Bodenham, Herefordshire - Kelly's Directory, 1856

Extract from Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire, 1856

BODENHAM.

BODENHAM is a parish and village, with the townships of BODENHAM, BOWLEY, THE MOOR, MAUND BRYAN, and WHITECHURCH MAUND, 6 miles south from Leominster (its post town), 1½ east from Dinmore Railway Station, 8 miles west from Bromyard, and 8 north from Hereford, and 16 north-west from Ledbury, in Broxash hundred, Leominster union, Weston deanery, Hereford archdeaconry and bishopric; it is situated about 1 mile west from the Leominster and Ledbury turnpike road, and the River Lugg runs through the parish. The church of St. Michael is an ancient and substantial stone building, in the Early English style of architecture, with square tower, four pinnacles, and an unfinished lantern spire; the tower contains 5 bells and an excellent clock, which was presented to the parish in 1849 by John Arkwright, Esq., of Hampton Court, near Leominster; the interior consists of nave, north and side aisles, chancel (with handsome ribbed ceiling), chaste carved stone font, and various small monumental tablets; there are also an organ loft and an organ; the church was entirely renovated and re-pewed in 1834, by which means 200 additional sittings were obtained, there being accommodation for 650persons, 200 of which were free. The living is a vicarage, gross income £686 yearly, with residence, in the gift of John Arkwright, Esq., the Rev. Henry Arkwright, M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, is the incumbent, and the Rev. James Knowles Harrison is curate. Here is a small chapel used by Wesleyans. There is a free school for boys and girls, with an average attendance of 70 children. The vicarage is a modern stone building, in the Elizabethan style, a quarter of a mile from the church. Broadfield Court, an ancient mansion is 2½ miles north-east; Venwood House is 2½ miles south-east; Dinmore Hill is delightfully situated about 1½ miles north-west, and commands a very extensive and beautiful prospect. The River Lugg is noted for its superior grayling, trout, and pike, and is preserved for a distance of 4 to 5 miles exclusively for a club of about 30 members, permission having been given for that purpose by J. Arkwright, Esq., and D. H. Burr, Esq. The population in 1851 was 1,113; the area is 4,976 acres. The soil is clayey, loamy and rich pasture. John H. Arkwright, Esq. is lord of the manor, and John Arkwright, Esq., Henry Burchall, Esq., H. Burr, Esq., and E. N. Mason, Esq., are the chief landowners. There are several extensive farms, with good houses attached. The chief crops are apples, hops, wheat, and beans. There are charities of £18 yearly value. The Wesleyans have a small chapel.

   Bowley is 1½ miles north-east; The Moor, three quarters of a mile east; Maund Bryan, 2¾ miles south- east; Whitechurch Maund, 3 south-by-south-east, from the church

Bodenham
Arkwright, Rev. Henry, M.A. Vicarage	Landon Richard, esq., Hill House
Burchall John Henry, esq., Broadfield Court	Lewes Rev. David Laugharne, Bodenham Hall
Forrest John Richard esq., Venn Wood	Powell Richard, esq., Maund
Harrison Rev. James Knowles [curate] Bank Ho.	Wilkins Mrs. Rhoda, Villa
Helme Mrs. Broadfield Court	Woodyatt John, esq., Pent House
TRADERS
Baker Joseph, farmer, Maund Court	Hyde John, miller, Riffin's Mill
Burlton Thomas, farmer, Vern House	Hyde Meline (Mrs.), farmer, Lower Broadfield
Chamberlain William, farmer, Farm	Lait William, shopkeeper
Colebourne John, farmer, Bodenham Court	Lewis James, farmer, Howton
Crompton William, farmer, Lower Venn	Mapp John, shopkeeper
Cross John, farmer, Dewdales Hope	Norman James, shopkeeper
Daniel Joseph, shopkeeper, Pease Green	Owens Hannah (Mrs.), shopkeeper & cider retailer
Dykes John, cider retailer, Saffron's Cross	Perkins Samuel, farmer, Woodhouse
Edwards Sarah (Mrs.), farmer, Pigeon house	Phillips Richard, farmer, Richland
Fowler William, farmer, Holbatch	Powell Richard, farmer, Maund
Glading William, farmer	Price Mary Ann (Miss), farmer, Bowley Town
Green Francis, England's Gate	Pritchard William, farmer, Brockington
Griffiths Joseph, farmer, Millcraft	Symonds Jonathan, farmer, Calderwell
Griffiths William, builder & wheelwright, Poolhead	Vale Benjamin, cider retailer, Bowley Town
Hall William, cider retailer, Witchall	Went John, blacksmith, Bridge
Harford John, parish clerk, Collector of rates	Woodyatt John, surgeon, Pent house
Holloway Joseph, farmer, Broadfield Lodge	Yeomans Esther (Mrs.), New Inn
Holt William, cider retailer, Cornett Bridge

Bowley
Gladwyn William, shoemaker	Taylor Thomas, wheelwright
Saw Joseph, shoemaker	Watkins Elizabeth, (Miss), schoolmistress

The Moor
Beaman Thomas, mason	Harris Mary (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Bowen James, tailor	Hill Charles, mason
Cooper William, cider retailer	Hughes John, farmer
Daniel William, shoemaker	Merrick Ann (Mrs.), farmer, Low Moor
Duncan Allan, shopkeeper	Strangward Joseph Dennis, farmer, Upper Moor.
Gibbons William, mason	Williams Robert, tailor

Maund Bryan
Stedman John, wheelwright

Whitechurch Maund
Burnett John, farmer	Ovens James, butcher
Clarke James, farmer

   POST OFFICE. - Francis Green, sub-postmaster, England's Gate. Letters arrive from Leominster at ¼ past 11 a.m. & are dispatched thereto at 3 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Leominster.

   Free School, James Morton, master; Mrs. Jane Morton, mistress.

   CARRIER TO HEREFORD. - Jas Fleet, to Hereford, Wednesday & Saturday; to Worcester, Friday.

[Transcribed by Richard Lane in December 2002
from a copy of Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire, 1856 in Hereford Central Library]