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The DELAHAYS in the GOLDEN VALLEY, HEREFORDSHIRE

PREFACE

The “ Last Lord Urishay,” published in 2018 on the Ewyas Lacy Study Group website, records the Delahay occupation of the Urishay Castle Estate around the turn of the 19^th /20^th century up until the estate’s dispersal in 1913. (Ref: 1).

During the research into this subject, earlier aspects associated with the Delahays in the Golden Valley, Herefordshire, came to light  and they are recorded here for interest, not the least being the Delahay occupation of two manors in the south of the Golden Valley, namely Trewyn and Allt-yr-ynys. It may be a stretch of imagination to allocate these manors to the Golden Valley, however both remained in Herefordshire until Monmouthshire claimed the enclave of Ffwddog in 1891 and redefined the county boundary thereby capturing Trewyn, whilst leaving       Alt-yr-ynys in Herefordshire. (Ref: 2)

In the mid 20^th century , my family deposited a trunk of ancient manuscripts with Hereford Record Office. The trunk was full of ancient property deeds and extracts from wills, which have been interpreted by Hereford Record Office and subsequently made available in a legible and searchable format via the Ewyas Lacy Study Group website. The extracts from old wills have provided details of property owners and their associated heirs, from which a Delahay Family Tree has been constructed.

Today, all of the Delahay Estates have long since been dispersed, and the Manor residences are now in independent private hands and are not accessible to the public. Nevertheless, a visitor in the 21^st century could find traces of Delahay artefacts hidden in Hereford Record Office and even in a few churches in the Golden Valley. This paper identifies where these traces can be viewed.

W Richard Delahay.         March 2024

PREFACE references:

          Ref: 1 The Last Lord Urishay by W Richard Delahay, 11 July 2018, published by Ewyas Lacy Study Group.

          Ref: 2 Wikepedia, Monmouthshire (historic)

CONTENTS

 THE DELAHAY FAMILY TREE AT URISHAY notes:

The Delahay family tree focuses on the branch associated with Urishay Castle. Inevitably, there will be many other branches of the Delahay family not represented here.

Note 1          The above tree was constructed using information from “Catalogue of Delahay papers” W85 held in  Hereford Record Office, and accessible digitally via Ewyas Lacy Study Group (ELSG) website.

W85 contains various deeds of marriage settlements, gifts, mortgages and wills, frequently providing information on heirs to the Urishay Castle Estate.

Some gaps in the hereditary information were completed with data from memorials in St Peters, Peterchurch.

Note 2          Anne Vaughan was the daughter of Thomas Vaughan, serjeant-at-arms for Henry VIII. Ref: Footnote in Manor Houses of Herefordshire.

Note 3          Walter Delahay, son of Paul and Margaret Delahay, married  Katherine Powell daughter of Hugh Powell of Craswell. Walter and Katherine’s eldest son Thomas Delahay resided at Willbroooke (Ref: W85 / 37). Their other offspring were Frances, Hannah, James, Mary, and Catherine. (Ref: BR/1702/79 National Library of Wales.)

Note 4          John Delahay was living at Poston, Vowchurch, although he presided over Urishay Castle estate in 1775  and willed the estate to his son Thomas (Ref: W85 / 22).

Note 5          A visitation to determine the pedigree of the Delahay family records a family tree in the 1600s. This is available on the website of Ewyas Lacy Study Group as “Photographs of Family Tree (Pedigree) of Delahay family of Urry Hay.” In this document the record shows that the suggested coat of arms of Hurdman of Court Lleghrydd Co Radnor could not be verified.

The “ Tree “ information presented in the visitation pages corroborates the W85 data.

Note 6          John Delahay married Elizabeth. Elizabeth died in 1773 and John died in 1786. (Ref: Memorial plaques in the chancel and vestry of St Peters, Peterchurch.)

Note 7          Thomas died in 1811 and his sister Magdalen died in 1813. (Ref: Memorial plaque in the vestry of St Peters, Peterchurch.

Note 8          Thomas Delahay (died 1811) without issue and his sister Magdalen’s will of 1812 bequeathed the family estates to George Reese and then to his son Thomas. (Ref: W85 / 60 – 61). George Reese’s father was William Reese of Penhow Castle, a cousin to Thomas Delahay (Ref: Davis Lloyd and Wilson letter 24 August 1964)

Note 9          William junior was the last Lord Urishay, having inherited the Urishay Castle estate from his grandfather Richard Reese Delahay, who died in 1885.  (Ref: The Last Lord Urishay by W Richard Delahay, published in 2018 by Ewyas Lacy Study Group.) Frederick died aged 20 in 1899. Mabel ((1874 – 1935)) was the author’s paternal grandmother.

Note 10  Sarah (nee Reese) Tallmadge died in 1882, leaving her husband William Henry Tallmadge senior and three children, William Henry junior, Frederick and Mabel. Myrtle’s father was _ Nichols, and she was 2 years old when W H T Delahay senior married his second wife Priscilla Nichols.

Note 11  Thomas de la Hay of Arkstone in Kingstone and Urishay, Peterchurch was a Member of Parliament in 1410, the first year of King Henry V of Monmouth’s reign.

THE LAST GENERATION OF DELAHAYS TO LIVE AT URISHAY CASTLE, PETERCHURCH, HEREFORDSHIRE

The Delahay family bible from the mid 19^th century has provided a record of the marriage of William H Tallmadge to Sara R Reese. (Sarah’s father was Richard Reese Delahay.) The marriage took place at Clinton Junction, Rock County, USA.

The expansion of photography in the same period enabled these pictures of late 19^th century Delahays to be preserved.

W H Tallmadge married his second wife Priscilla Reese Nichols in 1884. She already had a 2 year old daughter. Myrtle, from her first marriage.

The family travelled from the USA to Peterchurch, Herefordshire in 1890 to enable W H Tallmadge junior to take up the Urishay Estate he had inherited from his grandfather Richard Reese Delahay. The family changed their name from Tallmadge to Delahay by Royal Licence on 30 November 1898.

NOTE:

The last generation of the Delahay family to live at Urishay Castle, Peterchurch, prior to its demolition in 1921, were…

William Henry Tallmadge Delahay senior.

Priscilla Reese Nichols Delahay, (W H T Delahay senior’s second wife.)

Mabel Clare Delahay, (W H T Delahay senior and his first wife’s (Sara Rowe Reese) eldest daughter.)

William Henry Tallmadge Delahay junior, (W H T Delahay senior and his first wife’s (Sara Rowe Reese) eldest son.)

Frederick Richard Tallmadge Delahay, (W H T Delahay senior and his first wife’s (Sara Rowe Reese) youngest son.)

Myrtle Delahay (Priscilla’s daughter from her first  marriage.)

CHAPTER 4

COUNTRY GENTLEMEN

From the 13^th century to the beginning of the 20^th century, the Delahay family (originally de la Haye) was associated with Urishay, near Peterchurch, in the sheltered lowland west of Hereford locally known as the Golden Valley.

Initially, circa 1200 AD, the Urishay Castle Estate was created within the manor of Snodhill, and in the first hundred years or so the Lord of the Manor had become known as a “de La Haye.”.  In 1389 Lord of Urishay, John de la Haye made a gift of land to Walter ap Howell, the transaction taking place at Hay Urry.  Thereafter for the following 500 years the Urishay Castle Estate was handed down through the de La Haye family according to the primogeniture traditions of the day. (Ref: 1 )

Records show that in the early 1400s the estate had grown to encompass several smaller territories such as Throlleshope ( Trenant) , Wirbroke (Wellbrook) in Webtree hundred and in 1528, Clothy Hopkyn (Clodock) in Ewyas Lacy hundred. (Ref’: 2)

An enlarged family also allowed the estates of Allt-yr-ynys and Trewyn, both at the extreme southerly tip of Ewyas Lacy Hundred, to be held by the Delahays. (Ref: 3)

COUNTRY GENTLEMEN references:

          Ref: 1 Herefordshire Record Office / Catalogue of Delahay papers 1389 – 1855 (W85/1)

          Ref: 2 Herefordshire Record Office / Catalogue of Delahay papers 1389 – 1855 (W85/2 and 4)

          Ref: 3 Boundary of the Manor of Ewyas Lacy 1566 – 1705 by Nina Wedell, March 2009

CHAPTER 5

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

Records show that, consistent with the obligations associated with the position of Lord of the Manor, the senior Delahays  held manorial court proceedings which were the basic processes for local regulation.

The courts were administered by a steward on behalf of the Lord of the Manor, who would schedule proceedings and summon a complement of up to 24 jurors for each sitting. In view of the abundance of records that exist associated with court proceedings, it might be assumed that the steward would diligently record every detail as proof of his competence and delivery of proceedings for which he would claim fees for his service.

Visitations, which might be described today as “process audits,” were carried out by central government officials whereby those exercising themselves as Lords of the Manor were subjected to scrutiny as to whether they were eligible to act in such a manner. Heredity was examined and evidence of such a visitation to the Delahay family , in approximately 1700, is displayed via a two page document showing the Delahay family tree with Walter Delahay at the head. (Ref 1)

Church of England authorities also used visitations as a check on their outlying churches, with vicars and churchwardens expected to answer questionnaires on oath concerning the state of their ecclesiastical  parish.  (Ref. 2)

It might be expected that the manorial court system was subject to similar visitations, and if so, it would explain the many records that still exist concerning court schedules, juror’s attendance and documented fines.

Jurors were drawn from tenants on the manor estates and were obliged to attend courts on sufferance of a fine for non-attendance. Courts were held regularly, sometimes several times in a month, even when there was little or no case to discuss. Courts were held at either the Manor house or sometimes at the dwelling of a juror .It is believed that the system of heriots and fines administered by the courts provided significant income for the Lord of the Manor.

The scope of these manorial courts covered local agricultural regulation and taxes, for example:

Heriots:                   Taxes due to the Lord of the Manor upon the death of a tenant. Frequently cash sums were enhanced by payments in kind. (Cattle, poultry, etc.)

Incroachments:                 Unauthorised use of common land.

Rights of common: Determination of rights to use common land.

Rents:                    Rent and lease settlements.

Upkeep:                  Repair of lanes, passageways, bridges, etc.

Notification of jury duty:     Fines for non-attendance.

Diversion of streams:         Water courses and their integrity.

Boundaries:            Definition and upkeep of fences and gateways.

Animal management:         Containment of livestock, prevention of cattle straying, containment of un-ringed pigs.

(Ref: 3)

There are few instances of the Delahays wielding power and influence outside their Herefordshire domain, however, the three recorded occurrences of such events are given below:

1)   Thomas de la Hay (circa 1355 – 1440) of Arkstone in Kingstone, and Urishay, Peterchurch was active in Herefordshire elections around 1400 and became a member of parliament in 1413, the first year of              King Henry V of Monmouth’s reign.

He was a feeofee (trustee) of Sir John Chandos for manors of Fownhope, Wellington, and Adzor, Herefordshire.

Other positions held were:

-        Commander of Arrest, Herefordshire, 1401

-        Steward and Constable of Monmouth and Three Castles 1416-1423

-        Justice of the Peace, Herefordshire 1416

-        Escheator, Herefordshire and adjutant 1418-1419 and 1427-1428

-        Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster lands, Hereford and Gloucester 1420-1423, Ebbw Monmouth        1422-1431

-        Constable of Caldicot Castle 1421-1422

-        Sheriff of Herefordshire 1433-1434                             (Ref: 4)

2)   Paul Delahay (1594-1643) married Jane Cecil, a distant cousin of both Lord Burghley and his son Robert, Earl of Salisbury.  Robert held the position of Secretary of State in the Houses of Parliament from 1596 to 1612. This connection may have given Paul access to people with influence in the corridors of power. However, we know that due to this connection with the Cecils he took on the tenancy of the Allt yr ynys estate, only to find out that he had inherited immense debts accrued by his wife’s father and also her step-brother.

Paul Delahay appealed to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, for the transfer of wardships to himself. The motivation may have been to gain of access to funds, which perhaps could be used for property management rather than the specific benefit of the ward.  (Ref. 5)

In the 17th century, the protestant Church still exercised significant power in local communities. As an example, the Church kept records of those who did not attend services and sometimes fined them (at 12 pence per occasion) with the proceeds going to the poor of the parish.

Paul Delahay was an Assistant to the Bishop of Hereford, and in this position he was part of the hierarchy that communicated offences and even reported on the activities of recusant Catholics in the County,

Paul wrote a letter to the Earl of Salisbury about the attendees at the funeral of a known catholic residing in Allensmore. This letter is interpreted as providing information to the Earl that the Bishop of Hereford was making progress in the reduction of the number of Catholics in the county. (Ref. 6)

3)   In 1663 records show that Henry Delahay was Steward to George Nevill, Lord Bergavenny, in 1663 to 1665 and 1668. (Ref. 7)

Henry Delahay headed some of the court proceedings for the Manor of Ewyas Lacy, and his appointment to the position of steward to a potential member of parliament (Lord Bergavenny) may have been seen as an opportunity for him to widen his outlook.

However, over this period the 11th Baron Bergavenny was superceded by the 12th Baron Bergavenny and administrative shortcomings in the recognition of Baronies makes it doubtful that George Nevill (12th Baron Bergavenny) was ever called to parliament, (Ref. 8), thus making it unlikely that Henry Delahay could have used these circumstances to further his influence.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE references

          Ref. 1 ELSG Digital Acrhive, Photograph of family tree of the Delahay family of Urry Hay.

Ref, 2 National Library of Wales. Transcription: Bishop’s Visitation Inquiry. Questionnaires to vicar and churchwardens, Clodock, 1804.

Ref. 3 Gwent Record Office. D668.71  Manorial Court Records for the Manors of Clothy Hopkin, Urishay, Trenant,       Wellbrook. 1466 – 1833

Ref. 4 History of Parliament 1386-1421 Thomas de la Hay

Ref. 5 Altyrynys and the Cecils by A L Rouse.

Ref. 6           Catholicism, community and identity in late Tudor and early Stuart Herefordshire, by W E Brogden.

Ref, 7 Manor of Ewyas Lacy Court Rolls, Hereford Record Office F37/1

Ref, 8 Wikipedia, Baron Bergavenny.

CHAPTER 6

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS

The son of Paul and Jane Delahay, John Delahay, whilst  holding  Alltyr-yn-ynys , bought the nearby Manor of Trewyn in 1609 for £950. (Ref: 1)  For most of the following century the Delahay family held sway over the two adjoining manors with separate families passing the properties to their offspring via primogeniture traditions. By the end of the 17th century sufficient wealth had been accumulated to fund major rebuilding and upgrading of both Manors.

In 1689 Bennett Delahay of Alltyr-yn-ynys committed to a four year rebuilding  programme that, as well as adding new buildings to the Alltyr-yn-ynys site would completely rebuild barns, the beasthouse, brewhouse and malthouse. The adjacent junction of the rivers Honddu and Monnow often flooded the cellars and lower rooms of the Manor, so earthworks to prevent this were included as was a rebuilding of the bridge over the river at this point. (Ref. 2)

In 1692 the Delahays rebuilt the manor of Trewyn (Ref. 3) and constructed the 800 nest-box dovecote soon after that. (Ref. 4)

Such a huge rebuilding programme at the two manors, almost at the same time, indicates an entrepreneurial spirit together with substantial resources to ensure success.

With fish-pools and a dovecote at Trewyn, complemented with cattle sheds, a malthouse and brewery at Allt-yr-ynys, we might be looking at a substantial cooperative venture between the two Manors.  This grandiose scheme at the end of the 17th century was rounded off with an imaginative landscaping statement consisting of an avenue of trees linking the two manor houses, some three quarters of a mile apart. Remains of the avenue today are in evidence by virtue of 100 metres of Scotch firs at Trewyn, although it is possible that the original avenue may have been of oak .

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS references

Ref. 1 Gwent Archives GB0218. D591/81/50

Ref. 2 Hereford Record Office AW 28/41/1.4.6.9-17 and AW 28/42/5

Ref. 3 britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300001931

Ref. 4 britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300001932

CHAPTER 7

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE URISHAY ROOM

Urishay Castle was demolished in 1921 and the panelling from the drawing room eventually found its way to the library at Baker University, Kansas, via Marshall Fields Co. and the Art Institute of Chicago. The room has stained glass windows depicting six different heraldry designs. Research links these designs to 11^th , 12^th , and 13^th century Welsh rulers. (Ref: 1)

The assumption was that the windows originated from Urishay Castle, and with no evidence nor folklore to suggest otherwise, this assumption persisted through to 2021. Indeed, Hereford archaeologist R Shoesmith’s comprehensive study of Urishay Chapel in 1987 (Ref: 2) commented on the panelled rooms of Urishay Castle and said that the          “…. room …. was complete with two windows and two of the panels are described as being from the ancient Urishay Castle whilst the remainder were from the ….. house built on the site.”

Only recently, in 2021, Peter Cormack of the British Society of Master Glass Painters  revealed that the   windows were the work of Charles J Connick (1875-1945) who was commissioned by the Marshall Fields Co. to create the armorial glazing to accompany the store’s 1922 display of the Urishay panelled room.

This latter discovery is underpinned by documentation residing in the Connick studio archives, now at Boston Public Library. (Ref: 3)

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS references:

Ref: 1 The Last Lord Urishay by W Richard Delahay, chapter 6.

Ref: 2 Urishay Chapel by R Shoesmith. 1987 transactions of Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club.

Ref: 3 Email from Peter Cormack 25 February 2021 to Ewyas Lacy Study Group.

CHAPTER 8

LINKS TO THE PARRY FAMILY

Blanche Parry (1507/8 – 1590) found fame as perhaps being the person closest to Queen Elizabeth 1.    She held the office of Lady in Waiting, or more formally, Chief Gentlewoman of the Queen’s Most Honorable Privy Chamber and Keeper of Her Majesty’s jewels. Blanche originated from  the parish Bacton in the Golden Valley.

She was a close friend of her cousin Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and is reported to have worked closely with him (Ref: 1).

We have previously established that Paul Delahay of Altyrynys had a working relationship with this branch of the Cecils.  (Ref: 2).  The Cecils, with their positions of influence in the government, are therefore to be seen as a common factor in any Delahay / Parry acquaintance. An added common factor would have been their origins in the Golden Valley.

Whilst the above link is speculative, there is a geneological link that is more substantial.

Thomas Delahay of Urry Delahay, Peterchurch, had a daughter Margaret Delahay who married Thomas Ap Henry (Parry), an uncle of Queen Elizabeth’s gentlewoman Blanche Parry. (Ref: 3)

Their son Thomas Ap Henry (Parry) married Agnes, daughter of Roger Bodenham of Rotherwas.    Thomas and Agnes are depicted on an illustrated memorial stone at Turnastone church that also shows the quartered armorial bearings of  Parry, Thunder, Waterton, and Delahay (Ref:  4 and 5).  

Extract of Visitation of Herefordshire by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux in 1569, page 4

Note:  “Clarenciuex” is a 16^th century term meaning “an officer of arms at the College of Arms, London.” This officer is the only person who can grant armorial bearings, and sometimes certifies geneologies.

Illustrated memorial stone in Turnastone church with quartered heraldry at top centre

Visitation of Herefordshire by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1569, Page 3,

LINKS TO THE PARRY FAMILY references:

          Ref: 1 Wikipedia

          Ref: 2 Altyrynys and the Cecils by A L Rouse

          Ref: 3 Visitation of Herefordshire, made by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux in 1569, Pages 4-6

          Ref: 4 Illustrated stone slab in Turnastone Church., Herefordshire.

          Ref: 5 Visitation of Herefordshire, made by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux in 1569, Page 3

CHAPTER 9

HERALDRY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELAHAYS

Although armorial bearings have been used to represent individuals and families since Roman times, it was in the 12^th century that its use migrated from military identification to significant features on seals and tombs of medieval knights and lords. Eventually, during the 16^th and 17^th centuries, heraldry spread as  decorative art.

In searching for evidence of heraldry associated with Urishay Castle, we note that the Delahay family held the Urishay seat for 700 years, until its demise in 1921, so it is inevitable that the heraldry results will primarily reference the Delahay coat of arms.

The family de La Haye ( later Delahay), came to be represented by a charge on a shield that featured a sixteen pointed red star / sun on a silver background. ( Ref 1, Ref 2, Ref 3, Ref 4 ).

The Delahay Heraldry   ( Ref 1 )

The full coat of arms shows the crest being a wolf’s head surmounting a helmet with decorative patterns as supporters above a silver shield with a 16 point red sun. Argent a sun Gules.  ( Ref 4 )

Frequently marriages took place that linked the Delahays with families from other estates in the Herefordshire area.

Quartering was a system of combining several coats of arms together. The coats of arms would be taken from the paternal marriage line, unless the maternal link was via an heiress.

Although four coats of arms were the norm in quartering, many more combinations were possible but infrequently used.

The crests relating to Parry, Delahay, Thunder and Waterton, are quartered on a plaque at Turnastone church.    

Geneological research has identified marriages in the 16th , 17th & 18th centuries that link Urishay Castle (and the De La Haye family) to several other families and estates, some within Herefordshire and its environs.  Heraldry associated with these families are shown below:

An old document, created in approximately 1700, shows evidence of a visitation to the Delahay family by an official, presumably checking that those using family crests were entitled to do so, These checks would examine the pedigree of the family line (marriages, offspring, etc.) At this visitation.the Delahay coat of arms were verified as “argent a sun gules” with the crest being a wolf’s head.

During the meeting, Walter Delahay of Hay Urry (Urishay Castle) proposed the quartering of the Delahay coat of arms with that of the Hurdman family. His grandson, Thomas Delahay, also of Hay Urry, had married Catherine Hurdman of Court Llaghsydd in the County of Radnorshire. He supported his proposal with three deeds with seals showing the Hurdman coat of arms featuring three bugle horns all hanging “cornerways”. The visiting official, no doubt after consulting his reference books, declared  “no such Coat …is to be found.”  (Ref: 5 ).  To this day, no further evidence of the Hurdman arms has been located.

HERALDRY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELAHAYS references:

Ref: 1.   The Grammar of Heraldry  (1718 ) Page 6 / Delahay

Ref: 2.   Acre Roll (1192 AD ) ….argent a sun in spender gules.

Ref: 3 Papeworth’s Ordinary of British Armorials …..argent estoile of 16 points gules.

Ref: 4 Burke’s General Armory, Delahay of Herefordshire……argent a sun gules crest a wolf’s head.

Ref: 5 Ewyas Lacy Study Group, Digital Archive          / DBW  

CHAPTER 10

ARTEFACTS VISIBLE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

A visitor to the Golden valley in the 21st Century will find that the many of the old Manor houses previously occupied by the Delahays still exist, although these are now in private hands and are not accessible by the public.

A few artefacts relating to the Delahay family, or to Urishay Castle, remain to be seen and these are listed here with an indication of what a visitor might expect.

a)                                    URISHAY CASTLE

The ruins of Urishay Castle are situated on a mound covered with trees on a minor road running south west from Peterchurch to Urishay Common.

The Castle ruins are on private land and not accessible by the public.

This roofless pile consists of the substantial walls of Urishay, some three storeys high, with chimney stacks still standing.

b)                THE PANELLED DRAWING ROOM  

The panelled drawing room from Urishay Castle was salvaged  in 1921 and eventually found its way, via Marshall Fields department store and the Art Institute of Chicago, to Baker University Kansas.

The panelled room is cared for in a climate controlled environment within the Collins Library at the University.

(Ref: 1)

This room has been at Baker University since the 1970s and although its provenance was investigated at the time of installation, its full history remained somewhat behind veils until the coming of the internet and the subsequent explosion of accessible data.

With no evidence available to the contrary, the room and all of its features were assumed to have originated from Urishay, and this supposition was reflected in late 20th century documents published in the UK. (Ref: 2)

It was later established that the fireplace and overmantle did not originate from Urishay. The major fireplace stone was probably added in London before the sale of the panelling. The overmantle may have been substituted  at the time the panelling was being shuffled between Marshall Fields store and the Art Institute of Chicago. (Ref: 3)

Only recently, in 2021, Peter Cormack of the British Society of Master Glass Painters  revealed that the stained glass windows were the work of Charles J Connick (1875-1945) who was commissioned by the Marshall Fields Store in the late 1920s to create the armorial glazing that accompanied the store’s display of the Urishay panelled room. Information on this commission resides in the Connick studio archives, now at Boston Public Library. (Ref: 4)

The Urishay Room preserved at Baker University is a marvellous display of 17^th century surroundings and is accessible by appointment.

c)           URISHAY CASTLE CHAPEL

The chapel ruins, approximately 50 metres from the main Urishay Castle, were purchased by the Friends of Friendless Churches organisation in 1978, and a re-roofing project has saved a substantial portion of the Chapel.

The chancel, with its deeply recessed windows, feature in this restoration, whilst the nave is represented by two walls without a roof.

In 1920, after a previous restoration in 1914, a wooden tablet was affixed to the north wall of the nave with the following inscription:

“This chapel formerly belonging to the ancient family of Delahay of Urishay Castle was rededicated after restoration for public worship by the Bishop of Hereford July 29th 1914.

To the Glory of God and in memory of the Delahay family this tablet was placed within this chapel AD 1920 by Mabel C, Delahay.”  (Ref: 5)

Mabel C Delahay was the daughter of Major W H T Delahay and the elder sister of William H T Delahay junior, the last Lord Urishay. This generation of the Delahays were the last to occupy Urishay Castle before its demise in 1921.

The 2023 interpretation of the 1920 re-dedication plaque

Under the jurisdiction of Friends of Friendless Churches, a 2023 interpretation of the re-dedication plaque was  created and installed in the chapel by W Richard Delahay, grandson of Mabel C Delahay.

The Chapel is open for viewing and information about its history is available on the Friends of Friendless Churches website, (Ref: 6).

d)              ST PETER’S, PETERCHURCH

Within the church of St Peter’s, Peterchurch, Herefordshire, there are several memorial plaques to 18th century Delahays set into the interior walls of the church. These plaques continue to deteriorate due to dampness rendering the stone fragile and flaky. One plaque is set in the south wall of the chancel and there are a further three In the vestry.

One of the vestry plaques still shows some colour, This c1727 plaque dedicated to Thomas Delahay, his wife Magdalen, and their son Thomas, is headed with a carving depicting a shield with a red 16 pointed star adjacent a cross crosslet. The red star clearly represents the Delahay family, and the cross crosslet could be a reference to the Howorth family. ( Ref 7 ) The positioning of the two symbols ( in heraldry, impalement ) suggests that the cross crosslet could represent the paternal family of the wife Magdalen.

Thomas Delahay and family resided at Willbroke (Willbrook) which was, along with the manors of  Urishay, Trilleshope (Trenant), and Clothy Hopkin (Clodock) all part of the Delahay / Urishay estate. This Thomas Delahay of Willbroke is believed to be the cousin of John Delahay who possibly resided at Urishay Castle. John Delahay was probably a minor at this time and was to hold the seat of the Urishay estate when he became of age..( Ref: 8)

Memorial to Thomas Delahay & family, St Peter’s, Peterchurch .

It was reported, in 1972 ( Ref: 9 ), that a stone slab had previously been found at Willbrook Manor with the Delahay and Howorth coats of arms carved into it. No evidence has been found to date that this carving still exists.

St Peters Peterchurch is open to the public, although an appointment would be required to gain admission to the vestry.

e)              ST MARY MAGDALENE, TURNASTONE

In the church of St Mary Magdalene, Turnastone, Herefordshire, there is a life-sized illustrated stone memorial plaque mounted on the interior wall. This plaque is situated on the left as you approach the altar rail. It illustrates a male in a suit of armour next to a female in medieval costume. This memorial is to Thomas aparri (ap Harry or ap Parry) and his wife Agnes who passed away c 1552.

At the top centre is a shield portraying heraldic arms in each of the four quarters. 1st quarter represents Parry. 2nd quarter uncertain, 3rd quarter Waterton, 4th quarter Delahay. ( Ref: 10 )

The 4^th quarter clearly shows the 16 pointed star of Delahay indicating the family link in the marriage lineage of Thomas and Agnes.

The fourth quarter shows an indistinct crest, but it maybe the crest of the Rhys (Rees) family evident in the Parry family tree, (Three ravens with a single chevron,) or Thunder, as described in the Visitation of Herefordshire by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1569, (a fess between two / three trumpets.)

Parry family tree

The Delahay connection is evidenced in the Parry family tree, where Thomas ap Henry’s mother was Margaret Delahay, daughter of Thomas Delahay of Urishay. (Ref: 11)

It is interesting to note that the Parry family tree also identifies Blanche Parry, Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth 1st, as a fourth cousin to Thomas ap Henry, the subject of the memorial stone.

f)                WAX  SEAL

An illuminated address, originally presented to W H T Delahay junior on his safe return from the war in South Africa in 1902, survived the demise of Urishay Castle and was returned to Herefordshire in 1969.  ( Ref 12 )

An accompanying letter from Mr A R Scorey referred to a Delahay seal. It would be expected that such a seal might reproduce either the initials of the holder, or a portion of the heraldic coat of arms.

Examination of the original wax seal impression accompanying Mr Scorey’s letter showed an indistinct image, but with predetermined knowledge of the Delahay coat of arms and high magnification, it is reasonable to say that the seal indeed reproduces the heraldic image of a star on a shield.

This letter with the impression of the seal is housed at The Hereford Record Office and is part of the Illuminated

Address record.

Note: Reference Mrs Flora Ingram, in the above letter.

The Last Lord Urishay  W H T Delahay junior died on 25 December 1916. He bequeathed his assets, including Urishay Castle, ( for which he had not found a buyer ), to his housekeeper / nurse Mrs Flora Ingram.

g)              ILLUMINATED ADDRESS

Hereford Record Office houses the Illuminated Address that was presented to W H T Delahay junior (Lord Urishay) on his safe return from the Boer War.

The illuminated address ( Ref 12 ) uses the 16 pointed red star as part of its introductory page, and contains

- a note of good wishes to W H T Delahay

 - photographs of  cavalry-man Delahay and the senior British army officers of the day

 - signatures of  57 persons that supported the address. 

Heraldic 16 pointed red star in the Illuminated address

h)              CROFT CASTLE

At Croft Castle, in north Herefordshire, there is a map displayed on a corridor wall on the 1st Floor (2nd floor using American terminology) depicting the topographical features of Herefordshire.

On the left hand side of the map there is a tabular key identifying the major estates, where Number 67 is illustrated with the 16 pointed star and annotated  “…delahay esq of Peterchurch.”  (The illustration appears to have 17 points on the star.)

No. 67 in centre of table refers to “…..delahay of peterchurch.”

 Enlarged image showing W Delahay Esq of Peterchurch and star ( sun )

i)                 ST MARY, WALTERSTONE

St Mary, Walterstone, is the parish church that was frequented by the occupiers of the manor Allt yr Ynys, the family home of the Cecils.  Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghly,was Lord Treasurer in the reign of   Queen   Elizabeth 1.

An account of the funeral of William Cecil was written by Paul Delahay, “……the funeral was a grand ceremony, the church filled to overflowing, followed by the handing out of bread and money to the poor, numbered as 440…… “ ( Ref: 13)

Paul Delahay had married into the Cecil family and later was a tenant at Allt yr Ynys. (Ref: 14 )

In the floor of the chancel of St Mary’s lie several memorial flagstones engraved with Delahay names, dating around the early 1700s.  These include Thomas Delahay, his wife Jane and their children Thomas, Helen and Janey, of Trewyn.  Also Bennet Delahay and his wife Anne of Allt yr Ynys.

j)                ST CLYDAWG, CLODOCK

The church of St Clydawg is included here as a Delahay featured in the list of incumbents in the 17th century.

John (Johannes) Delahay was vicar of St Clodawg for 30 years, from 1661 to 1691. Records show that he gained an MA in 1662. (Ref: 16)

It is suggested that he lived at Trewyn for most of the 17th century. (Ref: 15)

The parish of Clodock encompassed a C of E church and school in Clodock together with chapels in Craswell, Llanveynoe and Longtown. (Ref: 16)

St Clydawg church is built of red sandstone with a sturdy castle-like tower. Being in a remote part of South Herefordshire it has escaped recent church restorations and upgrades. The resulting interior is an excellent record of 17th century artisan creations in the form of box pews and a triple decker pulpit. (Ref: 17)

k)               MAP OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY (VALE)

- in 1809, featuring Urishay, Turnastone, Clodock, Walterstone, Trewyn (Trewin) and Alt-yr-ynys (Alterinnes).

ARTEFACTS VISIBLE IN THE 21^ST CENTURY references:

          Ref: 1 bakeru.edu

          Ref: 2 Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, Transactions 1987, Urishay Chapel page 690.

          Ref: 3 The last Lord Urishay by W Richard Delahay, 2018, published by Ewyas Lacy Study Group

          Ref: 4 Correspondence from Peter Cormack MBE FSA HonFMGP Vice President, British Society of Master Glass-Painters to Ewyas Lacy Study Group 25 February 2021

          Ref: 5 Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists Field Group, 1987.  Urishay Chapel by R Shoesmith. This is a   detailed survey of Urishay Castle Chapel and associated excavations performed in 1983.   Page 701 records the text on the 1920 re-dedication plaque. The first part of the paper gives the history of Urishay Castle.

          Ref: 6 Friends of Friendless Churches website shows photographs of the chapel after the 1983 restoration.

Ref: 7 Heraldry of Herefordshire by George Strong 1848 ref.H929.6 HARC Hereford Library

Ref: 8 Catalogue of Delahay papers 1389-1855, W85/18. Will of John Delahay.  (ELSG)

Ref: 9 Hereford County Life, County Heritage, The Golden Valley by Basil Butcher, August 1972,

Ref: 10         Modern interpretation, situated adjacent the original memorial in St Mary Magdalene church, Turnastone.

Ref: 11         Visitation of Herefordshire, made by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux in 1569, Pgs 4-6

Ref:12  Illuminated Address to W H T Delahay of Urishay. Hereford Record Office BO 67/22

Ref: 13         Salisbury manuscripts, Vol V111. Page 85

Ref: 14         Allt yr Ynys and the Cecils by A L Rouse.        

Ref: 15 History of St Clodock, British King & Martyr. F G Llewellin. Pages 156,179,181,182,183

Ref. 16         CCEd Location Display, Clergy Church of England / Clodock (locKey=15416)      

Ref. 17         nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-clydog-clodock