Churches of Lugwardine

• St. Peter's Church - Lugwardine

  St. Peter’s church at Lugwardine is the result of many additions to the original Norman building. The tower was a 15th century addition.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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  Memorials

  Gvlielm Reed Armiger

  Gvlielm Reed Armiger – died 1634 aged 68

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Jane Best

  Jane, former wife of Robert Kirle of Walford; then married John Best. Died 13th July 1622

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  James Wellington

  James Wellington – died 18th April 1722 aged 37

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Mary Traherne

  Mary Traherne, died 27th March 1788 aged 68; also Elizabeth her sister, who died 19th September 1893 aged 79

   

   

   

   

  

  Read More >

Buildings of Lugwardine

• Lugwardine Court - Previously Rockfield House

  Lugwardine Court was originally known as Rockfield House, and was built in the latter half of the 18th century but was pretty much rebuilt in 1810 by the Rev. J. Freeman. It sat on a hill and has glorious views of the surrounding countryside.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   
  These days, the glorious surrounding parkland and gardens have been lost to modern houses and the site of the building itself is a school.
  In 1824 the house, still known as Rockfield House, was offered for let by the Freemans, and was described as a substantial mansion with stabling of offices of every description for the accommodation of a large family.
  There were two walled gardens, well stocked with fruit trees, lawns and shrubberies, as well as two orchards.
  The accommodation included entrance hall; drawing room; dining room; breakfast parlour; butler’s and other pantries, servants hall; kitchen; Brewhouse; dairy. There were eleven bedrooms, two dressing rooms, water and other closets.
  Outside was a good coach house with granary over; two three stalled stables; a cider mill; two barns and other outbuildings.
  A good point was the fact that coaches passed daily from Hereford, through Worcester to London.

  John Gardiner Freeman

  The Freeman family returned to Rockfield House and remained in residence for many years.
  John Gardiner Freeman was the Chairman to the Board of Guardians of the Hereford Union, and was evidently well respected in the community. In 1855 he was presented with an elegant candelabrum and epergne combined, wrought in massive silver and standing around two and a half feet high. The base was a tripod, the claws of which were ornamented with leaves of acanthus, and from which sprang a triangular shaped obelisk presenting three shields.The first shield was inscribed
  “presented to John Gardiner Freeman Esq. by the Guardians and Ratepayers of the Hereford Union, in testimony of their respect and esteem for his private worth and his valuable services as Chairman of the Board of Guardians for a period of nine years and upwards. Hereford, May 1855”
  The second escutcheon was engraved with the armorial bearings of Mr. Freeman, and on the third, his initials. From the centre of these rose two entwined vine branches, surrounded by the tendrils of the hop. Five shoots, laden with fruit, stretched out from the centre of the vine and terminated in five elegant candelabra. The parent stem continued upwards with the foliage spreading out in a crown supporting a glass vase.

  1841 – Rockfield House Household

  John Freeman	35
  Jane Gardener	85
  Ann Freeman	60
  Jane Hatcher	30
  Ann Hatcher	6
  William Lewis	25
  Joseph Lewis	22
  Ann Jones	20
  Ann Phillips	20
  Mary Gough	23
  Martha Tandy	22
  Eliza Jones	20

  1851  – Rockfield House Household

  John Gardener Freeman	46	Landed Proprietor	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Mary Ann Freeman	48	Wife	b. Cusop, Herefordshire
  John Watkins Freeman	17	Son	b. Monmouthshire
  Mary Ann Freeman	11	Daughter	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Maria Watkins	74	Mother in Law, annuitant	b. Warwickshire
  William Lewis	33	Butler	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  William Morgan	27	Groom	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Charlotte Morgan	26	Cook	b. Herefordshire
  Ann Higgins	28	Housemaid	b. Ashperton, Herefordshire
  Ester Bevan	21	Kitchenmaid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Thomas Hughes	23	Agricultural Labourer	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire

  1861 – Rockfield House Household

  John Gardener Freeman	56	Landed Proprietor	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Mary Anne Freeman	58	wife	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Maria Watkins	84	Widow, mother in law	b. Birmingham
  Anne J. Hutchins	26	Niece, fundholder	b. Somerset
  Eliza C. Hutchins	22	Niece, fundholder	b. Somerset
  Elizabeth A. Walker	42	Nurse	b. Liverpool
  Maria Spurling	49	Cook	b. Essex
  Mary Beaden	26	Housemaid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Selina Brunt	18	Kitchenmaid	b. Somerset
  Robert Lewis	20	Coachman	b. Bosley, Herefordshire

   

  The Crofts at Lugwardine Court

  Sir Herbert Croft bought Rockfield House from the Freeman family, and in 1866 decided to rename it Lugwardine Court, due to there being another Rockfield House near Monmouth which was causing confusion.
  The Croft family are better known for their bigger and grander residence…….Croft Castle.

  1871 – Lugwardine Court

  Herbert G.D. Croft	32	Member of Parliament	b. Acton, Middlesex
  Georgiana E.L. Croft	25	Wife	b. Sidney, New South Wales, Australia
  Herbert A. Croft	2	Son	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Janet G. Croft	4	Daughter	b. Middlesex, London
  Edward Munday	22	Footman	b. Wiltshire
  Henry Preece	29	Coachman	b. Withington, Herefordshire
  Laura Wheland	42	Cook	b. Worcestershire
  Mary Wells	28	Nurse	b. Worcestershire
  Amelia Strange	19	Nurse	b. Berkshire
  Elizabeth Richards	17	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire
  Ester Ambrose	22	Housemaid	b. Wiltshire

   

  1881 – Lugwardine Court

  Herbert G. Denman Croft	42	Baronet, JP	b. Acton, Middlesex
  Georgiana Eliza Lucy Croft	35	Dame	b. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  Hugh Matthew Francis Croft	6	Son	b. Lugwardine Court
  Sybil Helen Croft	4	Daughter	b. Lugwardine Court
  Lucy Barbara Croft	3	Daughter	b. Lugwardine Court
  William Denman Croft	2	Son	b. Lugwardine Court
  Owen George Scudamore Croft	10mths	Son	b. Lugwardine Court
  Elizabeth Nelson	30	Cook	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Sarah Ann Collins	20	Housemaid	b. Monmouthshire
  Harriet Herron	23	Housemaid	b. Bishopstone, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Parker	17	Kitchenmaid	b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
  James Huff	19	Footman	b. Stretton Sugwas, Herefordshire
  Rose Ellen Purchase	17	Nursemaid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Mary Ann Tamil	15	Nursemaid	b. Castle Carey, Somerset
  Hannah Ayre	37	Nurse

  1891 – Lugwardine Court

  Herbert G. Denman Croft	52	JP, Barrister at Law, Baronet	b. Middlesex
  Georgiana Eliza Lucy Croft	45	Wife	b. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  Hugh Matthew Francis Croft	16	Son	b. Lugwardine Court
  Sybil H. Croft	14	Daughter	b. Lugwardine Court
  Lucy Barbara Croft	13	Daughter	b. Lugwardine Court
  Jasper B. Croft	6	Son	b. Lugwardine Court
  Susan Griffiths	28	Cook	b. Salop
  Emily Elleman	20	Parlour Maid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Elleman	18	Nursemaid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Emily Shaw	23	Housemaid	b. Penscombe, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth William	18	Kitchenmaid	b. Withington, Herefordshire
  Charles Hale	16	Groom	b. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
  Emma Clayton	55	Housekeeper	b. Burghill, Herefordshire
  Ellen Weaver	21	Cook	b. Marden, Herefordshire

   

  1911 – Lugwardine Court

  Richard Charles Southall	36	Butler	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Mary Probert	36	Cook	b. St. Weonards, Herefordshire
  Beatrice Jane Brush	26	Housemaid	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  Elsie Emily Skyrme	19	Kitchenmaid	b. Canon Pyon, Herefordshire
  Phillis Audrey Marlow	17	Housemaid	b. Radnorshire
  Margaret Amy Miles	16	Nurserymaid	b. Devonshire
  Reginald Davies	23	Footman	b. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
  Elenor Croft	7	Owner’s Daughter	b. Lugwardine, Herefordshire
  James Herbert Croft	3	Owner’s son	b. London

  1921 – Lugwardine Court

  Katherine Agnes Croft	b. Cheshire 1878	Head
  Beatrice Jane Palmer	b. Burghill, Herefordshire 1884	General Domestic Servant
  Ellen Elizabeth Darlington	b. Shropshire 1877	General Domestic Servant

  Read More >

News from the Past Lugwardine

• Lugwardine News from the Past

  Christmas Church decorations.  drownings and a suicide in the Lugg River

  1832 – Case of Distress

  A labourer by the name of William Phillips, living at Lugwardine, went to Hereford at the end of January 1832 to buy food for his wife and family, but as he returned home he was attacked by two men at Tupsley, who brutally beat him and severely damanged his leg.

  After a considerable period of suffering and despite treatment, the leg became badly infected and indeed, he nearly died.  Six months later, he was still bed bound in Hereford Infirmary, and although no longer in danger it was thought that he would be a cripple for life.

  An appeal for financial help for William and his family went out for donations to add to the £5 made by the Sheriff.  It was not long before generous amounts were being donated.

   

  1861 – Mysterious Drowning at Lugwardine

  A man named Jarvis from Longworth Mill was walking by the turnpike road when he saw a “wretched and miserable” old woman sitting on the Hereford side of Lugwardine bridge, with a bundle at her side.

  When the woman saw Jarvis, she got up and walked through a gap in the hedge to the strip of land by the river, where the next day her bundle was found…….but not her.

  There were some marks on the bank by the water, which seemed to be like the heels of someone slipping, but the parochial authorities were not inclined to bother to try to find a body.

  Superintendent Wilson however, decided to search out the truth, and he had the area of the river dragged;  unfortunately nothing came of this, due mainly to the depth of the water at that point.

  Mr. Hiles of Tidnor Mills kindly consented to draw the flood gates by his mills, which effectively lowered the water level above, and the search continued.

  The pool old woman’s remains were discovered some quarter of a mile below where she was thought to have gone in the water, just below a weir.

  The inquest

  The inquest revealed that when the woman was found, her apron had been tied over her head and her shoes and stockings were missing.  The bundle found by the river contained a few lice ridden articles of clothing, and her body was in a terrible state from the lice. She had a remarkably flat nose and was muscular and brawny looking.

  It was stated that she had been in the locality for a few days, telling people that she had a son in Kington and would be moving on shortly.  She had been taken before the city magistrates for drunkenness on a couple of occasions.

  With no further evidence, a verdict of Found Drowned was returned.

  1862 – Church Decoration at Christmas

  On Christmas Day, 1862, the parish church of Lugwardine was lavishly decorated by the ladies of the village.

  Over the altar there were festoons of holly, larel and ivy and the royal purple altar cloth with its inscription of I.H.S in gold along with a tracery of ivy around the windows made a most pleasing effect.  The sills were decorated with winter flowerets, and the chancel arch was enriched with “Hosanna to the Son of David” floriated triangles in holly leaf and berries.

  The south transepts contained “Emmanuel” in holly and ivy berries, also the text “God with us” holly berries forming a handsome triangle.  In the north transept was the text, worked in ivy leaves, “For our sakes He became poor”.

  The pulpit and reading desk were enriched with wreaths and borders of ivy, and the gallery and pillars were decked with evergreens and wreaths.

  The Corona was elaborately decorated with ivy, holly and berries, and the organ rood shone with stars and wreaths of berries.  The seats were dressed with sprigs of evergreens and the pillars were entwined with winter foliage.

  When the candles were lit for the evening service, the whole church was incredibly beautiful.

  1867 – Sad End of Crimean Hero

  Joseph Phillips, a pensioner and late private in the 57th Regiment of Foot was found drowned in the river Lugg.

  He had been married to his wife Ann for six years, and they lived in Lugwarding.  Joseph was a pensioner of the 57th Regiment of Foot and had 9d a day pension.

  Joseph had been missed for a few days, and missed his call on bail on a charge of drunkenness.  Mr. Davies, a grocer of Commercial Road who was standing Joseph’s bail, applied for an adjournment and he was granted this.

  Following this, a warrant for the arrest of Joseph was out, on the charge of assault committed on Mary Barwell.

  Joseph Phillips’ last evening

  Mary Barwell was the wife of Thomas, a labourer, and they kept the Lugg bridge turnpike gate.  One Thursday evening, Joseph turned up and asked for a light for his pipe, but he actually had no tobacco either and she refused to give him any.  He was rather drunk, and collapsed on the sofa in the kitchen, searching his pockets for tobacco dust – he eventually found enough to put in his pipe but it wouldn’t catch light, whereupon he started to rant and rave.  He said that he had spent nearly all of his pension money, and would go and drown himself.

  Mary told him to go home to bed, but he kept on repeating that he would drown himself.  Mary went off to find some wood for the fire, and when she came back he found that he had his hand up her 9 year old daughter’s petticoats;  understandably she was furious and hit out at him, but she was unable to evict him from her house.  Joseph then turned his attentions to her, and tried to grope her under her petticoats at which point her husband fortuitously came home.  Mary went out to a man wanting to pay a toll, and when she returned, Joseph was again indecently assaulting her child.

  Mary was so angry that she hit Joseph hard enough to floor him, which made him swear violently, but at least he decided to leave.  That was the last anyone saw of him.

  The discovery of the Body of Joseph Phillips

  Great efforts were made to find Joseph, and eventually his body was discovered in the river Lugg near to Tidnor forge – his three Crimea medals were found to be attached to the breast of the “gallant but misguided soldier” who had in his country’s service borne “the battle and the breeze.”  The first was a medal with three clasps – Sevastopol, Inkerman, Balaclava;  the second, a medal for long service and good conduct;  the third the French Crimean medal.

  The Inquest

  At the inquest, Joseph’s wife, who was hugely distressed,  gave evidence, saying that they had not rowed, and on the day he disappeared he was not quite sober as he had drunk a quart of cider on an empty stomach – his appetite having vanished a week previously.

  She talked about the medals, and said that he would put them on with his second best clothes to go and get his pension on pension day.

  Another witness claimed that when drunk, Joseph would declare that he would drown himself.

  A verdict of Found Drowned was returned.

   

  1899 – Suicide at Lugwardine

  Phoebe Emma Williams, the 18 year old daughter of William Williams and his wife who worked at the Hereford Sanitary Laundry, for no apparent reason decided to commit suicide in the River Lugg on the day of her birthday.

  Phoebe was said to have been “finely developed” for her age, and on the day in question, whilst her parents were working, wandered down to the bridge over the river in the company of her sister, Lizzie, aged 8 and a lad aged 6 by the name of Ivor Price..

  She left the children at the bridge, and went into the meadow by the river, where she carefully took off her jacket and hat then folded them neatly and put them beneath the bridge.  She then waded into the river, whilst talking to the children on the bridge.

  A lady, Mrs. Brooks and her daughter, turned up and saw that Phoebe was in the water up to her waist, and asked if she needed help to get out;  Phoebe just pleaded to be left alone, and started trying to drown herself by repeatedly ducking beneath the water.

  Help was summoned immediately, but when the cavalry arrived, Phoebe was carried out of her depth by the current and sank from view.

  Her body was recovered very quickly, but despite artificial respiration being carried out, it was all too late. (Artificial respiration at this time involved little more than rubbing the limbs, covering with blankets and using hot water).  Tragically, Phoebe’s mother was hurrying home with many gifts and things for an evening celebration of her birthday, when she found her daughter lying lifeless on the bank.

  The Inquest

  At the inquest, it became clear that all was unclear!  Phoebe by all accounts had a happy home life and had not been arguing with anyone prior to the event.  Indeed, she was looking forward to her birthday celebrations, and to seeing her Aunt the following day.

  The only theory put forward was that Phoebe had been run down and a little overworked, and got into the water for some kind of amusement.

  A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned.

  As a result of this episode, a drag and life saving apparatus was purchased, and kept at the nearby Lodge.

   

  Read More >

 
These days, the glorious surrounding parkland and gardens have been lost to modern houses and the site of the building itself is a school.
In 1824 the house, still known as Rockfield House, was offered for let by the Freemans, and was described as a substantial mansion with stabling of offices of every description for the accommodation of a large family.
There were two walled gardens, well stocked with fruit trees, lawns and shrubberies, as well as two orchards.
The accommodation included entrance hall; drawing room; dining room; breakfast parlour; butler’s and other pantries, servants hall; kitchen; Brewhouse; dairy. There were eleven bedrooms, two dressing rooms, water and other closets.
Outside was a good coach house with granary over; two three stalled stables; a cider mill; two barns and other outbuildings.
A good point was the fact that coaches passed daily from Hereford, through Worcester to London.

John Gardiner Freeman

The Freeman family returned to Rockfield House and remained in residence for many years.
John Gardiner Freeman was the Chairman to the Board of Guardians of the Hereford Union, and was evidently well respected in the community. In 1855 he was presented with an elegant candelabrum and epergne combined, wrought in massive silver and standing around two and a half feet high. The base was a tripod, the claws of which were ornamented with leaves of acanthus, and from which sprang a triangular shaped obelisk presenting three shields.The first shield was inscribed
“presented to John Gardiner Freeman Esq. by the Guardians and Ratepayers of the Hereford Union, in testimony of their respect and esteem for his private worth and his valuable services as Chairman of the Board of Guardians for a period of nine years and upwards. Hereford, May 1855”
The second escutcheon was engraved with the armorial bearings of Mr. Freeman, and on the third, his initials. From the centre of these rose two entwined vine branches, surrounded by the tendrils of the hop. Five shoots, laden with fruit, stretched out from the centre of the vine and terminated in five elegant candelabra. The parent stem continued upwards with the foliage spreading out in a crown supporting a glass vase.

1841 – Rockfield House Household

1851  – Rockfield House Household

1861 – Rockfield House Household

The Crofts at Lugwardine Court

Sir Herbert Croft bought Rockfield House from the Freeman family, and in 1866 decided to rename it Lugwardine Court, due to there being another Rockfield House near Monmouth which was causing confusion.
The Croft family are better known for their bigger and grander residence…….Croft Castle.

1871 – Lugwardine Court

1881 – Lugwardine Court

1891 – Lugwardine Court

1911 – Lugwardine Court

1921 – Lugwardine Court

1832 – Case of Distress

A labourer by the name of William Phillips, living at Lugwardine, went to Hereford at the end of January 1832 to buy food for his wife and family, but as he returned home he was attacked by two men at Tupsley, who brutally beat him and severely damanged his leg.

After a considerable period of suffering and despite treatment, the leg became badly infected and indeed, he nearly died.  Six months later, he was still bed bound in Hereford Infirmary, and although no longer in danger it was thought that he would be a cripple for life.

An appeal for financial help for William and his family went out for donations to add to the £5 made by the Sheriff.  It was not long before generous amounts were being donated.

1861 – Mysterious Drowning at Lugwardine

A man named Jarvis from Longworth Mill was walking by the turnpike road when he saw a “wretched and miserable” old woman sitting on the Hereford side of Lugwardine bridge, with a bundle at her side.

When the woman saw Jarvis, she got up and walked through a gap in the hedge to the strip of land by the river, where the next day her bundle was found…….but not her.

There were some marks on the bank by the water, which seemed to be like the heels of someone slipping, but the parochial authorities were not inclined to bother to try to find a body.

Superintendent Wilson however, decided to search out the truth, and he had the area of the river dragged;  unfortunately nothing came of this, due mainly to the depth of the water at that point.

Mr. Hiles of Tidnor Mills kindly consented to draw the flood gates by his mills, which effectively lowered the water level above, and the search continued.

The pool old woman’s remains were discovered some quarter of a mile below where she was thought to have gone in the water, just below a weir.

The inquest

The inquest revealed that when the woman was found, her apron had been tied over her head and her shoes and stockings were missing.  The bundle found by the river contained a few lice ridden articles of clothing, and her body was in a terrible state from the lice. She had a remarkably flat nose and was muscular and brawny looking.

It was stated that she had been in the locality for a few days, telling people that she had a son in Kington and would be moving on shortly.  She had been taken before the city magistrates for drunkenness on a couple of occasions.

With no further evidence, a verdict of Found Drowned was returned.

1862 – Church Decoration at Christmas

On Christmas Day, 1862, the parish church of Lugwardine was lavishly decorated by the ladies of the village.

Over the altar there were festoons of holly, larel and ivy and the royal purple altar cloth with its inscription of I.H.S in gold along with a tracery of ivy around the windows made a most pleasing effect.  The sills were decorated with winter flowerets, and the chancel arch was enriched with “Hosanna to the Son of David” floriated triangles in holly leaf and berries.

The south transepts contained “Emmanuel” in holly and ivy berries, also the text “God with us” holly berries forming a handsome triangle.  In the north transept was the text, worked in ivy leaves, “For our sakes He became poor”.

The pulpit and reading desk were enriched with wreaths and borders of ivy, and the gallery and pillars were decked with evergreens and wreaths.

The Corona was elaborately decorated with ivy, holly and berries, and the organ rood shone with stars and wreaths of berries.  The seats were dressed with sprigs of evergreens and the pillars were entwined with winter foliage.

When the candles were lit for the evening service, the whole church was incredibly beautiful.

1867 – Sad End of Crimean Hero

Joseph Phillips, a pensioner and late private in the 57th Regiment of Foot was found drowned in the river Lugg.

He had been married to his wife Ann for six years, and they lived in Lugwarding.  Joseph was a pensioner of the 57th Regiment of Foot and had 9d a day pension.

Joseph had been missed for a few days, and missed his call on bail on a charge of drunkenness.  Mr. Davies, a grocer of Commercial Road who was standing Joseph’s bail, applied for an adjournment and he was granted this.

Following this, a warrant for the arrest of Joseph was out, on the charge of assault committed on Mary Barwell.

Joseph Phillips’ last evening

Mary Barwell was the wife of Thomas, a labourer, and they kept the Lugg bridge turnpike gate.  One Thursday evening, Joseph turned up and asked for a light for his pipe, but he actually had no tobacco either and she refused to give him any.  He was rather drunk, and collapsed on the sofa in the kitchen, searching his pockets for tobacco dust – he eventually found enough to put in his pipe but it wouldn’t catch light, whereupon he started to rant and rave.  He said that he had spent nearly all of his pension money, and would go and drown himself.

Mary told him to go home to bed, but he kept on repeating that he would drown himself.  Mary went off to find some wood for the fire, and when she came back he found that he had his hand up her 9 year old daughter’s petticoats;  understandably she was furious and hit out at him, but she was unable to evict him from her house.  Joseph then turned his attentions to her, and tried to grope her under her petticoats at which point her husband fortuitously came home.  Mary went out to a man wanting to pay a toll, and when she returned, Joseph was again indecently assaulting her child.

Mary was so angry that she hit Joseph hard enough to floor him, which made him swear violently, but at least he decided to leave.  That was the last anyone saw of him.

The discovery of the Body of Joseph Phillips

Great efforts were made to find Joseph, and eventually his body was discovered in the river Lugg near to Tidnor forge – his three Crimea medals were found to be attached to the breast of the “gallant but misguided soldier” who had in his country’s service borne “the battle and the breeze.”  The first was a medal with three clasps – Sevastopol, Inkerman, Balaclava;  the second, a medal for long service and good conduct;  the third the French Crimean medal.

The Inquest

At the inquest, Joseph’s wife, who was hugely distressed,  gave evidence, saying that they had not rowed, and on the day he disappeared he was not quite sober as he had drunk a quart of cider on an empty stomach – his appetite having vanished a week previously.

She talked about the medals, and said that he would put them on with his second best clothes to go and get his pension on pension day.

Another witness claimed that when drunk, Joseph would declare that he would drown himself.

A verdict of Found Drowned was returned.

1899 – Suicide at Lugwardine

Phoebe Emma Williams, the 18 year old daughter of William Williams and his wife who worked at the Hereford Sanitary Laundry, for no apparent reason decided to commit suicide in the River Lugg on the day of her birthday.

Phoebe was said to have been “finely developed” for her age, and on the day in question, whilst her parents were working, wandered down to the bridge over the river in the company of her sister, Lizzie, aged 8 and a lad aged 6 by the name of Ivor Price..

She left the children at the bridge, and went into the meadow by the river, where she carefully took off her jacket and hat then folded them neatly and put them beneath the bridge.  She then waded into the river, whilst talking to the children on the bridge.

A lady, Mrs. Brooks and her daughter, turned up and saw that Phoebe was in the water up to her waist, and asked if she needed help to get out;  Phoebe just pleaded to be left alone, and started trying to drown herself by repeatedly ducking beneath the water.

Help was summoned immediately, but when the cavalry arrived, Phoebe was carried out of her depth by the current and sank from view.

Her body was recovered very quickly, but despite artificial respiration being carried out, it was all too late. (Artificial respiration at this time involved little more than rubbing the limbs, covering with blankets and using hot water).  Tragically, Phoebe’s mother was hurrying home with many gifts and things for an evening celebration of her birthday, when she found her daughter lying lifeless on the bank.

The Inquest

At the inquest, it became clear that all was unclear!  Phoebe by all accounts had a happy home life and had not been arguing with anyone prior to the event.  Indeed, she was looking forward to her birthday celebrations, and to seeing her Aunt the following day.

The only theory put forward was that Phoebe had been run down and a little overworked, and got into the water for some kind of amusement.

A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned.

As a result of this episode, a drag and life saving apparatus was purchased, and kept at the nearby Lodge.

Font

Memorials

Gvlielm Reed Armiger

Gvlielm Reed Armiger – died 1634 aged 68

Jane Best

Jane, former wife of Robert Kirle of Walford; then married John Best. Died 13th July 1622

James Wellington

James Wellington – died 18th April 1722 aged 37

Mary Traherne

Mary Traherne, died 27th March 1788 aged 68; also Elizabeth her sister, who died 19th September 1893 aged 79