1948 Sale of Western, Court and Corner Cottage

Neighbouring (and perhaps formerly joint to) Court Hall, the following cottages - Western, Court and Corner - were put up for auction on 30th January 1948 at Rougemont Hotel.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 23rd January 1948:

1911 Census

Court Hall on the 1911 Census.

Someone doodled a worm or snake on the census.

The asylum is run by:

• Bertha Mules (42) (single), medical licence
• Annie Mules (36) (single), co-licence

Both were born in Churchstow.

There are eight patients - all have private means. On this census we are only given initials.

• J.G (80) (widow), blind since 78; born South Elmham, Suffolk
• F.L (71) (widow), insane since 60; born Compton, Gloucester
• M.D (58) (married), insane since 56; born Winterton, Norfolk
• E.S (57) (single), insane since 54; born Bath, Somerset
• C.T (27) (single), insane since 17; born Buenos Aires, South America
• B.M (45) (single), insane since 35; born Liverpool, Lancashire
• M.T (71) (widow), insane since 54; born Dulverton, Somerset
• E.P (27) (single), insane since 25; born Kensington, London

There are three nurses:

• Emily England (35) (single); born Martock, Somerset
• Mary Farguhar (30) (single); born Leith, Scotland
• Ada Elders (30) (single); born Grosmont, Yorkshire

And three live-in servants:

• Lilian Bowden (24) (single), cook; born Bovey Tracy, Devon
• Ellen Wallace (20) (single), house maid; born Kenton, Devon
• Lily White (15) (single), kitchen maid; born Powderham, Devon

1921 Census

Court Hall on the 1921 Census (taken 19th June 1921).

Court Hall was then a private mental hospital, with 17 rooms, run by sisters:

• Dr Bertha Mary Mules (52y, 3m), Physician
• Dr Annie Shortridge Mules (45y, 1m), Physician and Surgeon

Also living with them at the time of the 1921 census is their brother:

• Roderick John Mules (47y, 2m), Admiralty Civil Engineer at Devonport Stockyard

All three siblings were single and born in Churchstow, Devon.

There are eight patients:

• Amy Laura Evans (65y, 2m), married; born in Wimbledon, London
• Emily Alice Beadon (72y, 1m), single; born in Otterton, Devon
• Ada Allan Mitchell (53y, 2m), single; born in Exeter, Devon
• Emma Martin (58y, 5m), single; born in Reigate, Surrey
• Florence Shepherd (63y, 4m), married; born in Nottingham
• Annie Dresser (35y, 3m), single; born in Wrexham, Cheshire
• Catherine Thomas (36y, 7m), single; born in Vines Cross, Sussex
• Georgina Backhouse (53y, 2m), married; born in Ottery, Devon

Four nurses:

• Elizabeth Helen Brotherton (35y, 10m), single; born in Walsall, Staffordshire
• Sarah Jane Appleton (33y, 2m), single; born in Newton-le-Willows, Cheshire
• Alys Katherine Reed (26y, 11m), single; born in Wimbledon, London
• Mary Derrick (67y, 11m), single; born in Glamorgan, Wales

And four live-in servants:

• Fanny Philips (36y, 8m), Parlour maid, single; born in Starcross, Devon
• Ethel Branch (19y, 10m), House maid, single; born in Kenton, Devon
• Cora Grose (39y, 4m), Cook, widow; born in Gunnislake, Devon
• Margaret Needs (15y, 4m), Kitchen maid, single; born in Exeter, Devon

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F10370%2F0043%2F01&tab=this 

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F10370%2F0043&parentid=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F10370%2F0043%2F01 

Dr Bertha also owns the neighbouring property of Court Cottage, which has 10 rooms.

There are three visitors:

• Ellen Drew (70y, 2m), single; born in Torquay, Devon
• Sylvia Church (42y, 2m), a gardener at home, single; born in Retford, Nottinghamshire
• Claude Tritton (36y, 1m), single; born Banbury, Oxfordshire

Three boarders:

• Mary Katherine Blake (39y, 5m), single; born Birmingham, Worcestershire
• Maria Edgeworth Sanderson (47y, 2m), single; born Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
• Susanna Pryon Soote (65y, 3m), single; born Clifton, Somerset

Interestingly, Maria Edgeworth Sanderson was a half great niece of novelist Maria Edgeworth. Her mother was Mary/Maria Sanderson (nee Edgeworth), whose father was Francis Beaufort Edgeworth, a younger half brother of the novelist.

And one live-in caretaker (her employer is given as Dr Bertha Mules):

• Mary Ann Phillips (59y, 1m), widow; born Eggerford, Devon

1939 Census/Register

Court Hall on the 1939 Census/Register (taken 29th September 1939).

Dr Annie Mules (born 12th June 1894) (single) is the resident medical officer.

She is now joined by another member of the Mules family:

• Winifred A S Mules (born 15th Jan 1907) (single), chauffeuse (a female chauffer) and housekeeper

There are ten patients:

• Anne E F Dresser (born ? May 1887) (single)
• Catherine E Thomas (born 1st Dec 1887) (single)
• Gertrude E Magor (born 1st May 1875) (single)
• Blanche Lloyd-Baker (born 12th Jan 1872) (widow)
• Rosamund K Pim (born 28th Jan 1871) (widow)
• Marie L Veresmith (born 28th Jan 1868) (widow)
• Dorothy Radcliffe (born 26th Oct 1896) (single)
• Mary Katherine Blake (born 4th Jan 1887) (single)
• Dorothy Courtney (born 13th Jul 1876) (single)
• Lavender Leveson Gower (born 11th Nov 1906) (single)

Seven nurses:

• Hylda M Hanson (Pangos) (born 24th Jan 1900) (single)
• Joan Bosworth (born 20th Sep 1904) (single)
• Edna E Raymond (born 7th April 1900) (single)
• Edna E Gunn (born 6th Feb 1905) (single)
• Olive G Kelly (Dunscombe) (born 25th May 1915) (single)
• Vera K Hopkins (Highley) (born 21st Sep 1913) (single)
• Ethel Annie Chaddock (born 30th May 1893) (single)

And four live-in servants:

• Barbara F Adams (Drew/Latto) (born 31st May 1919 (single), house-parlour maid
• Edna H Evans (Powell) (born 19th Apr 1923) (single), house maid
• Lilian B Way (born 17th April 1884) (married), caretaker (house and laundry work)
• William H Way (born 6th Sep 1878) (married), handyman and cowman