The Pryor family
The Pryor family were prominent in Preston in the last quarter of the nineteenth century,
as they owned the majority of the village!
Their lasting legacy to the village is Pryor House near Preston Green and the land
around St Martin’s Church.
Brewers and maltsters
We begin this brief account of the family with Robert Pryor who died in 1744. He established a
substantial malting business in Baldock, a town five miles north-east of Hitchin.
Malt is produced from fermented barley and the local fields yielded fine quality grain - ‘the town
(Baldock) was noted for making the most excellent malt, the quantity made being exceeded but by
one town in the Kingdom’. As a result of his business acumen, Robert owned property in the villages
of Willian, Weston, Bygrave and Clothall which surround Baldock.
Following his death, the main portion of his estate, the brewery, was left to his son, John Pryor (1741-
1819). Although the Pryor malting business continued to burgeon – leasing another brewery and
acquiring tied public houses - the family fell out of love with Quakerism because its formality and
superstition. As a consequence, all of John’s eight children were baptized as Anglicans. However, the
Quaker precepts of peace and philanthropy were deeply planted and guided the family during the
nineteenth century.
The Pryor’s business continued to expand as John purchased yet
another brewery for £12,000 and by 1813 his empire included 50 pubs
and inns.
John’s eldest son was the brewer and magistrate, John Izzard Pryor,
who was born in May 1774. John Izzard retired from brewing in 1826,
aged fifty-two, and the next year he purchased Clay Hall at Walkern,
Herts (a modest estate of 500 acres which became known as Walkern
Hall) with the intention of living the life of a gentleman.
He wrote a diary which has been transcribed and arranged by Gerald
Curtis in a book entitled, A Chronicle of Small Beer – a wonderfully
detailed account of the life of the gentry in Hertfordshire between 1827
and 1861. (see right)
The purchase of Temple Dinsley - 1874
Skipping a generation, John Izzard’s third grandson was Henry Maclean Pryor (1839-1904). After
attending Eton College, Henry made his reputation as a soldier. In 1861, aged twenty-two, he was an
ensign in the 60th Beds Regiment – which illustrates how far the family had drifted from their Quaker
ideals - the faith frowns on warfare, believing ‘how can one kill another child of God, a potential
channel of truth’.
Henry married Margaret Frances De Vins Wade in 1862 and the couple settled at Clifton Lodge, near
Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. They had six children. The eldest was Ralston de Vins Pryor (RDV) (bn
1864) and their youngest son was Gerard Ithel Eade Pryor (GIE) (bn 1868).
The 1871 census noted that Henry, a Captain in the 7th Bedfordshire Rifle Volunteer Corps was at
home and had a visitor, William H Darton, a Lieutenant in the same Regiment. William’s parents
owned the Temple Dinsley estate at Preston. A further strand tying together the young men was that
they received their commissions on the same day: 2 March 1871.
When Temple Dinsley was sold by auction in 1873, Henry Pryor (who had recently received bequests
and legacies from relatives) bought Lot One (of eight lots, see below) of the estate evidently intending
that his two young sons, RDV and GIE would manage it when they grew older. The villagers referred
to the brothers either by their initials or as “Squire” and “Long” Pryor respectively. He paid £19,000,
and a further £1,902 was added to the price for timber rights. This outlay was possibly a stretch for
Henry as he arranged to pay a cash sum of £9000 and raised a mortgage for the remainder at 4%.
The Pryors apparently never lived in the mansion of Temple Dinsley. Towards the end of the
nineteenth century, the house was let to John Weeks, then Henry Brand (MP and magistrate) and
Frederick MacMillan.
Ralston de Vins Pryor
In 1881, RdeV, aged 17, was continuing his education at St
Paul’s College, Stony Stratford East, Bucks. Ten years later
in 1891, he was living in The Cottage (shown right) beside
the Hitchin Road on the outskirts of Preston.
This had a drawing room, dining room, library, kitchen,
scullery, cellar, dairy, eight bedrooms and two dressing
rooms. Close by were stables, coach-house and a small
farmyard and buildings. There was a garden with
greenhouses and hothouses. Ralston described himself as
an ‘estate agent’ – which referred to his duties in
connection with his father’s property and his work as an
estate surveyor.
Clearly The Cottage was too extensive for Ralston’s needs
so it was decided to also let this property - Henry
Anstruther, Lord of the Treasury, was residing there in
1901.
Between 1891 and 1901, the Pryors built The Laburnums
(now Pryor House, right) in the field behind the Red Lion
public house. It was described as a brick-built house with
tiled roof. Inside were a drawing room, dining room,
kitchen, scullery, laundry and w.c. and on the first floor, a
bathroom and four bedrooms. In 1915, GIE was renting the
first floor from RdeV, his landlord. The transcribers of the
1901 census mis-labelled the house, Labour-in-vain!
In 1895, Henry Pryor made a Deed of Gift to Ralston, of land occupied today by Chequers Cottages
and their gardens. This Deed may well have included the entire estate that he purchased as when the
Inland Revenue conducted its survey of Preston in 1909/10, Ralston was recorded as owning twenty-
seven cottages clustered in the middle of the village together with the Chequers Inn and odd plots of
land including the allotments and the rail pond with its adjoining land by Preston Green. This
indicates that the Pryors had sold none of the homes originally bought by Henry in 1874 and that
RdeV’s portfolio at Preston now included the newly-built The Laburnums and four small cottages at
Back Lane (see below).
The area shown in light and dark blue on the map above was dealt with apart from the Temple
Dinsley estate by Thomas H Darton. He raised a mortgage on it of £400 from Thomas Perkins which
was repaid by Thomas’ widow, Emily, shortly after his death in 1885. She then sold this land to GIE
for £900 in 1908. In turn, the following year, GIE sold the area coloured in light blue to his brother
Ralston for £200.
Temple Dinsley mansion and The Cottage together with other plots of land were sold to Mr James
Barrington-White in 1901 together with land sandwiched between Blacksmith’s and Back Lane.
Shortly afterwards, Henry Pryor died intestate in the summer of 1904 leaving an estate of £23,148.
Although the Pryors owned the majority of the cottages at Preston, most of their portfolio were in a
poor, dilapidated condition. Perhaps the prospect of demolishing and replacing their housing stock
was daunting but five years or so after the death of their father, Henry, the Pryors sold all their
properties at Preston, retaining only their home, The Laburnums, in which the two brothers were living
in 1911. However from news reports it appears that RdeV still owned some property on his father’s
Clifton estate.
Margaret Pryor, Henry’s widow, died on 25 June 1915 at a flat at 38 Gunterstone Road, West
Kensington. She left an estate of £2,908 which would seem to indicate that Henry’s holdings had
already been distributed. RdeV was his mother’s executor.
Preston benefactor
Perhaps the major enduring contribution RdeV made to Preston related to St Martin’s Church. In early
1898, he was approached by the Revd Switzer of St Marys, Hitchin to see if he would sell a parcel of
land for a new church in the village. RdeV agreed with the proviso that the necessary funds should be
raised and he was part of the committee which administered the Church Building Fund. In 1908, he
was instrumental in the opening of a new village club room on Church Lane opposite St Martin’s lych
gate. He gave the site and ‘collected most of the money required’. The building still stands today.
RdeV was the Chairman of the Parish Council from 1901 to 1915. He was also one of Preston
school’s managers and regularly visited the school, often checking the register and sometimes even
taking some lessons in arithmetic, drawing and history. In particular he encouraged children with their
gardening pursuits. He took charge of the school garden in 1908 and sometimes took a party from the
school to show them his rose garden. In 1926, he coached the boys in cricket.
Ralston also had an interest in three leisure pursuits: rose growing, amateur dramatics and cricket.
There are several newspaper reports of concerts which were organised by RdeV around his first
home, Clifton, Beds in the 1890s. At Shefford in January 1890 he organised and acted in the farce,
Freezing a mother-in-law. “The room was well filled on both evenings and the performers were loudly
applauded’. Profits were donated to the local cricket club and reading room. The following year, an
entertainment was given for the purchase of kneelers for Sunday School children at Clifton. Ralston
played Dearest Love Waltz as a piano solo and sang The Carnovale. That same year at another
concert, it was reported that ‘the humourous songs of Mr R de V Pryor greatly amused the
audience...and the comic finale, a banjo duet by RDeV and GIE Pryor created roars of laughter’. The
pair also performed ‘their new and original Kentucky march and twist, never before performed in
England (encore)’. In addition, Ralston played a harp solo of The Ashgrove. Then again in 1895, at an
amateur dramatics show on Ralston ‘devolved the very responsible duty of stage manager and by his
clever manipulation of the curtain and scenery it was obvious to all that he was a perfect master of
the art’. He also had a leading part in the farce. He and his sister Beryl ‘brought the house down by
their rendering of the various comicalities and passages of pathos in the piece’.
Ralston also put on ‘cheerful concert parties at Preston using the carpenter’ shop on the Green
(which became Peters’ shop Link: Carpenters shop). The Preston Scrapbook has photographs of
some of the productions (Link: Scrapbook). The Pryors toured neighbouring villages in a wagonette
with their concerts. In 1899, at Kings Walden Parish Church, a missionary lecture was delivered with
RdeV ‘manipulating photographs with his magic lantern to illustrate the scenes’.
In the years leading up to The Great War, RdeV won several awards for his prize roses. Typical of the
news reports was this from a Hertford Rose Show in July 1913: ‘In Class 1 for twelve distinct roses
the first prize was carried off by Mr R Pryor of Preston who had in his collection the best bloom in the
show - a very beautiful specimen of Yvonne Vacherot. Amongst his other blooms the most
conspicuous were Her Majesty, Mrs Arthur Coxhead and William Shean’.
Ralston and his brother Gerard also encouraged village cricket. RdeV’s interest in the game was
shown in 1894 when he and his brother Armitage turned out for the Rev H E Lury’s side against
Silsoe in 1894. That same year, he and GIE played for Kings Walden cricket team and for a Hitchin XI
against Christ College, Cambridge. In 1902, he was part of the Preston team who visited Kings
Walden along with P Barrington-White, R Ashton, E Robinson, S Elgas, Arthur Wray (my uncle), W
Clinch, H Thrussell, A Gresty, W Thrussell and W Sharp.
Personal reminiscences of RdeV Pryor - by David Peters
My family had an association with Mr. Pryor and The Laburnums for
as long as I can recall. I am not certain how it all came about, but it
may be that my mother was in service there before her marriage.
Additionally, my great aunt, Christobel Peters was Mr. Pryor's
housekeeper. From an early age, my sister Queenie and I had free
reign to play in the grounds and it was always Saturday afternoon tea
in the kitchen with both Mr. Pryor and aunt Chris right up to the time
of his death. It is worthy of note that all the photographs concerning
any of the Peters family weddings had The Laburnums as a
backdrop.
Ralston de Vins Pryor could best be described as a quintessential
English gentleman. Well educated, he had inherited wealth and still
held parcels of land around the village. A bachelor, his only known
relative of whom I was aware was a sister, Beryl, who I believe lived
in Bristol and was an artist of some repute. I never knew him to travel
anywhere but in his younger days he would have got about by pony
and trap.
He had been a rose grower of some note and his trophies were
displayed in his dining room. He kept the rainfall figures for the
Meteorological Office which may explain why he had such a valuable
collection of barometers. He was an avid crossword solver but he
never had the good fortune to win the Telegraph Saturday prize
crossword, despite his many attempts over the years.
I can conjure up memories of him toddling off to The Red Lion at
noon each day dressed in his country tweeds and plus-fours. He was
back by two o'clock for a light lunch in the kitchen with my aunt. He
dined alone each evening except for Sundays which was aunt
Chris's half day off. When the weather was warm of an afternoon he
could be found sitting on an upturned wooden box doing a little light
weeding of the footpaths around the lawns. He eschewed the
benefits of electricity and mains water; lighting was by paraffin lamps
and heating by open fires. Drinking water was drawn from a pump
over the kitchen sink - good taste, too.
RdeV had a piano and my parents bought it at the house sale and
later it went to my sister via Glasgow and finally Brentwood. I never
heard him play but I am not surprised that he at one time entertained
with some ditties. I recall that he had a very good sense of humour.
He died at The Laburnums in March, 1945, at the age of 81,
following a short illness. The house and contents were put up for
auction ,and Aunt Chris went to live with George and Bertha Nash at
Laburnum Cottage. So ended (at 14) a happy era of my life.
Final thoughts
Ralston took my father under his wing. My
mother said that Dad was helped by ‘a local
squire who taught him the rudiments of cards
and snooker’. To my surprise, in 2005, I
discovered confirmation of this relationship in
my garden shed! I have an old woodworm-
riddled fork (shown left) that was used by
Dad which has ‘RdeVP’ etched into its
handle. It is now a dibber.
David Peters mentioned that he remembered
Dad tending Ralston’s kitchen garden at The
Laburnums. I was told by an aunt that, when
he was dying, Ralston asked to see my father
but was prevented from doing this by his
housekeeper.
Ralston (described as a retired land surveyor) died of cancer of the rectum on 7 March 1945 at The
Laburnums. His death was notified by his housekeeper, Annie Christobel Peters who was present at
the death. Four days later, he was buried at St Martin’s Church opposite the door (above right).
RdeV’s will bestowed £50 to two of his three nominated executors. Annie Christobel Peters was to
have his antique chest of drawers and a sum which was equal to five years cash wages. He left his
gold signet ring with crest to his nephew, Harford de Vins Lury; his grandfather clock to Bertha Emily
Nash (nee Peters); his Sheritan corner cupboard from the drawing room to Philadelphia Constance
Peters. The residue was to be divided between his siblings, Lilian Amy Lury, Margaret Beryl Pryor and
Armigel Henry Pryor. The net value of his estate was a surprising £540. It seems that he spent his
inheritance ‘flying small planes and enjoying life’.
All that was left was to sell Ralston’s home and contents. The Laburnums was sold by auction at the
Sun Hotel, Hitchen on 17 April 1945. It was described as having ‘ two reception rooms, four bedroom,
bath, detached billiards room (across the courtyard from the house DP), rose and flower gardens,
land with outbuildings including orchard, rose garden, paddock and three acres of meadow’.
The house contents were sold separately: ‘oak and iron bedsteads, tables, chairs, four-feet walnut
wardrobe, antique mahogany club-foot table with oval leaves, antique eight-day clock by Field of
Hitchin, iron-framed piano by Chappell, three-foot oak bureau, mahogany dining table, aneroid with
clock and chart,antique and modern silver and plate, half-size billiards table and a large quantity of
carpenters and garden tools’.
I am grateful to David Peters and Ann Crouch for providing the photographs of RdeV
and to David for taking the time to write his memories.