Herringston House
Herringston House
Situated in wooded parkland next to the South Winterbourne river is the 14th century Herringston House, in the continuous ownership of the Williams family since 1512 [English Heritage 2004]. The building has a date of 1572 on one of the gables. Originally a courtyard house, the wing on the north side of the court was demolished in the early 19th century. A new gothic façade in Portland ashlar was added by Thomas Leverton, including a battlemented centre and two gables facing the former east and west sides of the courtyard [English Heritage 2004, Newman & Pevsner 1972]. The house is well-known for the Jacobean great chamber with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, dateable to between 1612 and 1618 [Newman & Pevsner 1972, Bingham 1987].
The census indicates that the following people were resident at the time of the census enumerators' visits:
- 1841
- The 'Mansion House' is empty
- 1851
- Address: Herringstone House
- Residents: Thomas D & Sarah F Bayly, daughter, two stepsons and visiting nephew
- Birthplaces: Somerset (Thomas & Sarah) and Dorset (daughter Susan)
- Occupation: Barrister in actual practice
- Servants? 6: Governess, Footman, Lady's Maid, Cook, and 2 Housemaids
- 1861
- Address:Mansion
- Residents: Edward Wilmot Williams and three visitors
- Birthplaces: Ireland (Edward)
- Occupation: Retired ETS (whatever that may be)
- Servants? None present
- 1871
- Address: Winterborne Herringstone
- Residents: Edward Wilmot Williams, two sons, one daughter, his mother, two sisters, one brother-in-law and two cousins
- Birthplaces: Ireland (Edwrad, his sisters and mother) and Herringston (Edward's children)
- Occupation: Landowner DL (JP for Dorset)
- Servants? 10: housekeeper, cook, nurse, kitchen maid, house maid, nursery maid, butler, 2 lady's maids and a scullery maid
- 1881
- Address: Herringston House
- Residents: Elizabeth A Williams, son Edward Wilmot Williams, his wife Sophia, two of Edward's daughters, his sister-in-law and a niece
- Birthplaces
- County Wicklow (Elizabeth), Rosheor, County Down (Edward), Kingstown, Ireland (Sophia) and Herringston (Edward's daughters)
- Occupation: Gentlewoman (Elizabeth), JP for Dorset (Edward)
- Servants? 11: housekeeper, cook, 2 housemaids, kitchen maid, school room maid, butler, footman, 2 lady's maids and a governess
- 1891
- Address: Herringstone House
- Residents: Edward Wilmot Williams, his wife Sophia, one son and one daughter
- Birthplaces: Roshivor, County Down (Edward), Kingstown, Ireland (Sophia) and Herringston (Edward's children)
- Occupation: JP for Dorset (Edward) and Lieutenant RA [Royal Artillery] (son, Ashley)
- Servants? 6: housekeeper, lady's maid, butler, housemaid, kitchen maid and under housemaid
- 1901
- Address: Herringstone
- Residents: Edward Wilmot Williams, his wife Sophia and one daughter
- Birthplaces: Roshevor, County Down (Edward), Kingstown, Ireland (Sophia) and Herringston (Edward's daughter)
- Occupation: Living on own means JP County of Dorset
- Servants? 8: lady's maid, cook, 2 housemaids, kitchen maid, butler, footman and hall boy
- 1923 (Telephone Directory)
- Address: Herringston
- Capt C W Berkeley Williams Tel Dorchester 122
- 1940 (Telephone Directory)
- Address: Herringston
- Hon. Mrs Williams Tel Dorchester 122