Lugwardine Court Rockfield House

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Lugwardine Court (Rockfield House)
Was built in the early part of the 19th Century
(1810) by Rev John Freeman (1763-1811)
overlooking the Lugg valley. John married Anne
Gardiner in 1799 and he had a son who was called
John Gardiner Freeman (1804-1866). Rockfield
House stands close to the main crossing point of
the river Lugg on the road between Hereford and
Ledbury.
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Nineteenth Century Map (1865)
The Gardeners Cottage
The Walled Gardens
Coach House
The Court
In the 19th Century the Court stood at the centre
of the Rockfield Estate. Life on the estate would
have been very different to life in Lugwardine
today.
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Life In The Nineteenth CenturySaw the rise of
the British Empire and the industrial revolution.
Britain prospered and many became wealthy. In
rural Herefordshire country estates prospered.
The Courtwas owned by Herbert George Denman
Croft who was a direct descendant of Edward I and
ninth Baronet of the ancient family of Croft. He
was born in 1838 and died in 1902. From 1868 to
1874 Sir Herbert was the MP for Herefordshire.
The Croft family had represented the county in
fifteen Parliaments between 1307 and 1695.
Dr Livingstone Explores Africa
May-day celebrations
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Life In The 1920sThe 1920s was an era of hope
after the First World War was over. There was a
rapid increase in motoring and the working
classes wanted better lives in a better Britain.
In 1926 there was a general strike for nine days,
this was also the year that J L Baird invented
the Television. In 1928 Alexander Fleming
discovers the antibiotic Penicillin. The wealthy
prospered and life at the Court was good. On 12th
October 1927 the Court was sold by Her Grace the
Duchess of Hamilton and was bought by the
Younger-Perkins family. Two grandsons of the
family Oliver and William Carr have attend St
Marys School in recent years.
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Life In The 1930sThe 1930s started with the
rise in the fortunes of the Labour Party which
was considered the party of the workers. Under
the leadership of James Ramsay MacDonald social
reforms occurred. In the 30s the Crawford family
hosted many weekend tennis parties. The decade
ended with the start of the Second World War and
the young Crawford goes to war.
The Rose Garden
Crawford Younger-Perkins Outside the stable block
1939 War starts the young Crawford eventually
goes to war.
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Life In The 1940sThe Second World War ends in
1945 and the soldiers return with high
expectations for a better life. Crawford returns
after action. On 12th September 1946 the Court
was sold at auction.
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• Research and presentation by P.Kyles March 2006
• Research and presentation by P.Kyles
• March 2006