Cotheridge Court
Encyclopedia
Cotheridge Court is an ancient manor house situated in the south-western part of Cotheridge
, in the county of Worcestershire
, England, and birth place of Herbert Bowyer Berkeley
. The house was owned and lived in by the Berkeley family for nearly 350 years, but the manor is over one thousand years old. The family descends from the Berkeleys of Gloucestershire, and Eadnoth. The house is now a private residence of sub-divided flats.
a timber-framed court is mentioned. The existing house dates back to the 16th century, and perhaps even further back. It is built upon the site of the original dwelling mentioned in the Domesday Book.
and Spetchley
, a wealthy clothier who originated from Hereford
. The house then was a large, two-storey timber-framed dwelling with a third floor of gabled attics having carved bageboards. The house contained a small, panelled room known as the 'sots hole' where drunks were held in order to sleep off their drunkenness. This room probably dates back to pre 15th century and before, when the house was a Court House. William, Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1617 was succeeded by his son, Sir Rowland Berkeley.
.
On 11 August 1646, Sir Rowland was compounded for delinquency. The charge being that 'his house being within three miles of Worcester, he continued to live there while it was held for the King, (Charles I
) and was placed on a Commission for the safe-guarding of the County, and for raising contributions for the King's forces'. For this, on 25 August 1646, he paid a fine of £2,030, which was an enormous sum at that time.
On 3 September 1651, he was fetched to Worcester, from Cotheridge, by the King's army, and this being against his will having vowed 'not to meddle'. He was informed that a Commission for himself as well as for other gentlemen of the county had been issued. In his own written words after the battle he wrote to his father-in-law, Sir Thomas Cave, that he was fetched to 'King Charles' (Charles II
) from Cotheridge by a major accompanied by a party of horse soldiers. Whilst in Worcester waiting for an audience with the King, he found out that the Commission had been issued by Major-General Massey, governor of Worcester. Sir Rowland, in not approving of the Commission, took leave, and left Worcester as fast as his horse could carry him, the battle raging away all about Worcester. Riding through the Cromwellians, he was captured by the Scots but mangaged to escape from them, arriving home at Cotheridge Court at about nine that evening. Early the next morning he was escorted by Parliamentarian soldiers for an interview with their general. He was accused of fighting at the battle at Worcester the previous night and on the side of King Charles II, not the Parliamentarians. By the time they reached St. John's they found they had no evidence for the warrant and he was released.
There is second story about that incident, told by Nash that states he had two piebald horses that were identical. After fighting in the battle on the side of the King, he rode home safely and tethered his war horse in a tenant's stable at Cotheridge. When Oliver Cromwell
's soldier's arrived at Cotheridge Court they found the second horse, rested, and with no signs of being in a battle. With no evidence against him they left without arresting Sir Rowland.
In 1660 Sir Rowland was chosen by King Charles II to be invested with the order of The Royal Oak. This order was never instituted.
Sir Rowland's only son, Thomas, died unmarried, on 25 October 1669, in Greece. He was on a diplomatic mission to Turkey, travelling with His Excellency Sir Daniel Harvey from King Charles II to Sultan Mahomethan, Emperor of the Turks. The two men were travelling from Constantinople towards Thessalonica when Thomas fell ill. He was 30 years old and his remains were buried amongst Christians. Having no other sons, Cotheridge Court passed to Sir Rowland's daughter Elizabeth. Her husband, Henry Green adopted the surname Berkeley.
In 1764 another Rowland Berkeley became Sheriff of Worcestershire and in 1774 became Member of Parliament
for Droitwich. He died in 1805.
At about the mid-part of the century a delicate, ornamental stone ballustrade was added to the top of the brick facing, above the sham, glazed windows.
Cotheridge
Cotheridge is a village and civil parish in the district of Malvern Hills in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is west of the city of Worcester and a mile north-east of the Leigh Court railway station on the Great Western Railway on the opposite side of the River Teme.The River Teme...
, in the county of Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England, and birth place of Herbert Bowyer Berkeley
Herbert Bowyer Berkeley
Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was an English photographer as well as a chemical engineer. He was the fourth son of The Reverend William Comyns Berkeley and Harriet Elizabeth Bowyer Nichols Berkeley...
. The house was owned and lived in by the Berkeley family for nearly 350 years, but the manor is over one thousand years old. The family descends from the Berkeleys of Gloucestershire, and Eadnoth. The house is now a private residence of sub-divided flats.
Before the Domesday Survey
In 963 Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, granted land called 'Coddanhrycce' to thegn Aelfric for three successive generations, being limited to male heirs.Domesday Book
In the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
a timber-framed court is mentioned. The existing house dates back to the 16th century, and perhaps even further back. It is built upon the site of the original dwelling mentioned in the Domesday Book.
17th century
Prior to 1615, the manor was held by a succession of various owners. In 1615 it was sold to William Berkeley of Cowleigh, son of Rowland Berkeley of WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
and Spetchley
Spetchley
Spetchley is a hamlet located in the County of Worcestershire, England, and lends its name to the Civil Parish in which the hamlet is located....
, a wealthy clothier who originated from Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
. The house then was a large, two-storey timber-framed dwelling with a third floor of gabled attics having carved bageboards. The house contained a small, panelled room known as the 'sots hole' where drunks were held in order to sleep off their drunkenness. This room probably dates back to pre 15th century and before, when the house was a Court House. William, Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1617 was succeeded by his son, Sir Rowland Berkeley.
Sir Rowland Berkeley
At the surrender of Worcester on 23 July 1646 he was amongst the many Cavaliers who obtained written passes that guaranteed their safe travel to their homes, after taking an oath to not bear arms against ParliamentParliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
.
On 11 August 1646, Sir Rowland was compounded for delinquency. The charge being that 'his house being within three miles of Worcester, he continued to live there while it was held for the King, (Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
) and was placed on a Commission for the safe-guarding of the County, and for raising contributions for the King's forces'. For this, on 25 August 1646, he paid a fine of £2,030, which was an enormous sum at that time.
On 3 September 1651, he was fetched to Worcester, from Cotheridge, by the King's army, and this being against his will having vowed 'not to meddle'. He was informed that a Commission for himself as well as for other gentlemen of the county had been issued. In his own written words after the battle he wrote to his father-in-law, Sir Thomas Cave, that he was fetched to 'King Charles' (Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
) from Cotheridge by a major accompanied by a party of horse soldiers. Whilst in Worcester waiting for an audience with the King, he found out that the Commission had been issued by Major-General Massey, governor of Worcester. Sir Rowland, in not approving of the Commission, took leave, and left Worcester as fast as his horse could carry him, the battle raging away all about Worcester. Riding through the Cromwellians, he was captured by the Scots but mangaged to escape from them, arriving home at Cotheridge Court at about nine that evening. Early the next morning he was escorted by Parliamentarian soldiers for an interview with their general. He was accused of fighting at the battle at Worcester the previous night and on the side of King Charles II, not the Parliamentarians. By the time they reached St. John's they found they had no evidence for the warrant and he was released.
There is second story about that incident, told by Nash that states he had two piebald horses that were identical. After fighting in the battle on the side of the King, he rode home safely and tethered his war horse in a tenant's stable at Cotheridge. When Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's soldier's arrived at Cotheridge Court they found the second horse, rested, and with no signs of being in a battle. With no evidence against him they left without arresting Sir Rowland.
In 1660 Sir Rowland was chosen by King Charles II to be invested with the order of The Royal Oak. This order was never instituted.
Sir Rowland's only son, Thomas, died unmarried, on 25 October 1669, in Greece. He was on a diplomatic mission to Turkey, travelling with His Excellency Sir Daniel Harvey from King Charles II to Sultan Mahomethan, Emperor of the Turks. The two men were travelling from Constantinople towards Thessalonica when Thomas fell ill. He was 30 years old and his remains were buried amongst Christians. Having no other sons, Cotheridge Court passed to Sir Rowland's daughter Elizabeth. Her husband, Henry Green adopted the surname Berkeley.
18th century
In 1770 the entrance front to the house, as well as the south front were cased with brick and the old windows were replaced with large, sash windows. The old, gabled attics were concealed behind a wall of brick; and sham, glazed windows were added to the new, brick front giving the appearance of a third floor without attics. The north wing of the house, as well as part of the back were not modernized, and remained as timber and plaster.In 1764 another Rowland Berkeley became Sheriff of Worcestershire and in 1774 became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Droitwich. He died in 1805.
Ha-ha
In the mid or late 18th century a ha-ha was installed where the gardens met with the pastureland. This was to provide the house with a clean view of the grazing cattle and the breath-taking, prominent Malvern Hills in the far distance.19th century
Rowland Berkeley, was succeeded by his brother the Rev. Henry Rowland Berkeley, D.C.L., Fellow of New College, Oxford, who also died childless in 1832. Eventually it passed to William Berkeley Esquire who died in 1869 and the manor passed to his eldest son the Rev. William Comyns Berkeley. His son Rowland, eldest brother to Herbert Bowyer Berkeley inherited the manor.At about the mid-part of the century a delicate, ornamental stone ballustrade was added to the top of the brick facing, above the sham, glazed windows.