Pirton Courts Chronological History

972AD:

Ten Manses at Pirton were included within the lands said to have been previously granted to the Abbey of Pershore by the Anglo-Saxon King of Mercia, King Coenwulf (796-821). The Manses were restored to the Abbey by charter ascribed to King Edgar dated 972AD.

1086:

The small village of “Peritone” was listed in the Domesday book as being “within the hundred of Pershore”. By 1086 the Abbey had again lost Pirton which “had been granted with the manor of Pershore to the Abbey of Westminster by Edward the confessor” (fn8)

1221:

First trace - The land of Pirton (Pyrtone); “This property may be to some extent identical with land in Pirton granted to William, son of Robert Forester in 1221: by John Poer.” (fn. 50) Habington quotes a deed without date by which William Beauchamp granted to Ralph de Pirton the woods, & (the) court in Pirton. (fn. 51)

1315:

Pirton windmill was held with the manor of Pirton Power in 1315, (fn. 69) when it was worth 6s. yearly, and in 1324–5, (fn. 70) when it was worth 3s. 4d. yearly. In 1327 it was recorded that there was no rent from the mill. (fn. 71)

1315 -1324 :

Pirton Pool The lake (once 50 acres & now 26) was known as 'Le graunt viver' en le wast'. The great fishpond in the 'heathland' is mentioned in 1315 (fn. 73) and 1324, (fn. 74). Between 1341-2 the lake belonged to Margaret de Bulkington with the manor. (fn. 75) “The fishpond yielded a rent of 6s. 8d. in 1315” (fn. 76)

1327:

Master Robert de Pirton contributed to the subsidy. (fn. 55) It seems possible that the property passed from the de Pirton’s to the next owners, the Greets.

1340:

William de Salwarpe and Thomas de Pirton, clerks, granted a messuage and 2 carucates of land in Pirton and Severnstoke to Peter de Greet and his wife Agnes and their son Peter, with remainder successively to the younger Peter's heirs, and to his brothers Bernard, John and Nicholas, his sister Agnes, and the right heirs of Peter. (fn. 56)

1346:

Thomas Lord Berkeley held the estate at Pirton which Thomas had acquired in 1335 of Thomas son of John de Muneter, (fn. 57) and which in 1346 he was said to be holding as successor to Agnes de Ludlow. (fn. 58)

1353:

Greets; This was settled in 1353 on Peter and Agnes with remainder successively to William Folliott and Catherine his wife, daughter and co-heir of Peter Greet, and the heirs of the said Catherine, to Thomas son of Thomas Folliott, possibly William's brother, and his heirs male and the right heirs of Peter. (fn. 59) The Foliott family originated in Cotentin in western Normandy, and Sampson Foliot was the Seigneur, or Lord, of Montfarville, near Cherbourg.

1357:

The Black death: The Residents moved away from the surrounding areas of Pirton church (St. Peters) at the time of the black death Circa 1357. It is understood that the early settlement was demolished, and many stones remain nearby to the church as an indication of the villages 14th century footprint. There are likely burial mounds to the west where a mass grave may have been created for those who died because of the illness…

1374:

The Ffolliot family estate & Oratory at Pirton Court; The whole of the Greets' estate seems to have passed to William Ffolliot, who on 8 December 1374 obtained license to celebrate service in his oratory at Pirton, (fn. 60) from which it may be inferred that he resided here at the manor-house.

*14th Century:

During the 14th century Richard de Burgh held with Guy Beauchamp and Agnes de Ludlow the half fee in Pirton in which Thomas Lyttleton was coparcener with Thomas Beauchamp and Thomas de Berkeley in 1346, and was probably, therefore, the predecessor of Thomas Lyttleton. (fn. 65)

1481:

Sir Thomas Lyttleton died seized of lands in Pirton on 23 August 1481 and was succeeded by his son William, (fn. 66)

1535:

William Lyttleton’s; son John was holding a toft in Pirton in 1535. (fn. 67)

1544:

John Lyttleton; sold all his land at Pirton to Francis Folliott in July 1544. (fn. 68)

1565:

1565: Thomas Folliot married Katherine Lygon. They were parents of "at least 8 sons & 6 daughters. British-history.ac.uk The manor of Pirton, became known as Pirton Court, FOLLIOTT'S COURT, or PIRTON FOLLIOTT, was returned in 1588 as being held of the queen as of her manor of Tewkesbury by service of a pair of gloves of the value of a penny, and of an annual rent of a pound of cummin. (fn. 48). Katherine died in Pirton In 1618 at the age of 81. The Manor House was held of the manor of Tewkesbury by service unknown. (fn. 49). The Foliot family had become large, with power & went on to create an enormous legacy in Pirton. They were significant land owners in Oxfordshire & SW England & Northern Ireland with clerical ancestors, including the Bishops of London & Hereford.

1603:

A son of Katherin Lygon & John Ffoliot was also John. He lived at Pirton Court and was knighted Sir John Ffolliott of in 1603

Sir John Ffolliott had 4 sons. We can perhaps assume from this date that his knighthood may have been in recognition of some service he granted to the newly crowned king James 1st, who succeeded to the throne in that year. Image & text from the website of TV' s "Fake or Fortune" expert Phillip Mould

https://philipmould.com/artworks/5627-english-school-four-portraits-of-the-young-sons-of-sir-1603/

1623:

The Pearce Map; The Pearce map is incredible in detail, clearly showing Pirton Village, the great fishpond, St Peter’s church, the Pirton Windmill and Pirton Court. The Lime kiln lane remains mostly in-tact, leading from the village, passed the court and up the hill in the direction of the kiln (now ruins) and left to the church.

Lets take a closer look: Enlarged we can identify the still-existing West & North sections of the house. The encircled moat becomes a ribbon shape and the far right section remains today as a pond. Access to the estate is shown via an arched entrance in Lime Kiln lane (near the existing pond). A centralised yard with surrounding stables & cottages can be seen on what is now the North Lawn (towards the farmhouse). Scars of the vast East Wing's removal can still be seen on the existing house and brick, timber & plaster internal alterations indicate the locations of the old connecting doorways. The Pearce map was drawn 150 years before Pirton lane (marked in red) - was built. The Lane was added in the mid 18th C to give better access for staff working at Croome Court and for the Earls game keepers to the great fishpond. Stretching from High Green it passed “the gallops” where horses were trained. Pirton Lane is now known as Worcester Road & now provides access to the older part of the house.

1623:

Ffolliott family leaves Pirton Court - The Folliott family held lands in Pirton, Worcestershire from the 14th century. The family seat until 1623 was Pirton Court, Pirton, Worcestershire (ref wikitree)

1623:

Pirton windmill was sold with the manor to William Courteen/Courteyn (fn. 72

1630:

William Courteyn (Courteen) - The manor then descended with that of Stone in Halfshire Hundred to Sir William Courteen. (fn. 61)

1651:

Courteyn Bankruptcy - Under the Commonwealth William Courteyn became bankrupt, his Pirton manors being among the properties sold for the benefit of his creditors in 1651. (fn. 62). At some stage shortly after it appears that William Courteyn must have been able to repurchase them. However, he soon conveyed them with the advowson to …

1663:

George Lord Coventry, (fn. 63) and the two manors have since followed the descent of Croome D'Abitot. (fn. 64)

1751:

George William Coventry (the 6th Earl): Following the unexpected death of his elder brother (Thomas William 1744 who pre-deceased his father in 1744), the second son, George William became the 6th Earl of when his father William (5th Earl) died 18.3.1751.

George was “a handsome 28-year-old and an 18th century trend-setter in London”.

With a grand vision to transform Croome, he set about employing the most contemporary architects, designers, and craftspeople of the day.

To enable the work the 6th Earl moved into Pirton Court and remained during the re-development of Croome Court. He became a close friend of both King George 11 & George 111 and entered the House of Lords. He also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire (from 1751 to 1808).

In 1752 he married Maria Gunning, one of the enigmatic Gunning sister's. Maria's life was cut short 8-years later when she died at the young age of 28 from lead and mercury toxins (apparently from her beauty treatments), leaving the Earl two children.

1751:

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown started work at Croome in 1751. The property underwent significant remodeling. The mansion house was designed by Brown and is a "rare example of his architectural work”. It was “Browns first flight into the realms of architecture". Robert Adam designed parts of Croome Court's interior and along with James Wyatt. Capability Brown extended the gardens of Croome and created the vista and horizon features with his signature line of tall pines and cedar of Lebanon trees. Temples and follies were built.

1780:

Capability Brown returns - Brown had remained a friend of the Earl. Brown returned for one of his final works in 1780, when he designed Pirton Farm (Brown died in London in 1783 aged 66)

1815:

Pirton Court - Extract from “Blind heirs and disgraces” – Pirton Court was repaired and altered in 1815 for the 7th Earls son Rev Thomas Coventry who had been recently installed as rector for Croome and Pirton. It is highly likely that during this period of renovation the original East wing was demolished and the doorway to the east concealed. Evidence of the opening remain visible.

1816:

The Rt Rev. Thomas Henry Coventry (7th Earls son) moved into Pirton Court having been made a freemason of Tewkesbury .

1851 – 1901:

The farm - During the following 50 years Pirton Court was predominantly used as a tenant farm for the Croome estate. The head farmer and family often lived in the Court and employed staff, but occasionally they moved into the farm cottages opposite. From studying the inhabitants from the “government census” (carried out every 10 years), the families, farm assistants, dairy maids, farm boys and & house staff are lengthy and have therefore been fully recorded in depth on a separate document for future reading. The following is an edited version showing key farmers and dates.

1851:

Census - Henry Maitland (farmer), wife Matilda & daughter Elizabeth, along with a nurse, dairy girl, dress maker, servant, stable boy and a “waggoner”.

1861:

Census -Gerry Hartland with his niece & 2 staff

1871:

Census-Theodore Butt (farmer) & wife Sarah farming 444 cares with 9 men, 4 boys & 2 women

1881:

Census-Francis & Mary Shepherd farming 319 acres with their son Edward (5 yrs) & daughters, Emily (4 yrs.) Alice (3 yrs) Amie (1 yr) & Florence (2 months)

1885 :

Tragedy struck when Francis Shepherd, by then the father of 8 young children died at the age 48.

1891:

Census - Mary Shepherd (then aged 39) remained with her 8 children who were between 5 and 16, along with a stepson Harry George Shepherd (aged 22)

1866:

Meanwhile...
Birth of the future Lady Deerhurst; Virginia Lee Daniel in Nevada County, California. She took the adopted name Bonynge when her mother Rhodie married Charles William Bonynge in June 1869

1884:

Move to England; Charles William Bonynge, (who had made his fortune in the gold & silver mines of Nevada and California) left the USA and settled in London, England with his family.

1894:

Marriage. Viscount Deerhust (eldest son & heir to 9th Earl of Coventry) married Virginia Lee Bonynge at All Saints Ennismore Gardens (now the Russian Orthodox cathedral ** restored by Peter Hare in 2005). They initially lived in London before moving to Birlingham and then into Pirton Court in 1910.

10.3.1894:

The Bride to be -Virginia Lee Bonynge, becomes The Rt Hon Lady Deerhurst

1901:

Census: Research from archives reveals that a Retired Royal Navy Officer, John Walcott & his wife Katherine are living in Pirton Court along with 2 live-in staff. The duration of their tenancy is not known.

1910:

Pirton Court begins the "new Deerhurst era". Pirton Court had been chosen as the Worcestershire home for the Deerhust family. Following further alterations to the old building, a stunning Edwardian extension (in the style of the original Tudor building) was completed in 1910. The property was once again grand-in-scale, with 11-bedrooms, staff quarters, huge open fire places and much land associated. Lord & Lady Deerhurst moved in to the Court with their 4 children, Helena Blanche (1895-1974), Peggy Virginia (1897-1955), George William Reginald Victor Coventry (1900-1940) & John Bonynge Coventry 1903-1969 as well as Lady Deerhursts mother and stepfather.

1911:

Records show that Central heating was introduced to the house.

1913:

Charles Bonynge dies at Pirton Court (Lady Deerhursts stepfather) – buried at Croome

1914:

Rhodie Bonynge dies at Pirton Court (Lady Deerhusts mother) buried at Croome

1939:

Census - The 1939 census again provides valuable information of the time. It shows Lady Deerhurst & her youngest son John Coventry remain at Pirton Court along with two of her grand-children, Virginia & Francis Hoare. Also present at Pirton Court was Princess Anne Duleep Singh (née Coventry). Also known as Lady Anne Blanche Alice, she was the youngest daughter of the 9th Earl, before marrying Prince Victor Duleep Singh (son of the last Maharajah of the Punjab & Sikh Empire). Her marriage to Prince Victor in 1898 had created quite a stir. They were refused entry to India during their honeymoon and returned to England. Lady Anne was "summoned to court" for an audience Queen Victoria. The Queen "delivered her most distressing & chilling of orders. The Princess was to vow that she "would never have children and (was) to live abroad". . The Princess honoured the vow and remained overseas until the death of Prince Victor in 1918. The Prince and Princess are buried side by side in Monte Carlo.

1940:

10th Earl “killed in action”; The 10th Earl and eldest son of Lady Deerhurst dies; George William Reginald Victor Coventry (1900-1940) The Earl was a Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, which was part of the original Expeditionary Force sent to France in September 1939. He was killed in action at the Battle of Wytschaete on 27th May 1940 in a defensive battle line created to slow the rapid German advances and enable the evacuation of the allied forces. In one of the greatest rescues in history “Operation Dynamo” created “the miracle of Dunkirk” enabling a staggering 338,226 soldiers and medics to be evacuated in 9 days. The 10th Earl was 40 years of age.

1948 - 1955:

Lady Peggy Hoare (nee Coventry); Following the death of her mother, Lady Peggy Hoare & Major Eustace Benyon Hoare remain at Pirton Court with their uncle “John Coventry” & their 3 children, Virginia, Samuel Julian & Francis along with 4 live-in staff. Non-resident staff living at Rose Cottages in Pirton Lane included Leonard Walford (2nd groom) & Jock Adams (chauffeur)

1955:

The end of an era for Pirton Court. Lady Peggy Virginia Hoare (nee Coventry 24.10. 1897 / 18.5.1955), died at Pirton Court aged 57 years old and was buried near her mother at Croome chapel. Some elderly local residents remember working for the family prior to Lady Peggy’s death. Others re-count their sadness as the black feathered horses and draped hearse departed from Pirton Court. It is unclear if the Hoare family had remained united at the time of Lady Peggy’s death, but it is clear that they had all left by 1955.

1955 - 1983: Pirton Court was let for rental

1955: Mr. Eastman - (Croome Estate manager) moved in for short period

1955-1961: Jack and Diana Bayliss; The Bayliss family took up residence for 6-years. They both took the role as “Masters of the Croome hunt” and held functions on the north lawn.

1962: -

Date unknownrnamental Tudor facade was replaced. The finely decorated front contained timber motifs of seahorses, rams’ horns and spoked wagon wheels along with the “house crest” (a black cross on a white background). With two pitched roofs and multiple bay and upper floor windows it required substantial repairs. Sadly, due to a lack of funding, the decorative front was demolished and replaced with the current simpler black and white gabled alternative. A wall was removed to link the “new” great hall to the Dining room and the doorway to the LHS of the fireplace leading to the entrance hall was closed . The recorded 15th century "Tudor stone" was removed from the west wall.

Date unknown - 1970:

Bob Hurst – The 1st tenant farmer arrived at Pirton Court developing a herd of Angus beef cattle.

1970-1981:

Peter & Pat Baxter moved into Pirton Court from their Hampshire farm with their 3 children Andrew, Michael and Lesley. In 1981 the family moved to the newly commisioned, purpose-built farmhouse opposite the court. The Baxter family are now into their 3rd generation of farmers for the estate.

1981-1983:

Vacant & leaking. The house remained vacant for two years. The pipework and heating systems froze causing significant leaking and damages.

1983:

Pirton Court sold; Croome estate sells Pirton Court. The house finally ends its 320-year association with the Coventry family.

1983 - 1988:

Margaret and David Thurnham; purchased the property from the Earl of Coventry’s estate and make a B&B.

1988 - 2004:

Linda and Terry Lee & business partner Nick Jackson; bought the house together. They gained permission to split the property into two dwellings. The division that remains today, largely follows the footprint separating the earlier North and West wings from the Edwardian S/E Wing.

2004:

(S/E wing); Dr Rodney Landymore and wife Francis; bought the SE wing after Nick Jackson had moved to California.

2013 - Today:

(N/W wing) Peter Hare & Jacqueline Filmer–Hare; along with their 10-year-old daughter Olivia Tau, bought the old wing and set about a long restoration programme..

2023 - Today:

(S/E wing) Lis and Howard Lewis-Jones bought the Edwardian section with sons Charlie and Will.

Research….

This chronological recording is based on online and local research, “A history of the County of Worcestershire (vol 4 -1924)” and with guidance from local historians, national census records, marriage and death notifications, Croome Heritage Trust, Newspaper articles, extracts from Croome Court publications, British-history.ac.uk, as well as the invaluable input from village elders and lovers of the village of Pirton.

Dates, names and entries are accurate as found but may be subject to change.

References, terminology and phrases have been retained as best as possible to ensure “authenticity without translation” wherever possible.

Entries have been set in chronological order to provide fluidity and ease of time flow. As with all historic compilations the following is “accurate as known” at the time of writing. Some “points of interest and influence” on the research “found comments” have been added to add relevance.

Our collective research continues, and entries may be subject to adjustment from time to time. If you have images or information relating to Pirton Court or its residents we would be delighted to hear from you.

Peter Hare; Pirton Court History & Chronology Version 1 (edition D) March 2024

* All following Information and images contained within “The chronological History of Pirton Court” and the wider Pirton Court website may be subject to copywrite. For further information contact the author.

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZNC-XND/katherine-lygon-1537-1618

“fn” (footnote) - from British History Online

Pirton Courts Chronological History

972AD:

1315:

1327:

1340:

1346:

1353:

1357:

1374:

*14th Century:

1481:

1535:

1544:

1565:

1603:

1623:

1623:

1623:

1630:

1651:

1663 - 1983:

1663:

1751:

1815:

1866:

1894:

10.3.1894:

1901:

1911:

1913:

1914:

1916:

1917:

1920:

1921:

1920’s & 30’s :

1927:

1927:

1930:

1939:

1948:

1948 - 1955:

1962: -

Date unknown - 1970:

2013 - Today:

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