Dansey Richard Dansey

For a while it was owned by Dansey Richard Dansey, who tragically lost his second son, William Collins Dansey at the age of nine months in 1816.  One year later, his wife bore him a daughter, Frances Milborough Dancey who went on to marry Sir Richard Green Price.

Sale of Easton Court

In 1833 Easton Court was put up for sale by D.R. Dansey, being described as a most desirable and fertile estate.

The mansion house was described as being modern built, with barns, orchards, coppices and farms amounting to 1800 acres.  Along with the house there was a separate sale of furnishings from which it is evident that everything within the house was to go:

Easton Court House Contents for Sale

A neat and lofty four post tent and French bedsteads;  with moreen, chintz and dimity furniture;  excellent goose feather beds bolsters and pillows, hair and flock mattresses, moreen and chintz window curtains with poles, brass arms and pulleys.  Mahogany bedsteps complete;  mahogany commodes, bidets, mahogany and oa chest with drawers, and chest upon chests;  bureaus and linen chests.  Mahogany and painted wardrobes with folding doors and slides;  mahogany and painted wash tables;   dressing tables and stands with tray tops.  Pier and swing glasses, large quantity of home made bed and table linen;  Witney blankets, Marseilles quilts and counterpaines;  Turkey, Brussels and Kidderminster carpets and rugs;  drugget, oil cloth and matting;  mahogany, rosewood and painted chairs;  set of mahogany dining tables on pillar and claw with castors;  mahogany and rosewood loo, card, sofa.  Pembroke tables and work stands;  mahogany sideboard and cellaret;  brass banded mahogany plate warmer with heaters;  drawing room suits of rosewood chairs, couches, loo table, sofa and work tables;  two India cabinets;  backgammon board and new handsome India jars and ornaments;  one old India cabinet inlaid with ivory and rosewood with folding doors and drawers;  India screen; a French time piece with glass cover;  a new piano by Broadwood;  square piano;  a new harp;  eight day bracket hall clock;  eight day clock in mahogany case;  four lounging chairs filled with hair and chintz covers;  prints and paintings, gilt frames and glazed;  library of books, plate and plated goods;  cut and plain glass;  dinner service of India china;  tea services of china, dessert services of china and delft;  wines, ale, beer, cider and spirits, cider casks;  brewing and washing tubs, steel, brass and wire fenders and fire irons.  Quantity of fine bacon, and a large assortment of kitchen and dairy utensils, milk leads, mangle, scales and weights.

Easton Court Livestock for Sale

Three Alderney cows and one half bred Alderney, excellent milkers.

2 year old Alderney Bull.

Bay hackney, 7 years old 14 hands high – good hunter or roadster.

Superior bay yhearling colt, 13 hands and a half high with great power – by Wamba, dam by Sultan, with good actions.

Black brood mare by Sultan;

Cart mare

Cart gelding

Black pony four years old, 13 hands high, very steady.

Aged pony 12 hands high.

7 fat Wether sheep;  8 yearling ewes;  one lamb, one ram

Sow and six pigs;  one sow in pig and 6 strong store pigs.

There also followed a list of carts, ploughs and agricultural bits and pieces along with saddlery and all things horse related.

Dansey Richard Dansey died in 1857 in Brittany, after a short illness.

Captain Roger Delamere Dansey

His youngest son, Captain Roger Delamere Dansey of the 3^rd Madras European Regiment died in 1860.  After serving in Burmah at the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, he captured an Indian Chief, a close relative of the King in Delhi, who was thought to have been inciting the Sepoys to revolt.

Whilst holding the office of baggage master, he took part in many successful actions in Central India and also took part in the battle of Baudah, and the capture of the immense treasure which was put into the hands of the British Government at Kirowie.

Captain Roger Delamere Dansey was a young and valuable officer, and held a post of great responsibility – on one occasion he was publicly thanked for his zealous services – but sadly he fell victim to what the press were calling gross mismanagement.

The commanding officer at Kamptee ordered the detachment under Capt. Dansey’s escort to march into an encampment where cholera had broken out, even though Capt. Dansey telegraphed for permission to change the route – something which could have easily been done without detriment to the public service,  no permission was granted, and he and his men all died of cholera.

The press angrily reported:

“Had such permission been granted instead of denied, not only the relatives of Capt. Dansey, but many other families would, by God’s blessing, have been spared bereavement.  How long is the best blood of our country to be wasted by the incapacity of such superiors?  Must we always be prepared to lose our bravest and dearest through such cruel stupidity?”

Easton Court for Sale again

In 1837, Easton Court and estate was once again put up for sale.

“A most desirable freehold Manor and estate of 1820 acreas of capital grass and corn lands;  woods;  hop grounds and orchards, and a capital stone built mansion house with offices of every description, comprising excellent stabling, coach houses, walled garden and every suitable convenience for a Country Residence.”

The Baileys at Easton Court

It was purchased by Joseph Bailey, who set about reducing the rents on the estate which had been running at the full rate for some time, and he also started to bring the condition of the estate back to its former glory, but he died shortly afterwards in 1850 aged just 38 and it was left to his widow, Elizabeth,  to pick up the reins.  Joseph had been MP for Herefordshire from 1841 until his death.

Elizabeth Mary Bailey (nee Russell) was a kind hearted and generous lady and over the years subscribed to a great many charities, including the Hereford Infirmary;  Widow and Orphans Fund;  Lying in Charity;  Female National School;  Boy’s National School;  Clothing Society and the Benevolent Society.  She was also something of an accomplished horticulturist and flower arranger and won a great many prizes and awards at shows far and near.

The enumerator for Little Hereford census returns had the most appalling handwriting, and unfortunately he turned up on more than one occasion!  I found some of it totally unreadable, so apologise for any gaps or uncertainties

1851 – Easton Court Household

In 1853 Elizabeth Bailey showed her generous spirit once again, when she invited all the children from Little Hereford School to festivities at Easton Court, and they were given plum cake and tea after an afternoon of rustic games and fun.

The children apparently had great fun, and everyone was delighted by a performance by Messrs. Johnson and Edwards’ Leamington Quadrille Band.

In 1867 the second meeting of the season of the Herefordshire Society of Bowmen was held at Easton Court, where Mrs. Bailey was the Lady Paramount of the society.  The elite of the district were among the numerous attendees, and the shooting was said to be better than usual despite the stormy weather which slightly dampened spirits.

A superb lunch was provided by Mrs. Bailey and the Hereford Rifle Corps band gave an enlivening performance.

1871 – Easton Court Household

Elizabeth Bailey remarried and her new husband, Edward Otto Partridge, moved into Easton Court.  I am pondering on the fact that in previous years Elizabeth had a house full to bursting with relatives of all ages, and now on this census there is just herself and her new man – plus all the servants of course.  Perhaps it is coincidence, or maybe the family disapproved.

1881 – Easton Court Household

By 1891 Easton Court has new residents.

The Prestons/Jephsons at Easton Court

I have been contacted by the great grandson of Mary Ellen Preston;    at the time of the 1891 census Mary Ellen was living elsewhere under her married name of Jephson.  He has very kindly allowed me to share some excerpts from his great grandmother’s diary from the time when she was persuaded by her father to move to Easton Court, and they really bring the reality of the house to life.

December 1890

“I was not well. The place never suited me and I disliked the house very much.

Then there was great trouble with servants, especially kitchen-maids. Very, very cold month. The Chester party came for Xmas. Servants had a dance; they kept it up until 3am.

1891  These next years were rather wretched. I was in an ambiguous position, really a housekeeper but with more than any housekeeper would have undertaken.

Ada always sat at the head of the table although the Dad would make the chief man guest take me in and I had to steer him to Ada’s left hand. I didn’t mind!

Only I heard afterwards it made comment among neighbors and it was funny, if you come to think of it.

I had no power to dismiss sevants and sometimes they were impudent. I was never well at Easton Court. The place was low and damp and I freqently had neuralgia and often toothache.

Running a house like Easton Court was no easy matter, especially with an incompetent staff of servants, though we had old Mrs Gore as Cook Housekeeper and she was good but deaf and some of the younger servants were rude to her.”

By 1891, but after the census, Mary Ellen Jephson returned to Easton House when her parents went to Algiers and her husband was away at sea working for P & O.

November 1891

“On 27th I heard they had arrived safely at Algiers and all was going on well.

Aunt Sarah died this month and uncle George was very ill.

This was a most miserable winter. No coal and pump went wrong so no water and kitchen boiler burst. I shut up all the downstairs rooms and lived upstairs, all alone, except for occasional visits from Ted and Amy and children came over sometimes. Most depressing and melancholy.

The servants had a dance on Jan 21st and enjoyed themselves. I believe no-one went to bed at all.

I went to the Rectory a good deal. They were my only near neighbours.

I had a good deal of neuralgia – very cold wind and snow in March. I heard of Lutie Cooke’s death and of poor Louisa Harrison’s on 31st.

Nurse went for a holiday. I was glad to see her back in April.

In May we started house-cleaning in preparation for the travellers’ return. On the 7th my poor little Eileen was brought in with a fractured leg. An hour before the Dr. came to set it.”

The diary also details the rounds of visiting and visitors, as well as shooting parties etc.  All a necessary part of life in a large Herefordshire house.

Mary Ellen left Easton Court in September 1893, her father having died on return from Algiers and her mother a bed-ridden invalid. She spent a lot of time viewing houses to move to around the south of England and eventually left Easton Court

1891 – Easton Court Household

In 1901 the occupants of Easton Court were a skeleton staff, and unfortunately the other members were away so it is difficult to find out who owned Easton Court at that time.

In 1911 the estate and manor was sold to Colonel Wingfield Cardiff who was born 9th June 1870.   He became J.P. for Hereford, and served in the Great War as Colonel, Durham Light Infantry, and married Muriel Mary Casberd-Boteler.

1911 – Easton Court Household

Churches of Little Hereford

Buildings of Little Hereford

• Easton Court History

  Easton Court was built in the early 1800s on the site of an earlier building and from what is left of the now decaying and ruined house it can be seen that it was a fine dwelling at one time.

  Dansey Richard Dansey

  For a while it was owned by Dansey Richard Dansey, who tragically lost his second son, William Collins Dansey at the age of nine months in 1816.  One year later, his wife bore him a daughter, Frances Milborough Dancey who went on to marry Sir Richard Green Price.

  Sale of Easton Court

  In 1833 Easton Court was put up for sale by D.R. Dansey, being described as a most desirable and fertile estate.

  The mansion house was described as being modern built, with barns, orchards, coppices and farms amounting to 1800 acres.  Along with the house there was a separate sale of furnishings from which it is evident that everything within the house was to go:

  Easton Court House Contents for Sale

  A neat and lofty four post tent and French bedsteads;  with moreen, chintz and dimity furniture;  excellent goose feather beds bolsters and pillows, hair and flock mattresses, moreen and chintz window curtains with poles, brass arms and pulleys.  Mahogany bedsteps complete;  mahogany commodes, bidets, mahogany and oa chest with drawers, and chest upon chests;  bureaus and linen chests.  Mahogany and painted wardrobes with folding doors and slides;  mahogany and painted wash tables;   dressing tables and stands with tray tops.  Pier and swing glasses, large quantity of home made bed and table linen;  Witney blankets, Marseilles quilts and counterpaines;  Turkey, Brussels and Kidderminster carpets and rugs;  drugget, oil cloth and matting;  mahogany, rosewood and painted chairs;  set of mahogany dining tables on pillar and claw with castors;  mahogany and rosewood loo, card, sofa.  Pembroke tables and work stands;  mahogany sideboard and cellaret;  brass banded mahogany plate warmer with heaters;  drawing room suits of rosewood chairs, couches, loo table, sofa and work tables;  two India cabinets;  backgammon board and new handsome India jars and ornaments;  one old India cabinet inlaid with ivory and rosewood with folding doors and drawers;  India screen; a French time piece with glass cover;  a new piano by Broadwood;  square piano;  a new harp;  eight day bracket hall clock;  eight day clock in mahogany case;  four lounging chairs filled with hair and chintz covers;  prints and paintings, gilt frames and glazed;  library of books, plate and plated goods;  cut and plain glass;  dinner service of India china;  tea services of china, dessert services of china and delft;  wines, ale, beer, cider and spirits, cider casks;  brewing and washing tubs, steel, brass and wire fenders and fire irons.  Quantity of fine bacon, and a large assortment of kitchen and dairy utensils, milk leads, mangle, scales and weights.

  Easton Court Livestock for Sale

  Three Alderney cows and one half bred Alderney, excellent milkers.

  2 year old Alderney Bull.

  Bay hackney, 7 years old 14 hands high – good hunter or roadster.

  Superior bay yhearling colt, 13 hands and a half high with great power – by Wamba, dam by Sultan, with good actions.

  Black brood mare by Sultan;

  Cart mare

  Cart gelding

  Black pony four years old, 13 hands high, very steady.

  Aged pony 12 hands high.

  7 fat Wether sheep;  8 yearling ewes;  one lamb, one ram

  Sow and six pigs;  one sow in pig and 6 strong store pigs.

  There also followed a list of carts, ploughs and agricultural bits and pieces along with saddlery and all things horse related.

   

  Dansey Richard Dansey died in 1857 in Brittany, after a short illness.

   

  Captain Roger Delamere Dansey

  His youngest son, Captain Roger Delamere Dansey of the 3^rd Madras European Regiment died in 1860.  After serving in Burmah at the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, he captured an Indian Chief, a close relative of the King in Delhi, who was thought to have been inciting the Sepoys to revolt.

  Whilst holding the office of baggage master, he took part in many successful actions in Central India and also took part in the battle of Baudah, and the capture of the immense treasure which was put into the hands of the British Government at Kirowie.

  Captain Roger Delamere Dansey was a young and valuable officer, and held a post of great responsibility – on one occasion he was publicly thanked for his zealous services – but sadly he fell victim to what the press were calling gross mismanagement.

  The commanding officer at Kamptee ordered the detachment under Capt. Dansey’s escort to march into an encampment where cholera had broken out, even though Capt. Dansey telegraphed for permission to change the route – something which could have easily been done without detriment to the public service,  no permission was granted, and he and his men all died of cholera.

  The press angrily reported:

  “Had such permission been granted instead of denied, not only the relatives of Capt. Dansey, but many other families would, by God’s blessing, have been spared bereavement.  How long is the best blood of our country to be wasted by the incapacity of such superiors?  Must we always be prepared to lose our bravest and dearest through such cruel stupidity?”

  Easton Court for Sale again

  In 1837, Easton Court and estate was once again put up for sale.

  “A most desirable freehold Manor and estate of 1820 acreas of capital grass and corn lands;  woods;  hop grounds and orchards, and a capital stone built mansion house with offices of every description, comprising excellent stabling, coach houses, walled garden and every suitable convenience for a Country Residence.”

  The Baileys at Easton Court

  It was purchased by Joseph Bailey, who set about reducing the rents on the estate which had been running at the full rate for some time, and he also started to bring the condition of the estate back to its former glory, but he died shortly afterwards in 1850 aged just 38 and it was left to his widow, Elizabeth,  to pick up the reins.  Joseph had been MP for Herefordshire from 1841 until his death.

  Elizabeth Mary Bailey (nee Russell) was a kind hearted and generous lady and over the years subscribed to a great many charities, including the Hereford Infirmary;  Widow and Orphans Fund;  Lying in Charity;  Female National School;  Boy’s National School;  Clothing Society and the Benevolent Society.  She was also something of an accomplished horticulturist and flower arranger and won a great many prizes and awards at shows far and near.

  The enumerator for Little Hereford census returns had the most appalling handwriting, and unfortunately he turned up on more than one occasion!  I found some of it totally unreadable, so apologise for any gaps or uncertainties

  1851 – Easton Court Household

  Elizabeth Mary Bailey	29	Widow, landed proprietor	b. Mosely, Worcestershire
  Henry James Bailey	6	son	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  John Franklin Bailey	5	son	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Marianne Bailey	3	daughter	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Richard Crawshay Bailey	2	son	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Margrett Greenfield	30	Sister in law	b. Monmouthshre
  Walter Greenfield	5	nephew	b. Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
  Joseph Bailey Greenfield	3	nephew	b. Monmouthshire
  Mary Anne Greenfield	2	niece	b. Monmouthshire
  Helen Wyatt Greenfield	1	niece	b. Monmouthshire
  William Crawshay Greenfield	2months	nephew	b. Monmouthshire
  William Symmonds	41	Butler	b. Suffolk
  William Philpott	25	Footman	b. Herefordshire
  Edwin Parry	24	Coachman	b. Denbyshire
  Enoch Williams	27	Groom	b. Breconshire
  Rebecca Cox	35	Maid and Housekeeper	b. Germany
  Ann Tuherth ??	38	Nurse
  Mary Morris	46	Cook	b. Radnorshire
  Eliza Weker ??	31	Laundrymaid	b. London
  Emma Weker	24	Under Nurse	b. Warwickshire
  Mary Watts	36	House Maid	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Maund	22	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire
  Charlotte ??	20	Nurse	b. Monmouthshire
  Sara Griffiths	18	Under Nurse	b. Crickhowell, Breconshire

   

  In 1853 Elizabeth Bailey showed her generous spirit once again, when she invited all the children from Little Hereford School to festivities at Easton Court, and they were given plum cake and tea after an afternoon of rustic games and fun.

  The children apparently had great fun, and everyone was delighted by a performance by Messrs. Johnson and Edwards’ Leamington Quadrille Band.

   

  In 1867 the second meeting of the season of the Herefordshire Society of Bowmen was held at Easton Court, where Mrs. Bailey was the Lady Paramount of the society.  The elite of the district were among the numerous attendees, and the shooting was said to be better than usual despite the stormy weather which slightly dampened spirits.

  A superb lunch was provided by Mrs. Bailey and the Hereford Rifle Corps band gave an enlivening performance.

  1871 – Easton Court Household

  Elizabeth M. Bailey	49	Widow, landowner	b. Moseley, Worcestershire
  Joseph R. Bailey	30	JP, landowners son	b. Leamington, Worcestershire
  Henry J. Bailey	26	Son, Gentleman.	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Marian Bailey	23	Daughter	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Mary Anne Bailey	30	Daughter in Law	b. Crickhowell, Breconshire
  Hubert McLaughlin	65	Visitor, Rector of Burford	b. Ireland
  William Symonds	61	Butler	b. Mutford, Suffolk
  William George	25	Footman	b. Woolstone, Warwickshire
  William Whitworth	24	Coachman	b. Bedham, Salop
  John Martin	63	Gardener	b. Leominster, Herefordshire
  Sarah Hughes	43	Housekeeper	b. Abbott Salford, Worcestershire
  Eliza Sargeant	56	Laundress	b. Hope, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Woodyatt	25	Ladies Maid	b. Great Malver, Worcestershire
  Ann Pratt	25	Housemaid	b. Thornbury, Herefordshire
  Jane Davis	26	Under Housemaid	b. Worcestershire
  Jane Davis	26	Kitchen Maid	b. Aston, Salop
  William Bailey	3	Grandson	b. Llangattock, Wales
  Edith Bailey	5	Grand Daughter	b. Llangattock, Wales
  Ellen Craddock	29	Ladies Maid for visitor	b. Lambeth, Surrey
  Richard Jenkins	24	Coachman for visitor	b. Swansea, Glamorgan
  Rachel Prosser	23	Nursery Maid for visitor	b. Wales
  Archibald Gourlay	29	Valet for visitor	b. Fife, Scotland

  Elizabeth Bailey remarried and her new husband, Edward Otto Partridge, moved into Easton Court.  I am pondering on the fact that in previous years Elizabeth had a house full to bursting with relatives of all ages, and now on this census there is just herself and her new man – plus all the servants of course.  Perhaps it is coincidence, or maybe the family disapproved.

  1881 – Easton Court Household

  Edward Otto Partridge	61	Magistrate	b. Monmouthshire
  Elizabeth M. Partridge	59	Wife	b. Mosely, Worcestershire
  David Boyse	39	Butler	b. Suffolk
  Thomas Burford	24	Footman	b. Leominster, Herefordshire
  Bartle Farley	30	Coachman	b. Dublin, Ireland
  Robert Faulkner	17	Page	b. Shropshire
  Emma Allen	31	Cook	b. Shropshire
  Ellen Fenner	29	Ladies Maid	b. Kent
  Elizabeth Richards	28	Housemaid	b. Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire
  Louisa Jones	23	Under Housemaid	b. Sollers Hope, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Davies	20	Kitchenmaid	b. Shropshire
  Mary Wood	21	Scullerymaid	b. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
  Elizabeth Durston	21	Laundrymaid	b. Yorkshire
  Sarah Hughes		Housekeeper out of employ	b. Warwickshire

  By 1891 Easton Court has new residents.

  The Prestons/Jephsons at Easton Court

  I have been contacted by the great grandson of Mary Ellen Preston;    at the time of the 1891 census Mary Ellen was living elsewhere under her married name of Jephson.  He has very kindly allowed me to share some excerpts from his great grandmother’s diary from the time when she was persuaded by her father to move to Easton Court, and they really bring the reality of the house to life.

  December 1890

  “I was not well. The place never suited me and I disliked the house very much.

  Then there was great trouble with servants, especially kitchen-maids. Very, very cold month. The Chester party came for Xmas. Servants had a dance; they kept it up until 3am.

  1891  These next years were rather wretched. I was in an ambiguous position, really a housekeeper but with more than any housekeeper would have undertaken.

  Ada always sat at the head of the table although the Dad would make the chief man guest take me in and I had to steer him to Ada’s left hand. I didn’t mind!

  Only I heard afterwards it made comment among neighbors and it was funny, if you come to think of it.

  I had no power to dismiss sevants and sometimes they were impudent. I was never well at Easton Court. The place was low and damp and I freqently had neuralgia and often toothache.

  Running a house like Easton Court was no easy matter, especially with an incompetent staff of servants, though we had old Mrs Gore as Cook Housekeeper and she was good but deaf and some of the younger servants were rude to her.”

   

  By 1891, but after the census, Mary Ellen Jephson returned to Easton House when her parents went to Algiers and her husband was away at sea working for P & O.

   

  November 1891

  “On 27th I heard they had arrived safely at Algiers and all was going on well.

  Aunt Sarah died this month and uncle George was very ill.

  This was a most miserable winter. No coal and pump went wrong so no water and kitchen boiler burst. I shut up all the downstairs rooms and lived upstairs, all alone, except for occasional visits from Ted and Amy and children came over sometimes. Most depressing and melancholy.

  The servants had a dance on Jan 21st and enjoyed themselves. I believe no-one went to bed at all.

  I went to the Rectory a good deal. They were my only near neighbours.

  I had a good deal of neuralgia – very cold wind and snow in March. I heard of Lutie Cooke’s death and of poor Louisa Harrison’s on 31st.

  Nurse went for a holiday. I was glad to see her back in April.

  In May we started house-cleaning in preparation for the travellers’ return. On the 7th my poor little Eileen was brought in with a fractured leg. An hour before the Dr. came to set it.”

   

  The diary also details the rounds of visiting and visitors, as well as shooting parties etc.  All a necessary part of life in a large Herefordshire house.

  Mary Ellen left Easton Court in September 1893, her father having died on return from Algiers and her mother a bed-ridden invalid. She spent a lot of time viewing houses to move to around the south of England and eventually left Easton Court

   

   

  1891 – Easton Court Household

  Edward Preston	65	Retired Civil Engineer	b. Middlesex
  Ellen M.B Preston	55	Wife	b. Ireland
  Edward Preston	35	Son, Civil Engineer
  Ada Preston	25	daughter	b. Belgium, British Subject
  Edith Preston	20	Daughter
  Gladys Jephson	7	Grand Daughter	b. Middlesex
  Edward Jephson	5	Grandson	b. Middlesex
  Eileen Jephson	4	Grand Daughter	b. Essex
  John M. Jephson	2	Grandson	b. Essex
  Maurice D. Jephson	baby	Grandson	b. Essex
  Marianne Gore	52	Housekeeper	b. Norfolk
  Elizabeth Evans	28	Ladies Maid	b.
  Sophie A. Cooper	20	Housemaid	b. Devonshire
  Florence Harvey	23	Housemaid	b. Devonshire
  Alice Bobbins	19	Kitchen Maid	b. Wiltshire
  Elizabeth Barnes	17	Scullery Maid	b. Ludlow, Salop
  James Turner	21	Butler	b. Tenbury, Worcestershire
  Ellen Swallow	20	Nurse	b. Little Hereford, Herefordshire
  Mary Dellaport	24	Nursery Governess	b. France

  In 1901 the occupants of Easton Court were a skeleton staff, and unfortunately the other members were away so it is difficult to find out who owned Easton Court at that time.

   

  1901 – Easton Court Household

  Annie Evans 50 Widow, Cook, Housekeeper Elizabeth Wigmore 36 Laundry Maid b. Gloucestershire Alice Gabb 28 Housemaid b. Gloucestershire Jane Griffiths 20 Kitchenmaid b. Shropshire Ellen Malpas 18 Laundrymaid b. Shropshire Emily Bush 21 Housemaid b. Shropshire

  In 1911 the estate and manor was sold to Colonel Wingfield Cardiff who was born 9th June 1870.   He became J.P. for Hereford, and served in the Great War as Colonel, Durham Light Infantry, and married Muriel Mary Casberd-Boteler.

  1911 – Easton Court Household

  Richard Henry Wingfield Cardiff	41	Private means, Lt. Col.	b. Sydenham, Kent
  Muriel Mary Wingfield Cardiff	27	Wife	b. Taplow, Buckinghamshire
  Erald Boteler  Wingfield Cardiff	2	Son	b. Chelsea, London
  Mary Cumpstone	31	Cook	b. Northamptonshire
  Caroline Cousins	38	Nurse	b. Birmingham
  Elizabeth Ellen Howse	27	Maid	b. Paddington, London
  Dora Miles	30	Housemaid	b. Leominster, Herefordshire
  Henrietta Bloomfield	25	Laundrymaid	b. Devon
  Dorothy Alice Pearse	20	Kitchenmaid	b. Farnham, Hampshire
  Mary Craig	23	Housemaid	b. Jarrow on Tyne, Co. Durham
  Maria Ethel Oliver	17	Housemaid	b. Truro, Cornwall
  Helen May Foote	18	Scullery Maid	b. Wincanton, Somerset
  Ernest Jewell	20	Footman	b. Newton Abbot, Devon
  Lewis Bean	16	Hall boy	b. Hythe, Kent

  Read More >

News from the Past Little Hereford

• News from the Past - Little Hereford

  Attacks and murderous goings on

  1850- Child Drowned at Little Hereford

  An inquest was held on the body of William Griffiths, the five year old son of John Griffiths, a gamekeeper.

  William was the eldest of five children and went to Little Hereford school every day, usually accompanied by his younger brother.

  One morning William went off to school as usual, and later his father was told that he had drowned by the canal bridge.

  John Griffiths stated that he had no idea that William was in the habit of taking off his shoes and stockings and going into the water, but the body was found in a deep and dangerous part of the river Teme.  His schoolmaster said that William had been at school in the morning, then went with his friends to play;  he said that he had often cautioned the boys never to go near the water but when crossing a bridge over the Teme in the early afternoon he saw the children on a rock.  He shouted to them to get back to school, but William never turned up either there or at home.

  When William was found he was in the water and quite dead with no shoes or stockings on.

  The jury returned a verdict of “deceased found drowned in the Teme, but how or by what means there is no evidence.”

  The Coroner expressed a hope that this tragedy would serve as a caution to the schoolmaster to exercise a greater degree of watchfulness over his boys.

   

  Yes……….and no parent these days would let two very small boys walk to school along the river on their own!

  1859 – Man killed at Little Hereford Turnpike

  Susan Bradford, wife of Richard Bradford, kept the Little Hereford Turnpike gate, and at the inquest on the body of James Owens she said that she had known James for eight years.

  James used to work for a Mr. Lane of Upton, and one evening he was driving Mr. Lane’s horse and cart when he came to the turnpike.

  The attack on James Owens

  Samuel Hodgkiss who lived close to the gate came out and asked “what do you want with my boy?”.  It seems that there had been some sort of misunderstanding between the men on a prior occasion.

  James Owens said that he didn’t want anything to do with Samuel or his boy, but Samuel swore and then hit James.  Apparently James didn’t strike back but adopted a fighting attitude;  however Samuel hit him twice more.

  James asked for a policeman to be called, but was hit several more times by Samuel Hodgkiss.  Susan then told James to go home, thinking that he wasn’t badly hurt, although his face was bleeding badly, and others who saw him on his way home thought that he seemed cheerful and okay if a little drunk.

  However later on a lady named Mrs. Blind came across the horse and cart down in the road near the turnpike……the bed of the cart had left the wheels and was overturned;  the horse was attached to the shafts and wheels which as well as the horse were turned completely over.  The horse was lying on its back, and a man was under the bed of the cart but when he was dragged out he was found to be dead.

   

  Post Mortem on James Owens

  Mr. F.L. Thomson, surgeon said that he found no marks of violence on the body with the exception of a very severe contusion on the right side of the head, also another on the left, but neither serious;  there was a blow on the left eye, and another on the forehead which may have been caused by a fight.  The most serious blow was behind the right ear;  there was a corresponding effusion of blood beneath the scalp, and on removing the skull there was a quantity of blood on the surface of the brain;  the blow may have been given in the fight, and it is possible that the blows on the forehead, behind the right ear and on the right side of the face took place at the same time.

  His impression was that the upsetting of the cart might have inflicted them;  there was so much effusion of blood on the brain that he did not think that the deceased could have walked from the turnpike to where he was found.

  The surgeon felt that death was instantaneous and that the deceased died from extravasation of blood on the surface of the brain.

  The jury found a verdict of accidental death, but accompanied this with a censure upon the conduct of Samuel Hodgkiss as being cowardly and inhuman.

  1863 – Murderous Attack at Little Hereford

  Abraham Steed who had been remanded on bail came to the court to answer the charge of assaulting Richard Spiers with intent to cause grevious bodily harm.

  Richard Spiers was a labourer living at Little Hereford, and said that whilst in a cider shop known as Halls in the Wood, Abraham Steed came into the room in a beligerent mood, and not wanting to fight, Richard went outside with his drink.

  Later, after calling at several cider houses, Richard and his friend came across Abraham Steed in the road.  Unfortunately the friend, Johnson, had fallen down drunk and Steed proceeded to hit him with a stick, and shortly afterwards Richard also collapsed unconscious whereupon Steed attacked him.

  The policeman said that when he found Richard Spiers, there was half a pint of blood in his mouth, and the surgeon, Francis F. Thompson said that Richard was dreadfully injured about the face, with a deep wound above the left eyebrow which in his opinion was caused by a stick.  There was also a deep wound beneath the eye, and the corner of the mouth was cut through.  Three teeth were broken as if by a kick.  Marks on the forehead seemed to be from the toe of a boot;  one rib was broken on the left side;  many blows  must have been given with great violence.

  The defence lawyer tried to say that the wounds could have been caused by Richard falling on a stone, and some of his witnesses claimed that Steed was nowhere near the scene at the time and had never been alone.  One witness was Abraham Steed’s 8 year old illiterate son who didn’t know what the bible was, but he was sworn in and gave evidence which suggested that his father was absent for some time that evening but there was nothing that placed him at the scene of the crime.

  After some consultation the Bench decided that Abraham Steed should be committed for trial for assault with intent to commit grevious bodily harm.

  Later at the Quarter Sessions, after much deliberation, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

  1891 -Murder at Little Hereford

  (contains graphic details of hanging)

   

  This is perhaps the saddest story that I have researched for this site.

   

  Charles Saunders was tried for the murder of Walter Frederick Steers at Little Hereford, but he vehemently denied being responsible despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

  Walter Frederick Steers

  Walter Frederick Steers was born in March 1889, the son of an impoverished couple living in London but he was well cared for and much loved.  Unfortunately, his mother fell ill when he was around 9 months old and in desperation she made arrangements for him to be looked after by friends in Walsall.  For over a year things went well for the little lad, he was well fed and clothed, but then things changed and he was pushed from pillar to post.

   

  He was an extremely attractive child, and one day he was noticed by one Elizabeth Caldwell and her lover Charles Saunders – begging tramps who thought that the pretty child would prove very useful as they travelled the country.  The unsavoury pair managed to procure Walter and from then on the poor lad suffered dreadful cruelty and misery.  It became known that Walter was regularly beaten and tortured and growing health problems including a painful skin complaint meant that his life was unimaginably dreadful.

   

  There was a time when a stick was thrust down the child’s throat, and an instance with a lit pipe was pushed into his mouth.  He was held in front of a fire until his skin blistered.

   

   

  The Crime

  One night after Caldwell and Saunders had been to Ludlow Fair they went to sleep in an empty cottage, but Walter – starving and in pain – wouldn’t stop crying – Saunders shook him again and again and although he later stated that Walter accidentally hit his head on the floor, he had also made a different confession that he had dashed the child’s head on the floor until he died.

   

  The body of the little boy was left in the cottage as Caldwell and Saunders fled,  and only found weeks later when decomposition made it impossible to discern the exact cause of death.

   

  Caldwell and Saunders disappeared for a while, but some time later Saunders was taken to gaol on a different charge of aggression against a woman named Burton.  Caldwell then “shopped” Saunders and gave evidence regarding the killing of Walter.

   

   

  The Judge urged the jury to consider carefully the difference between manslaughter and murder, and to put aside their natural revulsion when coming to a decision,  but they took little over 20 minutes to come to their verdict, and that verdict was GUILTY.

  The Death Sentence is Carried Out

  The sentence of death passed at Hereford Assizes on Charles Saunders, 31, Blacksmith, for the murder of a child,  Walter Frederick Steers,  at Little Hereford on 1st May was carried out on a Wednesday morning in December within the walls of HMP Commercial Road.

   

  A group of people began to assemble well before the appointed hour of 8 o’clock to witness the raising of the black flag which would announce that Saunders was dead;  a sharp frost was in the air and there was a heavy fog which obscured the surrounding buildings.

   

  The crowd increased as the hour of execution drew near, but it soon became apparent that the execution had been postponed – unavoidable given that the Executioner, Billington of Bolton, had not yet arrived.  The previous day he had been in the North of England carrying out his grisly duties there, but he managed to miss his train South and therefore his connection at Worcester.

   

  Billington duly turned up on a later train from Worcester, and arrived at the prison at a quarter past nine where he soon went to the prisoner’s cell.  The work of pinioning Saunders’ arms took a mere seconds, and he was led out in the clothes that he wore to his trial – presenting an appearance of dreadful haggardness, but composed nonetheless.

   

  As the procession progressed Saunders had a Warder for support, but there was no need for physical help,  although the rest of the procession included the Chaplain who read some of the burial service.

   

  The crowd which had dispersed when the black flag was not raised, reassembled at Barr’s Court Station to gawp at the Executioner as he arrived, then rushed back to Commercial Road to once again await the raising of the flag.

   

  In the yard the gallows were in the form of a pit dug into the ground covered by trap doors;  upon these the prisoner was stood and his legs were quickly strapped together while the only sound to be heard by the waiting crowd was the cracked tones of the prison bell tolling mournfully in the fog.  Billington touched the lever, the doors fell, and all was over.

   

  The body swayed backwards and forwards once or twice, and a few twitchings of the arms were perceptible but they only lasted for a few moments and were thought to be just muscular reaction.  Then the corpse hung as a dead weight on the rope.  Billington had given a drop of eight feet, and death appeared to be instantaneous.

   

  The crowd dispersed quietly, and there was nothing left to indicate that something unusual had happened, “except the omen of death which floated over the prison”.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  1899 – Memories of Mr. Strangward, Superintendent in the Police

  Amongst other grim tales was a horrible child murder at Little Hereford.

  A cottage belonging to Mr. Froggatt had been uninhabited for some time but the garden had been cultivated.  A man was sent after harvest to dig up the potatoes and store them in the cottage.

  When he went into the cottage he discovered the decomposed body of a child with evidence of foul treatment.

  Inquiries made by Mr. Strangward revealed the fact that two tramps with a sweet child had left Ludlow on May Fair night and gone to Little Hereford.  Six months had passed since then, but suspicion fell on these tramps and a thorough search was ordered.

  Eventually the male tramp named Sanders was found at Worcester and arrested, and the woman was found at Thornbury. Sanders was executed.

  1906 – Sad Death of Little Hereford Sub-Postmaster

  John Lane aged 60 had become rather depressed after the death of his wife, and also his sister.  Also one son was due to emigrate to Canada, although the other lived with him along with a housekeeper.  To add to John’s melancholy, he had a pending County Court action.

  John went to church as usual one Sunday and gave no indication of his intentions, but at some point he wrote a suicide note;  locked the house and put himself into a water tank where he drowned.  He was later found by his son, Harry Lane.

  Read More >

1850- Child Drowned at Little Hereford

An inquest was held on the body of William Griffiths, the five year old son of John Griffiths, a gamekeeper.

William was the eldest of five children and went to Little Hereford school every day, usually accompanied by his younger brother.

One morning William went off to school as usual, and later his father was told that he had drowned by the canal bridge.

John Griffiths stated that he had no idea that William was in the habit of taking off his shoes and stockings and going into the water, but the body was found in a deep and dangerous part of the river Teme.  His schoolmaster said that William had been at school in the morning, then went with his friends to play;  he said that he had often cautioned the boys never to go near the water but when crossing a bridge over the Teme in the early afternoon he saw the children on a rock.  He shouted to them to get back to school, but William never turned up either there or at home.

When William was found he was in the water and quite dead with no shoes or stockings on.

The jury returned a verdict of “deceased found drowned in the Teme, but how or by what means there is no evidence.”

The Coroner expressed a hope that this tragedy would serve as a caution to the schoolmaster to exercise a greater degree of watchfulness over his boys.

Yes……….and no parent these days would let two very small boys walk to school along the river on their own!

1859 – Man killed at Little Hereford Turnpike

Susan Bradford, wife of Richard Bradford, kept the Little Hereford Turnpike gate, and at the inquest on the body of James Owens she said that she had known James for eight years.

James used to work for a Mr. Lane of Upton, and one evening he was driving Mr. Lane’s horse and cart when he came to the turnpike.

The attack on James Owens

Samuel Hodgkiss who lived close to the gate came out and asked “what do you want with my boy?”.  It seems that there had been some sort of misunderstanding between the men on a prior occasion.

James Owens said that he didn’t want anything to do with Samuel or his boy, but Samuel swore and then hit James.  Apparently James didn’t strike back but adopted a fighting attitude;  however Samuel hit him twice more.

James asked for a policeman to be called, but was hit several more times by Samuel Hodgkiss.  Susan then told James to go home, thinking that he wasn’t badly hurt, although his face was bleeding badly, and others who saw him on his way home thought that he seemed cheerful and okay if a little drunk.

However later on a lady named Mrs. Blind came across the horse and cart down in the road near the turnpike……the bed of the cart had left the wheels and was overturned;  the horse was attached to the shafts and wheels which as well as the horse were turned completely over.  The horse was lying on its back, and a man was under the bed of the cart but when he was dragged out he was found to be dead.

Post Mortem on James Owens

Mr. F.L. Thomson, surgeon said that he found no marks of violence on the body with the exception of a very severe contusion on the right side of the head, also another on the left, but neither serious;  there was a blow on the left eye, and another on the forehead which may have been caused by a fight.  The most serious blow was behind the right ear;  there was a corresponding effusion of blood beneath the scalp, and on removing the skull there was a quantity of blood on the surface of the brain;  the blow may have been given in the fight, and it is possible that the blows on the forehead, behind the right ear and on the right side of the face took place at the same time.

His impression was that the upsetting of the cart might have inflicted them;  there was so much effusion of blood on the brain that he did not think that the deceased could have walked from the turnpike to where he was found.

The surgeon felt that death was instantaneous and that the deceased died from extravasation of blood on the surface of the brain.

The jury found a verdict of accidental death, but accompanied this with a censure upon the conduct of Samuel Hodgkiss as being cowardly and inhuman.

1863 – Murderous Attack at Little Hereford

Abraham Steed who had been remanded on bail came to the court to answer the charge of assaulting Richard Spiers with intent to cause grevious bodily harm.

Richard Spiers was a labourer living at Little Hereford, and said that whilst in a cider shop known as Halls in the Wood, Abraham Steed came into the room in a beligerent mood, and not wanting to fight, Richard went outside with his drink.

Later, after calling at several cider houses, Richard and his friend came across Abraham Steed in the road.  Unfortunately the friend, Johnson, had fallen down drunk and Steed proceeded to hit him with a stick, and shortly afterwards Richard also collapsed unconscious whereupon Steed attacked him.

The policeman said that when he found Richard Spiers, there was half a pint of blood in his mouth, and the surgeon, Francis F. Thompson said that Richard was dreadfully injured about the face, with a deep wound above the left eyebrow which in his opinion was caused by a stick.  There was also a deep wound beneath the eye, and the corner of the mouth was cut through.  Three teeth were broken as if by a kick.  Marks on the forehead seemed to be from the toe of a boot;  one rib was broken on the left side;  many blows  must have been given with great violence.

The defence lawyer tried to say that the wounds could have been caused by Richard falling on a stone, and some of his witnesses claimed that Steed was nowhere near the scene at the time and had never been alone.  One witness was Abraham Steed’s 8 year old illiterate son who didn’t know what the bible was, but he was sworn in and gave evidence which suggested that his father was absent for some time that evening but there was nothing that placed him at the scene of the crime.

After some consultation the Bench decided that Abraham Steed should be committed for trial for assault with intent to commit grevious bodily harm.

Later at the Quarter Sessions, after much deliberation, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

1891 -Murder at Little Hereford

(contains graphic details of hanging)

This is perhaps the saddest story that I have researched for this site.

Charles Saunders was tried for the murder of Walter Frederick Steers at Little Hereford, but he vehemently denied being responsible despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

Walter Frederick Steers

Walter Frederick Steers was born in March 1889, the son of an impoverished couple living in London but he was well cared for and much loved.  Unfortunately, his mother fell ill when he was around 9 months old and in desperation she made arrangements for him to be looked after by friends in Walsall.  For over a year things went well for the little lad, he was well fed and clothed, but then things changed and he was pushed from pillar to post.

He was an extremely attractive child, and one day he was noticed by one Elizabeth Caldwell and her lover Charles Saunders – begging tramps who thought that the pretty child would prove very useful as they travelled the country.  The unsavoury pair managed to procure Walter and from then on the poor lad suffered dreadful cruelty and misery.  It became known that Walter was regularly beaten and tortured and growing health problems including a painful skin complaint meant that his life was unimaginably dreadful.

There was a time when a stick was thrust down the child’s throat, and an instance with a lit pipe was pushed into his mouth.  He was held in front of a fire until his skin blistered.

The Crime

One night after Caldwell and Saunders had been to Ludlow Fair they went to sleep in an empty cottage, but Walter – starving and in pain – wouldn’t stop crying – Saunders shook him again and again and although he later stated that Walter accidentally hit his head on the floor, he had also made a different confession that he had dashed the child’s head on the floor until he died.

The body of the little boy was left in the cottage as Caldwell and Saunders fled,  and only found weeks later when decomposition made it impossible to discern the exact cause of death.

Caldwell and Saunders disappeared for a while, but some time later Saunders was taken to gaol on a different charge of aggression against a woman named Burton.  Caldwell then “shopped” Saunders and gave evidence regarding the killing of Walter.

The Judge urged the jury to consider carefully the difference between manslaughter and murder, and to put aside their natural revulsion when coming to a decision,  but they took little over 20 minutes to come to their verdict, and that verdict was GUILTY.

The Death Sentence is Carried Out

The sentence of death passed at Hereford Assizes on Charles Saunders, 31, Blacksmith, for the murder of a child,  Walter Frederick Steers,  at Little Hereford on 1st May was carried out on a Wednesday morning in December within the walls of HMP Commercial Road.

A group of people began to assemble well before the appointed hour of 8 o’clock to witness the raising of the black flag which would announce that Saunders was dead;  a sharp frost was in the air and there was a heavy fog which obscured the surrounding buildings.

The crowd increased as the hour of execution drew near, but it soon became apparent that the execution had been postponed – unavoidable given that the Executioner, Billington of Bolton, had not yet arrived.  The previous day he had been in the North of England carrying out his grisly duties there, but he managed to miss his train South and therefore his connection at Worcester.

Billington duly turned up on a later train from Worcester, and arrived at the prison at a quarter past nine where he soon went to the prisoner’s cell.  The work of pinioning Saunders’ arms took a mere seconds, and he was led out in the clothes that he wore to his trial – presenting an appearance of dreadful haggardness, but composed nonetheless.

As the procession progressed Saunders had a Warder for support, but there was no need for physical help,  although the rest of the procession included the Chaplain who read some of the burial service.

The crowd which had dispersed when the black flag was not raised, reassembled at Barr’s Court Station to gawp at the Executioner as he arrived, then rushed back to Commercial Road to once again await the raising of the flag.

In the yard the gallows were in the form of a pit dug into the ground covered by trap doors;  upon these the prisoner was stood and his legs were quickly strapped together while the only sound to be heard by the waiting crowd was the cracked tones of the prison bell tolling mournfully in the fog.  Billington touched the lever, the doors fell, and all was over.

The body swayed backwards and forwards once or twice, and a few twitchings of the arms were perceptible but they only lasted for a few moments and were thought to be just muscular reaction.  Then the corpse hung as a dead weight on the rope.  Billington had given a drop of eight feet, and death appeared to be instantaneous.

The crowd dispersed quietly, and there was nothing left to indicate that something unusual had happened, “except the omen of death which floated over the prison”.

1899 – Memories of Mr. Strangward, Superintendent in the Police

Amongst other grim tales was a horrible child murder at Little Hereford.

A cottage belonging to Mr. Froggatt had been uninhabited for some time but the garden had been cultivated.  A man was sent after harvest to dig up the potatoes and store them in the cottage.

When he went into the cottage he discovered the decomposed body of a child with evidence of foul treatment.

Inquiries made by Mr. Strangward revealed the fact that two tramps with a sweet child had left Ludlow on May Fair night and gone to Little Hereford.  Six months had passed since then, but suspicion fell on these tramps and a thorough search was ordered.

Eventually the male tramp named Sanders was found at Worcester and arrested, and the woman was found at Thornbury. Sanders was executed.

1906 – Sad Death of Little Hereford Sub-Postmaster

John Lane aged 60 had become rather depressed after the death of his wife, and also his sister.  Also one son was due to emigrate to Canada, although the other lived with him along with a housekeeper.  To add to John’s melancholy, he had a pending County Court action.

John went to church as usual one Sunday and gave no indication of his intentions, but at some point he wrote a suicide note;  locked the house and put himself into a water tank where he drowned.  He was later found by his son, Harry Lane.