THE BCH ARCHIVE

LOCAL HISTORY FOR

BIRTSMORTON

CASTLEMORTON

HOLLYBUSH

And The Surrounding District

Archive of Reports and Anecdotes

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Reports Page 12

In 1890, 30 August, Worcestershire Chronicle. Adam Gunnell of Castlemorton was fined 10s and costs 8s for keeping a dog without a licence in 18th inst.

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In 1936, 11 February, Gloucestershire Echo. A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned by the South Worcestershire Coroner (Mr. H. J. H. Saunders) at an inquest at Upton-upon Severn today on Alfred John Gunnell aged 50, a single man, in Castlemorton, who was found drowned in the Moat Brook, Longdon, on Saturday, after he had been missing for a week. Evidence was given to the effect that Gunnell was suffering from shell shock as the result of war service and was inclined to worry over relatively minor matters. His sister stated that he was much upset because he had recently been suspended from his work as a roadman in the employ of Worcestershire County Council because of a breach of discipline. An extended report will appear in the Echo tomorrow.

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In 1936, 12 February Gloucestershire Echo. Tragic effects of shell-shock, Coroners comments at a inquest. Comments on the after affects shell shock were made the South Worcestershire Coroner, Mr. H. J. H. Saunders at an inquest at Upton-on-Severn Police Station yesterday on Alfred John Gunnell, single, aged 50, of Castlemorton, whose body was recovered from a brook at Longdon on Saturday, after he had been missing since Feb. 1. The Coroner said that one of the after effects of shell shock, from which Gunnel] suffered, was that a man who, in normal health, would not trouble much about what were relatively minor worries, was apt to magnify them and regard them great misfortunes. A verdict of Suicide by drowning, while of unsound mind, was returned. Evidence of identification was given by a brother, George Gunnell, of Welland, who said that deceased served in France from 1911 to 1919 and suffered from shell shock. Miss Ann Gunnell, who had kept house for Gunnell since the war, said he was inclined to worry over small matters. His nerves were bad and it took little to upset him. On Thursday, January 23 he was suspended for week from his work as a Worcestershire County Council roadmen for a breach discipline, and that greatly upset him. There was no suggestion that he was unjustly treated. Frederick Short, of The Forge, Longdon, spoke of seeing Gunnell on February at 9.30 a.m. then appeared to be in better spirits than a few days previously when he was very strange in his manner. After that, witness heard that he was missing, and as was walking alongside the brook at Longdon on Saturday last saw a body in the water which he recognised as Gunnell's. The person whom the Coroner said he believed last saw Gunnell alive, William Arthur Benjamin Watkins of Manor Farm, Longdon, told of seeing deceased near the Moat Bridge, Longdon, 11.50 am on February 1. He seemed strange in his manner, being very quiet, instead of, as usual, talkative. Albert James Artwright, divisional surveyor for the Worcestershire County Council under whose supervision Gunnell worked, said that December last he found Gunnell on licensed premises when he should have been work. He stopped quarter of day's pay and warned him that if he repeated the offence he would be suspended. Later he again found him on licensed premises, stopped him half a day's pay and suspended him from work for week, in accordance with the practice of the County Council. He saw Gunnell when he resumed work on January 30, spoke to him about the breach of discipline and warned him that if occurred again he would be dismissed. The Coroner said that he had called Mr. Artwright because he felt that as it had been reported that Gunnell was depressed through the suspension from work, a responsible representative of the County Council should be present to speak as to the circumstances in which he was suspended. "I gather from what Miss Gunnell said." he added, "that Gunnell was satisfied that had not been any way unjustly treated." P.C. Gummery, of Longdon, stated that when saw Gunnell January the latter complained of severe pains in the head and witness advised him to see a doctor. February 1 he found Gunnell's barrow, shovel, broom and cape near Moat Bridge, Longdon and dragging operations were carried out in the brook without success. Referring to notebook found in Gunnell's clothing the Coroner said there were some somewhat incoherent things written in it, but there was no object in his reading them because they would not assist him to arrive verdict. Apparently Gunnell had some trouble, not of a serious nature, unconnected with his suspension from work. Summing-up, the Coroner said that he had no doubt Gunnell was troubled as a result of war service and shell shock and worried unduly about the breaches of discipline and some private affairs of his own. The breaches of discipline, while serious in one sense, were not very grave matters, and the minor punishments received should not have affected man in normal health He therefore had hesitation in finding that at the time he took his life Gunnell was unsound mind.

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Hall, William

Education. Ordered to pay 5s 6d costs for neglecting to send children to school regularly. Frank Rogers and William Hall, Castlemorton.

Published: 27 October 1900

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Hart, Charles

Upton upon Severn Petty Sessions. Charles Hart, Castlemorton, and Philip Jakeman, of Birtsmorton, were ordered to pay the costs of the case for neglecting to send their children to school regularly. Joseph Sheen, Castlemorton, was ordered to pay half the costs of the case for employing the son of Charles Hart, one of the defendants the last case.

Published: Saturday 30 August 1902

Newspaper: Worcestershire Chronicle  

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Hart, Grace 1886-

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Hawker

In October 2017, John & Judith Hawker visited Castlemorton Church to research their family.

jjhawker@talktalk.net

Hawkers is that part of New Road from Mouchers Corner to The Gullet Road.

It seems likely that a William Hawker was baptised at Eckington 18 June 1764 and married his second wife, Hannah Wall, at Castlemorton 29 January 1782.

They are both buried at St Gregory: he died on 26 November 1825 and she on 7 July 1821.

Lot 1 may be the auction of his house:

To be sold by auction by Mr Joseph Bird, at the Pheasant Inn, in the parish of Welland, on Monday, the 20th day of May, 1822, between the hours of four and six in the afternoon, either together or in lots to such conditions as shall be then produced.

Lot 1. All that brick-built messuage or tenement, with two gardens, pump, cider mill, drink-home, barn, stable, cow-home, and other necessary buildings, together with two pieces or parcels of rich pasture ground and orcharding, adjoining (be same, containing about 6 acres, more or less)

Lot 2. A piece at pasture ground adjoining to Wallredding Field, also planted with fruit trees, containing about one acre and a half, more or less

Lot 3. A piece arable land, called Wallredding Field, containing about four acres, more or less.

Lot 4. All that be said messuage or tenement, called The Pheasant Inn, with the stable and other buildings, garden, and two pieces or parcels of excellent pasture ground and orcharding thereto belonging, containing about 8 acres, more or less.

All the above premises are freehold inheritance. Lots 1,2 and 3, are situate in the parish of Castlemorton, and Lot 4, the parish of Welland aforesaid, over the extensive wastes of which Parishes the occupiers thereof are entitled to an unlimited right common. To view the same, apply to Mr. Wm. Hawker, Castlemorton, or Mr. Thos Kings, at the Pheasant Inn aforesaid; and for further particulars, to Mr. John Clarke, Solicitor, Upton-upon-Severn or the Auctioneer, Ledbury

They had 4 children: