Baron Robert Price

Born 14th January 1653 Robert Price was to become Common Councilman for Hereford; Town Clerk for Gloucester; Attorney General, Glamorgan; Steward to Queen Catherine of Braganza; council member in the Marches of Wales; Second Justice on the Brecon Circuit; Serjeant at Law and Baron of the Exchequer.

He had a rather wicked tongue, but was a smooth enough talker to get himself out of trouble although he himself was rather easily offended!

In 1679 Baron Robert Price married Ann Rodd who was one of the heiresses to Foxley.and in 1717 he set about building a mansion there.

When he found that his wife was having an affair with the son of Thomas Neale, her cousin, Robert sued Neale for enticing his wife away and making her pregnant – he won £1,500 damages, but Price refused to divorce her. They agreed on an amicable separation, and he gave her £400 pounds a year with an annuity of £120 in his will. All previous settlements were revoked, so that he had sole and happy possession of his wife’s inheritance!

Robert Price was a keen politician and also made very sure that he was liked by the Hanoverian Court before the death of Queen Anne, and was made Judge of the Common Please by George II. He died in Kensington in 1733 and was buried at Yazor.

In his will he left many bequests to the poor, as well as a maintenance for a Minister to read morning and evening prayers in a Hereford church.

Sir Uvedale Price

Foxley Manor passed down to Sir Uvedale Price, grandson of Robert, and he made his mark on the estate by enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape rather than creating the more formal gardens favoured at the time, inspired by his visit to Switzerland during his Grand Tour where he fell in love with the glorious and natural scenery. he also bought more land to extend the estate at Foxley.
Sir Uvedale had an essay published on the subject in 1794.

Uvedale Price died at the age of 39 on 6th November 1844 at Bishopstone.

Sadly,  Sir Uvedale Price’s son Sir Robert got himself into heavy debt, and the whole estate was put up for sale in 1855

It was described thus:

The noble and extensive domain of Foxley with the manors and advowsons, one of the most influential and important residential estates in the country within eight miles of the city of Hereford.

The accommodation was suitable for a large establishment and family of wealth and distinction.  There was an entrance and inner hall;  dining room;  billiard room;  library and study, as well as a suite of rooms used as a saloon, breakfast room and drawing room.

There were numerous bedrooms, dressing rooms, servants quarters and Housekeeper and Butler rooms.

Within the estate were more than three farmhouses, as well as a water corn mill;  blacksmith’s and Wheelwright’s shops, and many cottages for workpeople and their families.

John Davenport and the Rev. George Horatio Davenport

Foxley Manor was sold to John Davenport in 1856, who proceeded to rebuild much of the house. John Davenport was the eldest son of a china manufactuer; when he died in 1862 his second son the Rev George Horatio Davenport inherited the house and he in his turn made huge improvements and renovations to the estate buildings.

The Rev. George Davenport arranged a marriage with Miss Dashwood of Stanford Hall in 1866, and the  day was observed as a general holiday on the Foxley Estate.

The band of the Herefordshire Militia were engaged, and there was much dancing, singing and other amusements, with tea and plum cake for the children.

It was also discussed that a stained glass window be made for the church in commemoration of the event, and this memorial window was duly made at the extensive stained glass works of Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

In WW2 the Americans used Foxley Manor as a military hospital, and after that the house became dilapidated and was eventually demolished in 1948 although the 19th century stable block survives and has been converted for residential use.

1861 – Foxley Manor Household

1881 – Foxley Manor Household

1891 – Foxley Manor Household

1901 – Foxley Manor Household

1911 – Foxley Manor Household

 
This church was built in the mid 19th century, mostly paid for by the Price family. Unfortunately, the architect, George Moore, was unable to complete the task due to increasing insanity and the completion of the church, including the spire, was undertaken by the then Rector, Revd. R.L. Freer.

The new church was consecrated at the beginning of December 1851, with the ceremonies beginning at midday, and the following description was in the Hereford Times:

“The church is in form, a cross of early English style, built of two descriptions of stone from the neighbouring quarries of Sir Robert Price;  the one, which is of peculiarly fine grain and quality, as well as of extreme hardness, forming the windows and doorways, and the angles of the building, the other, which is of a coarser grain.

The new church was commenced by the late Mr. Uvedale Price, and is beautifully situated on the right of the road from Hereford to Kington, on a sunny knoll, near the entrance to the Foxley grounds, commanding a lovely view of the valley of the Wye, rich with its native vest of oak and elm and ash, and bounded by the distant line of the Black Mountains, whilst the glorious wood of Foxley and the well known hill called “Lady Lift” form a background of surpassing richness and a secure shelter from the north and east”.

Monumental Brass

Within the church was a beautiful monumental brass by Hardman of Birmingham in memory of Uvedale Price, the founder.  It had a decorated cross of Calvary, with an elevation of the church in the centre, and at the foot an inscription…

In memory of Uvedale Thomas Shudd Price M.A. of Mongewell House in the county of Oxford, only son of the Rev. Robert Price L.L.D, Prebendary of Durham and Canon of Salisbury Cathedral;  brother to Mary Ann Elizabeth, wife of Sir Robert Price of Foxley, Bart.  He was zealous for the honor of his Maker’s house and began to build this church, the ancient one of this parish being dilapidated by time.   But it pleased Almighty God to call him home before his work was ended.  He died at Bishopstone, Nov. 6th 1844 aged 39 years.

This church was declared redundant in 1986 but remained consencrated, and it was one of 9 Herefordshire churches to be rescued by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Recently, a wonderful concert was held in thechurch, covering a wide range of music, all made possible by the restoration of the dilapidated organ to full working order.

Epitaph from Old Stone in Graveyard of Original Church

“Neare to this place

Interrd are laid five

little and one larger

Maid who lived Sweet

Babes but little Space

But Martha lived seven

Years at leaft thrice hap

they to die so foun for had

they lived its ten to one what

others do they would have

done their names in verfe I

cant compofe therefore Ive

Put them down in Profe.

Lucy Mary Suky Sar

Elizabeth & Martha

the Children of Thomas Watkins

and Sibil his Wife

of this parifh of Yazor”

Churches of Yazor

• St. Mary the Virgin - Estate Church - Yazor

  The Estate Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Yazor stands by the main road in a fairly isolated setting. The tall narrow spire is quite a landmark, and can be seen for miles along the Wye Valley.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   
  This church was built in the mid 19th century, mostly paid for by the Price family. Unfortunately, the architect, George Moore, was unable to complete the task due to increasing insanity and the completion of the church, including the spire, was undertaken by the then Rector, Revd. R.L. Freer.

  The new church was consecrated at the beginning of December 1851, with the ceremonies beginning at midday, and the following description was in the Hereford Times:

  “The church is in form, a cross of early English style, built of two descriptions of stone from the neighbouring quarries of Sir Robert Price;  the one, which is of peculiarly fine grain and quality, as well as of extreme hardness, forming the windows and doorways, and the angles of the building, the other, which is of a coarser grain.

  The new church was commenced by the late Mr. Uvedale Price, and is beautifully situated on the right of the road from Hereford to Kington, on a sunny knoll, near the entrance to the Foxley grounds, commanding a lovely view of the valley of the Wye, rich with its native vest of oak and elm and ash, and bounded by the distant line of the Black Mountains, whilst the glorious wood of Foxley and the well known hill called “Lady Lift” form a background of surpassing richness and a secure shelter from the north and east”.

  Monumental Brass

  Within the church was a beautiful monumental brass by Hardman of Birmingham in memory of Uvedale Price, the founder.  It had a decorated cross of Calvary, with an elevation of the church in the centre, and at the foot an inscription…

  In memory of Uvedale Thomas Shudd Price M.A. of Mongewell House in the county of Oxford, only son of the Rev. Robert Price L.L.D, Prebendary of Durham and Canon of Salisbury Cathedral;  brother to Mary Ann Elizabeth, wife of Sir Robert Price of Foxley, Bart.  He was zealous for the honor of his Maker’s house and began to build this church, the ancient one of this parish being dilapidated by time.   But it pleased Almighty God to call him home before his work was ended.  He died at Bishopstone, Nov. 6th 1844 aged 39 years.

   

  This church was declared redundant in 1986 but remained consencrated, and it was one of 9 Herefordshire churches to be rescued by the Churches Conservation Trust.

  Recently, a wonderful concert was held in thechurch, covering a wide range of music, all made possible by the restoration of the dilapidated organ to full working order.

  Epitaph from Old Stone in Graveyard of Original Church

  “Neare to this place

  Interrd are laid five

  little and one larger

  Maid who lived Sweet

  Babes but little Space

  But Martha lived seven

  Years at leaft thrice hap

  they to die so foun for had

  they lived its ten to one what

  others do they would have

  done their names in verfe I

  cant compofe therefore Ive

  Put them down in Profe.

  Lucy Mary Suky Sar

  Elizabeth & Martha

  the Children of Thomas Watkins

  and Sibil his Wife

  of this parifh of Yazor”

   

   

   

  Read More >

News from the Past Yazor

• Yazor News from the Past

  The marriage of John H. Arkwright;  deaths and additional verse to the National Anthem

  1834 – Suicide of Thomas Jones

  Thomas Jones, aged around 60, was a respected married man of Yazor who had formerly lived with Sir Robert Price at Foxley.

  He then boarded with a Mr. Matthews for a while before marrying late in life, when he lived with his wife and her family , rather unhappily it turned out.  Not only that, but he also had bowel disease and was a bit of a depressive.

  All in all it became too much for the poor chap and he wrote a note to Mr. Matthews, detailing complaints of domestic unhappiness and saying what he wanted for his funeral, then with the aid of a stick to pull the trigger, he shot himself in the chest.

  Sadly, the verdict at the inquest was Insanity.

   

  1843 – The first Stone of the New Parish Church at Yazor

  At the end of March 1843, the first stone of the new parish church at Yazor was laid by Lady Price on a lovely dry sunny day.

  The day was declared a holiday throughout the parish, and there was much good cheer provided by the baronet of Foxley.

  For the consecration in December 1851, please go to Yazor Church.

  1850 – Child Burns to Death

  Mary Lawrence, a married woman with four children living at Yazor, sent her four children out into the field in February 1850 to light a fire in order to scare the crows away.

  After about half an hour, Mary’s eldest son ran to find her, saying that the baby Robert aged one year was burning, and when she ran to to him she immediately pulled off all his clothes.

  He was however very badly burned, so she put oil on the wounds, but he died a few hours later.

  1852 – Boy Dragged by Racehorse

  Edwin Jones, a young boy, was asked to hold a mare at the end of a day of racing at Yazor Annual Races in October 1852.

  It seems that Edwin was unable to resist climbing on board even though it had been forbidden, and in company with another lad in charge of another horse, he set off down the course.  He was too small to reach the stirrup irons with his feet so instead he jammed them into the leathers;  they avoided the fences across the course, but ended up amongst some trees with low branches which eventually knocked the lad out of the saddle.

  Unfortunately, when he fell, his right foot was stuck in the leather and the mare panicked – kicking and plunging before dragging the boy some 150 yards before she was caught by people who had seen what was going on.  They managed to cut the girth on the saddle to release Edwin, and carried him to the Lion Inn where Mr. Lomax, the Weobley surgeon, was summoned.

  Unfortunately, Edwin had a fractured skull amongst his numerous severe injuries, and he died before Mr. Lomax could do anything to help.

  1855 – Death of Mr. Hancocks of Foxley

  Mr. Hancocks had not been in good health for some years, suffering from vertigo, giddiness and gout.

  One day in September 1855 he attended Hereford market, but on his way home he fell off his horse at Credenhill.  His wife and others hastened in a carriage to fetch him, and once home he insisted that he was fine;  his family thought otherwise and made him go to bed whilst they called for Mr. Lomax, a surgeon from Weobley.

  Mr. Lomax said at the inquest that he found Mr. Hancocks unconscious, with blood pouring from both ears.  He found a wound on the scalp and another on his back, but thought that there was no fracture of the skull.  He administered care and remedies, and went home.

  The next day, Mr. Lomax called to see how Mr. Hancocks was doing, and then called again the following day, when he found that he had a bleed onto the brain (how did they know in those days??).  The next morning, Mr. Hancocks was dead.

  The verdict was that Mr. Hancocks could have fallen off his horse after suffering one of his giddy spells, and that effusion of blood on the brain caused his death.

  1858 – Additional stanza to National Anthem

  The following extra verse to the National Anthem was written by the Archdeacon of Hereford, and was sung by the National School children of Yazor at the marriage of the Hon. and Rev. A Bateman Hanbury to Miss Davenport

  O Lord upon Thy care

  Of this day’s happy pair

  Our hope depends;

  Do thou their days increase

  In love, and health, and peace.

  God save our friends.

  1863 – Sad death from Exposure at Yazor

  Joseph Lane aged 70, was spotted at the Norton Canon turnpike in the back of a cart – he was clearly extremely unwell, and shortly afterwards took his last breath.

  Apparently he had been seen the previous week, and was poorly then – despite the kindness of people who gave him sustenance and aid, he was unable to recover.

  The verdict at his inquest was that he died of cold and exposure to cold.

   

   

   

  1866 – Preparations for the Marriage of John H. Arkwright at Yazor Church

  The wedding was planned for Tuesday 12th June 1866 at Yazor Church, and the day was taken as a general holiday for the Foxley Estate.

  The band of the Herefordshire Militia was hired, and all the leading tenants and their friends would be given lunch after the wedding, with dancing and old English sports, as well as donkey races and other entertainment.

  The children were to be plied with tea and plum cake, provided by Mr. Davenport.

  The presents, amongst other things, consisted of silver epergnes for the dinner table given by the tenantry of Foxley, and a frosted silver cruet stand from the children of Foxley school.  Also, a great deal of money was pledged for a memorial to the marriage to be erected in Yazor church, consisting of a lovely stained glass window designed by Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Bayne, the celebrated artistes of Garrick Street, Covent Garden. The window was said to rival any of its kind seen in Herefordshire.

  The Herefordshire Hunt gave their Master a golden horn.

  1867 – Hops at Yazor

  In the 1867 season the hop plantations around Yazor were doing pretty well, with the bines being strong and healthy.  However, there was a blight and lice problem, althought this did not seem to affect the yield.

  Elsewhere in Herefordshire, the hopyards were not so healthy and the crop was not expected to be good.

   

   

   

  Read More >

Buildings of Yazor

• Foxley Manor House - History

  The incredibly impressive Foxley manor house is sadly no longer in existence but it must have been one of the most important houses in Herefordshire, if not the Country.

  Baron Robert Price

  Born 14th January 1653 Robert Price was to become Common Councilman for Hereford; Town Clerk for Gloucester; Attorney General, Glamorgan; Steward to Queen Catherine of Braganza; council member in the Marches of Wales; Second Justice on the Brecon Circuit; Serjeant at Law and Baron of the Exchequer.

  He had a rather wicked tongue, but was a smooth enough talker to get himself out of trouble although he himself was rather easily offended!

  In 1679 Baron Robert Price married Ann Rodd who was one of the heiresses to Foxley.and in 1717 he set about building a mansion there.

  When he found that his wife was having an affair with the son of Thomas Neale, her cousin, Robert sued Neale for enticing his wife away and making her pregnant – he won £1,500 damages, but Price refused to divorce her. They agreed on an amicable separation, and he gave her £400 pounds a year with an annuity of £120 in his will. All previous settlements were revoked, so that he had sole and happy possession of his wife’s inheritance!

  Robert Price was a keen politician and also made very sure that he was liked by the Hanoverian Court before the death of Queen Anne, and was made Judge of the Common Please by George II. He died in Kensington in 1733 and was buried at Yazor.

  In his will he left many bequests to the poor, as well as a maintenance for a Minister to read morning and evening prayers in a Hereford church.

  Sir Uvedale Price

  Foxley Manor passed down to Sir Uvedale Price, grandson of Robert, and he made his mark on the estate by enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape rather than creating the more formal gardens favoured at the time, inspired by his visit to Switzerland during his Grand Tour where he fell in love with the glorious and natural scenery. he also bought more land to extend the estate at Foxley.
  Sir Uvedale had an essay published on the subject in 1794.

  Uvedale Price died at the age of 39 on 6th November 1844 at Bishopstone.

  Sadly,  Sir Uvedale Price’s son Sir Robert got himself into heavy debt, and the whole estate was put up for sale in 1855

  It was described thus:

  The noble and extensive domain of Foxley with the manors and advowsons, one of the most influential and important residential estates in the country within eight miles of the city of Hereford.

  The accommodation was suitable for a large establishment and family of wealth and distinction.  There was an entrance and inner hall;  dining room;  billiard room;  library and study, as well as a suite of rooms used as a saloon, breakfast room and drawing room.

  There were numerous bedrooms, dressing rooms, servants quarters and Housekeeper and Butler rooms.

  Within the estate were more than three farmhouses, as well as a water corn mill;  blacksmith’s and Wheelwright’s shops, and many cottages for workpeople and their families.

  John Davenport and the Rev. George Horatio Davenport

  Foxley Manor was sold to John Davenport in 1856, who proceeded to rebuild much of the house. John Davenport was the eldest son of a china manufactuer; when he died in 1862 his second son the Rev George Horatio Davenport inherited the house and he in his turn made huge improvements and renovations to the estate buildings.

  The Rev. George Davenport arranged a marriage with Miss Dashwood of Stanford Hall in 1866, and the  day was observed as a general holiday on the Foxley Estate.

  The band of the Herefordshire Militia were engaged, and there was much dancing, singing and other amusements, with tea and plum cake for the children.

  It was also discussed that a stained glass window be made for the church in commemoration of the event, and this memorial window was duly made at the extensive stained glass works of Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

  In WW2 the Americans used Foxley Manor as a military hospital, and after that the house became dilapidated and was eventually demolished in 1948 although the 19th century stable block survives and has been converted for residential use.

   

  1861 – Foxley Manor Household

  John Davenport	61	Magistrate of the County	b. Staffordshire
  Charlotte Davenport	53	Wife	b. Liverpool, Lancashire
  Harry Davenport	27	Son, Barrister	b. Liverpool, Lancashire
  Diana Eliza Davenport	22	Daughter	b. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
  Charlotte Lucy Davenport	21	Daughter	b. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
  William Coller	42	Butler	b. Somerset
  James Hegg	21	Footman	b. Derbyshire
  John Baker	21	Groom	b. Staffordshire
  Robert Barnard	52	House Servant	b. Bedfordshire
  Rhoda Martin	41	Housekeeper	b. Staffordshire
  Margaret Martin	36	Lady’s Maid	b. Staffordshire
  Helen Fairhouse	46	Laundress	b. Midlothian
  Eleanor Picthall	27	House Maid	b. Lancashire
  Martha Lewis	24	House Maid	b. Montgomeryshire
  Sarah Bayley	29	Cook	b. Shropshire
  Letitia Gilbert	17	Kitchen Maid	b. Staffordshire

  1881 – Foxley Manor Household

  Selina Broughton	51	Annuitant’s Wife	b. Staffordshire
  Rosamond Broughton	19	Daughter	b. Staffordshire
  Evelyn Broughton	16	Daughter	b. Staffordshire
  Florence Broughton	14	Daughter	b. Staffordshire
  Eleanor Broughton	12	Daughter	b. Staffordshire
  Amy Broughton	9	Daughter	b. Brussels, Belgium
  Augustus Lee	33	Visitor, vicar of Yazor parish church	b. South Raynham, Norfolk
  Sophia Auselmine	35	Governess	b. Baden, Manheim
  Hannah Williams	36	Cook	b. Wales
  Emily Perry	25	Lady’s Maid	b. Somerset
  Lily Lucas	18	Lady’s Maid	b. Dover
  Rosina Masterman	29	Lady’s Maid	b. Germany
  Ellen Carter	20	Housemaid	b. Oxford
  Elizabeth Powell	25	Housemaid	b. Herefordshire
  Mary Ann Pearce	25	Laundress	b. Herefordshire
  Elizabeth Hood	18	Kitchenmaid	b. Herefordshire
  James Draper	39	Butler	b. Berkshire
  Dominic Myath	22	Gardener	b. Staffordshire
  William Preece	26	Coachman	b. Moccas, Herefordshire
  Afred Seiger	22	Footman
  Arthur Steele	18	Groom	b. Herefordshire
  William Raiswell	14	Groom	b. Staffordshire

  1891 – Foxley Manor Household

  George Horatio Davenport	58	Vicar and Magistrate for Herefordshire	b. Staffordshire
  Sophy Diana Davenport	56	Wife	b. Nottinghamshire
  Ralph Tichborne Davenport	18	Son	b. London
  Henry Worthing	26	Butler	b. Herefordshire
  Isaac Groom	17	Footman	b. Shropshire
  Martha Found	27	Cook	b. Staffordshire
  Eva L. Jackson	20	Lady’s Maid
  Martha Connington	49	Housemaid	b. Rutland
  Margaret Adams	20	Kitchen Maid	b. Gloucestershire
  Mary A. Ines	19	Under Housemaid	b. Gloucestershire

  1901 – Foxley Manor Household

  Ralph T. Hinckes	27	Captain Militia Regt.	b. London, Middlesex
  Isabel Henderson	31	Cook	b. Scotland
  Laura Garbett	21	Housemaid	b. Bromyard, Worcestershire
  Jane Jones	22	Kitchenmaid	b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire
  Frank Kirk	22	Valet	b. Ireland

  1911 – Foxley Manor Household

  George Horatio Davenport	78	Clergyman	b. Staffordshire
  Sophy Diana Davenport	76	Wife	b. Nottinghamshire
  Ralph Hinckes	38	Stockbroker	b. London
  Frances Hinckes	27	Daughter in Law	b. not known
  Martha Sales	33	Nurse, Masseuse	b. Chichester
  Emily Bishop	42	Lady’s Maid	b. Honiton, Devon
  Elizabeth Houghton	46	Cook	b. Rednal
  Elizabeth Weaver	25	Kitchenmaid	b. Hay, Breconshire
  Mary Marsh	17	Scullery Maid	b. Hentland, Herefordshire
  Bessie Boyd	28	Housemaid	b. Halton Shield
  Daisy Williams	16	Housemaid	b. Chepstow, Monmouthshire
  Worthy Vickery	28	Butler	b. Thornford
  Albert Cartwright	20	Oddman	b. Bonington
  Richard Gibbons	16	Groom	b. Monington on Wye, Herefordshire

  Read More >

1834 – Suicide of Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones, aged around 60, was a respected married man of Yazor who had formerly lived with Sir Robert Price at Foxley.

He then boarded with a Mr. Matthews for a while before marrying late in life, when he lived with his wife and her family , rather unhappily it turned out.  Not only that, but he also had bowel disease and was a bit of a depressive.

All in all it became too much for the poor chap and he wrote a note to Mr. Matthews, detailing complaints of domestic unhappiness and saying what he wanted for his funeral, then with the aid of a stick to pull the trigger, he shot himself in the chest.

Sadly, the verdict at the inquest was Insanity.

1843 – The first Stone of the New Parish Church at Yazor

At the end of March 1843, the first stone of the new parish church at Yazor was laid by Lady Price on a lovely dry sunny day.

The day was declared a holiday throughout the parish, and there was much good cheer provided by the baronet of Foxley.

For the consecration in December 1851, please go to Yazor Church.

1850 – Child Burns to Death

Mary Lawrence, a married woman with four children living at Yazor, sent her four children out into the field in February 1850 to light a fire in order to scare the crows away.

After about half an hour, Mary’s eldest son ran to find her, saying that the baby Robert aged one year was burning, and when she ran to to him she immediately pulled off all his clothes.

He was however very badly burned, so she put oil on the wounds, but he died a few hours later.

1852 – Boy Dragged by Racehorse

Edwin Jones, a young boy, was asked to hold a mare at the end of a day of racing at Yazor Annual Races in October 1852.

It seems that Edwin was unable to resist climbing on board even though it had been forbidden, and in company with another lad in charge of another horse, he set off down the course.  He was too small to reach the stirrup irons with his feet so instead he jammed them into the leathers;  they avoided the fences across the course, but ended up amongst some trees with low branches which eventually knocked the lad out of the saddle.

Unfortunately, when he fell, his right foot was stuck in the leather and the mare panicked – kicking and plunging before dragging the boy some 150 yards before she was caught by people who had seen what was going on.  They managed to cut the girth on the saddle to release Edwin, and carried him to the Lion Inn where Mr. Lomax, the Weobley surgeon, was summoned.

Unfortunately, Edwin had a fractured skull amongst his numerous severe injuries, and he died before Mr. Lomax could do anything to help.

1855 – Death of Mr. Hancocks of Foxley

Mr. Hancocks had not been in good health for some years, suffering from vertigo, giddiness and gout.

One day in September 1855 he attended Hereford market, but on his way home he fell off his horse at Credenhill.  His wife and others hastened in a carriage to fetch him, and once home he insisted that he was fine;  his family thought otherwise and made him go to bed whilst they called for Mr. Lomax, a surgeon from Weobley.

Mr. Lomax said at the inquest that he found Mr. Hancocks unconscious, with blood pouring from both ears.  He found a wound on the scalp and another on his back, but thought that there was no fracture of the skull.  He administered care and remedies, and went home.

The next day, Mr. Lomax called to see how Mr. Hancocks was doing, and then called again the following day, when he found that he had a bleed onto the brain (how did they know in those days??).  The next morning, Mr. Hancocks was dead.

The verdict was that Mr. Hancocks could have fallen off his horse after suffering one of his giddy spells, and that effusion of blood on the brain caused his death.

1858 – Additional stanza to National Anthem

The following extra verse to the National Anthem was written by the Archdeacon of Hereford, and was sung by the National School children of Yazor at the marriage of the Hon. and Rev. A Bateman Hanbury to Miss Davenport

O Lord upon Thy care

Of this day’s happy pair

Our hope depends;

Do thou their days increase

In love, and health, and peace.

God save our friends.

1863 – Sad death from Exposure at Yazor

Joseph Lane aged 70, was spotted at the Norton Canon turnpike in the back of a cart – he was clearly extremely unwell, and shortly afterwards took his last breath.

Apparently he had been seen the previous week, and was poorly then – despite the kindness of people who gave him sustenance and aid, he was unable to recover.

The verdict at his inquest was that he died of cold and exposure to cold.

1866 – Preparations for the Marriage of John H. Arkwright at Yazor Church

The wedding was planned for Tuesday 12th June 1866 at Yazor Church, and the day was taken as a general holiday for the Foxley Estate.

The band of the Herefordshire Militia was hired, and all the leading tenants and their friends would be given lunch after the wedding, with dancing and old English sports, as well as donkey races and other entertainment.

The children were to be plied with tea and plum cake, provided by Mr. Davenport.

The presents, amongst other things, consisted of silver epergnes for the dinner table given by the tenantry of Foxley, and a frosted silver cruet stand from the children of Foxley school.  Also, a great deal of money was pledged for a memorial to the marriage to be erected in Yazor church, consisting of a lovely stained glass window designed by Messrs. Heaton, Butler and Bayne, the celebrated artistes of Garrick Street, Covent Garden. The window was said to rival any of its kind seen in Herefordshire.

The Herefordshire Hunt gave their Master a golden horn.

1867 – Hops at Yazor

In the 1867 season the hop plantations around Yazor were doing pretty well, with the bines being strong and healthy.  However, there was a blight and lice problem, althought this did not seem to affect the yield.

Elsewhere in Herefordshire, the hopyards were not so healthy and the crop was not expected to be good.