Churches of Marstow

• St. Matthew's Church - Marstow

  The church at Marstow was originally called St. Martins, and was on a completely different site, down by the Garron Brook. However, the Garron Brook was prone to overflowing its banks and flooding the church, so in 1855 the old church was demolished and the present church dedicated to St. Matthew was built at Brelstone Green, Marstow.

  The Consecration was in 1857 but due to an oversight all marriages up until May 1912 were not actually valid! Fortunately a hurried Act of Parliament put this right, so descendants of anyone married during this period can heave a sigh of relief. Incidentally, this was not the only church to have this problem – there were four others in England who did not have the authorisation to marry people.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  The last supper

  The alabaster carving of the Last Supper – rather gruesome in its own way, as the figure to the right of Christ is about to be stabbed.  It appears to be a woman.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Font

   

  The lovely carved oak lid on this font was made in 1902 to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward 7th and Queen Alexandra.

   

   

   

  

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News from the Past Marstow

• Marstow News from the Past

  Transportation, death and a wedding

  1841 – Solitary Confinement and Transportation

  Samuel Daniel pleaded guilty to stealing grain and geese at Marstow.

  He was given seven days solitary confinement for the first offence, and seven years transportation for the second.

  1844 – Death after fall from Horse

  Charles Williams was a groom working for Mr. Jones of Cannon Bridge, and one Sunday evening in April 1844 he was bringing the horse back from Monmouth.

  The horse was 8 years old and had been known to be very steady, it pulled the carriage that carried Mr. Jones’ daughters and had never bolted;  it was also said that Charles Williams was normally a very sober man.

  However, on this occasion Charles was well and truly drunk, and the horse was spotted galloping at full tilt down a hill at Marstow before stumbling and throwing Charles over it’s head.  A witness to the event rushed to help, but found Charles was already dead.

  A surgeon declared that death was from a broken neck and concussion of the brain.

  1848 – Theft from Pencraig Court

  John Williams, an 18 year old who was illiterate, was charged with having stolen a silver card case and a morocco box from Thomas Brooke of Pencraig Court, Marstow.

  The evidence against him was overwhelming and due to the fact that he had a previous conviction when he received a whipping a two months in gaol, the sentence was much more severe…..indeed, it was transportation for seven years.

  John Williams in “most impudent manner”, said “Thank you my Lord, and I wish you good evening sir”.

   

  1849 – Sad Death of Marstow Man

  Thomas Coopay had been waylaid and robbed when on his way back to Marstow from Monmouth Fair on 22nd November 1849 – a large sum of money was stolen, and it was said that the poor chap’s nerves never recovered from the shock.

  On 11th November 1849 Thomas died at the Black Noris Farm in Marstow, and he was buried in the churchyard.

  1859 – Another Fatal Fall from Horse

  Mr. Thomas Addis of Brellstone Farm, Marstow, was on his way home one night in November when he was thrown from his horse – known to be a spirited animal – on to the turnpike road near to Glewstone Boat Inn.  He was instantly killed.

  Dr. Millard of Whitchurch found the body and made arrangements for it to be taken to Thomas’s home.

  He had just taken out a policy in the Accidental Death Insurance Company for £100.   Hmmm, wonder whether the wife put a pin under his saddle!

  1860 – Marriage of Virginia Riley of Marston to Rev. Humphrey Allen of Clifton

  In early November 1860 the tiny village of Pencraig which lies in both the parishes of Marstow and Goodrich took great delight joining in the festivities for the above wedding at Marstow Church.

  Flowers and evergreens adorned gateways and roads, to such an extent that the press declared that “rarely, if ever has a small and purely rural village furnished such a display of good taste and artistic skill”.

  Virginia Riley, residing at Pencraig Court with her brother,  had long given enthusiastic aid to the schools of both Marstow and Goodrich, and was much loved by not only the children and their parents, but also by the poor of the villages.

  The bridge and groom, along with relatives, assembled at Pencraig Court before going to the church where the ceremony was performed by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol in front of a packed church.

  When they left the church, the sides of the path were lined with children from the schools, and behind them were crowds of villagers – all wishing the couple well, although many cried at the forthcoming loss of Virginia.

   

   

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Buildings of Marstow

• Pencraig Court

  Pencraig Court is a fairly large house lying between Ross on Wye and Monmouth, with wonderful views over the River Wye, and beautiful grounds; although it is presently being used as a hotel, it hasn’t been altered so drastically that it could not be turned back into a private residence.
  In the early 1800s, the house was owned by George Little, and after his death in 1826, Pencraig Court was put up for let – furnished for three years, (or unfurnished for the remainder of a term from Christmas 1825). It was very amply furnished and described as having a good entrance hall; staircase; dining room; library; drawing room with a greenhouse attached and leading to the gardens; seven chambers and a water closet on the first floor; four good attics; kitchen; dairy; servants hall; butler’s pantry; housekeeper’s room; store room; china closet; back stairs; a Coach House for two carriages, stabling for five horses etc. etc. with twenty acres of meadow and orchard.
  Ten years later, in 1837, Pencraig Court was once again up for let, fully furnished. This time it only had two attics but there were eleven bedrooms. It was said to be in good repair and recently furnished, as well as being one of the most desirable on the banks of the River Wye.
  By the early 1800s, Thomas Brook had bought Pencraig Court – he was a keep breeder of livestock, and was elected a member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. His wife had been married before, and brought two children to the marriage. Thomas died in 1850 and left Pencraig Court to his son Thomas, who moved in with his wife in the 1850s

  1851 – Pencraig Court Household

  Sarah Ann Brook	52	Widow	b. Bermondsey, Surrey
  Lavinia Riley	24	Daughter	b. Bermondsey, Surrey
  Virginia Riley	21	Daughter	b. Bermondsey, Surrey
  Albert Brook	16	Son	b. Essex
  Mary Elizabeth Taylor	33	Upper Servant	b. Lambeth, Surrey
  Marry Ann Smith	29	Cook	b. Gloucestershire
  Mary Burgoyne	27	Housemaid	?
  Abel Smith	24	Footman	b. Oxfordshire

   

  1861 – Pencraig Court Household

  Thomas Brook	29	Captain Royal Monmouth Militia	b. Bushey, Herefordshire
  Helena Brook	29	Wife	b. Pembroke
  Elliot I Brook	3	Son	b. Goodrich, Herefordshire
  Sarah A. Brooks	24	Sister	b. Leytonstone
  Mary A. Smith	38	Cook	b. Gloucestershire
  Elizabeth Preece	32	Lady’s Maid	b. Sellack, Herefordshire
  Mary Bryan	25	Housemaid	b. Hentland, Herefordshire
  Sarah Kell	21	Kitchenmaid	b. Chew Magna, Somerset
  James Sandy	27	Footman	b. Diss, Norfolk
  William Smith	32	Coachman	b. Gloucestershire
  George Sanderson	16	Groom	b. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

  1863 the house was put up for sale, and was eventually bought by William Beever

   

  1871 – Pencraig Court Household

  William H. Beever	43	Landowner and Clergyman	b. Denbighshire
  Hannah J. Beever	40	Wife	b. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  Edith M.H. Beever	15	Daughter	b. Cowbridge, Glamorgan
  Ellen H. Beever	12	Daughter	b. Cowbridge, Glamorgan
  Anna Minlieuverber (?)	33	Governess	b. Germany
  Celia Roberts	14	Kitchenmaid	b. Monmouthshire
  Martha White	13	Under Housemaid	b. Wantage
  Susannah Watkins	30	Cook	b. Merionethshire
  Martha Davis	31	Housemaid	b. Glamorganshire
  Elizabeth Morgan	32	Lady’s Maid	b. Glamorganshire

   

  1881 – Pencraig Court Household

  Vincent M.H. Beever	20	Son of Owner, Articled Clerk	b. Glamorganshire
  William J.H. Beever	26	Son of Owner, Farmer	b. Glamorganshire
  Elizabeth Allsop	29	Cook	b. Tipton, Staffordshire
  Clara Aitken	19	Housemaid	b. Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

  The house was again put up for sale, and was bought by Robert Spelman Marriott who lived there for many years, although at times he was in London, as was the case in 1901

  1891 – Pencraig Court Household

  Robert Spelman Marriott	29	Living on own means	b. Norfolk
  Blanche H. Marriott	30	Wife	b. Dringhouses, Yorkshire
  Juliet Marriott	5	Daughter	b. London
  Emily Wilding	41	Cook	b. Gloucestershire
  Hannah Jackson	28	Parlourmaid	b. Crawford, Middlesex
  Leah Drew	21	Housemaid	b. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire

  1911 – Pencraig Court Household

  Robert Spelman Marriott	49	Living on own Means	b. Narborough, Norfolk
  Blanche Harriet Christina Marriott	50	Wife	b. Dringhouses, Yorkshire
  Anna Elizabeth Poppleton	29	Cook	b. Yorkshire
  Mary Ann Gardner	30	Parlourmaid	b. Tuffley, Gloucestershire
  Blanche Annie Morgan	31	Housemaid	b. Llangarron, Herefordshire
  Sarah Bayliss	24	Lady’s Maid	b. Brobury, Herefordshire
  Polly Weaver	16	Kitchenmaid	b. Howle Hill, Herefordshire

  Read More >

1841 – Solitary Confinement and Transportation

Samuel Daniel pleaded guilty to stealing grain and geese at Marstow.

He was given seven days solitary confinement for the first offence, and seven years transportation for the second.

1844 – Death after fall from Horse

Charles Williams was a groom working for Mr. Jones of Cannon Bridge, and one Sunday evening in April 1844 he was bringing the horse back from Monmouth.

The horse was 8 years old and had been known to be very steady, it pulled the carriage that carried Mr. Jones’ daughters and had never bolted;  it was also said that Charles Williams was normally a very sober man.

However, on this occasion Charles was well and truly drunk, and the horse was spotted galloping at full tilt down a hill at Marstow before stumbling and throwing Charles over it’s head.  A witness to the event rushed to help, but found Charles was already dead.

A surgeon declared that death was from a broken neck and concussion of the brain.

1848 – Theft from Pencraig Court

John Williams, an 18 year old who was illiterate, was charged with having stolen a silver card case and a morocco box from Thomas Brooke of Pencraig Court, Marstow.

The evidence against him was overwhelming and due to the fact that he had a previous conviction when he received a whipping a two months in gaol, the sentence was much more severe…..indeed, it was transportation for seven years.

John Williams in “most impudent manner”, said “Thank you my Lord, and I wish you good evening sir”.

1849 – Sad Death of Marstow Man

Thomas Coopay had been waylaid and robbed when on his way back to Marstow from Monmouth Fair on 22nd November 1849 – a large sum of money was stolen, and it was said that the poor chap’s nerves never recovered from the shock.

On 11th November 1849 Thomas died at the Black Noris Farm in Marstow, and he was buried in the churchyard.

1859 – Another Fatal Fall from Horse

Mr. Thomas Addis of Brellstone Farm, Marstow, was on his way home one night in November when he was thrown from his horse – known to be a spirited animal – on to the turnpike road near to Glewstone Boat Inn.  He was instantly killed.

Dr. Millard of Whitchurch found the body and made arrangements for it to be taken to Thomas’s home.

He had just taken out a policy in the Accidental Death Insurance Company for £100.   Hmmm, wonder whether the wife put a pin under his saddle!

1860 – Marriage of Virginia Riley of Marston to Rev. Humphrey Allen of Clifton

In early November 1860 the tiny village of Pencraig which lies in both the parishes of Marstow and Goodrich took great delight joining in the festivities for the above wedding at Marstow Church.

Flowers and evergreens adorned gateways and roads, to such an extent that the press declared that “rarely, if ever has a small and purely rural village furnished such a display of good taste and artistic skill”.

Virginia Riley, residing at Pencraig Court with her brother,  had long given enthusiastic aid to the schools of both Marstow and Goodrich, and was much loved by not only the children and their parents, but also by the poor of the villages.

The bridge and groom, along with relatives, assembled at Pencraig Court before going to the church where the ceremony was performed by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol in front of a packed church.

When they left the church, the sides of the path were lined with children from the schools, and behind them were crowds of villagers – all wishing the couple well, although many cried at the forthcoming loss of Virginia.

1851 – Pencraig Court Household

1861 – Pencraig Court Household

1863 the house was put up for sale, and was eventually bought by William Beever

1871 – Pencraig Court Household

1881 – Pencraig Court Household

The house was again put up for sale, and was bought by Robert Spelman Marriott who lived there for many years, although at times he was in London, as was the case in 1901

1891 – Pencraig Court Household

1911 – Pencraig Court Household

The Consecration was in 1857 but due to an oversight all marriages up until May 1912 were not actually valid! Fortunately a hurried Act of Parliament put this right, so descendants of anyone married during this period can heave a sigh of relief. Incidentally, this was not the only church to have this problem – there were four others in England who did not have the authorisation to marry people.

The last supper

The alabaster carving of the Last Supper – rather gruesome in its own way, as the figure to the right of Christ is about to be stabbed.  It appears to be a woman.

Font

The lovely carved oak lid on this font was made in 1902 to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward 7th and Queen Alexandra.