  Aileen May Drummond Forsyth	11	Daughter	b. India
  Eden G. Drummond Forsyth	5	Daughter	b. India
  James Arthur Robinson	40	India Civil Service	b. India
  Minnie Bolton	36	Nurse	b. Surrey
  Mary Ann Griffiths	23	Housemaid	b. Abergavenny, Mondmouthshire
  Mary Prothero	48	Cook	b. Radnorshire
  Jane Cooper	15	Kitchenmaid	b.Little Dewchurch, Herefordshire
  Rose Kathleen Harris	18	Housemaid	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  Alfred Bishop	17	Houseboy	b. Hoarwithy, Herefordshire

  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

  Horace William Plews Waters	44	Retired Army Captain	b.Norfolk
  Isobella Waters	40	Wife	b. Cheshire
  Ann Robinson	80	Nurse	b. Cheshire
  Alfred Mitchell	27	Servant	b. Perthshire
  Gertrude Jackson	26	Servant	b. Bosbury, Herefordshire
  Lizzie Hodges	16	Servant	b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire
  Martha Lotte Dawe	26	Servant	b. Herefordshire
  Laura Dorothy Girling	25	Servant	b.Herefordshire

   

  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.

   

  Read More >

1800 – Step Mother Kills Child

An 8 year old girl by the name of Anne Collins of King’s Caple was unfortunate enough to have a really wicked stepmother, who constantly and horribly abused her until eventually the poor girl died.

1841 – Wagon Accident for King’s Caple Farmer

For every village there are umpteen reports of accidents very similar to this one:

Mr. James Tingle, a farmer of King’s Caple had taken his team of horses and wagon to Walford in order to pick up a load of lime.  On his way back he had to go through the ford across the River Wye at Sellack, where he slipped and fell.

The wagon wheel went over him, badly breaking his left arm and bruising most of his body.  Unlike many such cases, James survived.

1853 – Incredible Escape on Railway Tunnel Works

Workmen involved in constructing a tunnel at King’s Caple had 15cwt of blasting powder in their magazine, but somehow had left a barrel with 3 or 4 lbs of the powder outside the tunnel.

A young lad for reasons known only to himself decided to try to explode the barrel by lighting a match…….he was badly injured of course, but luckily the bulk of the powder was not affected by the explosion.

Soon after, the men saw smoke coming from the magazine, and with heroic bravery they fetched water to throw over it, and happily they succeeded in preventing a catastrophe.  When they rolled the barrels of powder out of the magazine to be dried out, one of them fell to bits from the burning that the wood had sustained.

A very near miss for a great many men.

1854 – Indecent Assault at King’s Caple

A rather drunk George Butler of King’s Caple indecently assaulted Sarah, the wife of John Wilson – John was less than amused, and gave him a thorough beating.

When in court, George said that he didn’t know what he was doing as he had had too much to drink – he was convicted of aggravated assault and was put in gaol for three months with hard labour.

1859 – Native of King’s Caple Drowns in America

Thomas Brisland, a carpenter,  left King’s Caple and emigrated to the United States.  On 10th July 1858 he went for a swim in a river, and never came out.

1862 – Alleged Neglect of Duty by Parish Doctor

Benjamin Brown was working as a labourer on the farm of Mr. Ratcliffe of Street-house, King’s Caple.

Whilst breaking up firewood, Benjamin was suddenly taken ill, and the parish doctor was immediately called, but he failed to turn up and before too long the poor chap died.

At the inquest the doctor was castigated for neglect of duty, and was duly cautioned.

1862 – Woman Killed by Lightning at King’s Caple

During a violent thunderstorm over King’s Caple, three women who were working in a field on Penalt Farm ran for shelter under a tree.  When the lightning increased they became frightened, and a Mrs Collins ran for the farm leaving the other two, Lewis and Edwards, under the tree.

Lightning hit the tree and broke it in two, killing the woman named Lewis and so badly injuring Edwards that she was not expected to survive

1867 – Unprecedented Rainfall at King’s Caple

In early September 1867, W. Clement Ley wrote to the Hereford Time with the following report:

“It may interest some of your readers to know that in the terrific thunderstorm which passed over this part of the county on Tuesday afternoon, there fell at this place as much as 2.40 inches of rain in three quarters of an hour.  The rain was mingled with large hailstones and accompanied by the most tremendous thunder and lightning.  We had four distinct thunder storms during the day, and the total rainfall as measured by my guage was 2.96 inches.  This is a greater amount than any that has fallen in 24 hours since August 13th 1857, but the fall of nearly 2 and a half inches, or one tenth of the whole mean annual rainfall in less than an hour, is I think, quite unprecedented.”

1893 – Sad Death of Widow at Kings Caple

74 year old Walter Preece, a labourer of King’s Caple, had died after a long illness and was due to be buried in King’s Caple graveyard.

As his widow, Maria Preece aged 53, was getting ready for the funeral she suddenly felt ill and called out to her daughter Bessie to bring her a drop of whisky.

By the time that Bessie arrived with the whisky, her mother was dead.

Walter’s funeral was delayed by an hour, and his widow was buried in the same churchyard a couple of days later.

Font

Memorials

Memorials to the Woodhouse family

The main memorial in the centre reads as follows:

Thomas Marrett, son of Thos Marrett, Gent, by Frances his wife, daughter of William Hoskyns of Gent, who died without issue Jan. 2nd 1725, leaving only 2 sisters, Elizabeth wife of Francis Woodhouse of Larpott, Gent, and Frances, wife of Joseph Watts, Clerk – being the last of the Marretts of Aramstone whose settlement there (as appears by Deeds) was earlier than y 1oth of HEN.6

This monument was erected by his nephew, Francis Woodhouse.

Bottom Left:

In memory of Francis Woodhouse Esq., Eldest son of Francis Woodhouse Gent. by Eliza his wife, sister to Thomas Marrett Esq.

He departed this life the 21st day of January 1745 in the 54th year of his age.

Bottom Right:

In memory of Anne, the wife of Francis Woodhouse, daughter and heiress of Thomas Price of the borough of Leominster, by Susanna his second wife one of the daughters of John Wittington of Gent.

She departed this life 14th November 1740 and lies buried in Leominster Church aged 40

The top right and left memorials are bowed, and are difficult to read.

This rather beautiful memorial reads as follows:

To the memory of ELIZA, widow of the late John Woodhouse Esq of Aramstone and Yatton Court in this County, and daughter of the late Rev. William Holcombe, Canon of St. Davids.

She departed this life December 12th 1833 aged 63 years.

This tablet is erected by her grand daughter E.J. Woodhouse Ferguson of Yatton Court in gratitude for her parental care and sincere sorrow for her irreparable loss.

Bier

Original and beautifully preserved Bier