Taunton Courier 15 May 1872 The Late Miss Elizabeth Maria Tyndale WARRE of Hestercombe Cheddon Fitzpaine

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The Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 15 May 1872

Page 6 Column 3


THE LATE MISS WARRE OF HESTERCOMBE.

Few deaths have occurred in this neighbourhood for many years that have occasioned more local gossip than the death of the late Miss Elizabeth Maria Tyndale WARRE, of Hestercombe. This lady had lived very many years, quietly and unobtrusively, at the plain old mansion of the above name, situat <sic> in the parish of Cheddon Fitzpaine, about three miles from this town, where she died about a month since. Although she had not attained an age far beyond 70, she was so bent forward as to impress one with the idea that she moved about with some degree of pain. Nevertheless she was very active, and was “out about” as usual up to within a day or two of her death. One day in the early part of April she was conversing with the Rev. Mr UNWIN, the rector of Cheddon, a short distance from the house, when her appearance and manner indicated a sudden attack of illness. She was assisted in doors, and medical aid was sought, but she died during the night or early next morning, it is believed from apoplexy. We are unable to say what the extent of her entire property was, but her lands at Cheddon and Kingston number, 600 or 700 acres. The deceased lady, we believe, was charitable, generally, in her immediate neighbourhood, good to her servants, and generous to her tenants, so generous, in fact, that is is reported that the tenants have held at low rents withoutachange for many years, and received a very liberal abatement in consequence of the dry seasons in the last two or three years. It was generally reported that her late father incurred heavy liabilities on his estate, and that she lived inexpensively in order that she might discharge the debt and leave the property unencumbered. There might have been something in the story as to the debt, but, if she succeeded to the property encumbered, the encumbrance must have been long since discharged, as the deceased lady had been for many years accumulating money. She managed her own affairs, and received her own rents. If she had confided the management to an agent it would, doubtless, having contributed considerably to her income. A small portion of her property consisted of certain small chief rents. These she used to collect herself, generally taking a receipt already prepared on applying for an amount. She is reported to have kept no banking account. As a rule she used to cash the cheques paid to her, and take home and hoard up the hard coin or bank notes at the mansion at Hestercombe. It will scarcely be credited, but we believe it may be taken as a fact, that a sum of money not falling short of £14,000 was found about Hestercombe House after her death. By far the biggest portion of this sum was in coin. A considerable amount consisted of bank notes (principally local), and there were some few cheques. The monies were deposited in all sorts of places, some of them not by any means places of safety. It is perplexing, if not distressing, to many of the sorrowing relatives and friends that no will has been found. There was some kind of a will, of very ancient date (some fifty years ago, it is said), which subsequent legislation, or something else, rendered useless. For some time after the death the case had, we believe, been regarded as one of “intestacy.” It is now reported, however, that the deceased signed a document a few years ago in favour of a neighbour (a gallant captain, formerly in the naval service). This document cannot be set up as a will, it appears, as it was only attested by one witness, but there was a seal attached, and the rumour is that it is to be set up as a sort of deed of gift. This document was, it was alleged, only to take effect in case there should be no subsequent contervailing deed or will executed, and the person in whose favour it was made was not to open it for one month after Miss WARRE's death. The month has just elapsed, and it is reported that the gallant captain is in town seeking the best advice he can get upon what many regard as a rather mysterious document. Much rumour has been afloat as to who would become the owner of “Hestercombe” after Miss WARRE's death, but it now appears that the reversion of Hestercombe Manor and lands, after her death, was sold by her many years ago to Lord ASHBURTON. A curious incident in the sale (so it is currently reported) was that the property was subject to the contingency of Miss WARRE's marrying and having issue, in which case the purchaser would lose his money, as the property would go to the issue. If report be true, it was not for the want of offers, or rather an offer, of marriage that Miss WARRE never became a wife. It is asserted that a handsome and popular Somersetshire county gentleman, who was, for some time, one of the members of parliament for the western division of the county, and who died not long since, once proposed to Miss WARE, and it is said, that it was not on account of any personal objection to the individual, but simply through a resolve she had made not to marry, that induced her to decline the offer. That she held the gentleman illuded in high esteem was often manifested, and it was few public meetings over which the gentleman presided, even up to a very recent period, that Miss WARRE was not present at. It is stated that the offer was several times made to Miss WARRE to repurchase the reversion of the property, but that she invariably declined, saying that she had the property for her life, and that was all she required. Apart from the contingency under which the reversion was bought, it is not likely that the purchase has turned out at all profitable to the noble purchaser. This, however, is, doubtless scarcely a matter of consequence to him. Moreover it is almost impossible to put a value on Hestercombe, for it possesses natural beauties second to none in the county of Somerset. Until the privilege was abused Hestercombe grounds were open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays; and most of the inhabitants of this locality are famliar <sic> with the romantic walks, the peculiar and fantastic bowers and grottoes, the waterfalls, the pear pond (so named from its being in the form of a pear) and the delightful peeps which are to be obtained of Taunton's matchless vale from some of the highest points in the grounds at Hestercombe. There has not been much time or money bestowed in beautifying or keeping the grounds in order, and there is a wildness about a considerable part of them that makes them as enjoyable, perhaps, to many, as places which art has contributed so much to produce the “beautiful.” There is not much doubt that, in the possession of the present owner, the capabilities of the place for being made artistically, as well as naturally, one of the loveliest, if not the most beautiful in Somerset will be developed, and it is to be hoped that the public will have the privilege of enjoying, under improved auspices, for judicious recreation, the grounds of Hestercombe.


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