The original house is thought to be 15^th century, and was built on the site of a Roman encampment, Ariconium – it was doubtless the scene of many  battles between contending armies and a great many Roman coins and other relics have been turned up by the plough in the fields adjoining the house.   Included in these are some fine old bronze coins in mint condition, amongst which were those embossed with Caesar, Agrippa and others.  Sadly much of the site of Ariconium was destroyed in 1785.

Richard Ap Meryk

In 1441 Richard Ap Meryk was born in the house, and he later became the customs officer to Henry VII and then the founder member of Bristol’s Society of Merchant Adventurers;  he ended up with his own Merchant’s Mark – basically a trade mark – and was exceedingly wealthy.  Richard altered his name to Ameryk, and  rumour has it, that he gave his name to America, and certainly the Meryk family crest which boasts stars and stripes could be the origin of the American Flag.

A descendant, Walter Meyrick, left Bollitree House  as it was known then, to his nephew Thomas Hopkins Merrick from Pencoyd in 1776 and here comes the sorry tale.

Thomas Hopkins Merrick

Thomas Hopkins Merrick was deeply in love with a Spanish lady, but she declared that she couldn’t possibly live in England unless it was to be in a castle – Thomas duly set about transforming the façade of Bollitree House to give it some vague appearance of a castle, but his lady was unimpressed and Thomas was left out of pocket and without his bride.siBder s

By 1789uchow forms someone’s back garden wall, but is visible from the r

By 1789 the hapless Thomas Hopkins Merrick was dead, and his entire stock of farming utensils and impliments etc. were sold by auction.  These consisted of five wagons;  three carts;  ploughs;  drays;  harrows and rolls.  Also all his furniture and household goods, along with a chaise and harness for four horses.

The Palmer Family

It appears that the Palmer family who then took over Bollitree Castle were related in some way to the Merricks as Merrick was used as a middle name for a son for a Palmer descendant.  For many years Mr. George Merrick, a Saddler in Ross on Wye proudly sold Swedish Turnip Seed as grown by Mr. Palmer at Bollitree

A pack of hounds was kept at the castle, and the surrounding countryside provided excellent hunting grounds.  The Castle  also had an excellent reputation for cider production, especially under the Palmer family;  George Palmer made bottled cider and perry which was favourably compared with the best champagne.

George Palmer was also a grower of excellent quality crops, and he was a kindly gentleman who gave many people cause to think of him fondly.  For example, George let the Weston Cricket Club use one of his fields, and this along with other things prompted the Club to present him with a lovely silver goblet.  The inscription read “Presented to George Palmer Esq. by the members of the Weston Cricket Club, in remembrance of his many kindnesses to them.  Season 1868”

In 1903 Bollitree Castle and Estate was put up for sale – “An excellent opportunity will be offered to capitalists, sportsmen and others”.

The description included “the property is highly adapted for a breeder of pedigree stock or for a sportsman, being in the centre of a good hunting district, close to a good market town, with the land in a high state of cultivation.”

It was further said that it was hoped that a thoroughly good sportsman and agriculturist would become the new owner;  live there, and do his utmost to show sport, and, with horse, dog and gun, join in the merry hunt of fur and feather;  as well as the production of blood stock, beef, mutton and corn for which the land is eminently qualified.  The well known strength and quality of Bollitree cider and perry was also mention, and it was hoped that production would continue.

Charles Watkins duly moved into Bollitree Castle in 1903, but whether he had bought the property or was simply renting it I have yet to ascertain.  He was certainly a man of means, and his son C.R. Watkins was selected in the same year to row No. 6 in the Cambridge boat in the following year’s inter varsity boat race.  His weight was 13 stone if anyone is interested!

1841 – Bollitree Castle Household

1851 – Bollitree Castle Household

1861 – Bollitree Castle Household

1871 – Bollitree Castle Household

1881 – Bollitree Castle Household

In 1891 William Marfell was still at Bollitree,

1901 – Bollitree Castle Household

1911 – Bollitree Castle Household

1921 – Bollitree Castle Household

I am not convinced that the transcription of “Gammond” is correct – it actually looks more like Jammond, but I cannot find anything to confirm either name.

John Partridge was guilty of pulling down the remaining ruined walls of Penyard Castle in order to use the stone for his building projects.

In  1856 William Stubbs bought the house and went on to have eight children with his wife Jane Charlotte.  Jane had a special interest in the hospital at Ross on Wye, and paid entirely for a ward there for severely ill people as well as donating land adjoining the recreation ground for the use of the patients ;  she also freely gave to other local charities.

William Stubbs died in 1871 and left the house to his children, but after the death of his son Major General William Henry Stubbs, the house passed into the ownership of his five sisters, and it was then that they changed the name from Lower Weston to Penyard House, as shown on the census returns – it can be confusing because there is a separate Lower Weston House, which is a much older mansion.

The sisters lived at Penyard House for many years, but eventually they decided to leave and in 1900 the house was put up for sale but it repeatedly failed to achieve its reserve;  it was a further two years before it was bought by Robert Law Harkness.

Sales Particulars for the sale of Penyard House

Penyard House – containing handsome and lofty drawing room;  dining room, morning room;  panelled business room;  vestibule;  hall and corridor;  chief and secondary staircases;  17 capacious, lofty and airy bed, dressing and workrooms;  modernly fitted WCs;  bathroom and lavatory with hot and cold;  laundry;  store rooms;  servants hall;  dairy fitted with up to date milk coolers and walls lined with white porcelain tiles;  larders;  pantries and complete culinary offices;  lofty arched cellars with fitted wine bins;  the whole bountifully supplied with water.

Approved drainage system.

Detached and modern stabling for 8 horses;  harness room;  hay and corn rooms;  Coachhouse area for 6 carriages and 2 cottage residences.

At a separate sale in 1902, the following effects belonging to the Misses Stubbs were also on offer:

Superior Broughham Waggonette;  pony carriage, station cart, donkey gig, London and Ross-made saddlery;  capital Cob gelding;  mare donkey;  2 store pigs;  in calf dairy cows and heifers etc.;  poultry, runs and coops;  light road waggons;  carts;  gears;  96 iron hurdles;  farm implements;  garden appointments;  cucumber frames;  greenhouse plants etc.

Also 500 volumes of books;  a grand harmonium in walnut case;  Spanish mahogany book cases with escritoire;  wardrobes;  chests of drawers;  washstand;  dressing and other tables;  cheval glass;  clocks;  china and glass;  iron and brass bedsteads;  feather beds;  mattresses;  linen and glass cupboards;  box mangle and kitchen and culinary requisites.

Robert Law Harkness was born in 1852 in Malvern, and married Mary Robina Tregonwell, but they had no children.  He died in 1914, but Mary stayed in the house until her death in 1824.

Robert Alfred Lowth inherited the house, and he and his wife Nancy Eva Aikin Sneath lived there until 1935 when they sold it and it became the Wye Hotel.

In 1984 the house was bought by the charity The Leadership Trust Foundation, and they sympathetically restored the building and grounds.

Penyard House is now once again a hotel and wedding venue

1851 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1861 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1871 –  Penyard House Household (known as Lower Weston)

1881 –  Penyard House Household

1891 –  Penyard House Household

1901 –  Penyard House Household

1911 –  Penyard House Household

1921 – Penyard House Household