Initially The Coppice was used as a vicarage until it was sold to Colonel Harry McCalmont

Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont

In the late 18th century the house was owned by Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont who came from an Irish family, and his ancestors were involved in Demerara British Guiana where their sugar plantations were worked by slaves. When slavery was abolished, the family was given compensation for the loss of their slaves.

Harry McCalmont’s Military Career

Harry went to Eton College, then aged just 20 he gained a commission in the 6th Regiment of Foot; he later transferred to the Scots Guards.
He became Colonel of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment before retiring from the Regular Army in 1889, but then the Boer War broke out and he and his battalion went to South Africa – on his return home he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in recognition of his war service.

Harry McCalmont Spends His Inheritence

Harry became an Conservative MP for Newmarket in 1895, and was extremely wealthy thanks to being bequeathed a vast amount of money by his great uncle, and he was able to indulge in his passion for horse racing. He bought many racehorses, and won the Triple Crown with his prize horse, Isinglass, and also had a positive fleet of yachts built to his own specification – one of these eventually was used by the Spanish royal family. As well as buying horses and yachts like they were going out of fashion, and of course the house in Walford, Harry also bought a house in St. James’s Square in London and the Cheveley Park estate near Newmarket which he proceeded to tear down before building a massive mansion, and he did a fair job of spending much of the fortune left to him!
As far as I can tell, Harry never lived at Bishopswood House (still known as The Coppice) himself, but let it out until in 1898 when he put it up for sale by auction; the reserve price wasn’t reached, and the house was later sold privately to Sir George Bullough. Sir George was also keenly interested in the owning and breeding of racehorses, and one of his horses won the Grand National in 1917. He also had great success on the flat, including the Ascot Gold Cup. He was given the knighthood for transforming one of his boats into a hospital for use during the Boer War.
Harry McCalmont died at his London house of heart failure.
During the early 20th century, The Coppice was renamed Bishopswood House and was bought by Robert Holme Storey.

1851 – The Coppice Household

1861 – Coppice Vicarage Household

1871 – Coppice Vicarage Household

1881 – The Coppice Vicarage Household

1901 – The Coppice Household

1911 – The Coppice Household

1921 – The Coppice Household

Font

The font at St. Michael & All Angels is 15th century

Memorials

Stratford Collins family

John died 30th October 1809 aged 49, Mary his wife died 17th July 1831 aged 72, Ferdinando their son died 1827 aged 33, John died 13th September 1859 aged 74, Edith his wife (daughter of Philip Jones and grand daughter of Sarah Kyrle heiress of John Kyrle, known as Man of Ross) died 22 April 1859 aged 70. Major General John Stratford Collins died 27th April 1908 of Cholera at Rawlpindi, India. John his son, died Davos Switzerland on 2nd February 1912.

Kingsmill Evans

Memorial to Kingsmill Evans, Lord of the Manors of Ross and Walford, died 16th July 1851, last survivor of the male line of Evans of Llangattock and eldest son of Lt. Col. Kingsmill Evans. Also Anne Roosilia his wife

Churches of Walford

• St. Michael & All Angels Church - Walford

  In the 13th century, the original tiny building of this church was extended and then it was further added to and renovated over the centuries. At one time there was a spire on top of the tower, but during a thunderstorm in 1813 the spire was struck by lightening and it was toppled, taking the bells with it. Some of them were broken, whilst others were taken to Ruardean Church nearby.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Font

  The font at St. Michael & All Angels is 15th century

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Memorials

  Stratford Collins family

  John died 30th October 1809 aged 49, Mary his wife died 17th July 1831 aged 72, Ferdinando their son died 1827 aged 33, John died 13th September 1859 aged 74, Edith his wife (daughter of Philip Jones and grand daughter of Sarah Kyrle heiress of John Kyrle, known as Man of Ross) died 22 April 1859 aged 70. Major General John Stratford Collins died 27th April 1908 of Cholera at Rawlpindi, India. John his son, died Davos Switzerland on 2nd February 1912.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Kingsmill Evans

  Memorial to Kingsmill Evans, Lord of the Manors of Ross and Walford, died 16th July 1851, last survivor of the male line of Evans of Llangattock and eldest son of Lt. Col. Kingsmill Evans. Also Anne Roosilia his wife

   

   

   

  

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News from the Past Walford

• Walford News from the Past

  “Walford bits and pieces

  1844 – Children Burn to Death at Walford

  Sorry, here is the inevitable sample death by burning……so so many  children died in this way in the 19th century.

  John Whittaker aged 3 died in Walford when his clothes caught fire one morning in March.

  Coroners were pleading with mothers not to leave their children alone with the fire burning, and to dress them in cotton rather than  more combustible materials.

  1848 – Accidental Death of Walford Man

  John Davies, a 20 year old single man, was desperate for work as a wagoner, and called on Mr. Butt of the Paddock in Walford to try his luck.

  Mr. Butt said that he didn’t need anyone, but if he decided to change his wagoner he would immediately consider him.  However John Davies was so anxious to gain employment that he begged Mr. Butt to let him drive his team of horses to fetch lime.

  Mr. Butt gave in, but when John was on his way back (observed by a ten year old lad, Thomas Howell) he apparently was driving the horses at a fair gallop and was flogging the leading horse to go faster.  This may have been something of an exaggeration, given that it would not have been possible for John to have kept up with galloping horses, but still it was clear that he was desperately trying to show how fast he could complete a job.

  Unfortunately, John tripped and fell down, and went under the wheels of the wagon.

  The lad ran for his mother who sent men to fetch John, and they carried him on a hurdle to Mr. Butt’s house.

  Mr. Edward Jones, a surgeon from Ross on Wye, visited John first at his master’s house, and then later at the Union Workhouse.  There were extensive injuries to his right thigh and bowels, with a severe injury of the bladder although no bones were broken.

  John Davies lived for six days before succombing to mortification of the affected parts.

   

  1864 – Fatal Fall at Walford

  Charles Walters, a married man aged 38 was working as bailiff to John Partridge of Bishop’s Wood.

  On 19th April, he was up a ladder helping to load straw when he slipped and fell some sixteen feet, landing on the prong of a pike which went into the calf of one leg.

  The doctor was called, a William Symonds Rootes, and he found no fractures but noticed a severe wound on his head and another on the inside of his left leg.   Charles was conscious and after treatment it was decided that there was no concussion so he was eventually taken home on a cart.

  Charles appeared to do well, but suddenly on 28th April he started to shiver uncontrollably and the veins in his leg became very inflamed.  A violent fever ensued, and he soon died.

  Cause of death was put down to Phlebitis.

  1877 – The Walford Indecent Assault Case

  Richard Roberts, Thomas Mutlow and Albert Probert, three Walford lads who were on bail, were indicted for unlawfully and indecently assaulting and illtreating Emily Teague at Walford on 14th October.

  To the enormous surprise of the court, the verdict of not guilty was returned.

  1877 – No Dog License for Walford Man

  Mark Prew, a Sawyer of Walford, was brought before the court charged with having a dog without a license.  He had been very ill during the spring, but earned good money when in work, although the closure of the Walford Steam Saw Mills saw him without employment.

  He had always managed to pay the dog license before, and in fact his wife paid the fee the day after it was due.

  The prosecutor was Mr. Baylis, supervisor of the Inland Revenue, and he imposed a mitigated fine of 25s, but was urged to mitigate the penalty further in view of the above.

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Buildings of Walford

• Bishopswood House - Previously The Coppice

  Bishopswood House in Walford was until fairly recently called The Coppice or Coppice Vicarage, and was built in 1844 for John Partridge, a past High Sheriff of Monmouthshire when the parish of Bishopswood was created by combining Walford with Ruardean over the border in Gloucestershire. John funded the building of the church for the new parish.

  Initially The Coppice was used as a vicarage until it was sold to Colonel Harry McCalmont

  Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont

  In the late 18th century the house was owned by Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont who came from an Irish family, and his ancestors were involved in Demerara British Guiana where their sugar plantations were worked by slaves. When slavery was abolished, the family was given compensation for the loss of their slaves.

  Harry McCalmont’s Military Career

  Harry went to Eton College, then aged just 20 he gained a commission in the 6th Regiment of Foot; he later transferred to the Scots Guards.
  He became Colonel of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment before retiring from the Regular Army in 1889, but then the Boer War broke out and he and his battalion went to South Africa – on his return home he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in recognition of his war service.

  Harry McCalmont Spends His Inheritence

  Harry became an Conservative MP for Newmarket in 1895, and was extremely wealthy thanks to being bequeathed a vast amount of money by his great uncle, and he was able to indulge in his passion for horse racing. He bought many racehorses, and won the Triple Crown with his prize horse, Isinglass, and also had a positive fleet of yachts built to his own specification – one of these eventually was used by the Spanish royal family. As well as buying horses and yachts like they were going out of fashion, and of course the house in Walford, Harry also bought a house in St. James’s Square in London and the Cheveley Park estate near Newmarket which he proceeded to tear down before building a massive mansion, and he did a fair job of spending much of the fortune left to him!
  As far as I can tell, Harry never lived at Bishopswood House (still known as The Coppice) himself, but let it out until in 1898 when he put it up for sale by auction; the reserve price wasn’t reached, and the house was later sold privately to Sir George Bullough. Sir George was also keenly interested in the owning and breeding of racehorses, and one of his horses won the Grand National in 1917. He also had great success on the flat, including the Ascot Gold Cup. He was given the knighthood for transforming one of his boats into a hospital for use during the Boer War.
  Harry McCalmont died at his London house of heart failure.
  During the early 20th century, The Coppice was renamed Bishopswood House and was bought by Robert Holme Storey.

   

  1851 – The Coppice Household

  William W. Wait	40	Incumbent of All Saints Church in Walford	b. Bristol
  Lucy Wait	42	Wife	b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
  William Wait	5	Son	b. Canada
  John Wait	4	Son	b. Stevenage, Hertfordshire
  Robert Wait	3	Son	b. Gloucestershire
  Lewis Wait	3	Son	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Rebecca Gardner	50	Housekeeper	b. Northleach, Gloucestershire
  Emma Jaynes	45	Nurse	b. Monmouth
  Mary Miller	22	Housemaid	b. Coleford, Gloucestershire
  William Williams	22	Groom	b. Walford, Herefordshire

  1861 – Coppice Vicarage Household

  Thomas H. Edwards	38	Perpetual Curate of Bishopswood	b. Shropshire
  Harriett Edwards	40	Wife	b. Dudley, Worcestershire
  Edith Edwards	9	Daughter	b. Benthall, Shropshire
  Henry Edwards	7	Son	b. Herefordshire
  Harriett	5	Daughter	b. Herefordshire
  Charles	3	Son	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Emma M. Edwards	38	Sister in Law, Solicitor’s Wife	b. Guildford, Surrey
  Emily Baron	33	Governess	b. London, Middlesex
  Harriett Stranford	35	Cook	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Gwilliam	17	Housemaid	b. Walford, Herefordshire

  1871 – Coppice Vicarage Household

  Thomas H. Edwards	49	Vicar of Bishopswood	b. Shropshire
  Mary A. Edwards	29	Second Wife	b. India
  Edith Edwards	19	Daughter	b. Benthall, Shropshire
  Charles Edwards	13	Son	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Ethel Edwards	1	Daughter	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Anne Thomas	31	Cook	b. Radnor, Wales
  Mary A. Bigg	16	Nurse	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Mary Worthing	14	Housemaid	b. Gloucestershire

  1881 – The Coppice Vicarage Household

  Charles Constance	46	Vicar of Bishopswood	b. Norfolk
  Phebe Constance	34	Wife	b. Huddersfield, Yorkshire
  Anne E. Watts	18	Cook	b. Norfolk
  Elizabeth Mally	16	Parlour Maid	b. Elton, Herefordshire

  1901 – The Coppice Household

  William O.N. Shaw	54	JP Living on own means	b. Cheshire
  Marie O. Shaw	39	Wife	b. France
  Henry O.N. Shaw	11	Son	b. Cheshire
  Corvine O.E. Shaw	9	Daughter	b. Cheshire
  John R.N. Shaw	7	Son	b. Cheshire
  Charles Moth	41	Cook	b. West Cowes, Isle of Wight
  Tom Wood	20	Footman	b. Bridstow, Herefordshire
  Mary J. Matthews	49	Nurse	b. Totnes, Devon
  Jessie Morley	21	Nursemaid	b. Birmingham, Warwickshire
  Susan Sallaize	28	Lady’s Maid	b. Guernsey
  Clara A. Morris	30	Housemaid	b. Gloucester
  Elsie Lewis	18	Under Housemaid	b. Crow Hill, Herefordshire
  Lizzie Shills	21	Kitchenmaid	b. Eastington, Gloucestershire

  1911 – The Coppice Household

  Robert Holme Storey	38	Barrister at Law	b. Grange, Westmoreland
  Beatrice Maud Storey	27	Wife	b. Woolton, Lancashire
  Thomas William Storey	1	Son	b. London
  Mary Jane Jones	57	Cook	b. Bangor, Caernarvenshire
  Mary Elizabeth Heroll (?)	27	Lady’s Maid	b. Newstead, Nottinghamshire
  George Ernest August Ludwig Reinhault	43	Butler	b. Germany, German Citizen
  Mary Younie	27	Laundress	b. Elgin
  Katharine Jones	24	Parlour Maid	b. Denbyshire
  Annie Williams	24	Housemaid	b. Llangollen, Denbyshire
  Beatrice Annie Jones	18	Housemaid	b. Walford, Herefordshire
  Margaret Pollitt	47	Nurse	B. Redcliffe,Lancashire
  Mary Kettle	21	Kitchen Maid	b. Winsford, Cheshire
  Annie Jones	23	Scullery Maid	b. Denbyshire
  Margaret Ellen Hughes	17	Laundry Maid	b. Anglesey, North Wales
  Hannah Griffiths	16	Housemaid	b. Denbyshire

  1921 – The Coppice Household

  Roy Frederick Storey	b. Ross on Wye, Herefordshire 1913	Son
  Ellen Maud Hill	b. Cheddar, Somerset 1881	Governess
  Mary Jane Jones	b. Wales 1853	Housekeeper
  Edith Susan Haines	b. Yatton, Herefordshire 1890	Housemaid
  Edith Mary Vaughan	b. Hildersley, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire 1904	Scullery Maid
  Louisa Mary Richardson	b. Walford, Herefordshire 1879	Parlour Maid
  Elizabeth Mary Phillips	b. Foy, Herefordshire 1886	Laundress
  Eva Myrtle Yemm (?)	b. Ruardean, Gloucestershire 1900	Kitchen Maid
  Edith May Yemm (?)	b. Ruardean, Gloucestershire 1902	Housemaid

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1844 – Children Burn to Death at Walford

Sorry, here is the inevitable sample death by burning……so so many  children died in this way in the 19th century.

John Whittaker aged 3 died in Walford when his clothes caught fire one morning in March.

Coroners were pleading with mothers not to leave their children alone with the fire burning, and to dress them in cotton rather than  more combustible materials.

1848 – Accidental Death of Walford Man

John Davies, a 20 year old single man, was desperate for work as a wagoner, and called on Mr. Butt of the Paddock in Walford to try his luck.

Mr. Butt said that he didn’t need anyone, but if he decided to change his wagoner he would immediately consider him.  However John Davies was so anxious to gain employment that he begged Mr. Butt to let him drive his team of horses to fetch lime.

Mr. Butt gave in, but when John was on his way back (observed by a ten year old lad, Thomas Howell) he apparently was driving the horses at a fair gallop and was flogging the leading horse to go faster.  This may have been something of an exaggeration, given that it would not have been possible for John to have kept up with galloping horses, but still it was clear that he was desperately trying to show how fast he could complete a job.

Unfortunately, John tripped and fell down, and went under the wheels of the wagon.

The lad ran for his mother who sent men to fetch John, and they carried him on a hurdle to Mr. Butt’s house.

Mr. Edward Jones, a surgeon from Ross on Wye, visited John first at his master’s house, and then later at the Union Workhouse.  There were extensive injuries to his right thigh and bowels, with a severe injury of the bladder although no bones were broken.

John Davies lived for six days before succombing to mortification of the affected parts.

1864 – Fatal Fall at Walford

Charles Walters, a married man aged 38 was working as bailiff to John Partridge of Bishop’s Wood.

On 19th April, he was up a ladder helping to load straw when he slipped and fell some sixteen feet, landing on the prong of a pike which went into the calf of one leg.

The doctor was called, a William Symonds Rootes, and he found no fractures but noticed a severe wound on his head and another on the inside of his left leg.   Charles was conscious and after treatment it was decided that there was no concussion so he was eventually taken home on a cart.

Charles appeared to do well, but suddenly on 28th April he started to shiver uncontrollably and the veins in his leg became very inflamed.  A violent fever ensued, and he soon died.

Cause of death was put down to Phlebitis.

1877 – The Walford Indecent Assault Case

Richard Roberts, Thomas Mutlow and Albert Probert, three Walford lads who were on bail, were indicted for unlawfully and indecently assaulting and illtreating Emily Teague at Walford on 14th October.

To the enormous surprise of the court, the verdict of not guilty was returned.

1877 – No Dog License for Walford Man

Mark Prew, a Sawyer of Walford, was brought before the court charged with having a dog without a license.  He had been very ill during the spring, but earned good money when in work, although the closure of the Walford Steam Saw Mills saw him without employment.

He had always managed to pay the dog license before, and in fact his wife paid the fee the day after it was due.

The prosecutor was Mr. Baylis, supervisor of the Inland Revenue, and he imposed a mitigated fine of 25s, but was urged to mitigate the penalty further in view of the above.