By 1907 Ashford Court had, for nearly 50 years, been let to a variety of tenants, and was probably in urgent need of renovation and modernisation. It was purchased in that year by someone who actually intending living there himself, Major Claud Herbert Campbell, late of the 8th Hussars. Work started immediately and two identical cottages were built for staff. One was Rose Cottage, now known as Rosemead, recently put on the market. It was intended for occupation by the Gardener and was used for that purpose until the estate was broken up in 1950. It has remained almost unchanged since 1907, the only concession to modernity being the conversion of one of the three bedrooms into a bathroom. The other cottage, situated next door to The Lodge, and designated The Cottage (still its name), was for the Coachman/Chauffeur. Over the years it has been much enlarged and modernised and bears little resemblance to its one-time twin.
Major Campbell also needed telephone and electric light. A telephone line had to be brought in all the way from the main Ludlow-Hereford road, over the railway and river bridges and down the village street, presumably connecting with the Post Office at No.5. He also negotiated with Williams Downes Hall, the owner of Ashford Mill, a lease “for 99 years of right to place a turbine in Ashford Mill and to carry poles and cables across lands of the lessor for an electric light supply to Ashford Court”. This was subsequently replaced by a petrol-driven generator, which remained the only source of power until mains electricity was brought into the village in the late 1950’s.
Phyllis Ray.
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