The Orchard
The map below is dated 1851 and clearly shows there is no house next door to Miss Baker's (see Wisteria Cottage) the plot being called Mr Meacham's Garden.
In the 1851 legal case associated with this map John Rogers, labourer, deposed;
(Miss Baker lived in what is now Wisteria Cottage. More on all this on the South Parade page which is probably how you got here.)
Edwin Meacham, baptised Mar 18 1800, married Hannah Moore in Ledbury on March 22 1826.
They had in the High Street Ledbury:
James Edwin in 1827
Joseph in 1829 died 1866 in the High Street
Frances in 1831
Henry in 1832 died 1833
Charles in 1834
Hannah in 1835 died 1853
William Nash in 1837
Alfred in 1840
Emma in 1842
Edwin is a 'Druggist' in the High Street from at least 1826 to 1851, his son James Edwin is also a chemist on the 1851 census in New Street.
Edwin, now a farmer, moved to the White House Eastnor after the 1851 census and before 1853, when his daughter Hannah died at that address and it was here that Edwin's wife Hannah died in 1867.
In 1871 he is living here as a farmer of 420 acres with Sarah Robinson from Much Marcle 38 Housekeeper and Elizabeth Phillips 18, servant.
Sarah Robinson was youngest daughter of Mr John Williams of Much Marcle, she married John Robinson in 1854, he died in 1868.
Edwin, doubtless missing female company, took Sarah off to London in 1872 where they got married, he was 72 she was 39, he died in South Parade in 1877.
His will was proved in Hereford on March 2nd 1878 by 'Sarah Meacham of the South Parade widow the relict....'. The house name is not given but I am sure he would have been living in a house he had built as a home to retire to and situated in what was his garden.
Back in South Parade in 1871 one William Matthews, 54, is living in a house next door to the Misses Baker and in Littlebury's Directory of 1876 the house name in which Mr Matthews is living is given as Hall End Villa. Following the house occupancy from then to the present shows that this is indeed the house known today as The Orchard. The house was built between 1861 and 1871.
So who was William Matthews? And why Hall End Villa?
He died in 1881 and was buried in the Ledbury cemetery fortunately his gravestone has survived the elements.
The epitaph reads:
Obviously he was proud of the fact that he came from Hall End Much Marcle and I would imagine named this house after his ancestral home when he retired.
Born in 1816 I would have expected to find him on earlier censuses but I cannot find him anywhere. The only reference is from a PO Directory of Herefordshire of 1856 when he is listed in Much Marcle as 'Matthews William, farmer, Hall end.'
On April 16th 1864 the following notice appears in the Hereford Times:
All this suggests that William Matthews retired to the recently built house he named Hall End Villa where he is descibed as a tenant (ie not the owner) in the 1880 Electoral Roll. The owner is probably Edwin Meacham.
He died on February 25th 1881 at Barnwood House Gloucester, a private asylum for the mentally ill.
Emma A Vaughan, 56, is listed living here in 1891, with one servant Mary Williams 25.
Described as a Lady's Help, Emma's relationship to the head of household is cousin but there is no head of household shown!
The 1901 census lists Mary Matthews, a widow, 74, as the Head of Household living with Emma Vaughan, also a widow, now 67, her cousin. Three servants looked after after their daily needs.
Mary is 'Living on own means' with Emma being her Companion so it is safe to assume that Mary Matthews was the missing Head of Household in 1891.
Emma died in 1910 and Mary is still here in 1911 with a new companion, Sarah Lee, 50, and just one servant, she did own the house and the adjoining Orchard in the 1910 survey.
Aged 86 she died in Hereford, but buried in Ledbury, on Oct 30th 1913 ie b 1827. It is tempting to think she was something to do with the previous occupant, William Matthews, but I cannot sort out who she is or her interest in Ledbury
From 1912 the house was occupied by Mrs C E Maddison Green wife of the Rector of Ledbury from 1891 to 1908. He died on September 26th 1911 which left her looking for new accomodation. She died on March 29th 1921.
Dr Harrison was here from 1922 to 1935 and it was he who changed the name to 'The Orchards'.
A Miss Johnston from 1940 to 1950 was followed by another Doctor, Dr D E Burrowes until 1973.
In the 1851 legal case associated with this map John Rogers, labourer, deposed;
I have worked for Mr Meacham for 14 years, his garden adjoins the South Parade; I have worked there during the summer; there are two entrances to the garden, one from the South Parade; I have entered from the South Parade; I knew the Pound Meadow ditch, it comes within 17 yards of the entrance to Meacham's garden; his garden lies between the ditch and Miss Baker's house;....two windows of Miss Baker's house look into Meacham's garden;
(Miss Baker lived in what is now Wisteria Cottage. More on all this on the South Parade page which is probably how you got here.)
Edwin Meacham, baptised Mar 18 1800, married Hannah Moore in Ledbury on March 22 1826.
They had in the High Street Ledbury:
James Edwin in 1827
Joseph in 1829 died 1866 in the High Street
Frances in 1831
Henry in 1832 died 1833
Charles in 1834
Hannah in 1835 died 1853
William Nash in 1837
Alfred in 1840
Emma in 1842
Edwin is a 'Druggist' in the High Street from at least 1826 to 1851, his son James Edwin is also a chemist on the 1851 census in New Street.
Edwin, now a farmer, moved to the White House Eastnor after the 1851 census and before 1853, when his daughter Hannah died at that address and it was here that Edwin's wife Hannah died in 1867.
In 1871 he is living here as a farmer of 420 acres with Sarah Robinson from Much Marcle 38 Housekeeper and Elizabeth Phillips 18, servant.
Sarah Robinson was youngest daughter of Mr John Williams of Much Marcle, she married John Robinson in 1854, he died in 1868.
Edwin, doubtless missing female company, took Sarah off to London in 1872 where they got married, he was 72 she was 39, he died in South Parade in 1877.
His will was proved in Hereford on March 2nd 1878 by 'Sarah Meacham of the South Parade widow the relict....'. The house name is not given but I am sure he would have been living in a house he had built as a home to retire to and situated in what was his garden.
Back in South Parade in 1871 one William Matthews, 54, is living in a house next door to the Misses Baker and in Littlebury's Directory of 1876 the house name in which Mr Matthews is living is given as Hall End Villa. Following the house occupancy from then to the present shows that this is indeed the house known today as The Orchard. The house was built between 1861 and 1871.
So who was William Matthews? And why Hall End Villa?
He died in 1881 and was buried in the Ledbury cemetery fortunately his gravestone has survived the elements.
The epitaph reads:
Sacred to the memory of William Matthews Hall End Villa Ledbury only son of the late James & Elizabeth Hall Hall End Much Marcle who departed this life Feb 25th 1881 aged 65 years. Sacred to the memory of Jane the affectionate wife of Wm Matthews Hall End Villa Ledbury eldest daughter of Robert Hughes late of ....morgan in the county of Monmouth who departed this life Jan 20th 1878 aged 59 years.
Obviously he was proud of the fact that he came from Hall End Much Marcle and I would imagine named this house after his ancestral home when he retired.
Born in 1816 I would have expected to find him on earlier censuses but I cannot find him anywhere. The only reference is from a PO Directory of Herefordshire of 1856 when he is listed in Much Marcle as 'Matthews William, farmer, Hall end.'
On April 16th 1864 the following notice appears in the Hereford Times:
HALL END FARM, Five and a-half miles from Ledbury.
NOTICE.
THE Second Day's SALE by AUCTION, on these Premises, takes place On FRIDAY next, the 22nd day of APRIL instant.
And, if requisite, the following day ; consisting of the whole of the modern and well manufactured HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE. Brussels Carpets equal to new, Feather Beds, Blankets, Counterpanes, and Bed chamber Appointments in full. Kitchen, Culinary, and Dairy Articles, home cured Bacon and old Hams, with the general contents of the establishment; and if tbe whole the Cider be not disposed of at the first Sale, the same will be offered as above, by:
Mr SUNDERLAND. Auctioneer.
Catalogues of the whole are in circulation, and may be had 136, St. Owen's Street, Hereford, or at the place of Sale.
Hereford, April 16th, 1964.
All this suggests that William Matthews retired to the recently built house he named Hall End Villa where he is descibed as a tenant (ie not the owner) in the 1880 Electoral Roll. The owner is probably Edwin Meacham.
He died on February 25th 1881 at Barnwood House Gloucester, a private asylum for the mentally ill.
Emma A Vaughan, 56, is listed living here in 1891, with one servant Mary Williams 25.
Described as a Lady's Help, Emma's relationship to the head of household is cousin but there is no head of household shown!
The 1901 census lists Mary Matthews, a widow, 74, as the Head of Household living with Emma Vaughan, also a widow, now 67, her cousin. Three servants looked after after their daily needs.
Mary is 'Living on own means' with Emma being her Companion so it is safe to assume that Mary Matthews was the missing Head of Household in 1891.
Emma died in 1910 and Mary is still here in 1911 with a new companion, Sarah Lee, 50, and just one servant, she did own the house and the adjoining Orchard in the 1910 survey.
Aged 86 she died in Hereford, but buried in Ledbury, on Oct 30th 1913 ie b 1827. It is tempting to think she was something to do with the previous occupant, William Matthews, but I cannot sort out who she is or her interest in Ledbury
From 1912 the house was occupied by Mrs C E Maddison Green wife of the Rector of Ledbury from 1891 to 1908. He died on September 26th 1911 which left her looking for new accomodation. She died on March 29th 1921.
Dr Harrison was here from 1922 to 1935 and it was he who changed the name to 'The Orchards'.
A Miss Johnston from 1940 to 1950 was followed by another Doctor, Dr D E Burrowes until 1973.