Overview
Walnut Tree House was built in the first decade of the 20th century, in a field near Cwm farm off Wern Lane. On the early OS maps, it was described as Walnut Tree farm.
It is a plush residence these days – and Helen and Richard, the vendors who listed the property in October 2011 stated: “Walnut Tree House has been modernised throughout many times during its 150 year history, firstly in 1899 when it was a farmhouse selling walnuts from the trees to produce walnut oil. The house was modernised further in 1920 when it was extended with a farm shop and in 1960 the house was extended again. In 2009 the current owners improved and tastefully extended the home once more.”
I can see no evidence from census records or Ordnance Survey maps of the period of a dwelling close to where Walnut Tree House is now, until the early 1900s. 1899 seems to be about the earliest that the property could have been in existence I think. Of course, I am not old enough to have been there, so it’s just based on the evidence that I have seen. I stand to be corrected.
Facts and Figures
Year of Construction
Reportedly 1899 (from the Oct. 2011 property listing with Chewton Rose Estate Agency).
First Recorded Residents and year
1909: William Knight (presumably with wife Elizabeth and family).
Residents at time of the 1851 census
Property not yet built.
Location
Residents
William and Elizabeth Knight
The first residents, recorded at the property were the Knight family: William and Elizabeth Knight. They were both from Somerset. . William Knight appeared on the 1904 Register of Electors at Walnut Tree, although died in September 1909, being buried at Llanfihangel Pontymoile churchyard on 28th September 1909.
His widow Elizabeth (nee Henson) was said to be from Cheddar, in Somerset on the 1911 census, although her birthplace changes on each census. An online family tree states Elizaet was from Burlescombe in Devon, which tallies with the earlier censuses that Elizabeth and William completed, where she claimed to be from Devonshire. The couple married on 27th October 1861 at Wellington in Somerset. By the time of the 1911 census, Elizabeth had taken over as the farmer – and two of their children, Ernest and Blanche were with her, working on the farm. An earlier census claimed that Blanche was “Deaf and Dumb.” We would not use that second adjective today. Two of their grandchildren were staying with them at Walnut Trees: 10-year-old Donald (born at Tredegar) and 2-year-old Aubrey Grainger (born at Glanaman in Carmarthenshire).
Alfred and Mary Jane Curnow
In 1921 the residents at Walnut Tree House were Alfred and Mary Jane Curnow. Mary Jane was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Knight, so they managed to keep the house in the family. Alfred and Mary Jane had both been married and widowed; I like to imagine that they would have both been able to experience empathy and support for and from the other.
Alfred was now a farmer and Mary Jane was too, even though the description on the census was “assist in farm work.” Mary Jane’s nephew Cyril, aged 14 was helping them on the farm. He had been born at Glascoed. I am not sure right now which of Elizabeth and William’s many children would have been the parent (probably father).
The Registers of Electors show Alfred and Mary Curnow in residence in 1922 and again in 1929.
Alfred died on 30th October 1938. He was resident at Walnut Tree Farm, according to the Probate Indexes and was buried at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel. The Baptist Minister, Rev Newbery was an Executor of Alfred’s will.
Alfred’s gravestone reads:
“In loving memory of Alfred
beloved of Mary Curnow of Glascoed.
Died October 30th 1938 Aged 80 yrs.”
The 1939 National Register confirms that Mary was widowed by the time the Register was collated; 29th September 1939.
Mary’s birth date is given as 17th January 1865. She was an “unpaid Domestic”. Also at Walnut Trees was Dennis R. Davies, born 20th November 1922. His occupation was listed as “General work on Holding”.
A sudden death
Dennis Davies was only a young man, but he died suddenly just before Christmas, 1941.
Mary must have arranged to bury him in the family grave plot, since Dennis’ stone is situated near to Alfred’s. His gravestone (which must have started to fade quite quickly) reads:
“In loving memory of Dennis Davies
of Walnut Tree House, Glascoed
who died Dec 23rd 1941 aged 16 yrs.
Sudden was the call at rest with the Lord.”
Mary dies: Her brother Ernest Ralph Knight moves in.
Mary Curnow died on 9th December 1952 – she had reached a good age and was still living at Walnut Tree Farm.
Ernest Ralph Knight, appeared to be the beneficiary. He had been living with his wife Beatrice and family at Berllan, Glascoed at the time of the 1939 National Register.
Later Electoral Registers (e.g. 1956) show Ernest living at Walnut Tree Farm. Ernest’s wife Beatrice had died before his sister, Mary Jane on December 8th 1951. Ernest died on October 26th 1966, aged 82. They are both buried at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel
Records
Registers of Electors
• 1909 – William Knight
• 1922 and 1929 – Alfred and Mary Jane Curnow.
Censuses
• 1911 – Elizabeth Knight and family.
• 1921 – Alfred and Mary Jane Curnow.
• 1939 National Register – Mary Jane Curnow.
Add Your Heading Text Here
- Look at the Probate Indexes (for the Curnows),
- Marriage certificates (the Knights and the Curnows),
- Burial Registers (all parishes). E.g. William and Elizabeth Knight at Llanfihangel Pontymoile churchyard.
- Monumental Inscriptions pages (for burials of Alfred Curnow, Dennis Davies and several of the Knight clan).