Thomas Woodward was the first owner of South Parade House when it was built in about 1832, he lived there until he died in 1872.
Born in 1793 in Worcester he married Mary Turner of Kington on November 27th 1827.
Appointed Ledbury church organist by 1823, at the age of 30, I can find out nothing about his early musical training and career.
He was the Church organist during the Rev John Jackson's curacy, the two never got on and, at the age of 70 he was peremptorily dismissed from his post in 1863.
This story can be found on the Iron Church page, for convenience, a letter he wrote to the press at the time is reproduced here:
Mr Thomas Woodward, Ledbury.
Sir, I hereby inform you that I forbid you to act as organist at the parish church of Ledbury on and after the 26th day of January 1863.
J Jackson, Rector.
Now after 40 years service as organist, and five and thirty years gratuitous service as secretary to the Dispensary,
whereby the rates for the poor have been relieved, I think I was entitled at all events to gentlemanly treatment.
I have also rendered a gratuitous service at the church on Wednesday evenings till the congregation was reduced to about 20,
and then he resigned his weekly ministrations, he has also resigned the treasure of the National Schools, &c,
and as resignation is the order of the day, I shall feel resigned to my fate.
Ledbury 20th Jan 1863
THOS. WOODWARD.
Thomas and Mary had:
Edmund Henry baptised on October 11th. 1828.
William baptised on June 18th. 1830.
Lucilla Laura baptised on August 4th 1831.
Emma baptised August 5th. 1833.
Sadly Mary died September 25th 1843 aged just 50 in South Parade House.
I cannot find out what happened to Emma but the others seemed to do well.
Edmund studied at Cambridge and became a schoolteacher at Brighton after marrying Thomasine Borlase in 1861, He died in 1923 aged 94.
William became a general practitioner in Worcester, never married and died in 1901.
Lucilla never married, lived with her brother William before he died, thereafter in various lodging houses and died in Bethnal Green in 1916.
After Thomas died on June 23rd 1872 the next occupant I can find is James Smyth who is here as a tenant in 1876 (the house was presumably still owned by
the Woodwards)
James Smyth married Annie Heath Walton in Southwark in 1873 and they had a daughter, May Amy, here at South Parade House in 1876.
The baptism records describe his profession as 'A Gentleman'. Gone by 1881 I can find out nothing about him in any census
and the house is unoccupied in 1881, and I can find nothing until:
The 1891 census shows Mary Jane Davis, 36, (ie b 1855) born Madley and 'living on own means' with her sister Frances C(atherine). 33, (ie b 1858) also from Madley,
with a cook, housemaid and gardener to look after them.
The ages shown here are as recorded on that census but, like many young ladies, they seemed a bit economic with the truth!
In fact Mary was born in 1850 and Catherine in 1853, birth records and later censuses confirm this.
Frances died here in Ledbury 1902, Mary Jane is recorded as dying in Southend House in 1935 leaving £16,600 so she was well able to 'live on own means'.
Empty in 1936 and 1937, from Tilleys Almanack later occupants are:
Rev. A Jackson in 1938, 1939, Mrs Jackson in 1940 and 1941.
E C Wadlow in 1942 to 1944.
Mrs Jackson in 1947. I wonder if this the same Mrs Jackson as above?
F Willmott in 1950.
F Lewington in 1951 until 1969 then Miss Lewington in 1970.
M W Sykes in 1971 until 1975.
B Evans in 1976 until 1978.
J A Vaughan in 1979 until 1995.
K McGowan in 1999 until 2002 the last date Tilleys was published.