Welsh Journals

still on at 10 p.m. This ante-dining room was built on and was entirely of stained glass, but was pulled down when the house was sold. It was the boast of the lady that she had never in her life seen any servants' quarters. She usually had as pets, several pug dogs, and it was the job of the butler to carve for them and place their meal on their plates, each dog having his name engraved on his own particular plate. In the front porch was a rack holding several small whips which visitors used to ward off the snarling attention they received from the pugs. Outside staff, a coachman, groom, two gardeners, a woodman and a gamekeeper. At Christmas there would be a huge party for the Sunday School, a decorated tree in the main hall, and presents for everyone. Also at Christmas the Housekeeper would go round the village and deliver, from her carriage, a piece of beef and a plum-pudding to each of the cottages. The coachman and groom wore cockades in their hats to signify that their master was an Army Officer, and the coat-of-arms was painted on each carriage door. There were three carriages of varying sizes and six carriage horses kept, in addition to a pure white Arabian horse which was only used for transporting luggage, and a morning visit to the railway station to pick up a copy of The Times, and collect hampers which came from Harrods in London. When Mrs. A.-Matthews alighted from her carriage, or rather was about to alight, the groom would jump down, open the door, unfold the steps, and place a length of red carpet for the lady to walk upon. When she entered church all stood up, and did the same when she left. She sat in the front pew naturally, all heavily cushioned, and both cushions and kneelers had the coat-of- arms emblazoned on them. She and her husband had for some years lived at Pontrilas Court, which was owned by the great Scudamore- Lucas family, whose own residence was Kentchurch Court, and is still so to-day. Mr. Attwood-Matthews purchased Llanvihangel Court, but never lived there, as coming home to Pontrilas from London, he was taken ill in the train, carried out at Malvern, where he died, so Mrs. A.-M. moved in on her own. There is a tablet to his memory in Llan- vihangel Church, but I think he was buried at Malvern, as was his widow when she died in about 1918. After her death the estate was sold. The court remained empty for some time and much beautiful wood- work was sold, panelling etc. The house and some land was bought by Mr. Bennett, an Average Adjuster from London, but he did not live there very long, and the house was then purchased by Colonel Hopkinson, who still lives there I think, but I have not heard anything of recent years. The Egyptian Room was demolished. This was a room entirely given over to house the collection of Egyptian treasures which Mr. & Mrs. A.-M. had collected on their visits to that land-they always spent a few of the winter months there. Most of the male staff in the house were foreigners. None seemed to stay there long. No time off was given regularly to the servants, but occasionally they would be taken to the station, given their fare, and placed on the train to spend the day in Hereford. Some were sent to church for the morning service and some had to attend the evening service. No back-sliding was allowed, the lady being there to see to morning attendance, and her coachman (Mr. Dawe) reported on their evening attendance.