In 1866 the church was re-opened, and the ceremony was a very low key affair – partly because of the limited space inside, but also due to deference to the wishes of the Bishop who had recently suffered the loss of his wife and didn’t want to attend large public occasions.

Before restoration, the church was described as being “redolent of whitewash and plaster with a ceiling undulating like a mole field.  The knave was encumbered with pews of an old fashioned style, not inaptly denominated by the term horse box. ”

The pulpit was considered ugly, and the floor had sunk so much that it was becoming very damp;  the whole building was in a very dilapidated condition.

Following restoration, the tumbledown porch had been carefully restored, and the old door mended;  the font had been moved and put on a sandstone base, then fitted with a spiral cover of parquetrie work raised by a cord and weight.

The nave was given new oak benches, and the new pulpit was thought to be very elegant.

Many other improvements, repairs and replacements were carried out and everyone declared the result to be most satisfactory.

During restoration, many relics were found including an incised cross of great age.

Churches of Thruxton

• St. Bartholomew's Church - Thruxton

  This church is 14th century, but was restored in the mid 19th century.

   

  In 1866 the church was re-opened, and the ceremony was a very low key affair – partly because of the limited space inside, but also due to deference to the wishes of the Bishop who had recently suffered the loss of his wife and didn’t want to attend large public occasions.

  Before restoration, the church was described as being “redolent of whitewash and plaster with a ceiling undulating like a mole field.  The knave was encumbered with pews of an old fashioned style, not inaptly denominated by the term horse box. ”

  The pulpit was considered ugly, and the floor had sunk so much that it was becoming very damp;  the whole building was in a very dilapidated condition.

  Following restoration, the tumbledown porch had been carefully restored, and the old door mended;  the font had been moved and put on a sandstone base, then fitted with a spiral cover of parquetrie work raised by a cord and weight.

  The nave was given new oak benches, and the new pulpit was thought to be very elegant.

  Many other improvements, repairs and replacements were carried out and everyone declared the result to be most satisfactory.

  During restoration, many relics were found including an incised cross of great age.

   

   

   

   

  

  Read More >

News from the Past Thruxton

• Thruxton News from the Past

  Choking and other things at Thruxton

  1844 – Death from Choking at Thruxton

  Sarah Preece was enjoying dinner with her friends, and seemed to be having difficulty in swallowing;  suddenly she started to choke on a piece of pork, and although medical help was sent for she died before it arrived.

  At the inquest, it was said that her friends did not put anything down her throat to dislodge the meat.    Poor woman, it took her nearly two hours to die.

  1855 – New Born Child found Buried at Thruxton

  The Clerk of Thruxton Church noticed that part of the churchyard had been disturbed, and when he investigated he found that a baby had been buried there without a coffin.

  A woman named Ann Wood had given birth some four weeks earlier, and tragically the female baby was still-born – the fourth time this had happened to her.  At the inquest, she admitted that she had buried the body, saying that she had done this before.

  The surgeon, Mr. Morris, gave evidence that he was absolutely sure that the child had never breathed.

  Read More >

Buildings of Thruxton

• Thruxton Court History

  Thruxton Court was built in around the 16th century close to the church, and underwent restorations and improvements during the following three centuries.
  Thruxton court was occupied by the Dean family in the early 19th century, and in 1840, J. Dean put up for sale all of his valuable livestock, which comprised 36 pure bred Herefordshire cattle; 200 prime fat and store sheep of Ryeland and New Leicester breed; 8 wagon horses and mares; a quiet gelding; a four year old mare, and three cart colts. There was also a collection of farming equipment including a gig and harness. However, it was not the end of the Deans at Thruxton Court, as can be seen below in 1851.

   

  1851 – Thruxton Court Household

  Elijah Dean	37	Farmer	b. Kilpeck, Herefordshire
  Ann Dean	30	Wife
  Samuel Meek	23	Farm Servant	b. Madley, Herefordshire
  Samuel Macklin	19	Farm Servant	b. St. Devereux, Herefordshire
  Benjamin Phillips	16	Farm Servant	Peterchurch, Herefordshire
  William Trumper	14	Farm Servant	b. Allensmore, Herefordshire
  Mary Watkins	20	Domestic Servant	b. Allensmore, Herefordshire
  Catherine Watkins	14	Domestic Servant	b. Allensmore, Herefordshire

   

  1861 – Thruxton Court Household

  George Wood	55	Farmer (Widower)	b. Scotland
  Jane Wood	22	Daughter	b. Treville, Herefordshire
  George Wood	21	Son	b. Treville, Herefordshire
  Robert Wood	20	Son	b. Treville, Herefordshire
  Marianne Jannet Wood	9	Daughter	b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Beavan	24	Housemaid	b. St. Owens, Hereford

   

  1871 – Thruxton Court Household

  Notice the different spelling for Marianne

  George Wood	65	Farmer (Widower	b. Scotland
  George Wood	31	Son	b. Treville, Herefordshire
  Robert Wood	30	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Jane Wood	32	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Marion Janet Wood	19	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Gunter	22	Servant	b. Herefordshire
  Henry Marsh Gwilliam	23	Visitor	b. Herefordshire

   

  1881 – Thruxton Court Household

  George Wood	75	Retired farmer	b. Scotland
  Jane Wood	42	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  George Wood	7	Grandson	b. Wrexham, North Wales
  Mary Wood	6	Grand Daughter	b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire
  Marion Wood	5	Grand Daughter	b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire
  Lilian Wood	4	Grand Daughter	b. Abbeydore, Herefordshire

   

  1891 – Thruxton Court Household

  Robert Wood	50	Farmer	b. Herefordshire
  Anne Wood	39 (?)	Wife	b. Madley, Herefordshire
  James M. Davies	15	Stepson	b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire
  William B. Davies	14	Stepson	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Thomas G. Wood	10	Son	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Marion M. Wood	9	Daughter	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Robert B. Wood	7	Son	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Frank E. Wood	1	Son	b. Thuxton, Herefordshire
  Catherine S. Parkes	35	Governess	b. Lucton, Herefordshire
  Catherine Godsall	16	General Servant	b. Monmouth

   

  1901 – Thruxton Court Household

  Robert Wood	60	Farmer	b. Treville, Herefordshire
  Anne Wood	47	Wife	b. Madley, Herefordshire
  James Matthews Davies	25	Stepson	b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire
  Thomas G. Wood	20	Son	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Marion Mossman Wood	19	Daughter	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Robert Beavan Wood	17	Son	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Frank Elliott Wood	11	Son	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Mabel Roberta Wood	8	Daughter	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Annie Wearing	27	General Servant	b. Dorstone, Herefordshire

   

  1911 – Thruxton Court Household

  Anne Wood	57	Widower, Farmer	b. Madley, Herefordshire
  James Matthews Davies	35	Son, Assistant on Farm	b. Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire
  Thomas George Wood	30	Son, Assistant on Farm	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Marion Mossman Wood	29	Daughter	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Robert Beavan Wood	27	Son, Assistant on Farm	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Frank Elliott Wood	21	Son, Assistant on Farm	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Mabel Roberta Wood	18	Daughter	b. Thruxton, Herefordshire
  Lillian Pratt	44	Visitor, Widow	b. Denbighshire
  Gerald Rawson Birks	29	Boarder	b. Sheffield, Yorkshire
  Beatrice Lewis	24	Servant	b. Eardisley, Herefordshire

  Read More >

1851 – Thruxton Court Household

1861 – Thruxton Court Household

1871 – Thruxton Court Household

Notice the different spelling for Marianne

1881 – Thruxton Court Household

1891 – Thruxton Court Household

1901 – Thruxton Court Household

1911 – Thruxton Court Household

1844 – Death from Choking at Thruxton

Sarah Preece was enjoying dinner with her friends, and seemed to be having difficulty in swallowing;  suddenly she started to choke on a piece of pork, and although medical help was sent for she died before it arrived.

At the inquest, it was said that her friends did not put anything down her throat to dislodge the meat.    Poor woman, it took her nearly two hours to die.

1855 – New Born Child found Buried at Thruxton

The Clerk of Thruxton Church noticed that part of the churchyard had been disturbed, and when he investigated he found that a baby had been buried there without a coffin.

A woman named Ann Wood had given birth some four weeks earlier, and tragically the female baby was still-born – the fourth time this had happened to her.  At the inquest, she admitted that she had buried the body, saying that she had done this before.

The surgeon, Mr. Morris, gave evidence that he was absolutely sure that the child had never breathed.