Wellington, Herefordshire - Kelly's Directory, 1858

Extract from Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire, 1858

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, is a long straggling village, delightfully situate in a vale surrounded by hills, distant 5½ miles north from Hereford, 2½ south-west from Moreton Railway Station, and 8 south from Leominster, in Grimsworth Hundred, Hereford Union, Weston deanery, Hereford archdeaconry and bishopric; It is situated on the Leominster and Hereford turnpike road. The church of St. Margaret is an ancient stone building in the Norman and Early English style of architecture, with square tower containing 5 bells; the interior consists of two aisles, chancel, and font. In the chancel there is a brass monument to the memory of Sir Herbert Perrott. The living is a vicarage, commuted at £250 yearly, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester, and there is a prebendal farm belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, of about 49 acres. There are two small Endowed schools for boys and girls, and there is a Sunday School held in the church. BURGHOPE HOUSE was formerly the seat of the ancient families of Goodyere and Dinely. It was a fine mansion, having ancient mullioned windows, with projecting pointed gables, and curious picturesque chimneys. Sir John Dinely, the last Baronet of the family, sold it to Governor Peachey, afterwards Lord Selsea, about 80 years ago. The late Earl Coningsby of Hampton Court, was used to fancy, in his latter years, that all the most valuable estates in this district belonged to him, and one day, full of this imagination, personally demanded possession of Burghope House, with sword in hand. Sir John Goodyere, who was as mad as his lordship, being informed of this strange and unexpected requisition, immediately sallied from his house inflamed with fury, mounted his house, and drawing his sword, with the true spirit of chivalry, challenged his lordship to decode the matter by single combat. The latter, perceiving the resolute countenance of the knight, turned the head of his horse, and clapping spurs, valiantly rode away with the utmost speed, pursued with vengeful ire by Sir John, and but just able to shelter himself under his own roof from the stroke of his infuriated opponent.. Sir John was afterwards seized in Bristol, and dragged on board a West-India ship, was there privately murdered, by order of his brother, Captain Samuel Goodyere, who was heir to his possessions. This dark and sanguinary transaction being discovered, the ambitious and inhuman fratricide, with his accomplices, expiated their atrocious crime by public execution. DINMORE HOUSE (St. John's) is an extra parochial, beautifully situated on a hill. The population, in 1851, was 689, and the acreage is 2,538. The soil is red loam, and the subsoil is gravel. W. T. K. Davies, Esq., is lord of the manor; and W. T. K. Davies, Esq., John Harris, Esq., and the Rev. Thomas King, are chief landowners. The land is very fertile and produces apples, hops, wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, and swedes. There are six almshouses left by Sir Herbert Perrott, for aged men, with an endowment of £20 per annum, also a new pair of shoes and a coat for each. There are additional charities of £15 yearly value. Mrs. Hannah Handley, a native of this place, died in November 1855, at the advanced age of 104 years.

   POST OFFICE. - George Allen, sub postmaster. Letters arrive from Hereford, 10 a.m.; despatched thereto at 2 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Hereford

   Endowed School, James John Jones, master, Mrs. Ann Jones, mistress

CARRIERS
HEREFORD - Mrs. Mary Rowberry, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday	WORCESTER - John Turner, Friday, returning on Saturday
MISCELLANEOUS
Allen George, wheelwright & carpenter	Langford William, shoemaker
Amiss John, wheelwright & carpenter, Tanhouse	Morris William, wheelwright & carpenter
Bishop Frederick, Bridge Inn and Commercial House	Pitt Henry, blacksmith
Bowen William D., butcher and Maltster	Shepherd Rev. Thomas, B.A., Vicarage
Jones James, schoolmaster	Smith Thomas Hiles, Miller
FARMERS
Aldridge Thomas, farmer, Bridge Lane	Jones William, farmer, Farm
Bithell Richard, farmer, Vetchy Lands	Morvin Thomas, farmer, Moorcroft
Davies George, Bridge Farm	Proctor George Henry, farmer, Court House
Gravenor Richard, farmer, Church House	Taylor Joseph, farmer, Stocks House
Hayes Wm., farmer, Burghope	Trusted Charles, Wootton Farm

[Transcribed by Richard Lane in December 2002
from a copy of Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire, 1858 in Hereford Central Library]