Photo Credit: Dave Francis
We are extremely fortunate to be able to hold the 2024 Gloucestershire Branch AGM at Hill Court, by kind permission of Thomas Jenner-Fust.

The manor of Hill formed part of the grant made by King Henry II to Robert Fitzhardinge – an ancestor of the Berkeley family - and it remained in their ownership until 1418 when it passed by marriage to the Poyntz family. It came into the Fust family by purchase in 1609 and when the direct line of the Fusts became extinct in 1841 it passed to a cousin - Sir Herbert Jenner.  He assumed by Royal License the name of Fust as an addition to his surname.

It is known that a manor house of some sort has stood on the site since early times and the church, which was once joined to the house by a cloister, dates back to the 13th Century. The present house is comparatively new dating to the 1860s, with the service wing at the rear of the house being pulled down in  the 1950s. 

During World War II the house was used as the BBC music library, and it was subsequently used as a prep school before being restored as a family home in the latter part of the 20th Century.

The estate comprises approximately 1500 acres mainly consisting of permanent pasture with a modest amount of woodland.  There are five working farms on the estate and some land is let to farmers in neighbouring villages. The main farming activity in the vale has always been dairy but as time moves on this is becoming less dominant with farmers deciding to engage in more specialized areas of agriculture. The decision to maintain a traditional let approach to the agricultural part of the estate is a conscious one.

Although some land and properties were sold after the war there are still a number of let properties on the estate, let to both to farm workers and those with long associations with the village.

Programme

2.00pm Registration, tea and coffee
2.30pm AGM
2.50pm Update from CLA Director of External Affairs, Jonathan Roberts
3.25pm Introduction to Hill Court from Thomas Jenner-Fust
3.45pm Tour of Hill Court, St Michael’s Church and Gardens
5.45pm Drinks and canapes
6.30pm Depart

The AGM and canapes will be held in a marquee, please dress according to the weather.

Please note: Hill Court is not easily accessible for those with mobility issues. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Southwest office to discuss.

Directions: From the A38 at Falfield turn on to Moorslade Lane and continue until you enter the village of Rockhampton. Turn on to Rockhampton Rhine (signposted for Hill and Shepperdine). At the junction turn right (towards Upper Hill). Continue past the village hall and the turn for Hill Court will be on the right. What3words: appealing.zones.november.

The AGM only is free of charge to attend but places must be booked through the Southwest office