CONGRESBURY HISTORY GROUP
No Lord
Congresbury manor has never had a resident Lord of the Manor, so there is no
large Manor House (except Iwood Manor which had only 120 acres, compared
with Congresbury’s 4000 acres now) and no medieval statues of long dead lords,
as at Yatton or any massive Monument in the churchyard. But the church is well
worth a visit and the churchyard has a monument to a Congresbury man who,
severely wounded, captured a highwayman in 1830 and lived to tell the tale.
The manor was overseen by a bailiff, often a local man , and parish affairs were
organised by the vicar, when in residence, and prominent local people, mainly
farmers. Most were tenants, who were often able to pass their tenancies to their
children, providing considerable continuity. However, Hannah More, who started
a Sunday School in Congresbury and many others elsewhere, was scathing
about farmers. In 1792 she called them great ignorant farmers and a gentleman
farmer was bursting with his wealth and consequence and purple with his daily
bottle of port.
This 3-metre high granite cross in the churchyard is a memorial to the brave farmer
who fought off an attack by a highwayman in October 1830.
Charles Hardwick, of Hewish, was returning on his horse from Bristol market with a
considerable amount of money. He rode and conversed with a person called Richard
Hewllet.
Hardwick was not far from home (about a mile and a half from Congresbury towards
Weston Super
Mare) when Hewlett drew a pistol and shot him in the shoulder. Hewlett then took
fright and galloped away at speed towards Congresbury.
Hardwick pursued his assailant and caught up with him at the bridge leading into
Congresbury Moor, about a half mile from where he was shot. Hewlett then struck the
gallant farmer about the head with a large bludgeon, and galloped away towards
Congresbury.
The farmer pursued Hewlett once again and caught up with him by Congresbury
Bridge, after Hewlett’s horse fell when swerving to avoid a cart. The two men struggled
on the ground and farmer Hardwick received further blows to the head and was
stabbed in the side by Hewlett’s 7-inch dagger.
Despite these further injuries the farmer held on to the highwayman until help arrived.
Hewlett was later tried at Taunton and hanged at Ilchester jail.
Farmer Hardwick lay close to death for some time but lived a further 19 years to tell
the tale. He is buried at Hutton.
In 1871, after a Mr Kinglake had raised a subscription, the granite cross, weighing
some three tons, was erected to commemorate this extraordinary event.
The Highwayman
