Easton Court was built in the early 1800s on the site of an earlier building and from what is left of the now decaying and ruined house it can be seen that it was a fine dwelling at one time.
For a while it was owned by Dansey Richard Dansey. In 1833 Easton Court was put up for sale it was described as comprising 'a vestibule, large hall, drawing room 25' x 17', dining room 25' x 13', library, and eight best bedrooms, four with dressing rooms attached'. The lodge, with gabled dormers and pierced bargeboards, dates from about 1840.
The mansion house was described as being modern built, with barns, orchards, coppices and farms amounting to 1800 acres. Along with the house there was a separate sale of furnishings from which it is evident that everything within the house was to go: This link has lots of information about Easton Court.
The house itself was damaged by fire in the late 1950s, but is said to have been re-roofed immediately, and photographs from the 1970s show no sign of fire damage, although the house was evidently in poor repair. Since the 1970s, however, the house seems simply to have been abandoned, and it is now in ruins.
Source:
https://herefordshirepast.co.uk/buildings/easton-court-little-hereford/
Through the years
1837
Easton Court and estate was purchased by Joseph Bailey (Junior), who set about reducing the rents on the estate which had been running at the full rate for some time, and he also started to bring the condition of the estate back to its former glory, but he died shortly afterwards in 1850 aged just 38 and it was left to his widow, Elizabeth. Joseph had been MP for Herefordshire from 1841 until his death in 1850, he left five sons. The eldest of these, Sir Joseph Russell Bailey (1840-1906), 2nd bt. succeeded to the baronetcy and estates in 1858 while still a minor.
1851 - 1871
Elizabeth Mary Bailey was the proprietor of Easton Court. She remarried and her new husband Edward Otto Partridge moved to Easton Court.
1881 - 1891
Edward Otto Partridge and Elizabeth Mary Bailey were living at Easton Court, Little Hereford, Tenbury, with nine servants. Later the couple had moved to live at Glanusk Park, Crickhowell with Elizabeth's son Joseph Russell Bailey and family.
1891
Easton Court is the property of Sir Joseph Russell Bailey, Bart., M.P.
Edward Preston rented Easton Court with his wife Ellen their children and their daughter Mary Ellen Jephson, with her 5 children.
During the autumn of 1891 Edward and his wife went on a visit to Algiers; he died in the spring of 1892 in London after returning from that country.
Mary Ellen Jephson, one of his daughters, looked after Easton Court for him, she was the wife of an officer with P&O shipping, but she hated Easton Court as it was a damp and lonely place, and the servants mean to her. She moved in 1893 with her bed-ridden invalid mother after her father had died.
1901
The occupants of Easton Court were a skeleton staff, and unfortunately the other members were away so it is difficult to find out who owned Easton Court at that time.
Easton Court Household
Annie Evans 50 Widow, Cook, Housekeeper
Elizabeth Wigmore 36 Laundry Maid b. Gloucestershire
Alice Gabb 28 Housemaid b. Gloucestershire
Jane Griffiths 20 Kitchenmaid b. Shropshire
Ellen Malpas 18 Laundrymaid b. Shropshire
Emily Bush 21 Housemaid b. Shropshire
Therefore in 1901 William Tough was living at Easton Court Lodge and worked for Harold Crichton Brown as a ‘Butler’. He would have managed the estate whilst the family were away. Harold was at war and family were staying with relatives.
We know that between 1899-1902 Harold Crichton-Browne served in the South African War and in 1901 his wife Margaret and there children were living with Margaret’s uncle at Garnstone Castle, Weobley, Herefordshire. HR4 8SW. One mile south of Weobley via the B4230 on the Hereford Road.
Source:
Leominster, Herefordshire - Kelly's Directory, 1905
1904/5
Col Harold Crichton-Browne was Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire
COUNTY MAGISTRATES FOR LEOMINSTER PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION
Crichton-Browne Major Harold William Alexander Fras. F.R.G.S. Easton Court, Tenbury
This may have been the time that William Tough worked for the Crichton-Brown’s.
