The original building on the site of Bodenham Manor was pulled down when the Rev. Henry Arkwright was appointed as clergyman of Bodenham in 1842 by his uncle John Hungerford Arkwright who was the grandson of Sir Richard Arkwright of cotton spinning fame.
A new house, The Vicarage, was built in 1843/44 which belonged to the church, and Henry Arkwright with his fast growing family moved in in 1850 – he stayed there until he died in 1889.
After Henry’s death, the house was found to be just too big for subsequent vicars, and it became part of the Hampton Court Estate, renaming itself Bodenham Manor. It was then let out.
In 1969 the manor was sold, and after major renovations and developments became a school for children with learning difficulties. It was owned by the Bodenham Manor Charities Trust, and the headmaster Mr. David Hughes worked hard to help the boys who were disadvantaged.

The school closed in 1987, when it was bought by the Taylor family who turned the estate into something of a pleasure park, with bars, rifle ranges, go cart racing, paintball, function rooms, restaurants etc. etc., which was all well and good, but unfortunately the owners didn’t value the glorious grounds and allowed rubble, rubbish and waste metals to be dumped in great piles all over the place. The Arkwrights must have been turning in their graves.
On the death of Ray Taylor, his son inherited the house and found he owed enormous death duties – eventually the banks repossessed Bodenham Manor and it was sold at auction. The new owner took up residence in a caravan whilst carrying out essential renovation work, but was hassled to a remarkable degree by the son of Ray Taylor (a vast amount of information is out there on the internet so I won’t attempt to unravel it on here – just type in Taylor – Bodenham Manor) who could not accept that he no longer owned the house.
In 2014 the house was again put up for sale at auction but was unsold – described thus:
“Bodenham Manor is located in the village of Bodenham, situated to the north of Bodenham Lakes, and has an elevated position with far reaching views across Bodenham Lake Nature Reserve, Deer Park and surrounding countryside.
It is approached by a private driveway and requires modernisation and updating.
It comprises :
Main Building – substantial three storey extended manor house and basement, with stone elevations and internally arranged as 9-11 flats; ground floor entrance; hall; former restaurant; bar; function room; kitchens; offices; WCs; ancillary rooms, and cellar.
Outbuildings – (former stable block), function rooms, bar area, kitchen, WCs on the ground floor; kitchen, shower room WCs on the first floor.
The future of this once lovely house is now in the balance.

The Arkwrights had at least twelve children, and it is rather nice to note that the same Nurse, Sarah Bradbury, stayed with the family to look after the brood through the years.

1851 – Bodenham Manor Household (the Vicarage)

Henry Arkwright 40 Vicar of Bodenham b. Cromford, Derbyshire
Ellen Arkwright 31 Wife b. Ireland
Henrietta E. Arkwright 11 Daughter b. Cheshire
Sophia M. Arkwright 10 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Mary E. Arkwright 9 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Henry J. Arkwright 7 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Charles E. Arkwright 3 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Ellen A. Arkwright 2 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Hubert E. Arkwright 2 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Margret Henden 28 Governess b. London
William Kedds 29 Butler
Hannah Hollamby 30 Housekeeper b. Surrey
Sarah Bradbury 27 Head Housemaid b. Staffordshire
Sarah Evans 24 Lady’s Maid
Esther Deen 24 Housemaid b. Gloucestershire
Esther Hoile 26 Housemaid b. Rye, Sussex
Ann Joseph 18 b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Sarah Heon (?) 13 b. Herefordshire

1861 – Bodenham Manor Household (the Vicarage

Henry Arkwright 50 Vicar of Bodenham b. Cromford, Derbyshire
Ellen Arkwright 41 Wife b. Ireland
Henrietta Arkwright 21 Daughter b. Cheshire
Sophia M. Arkwright 20 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Louisa M. Arkwright 19 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Henry J. Arkwright 17 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Charles E. Arkwright 13 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Ellen E. Arkwright 11 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Gerald P. Arkwright 9 Son b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Margery B. Arkwright 7 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Katherine M. Arkwright 6 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Florence Arkwright 5 Daughter b. Torquay, Devon
Augusta F. Arkwright 3 Daughter b. Clifton, Somerset
Mary Williams 31 Cook/Housekeeper b. Herefordshire
Mary Whichelow 36 Lady’s Maid b. Berkshire
Sarah Bradbury 47 Head Nurse b. Staffordshire
Esther Hoyle 30 Under Nurse b. Rye, Sussex
Harriet Simpson 25 Housemaid b. Worcestershire
Jane Hartland 20 Under Housemaid b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Mary A. Oliver 20 Kitchenmaid b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Harriet Williams 15 Nursery Girl b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
John Westlake 18 Footman b. Sutton, Herefordshire

1871 – Bodenham Manor Household (the Vicarage)

Henry Arkwright 60 Clergyman b. Cromford, Derbyshire
Ellen Arkwright 51 Wife b. Tyrone, Ireland
Ellen Amy Arkwright 21 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Margery Bertha Arkwright 18 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Catharine Florence Arkwright 16 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Florence Arkwright 15 Daughter b. Torquay, Devon
Augusta Janet Arkwright 13 Daughter b. Clevedon, Somerset
George Barnard 35 Butler b. Hampshire
Jane Parratt 27 Cook/Housekeeper b. Sussex
Sarah Bradbury 55 Head Nurse b. Staffordshire
Charlotte Knebst 25 Lady’s Maid b. Switzerland
Esther Hoyle 44 Under Nurse b. Rye, Sussex
Matthew Caldicutt 23 Footman b. Sutton, Herefordshire
Harriet Drew 21 Kitchen Maid b. Ledbury, Herefordshire
Catharine Haynes 22 Head Housemaid b. Kings Pyon, Herefordshire
Ellen Eckley 21 Under Housemaid b. Bodenham, Herefordshire

 

1881 – Bodenham Manor Household (the Vicarage)

Henry Arkwright 70 Vicar of Bodenham b. Cromford, Derbyshire
Ellen Arkwright 61 Wife b. Ireland
Ellen Amy Arkwright 31 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Katharine Arkwright 26 Daughter b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Florence Arkwright 25 Daughter b. Torquay, Devon
Augusta J. Arkwright 23 Daughter b. Clevedon, Somerset
Elizabeth Dickenson 29 Cook/Housekeeper b. Chesterwood, Northumberland
Sarah Bradbury 64 Nurse b. Staffordshire
Arthur William Poppey 25 Butler b. London
Harriet L. Bailey 22 Housemaid b. Hereford
Selina Griffiths 22 Housemaid b. Bromyard, Herefordshire
Mary Jane Griffiths 20 Kitchenmaid b. Bromyard, Herefordshire
Rosetta Granger 14 Scullery Maid b. Bodenham, Herefordshire
Henry Eagleton 31 Groom b. Elmhurst
Walter Cranfield 17 Footman b. Melbourne, Derbyshire

1921 – Bodenham Manor Household (The Vicarage)

Henry Arkwright b. Derbyshire, 1811 Clergyman  
Ellen Arkwright b. Ireland 1820 Wife  
Ellen Amy Arkwright b. Herefordshire 1850 Daughter  
Margery Bertha Arkwright b. Herefordshire 1853 Daughter  
Catherine Florence Arkwright b. Herefordshire 1855 Daughter  
Florence Arkwright b. Devon 1856 Daughter  
Augusta Janet Arkwright b. Somerset 1858 Daughter  
George Barnard b. Hampshire 1836 Butler  
Jane Parratt b. Sussex 1844 Cook/Housekeeper  
Sarah Bradbury b. Staffordshire 1816 Head Nurse  
Charlotte Knebet b. Switzerland 1846 Lady’s Maid  
Esther Hoyle b. Sussex 1827 Under Nurse  
Matthew Caldicutt b. Herefordshire 1848 Footman  
Harriet Drew b. Herefordshire 1850 Kitchen Maid  
Catherine Haynes b. Herefordshire 1848 Head Housemaid  
Ellen Eckley b. Herefordshire 1859 Under Housemaid