This large mansion house has been renamed twice, being initially Moorfields, then Coddington House/Court and latterly Adhisthana, and was built in 1796 on a farming estate at Coddington near Ledbury by Thomas Holder who also formed a garden and park around the house.
In 1839 the house was put up for indefinite let, and was described thus:
With 200 acres of arable and meadow land, the mansion sat in a lawn of 20 acres and comprised an entrance hall; dining, drawing and breakfast rooms; ten bedrooms; a servants hall; two kitchens and scullery; a butler’s pantry and large dairy, with spacious vaults under part of the house.
There were two stables of four stalls each, a coach house and other useful outbuildings.
The walled garden contained fruit trees, and there was a lake and several well stocked ponds.
Moorfields was marketed with Gentlemen in mind who were fond of field sports.
Henry Edward Martindale Vale
By the mid 19th century Moorfields had been bought by Henry Edward Martindale Vale who further improved the house and changed the name to Coddington House (actually he tried for Coddington Court but this name doesn’t appear on any of the census returns until 1911 although in 1901 it was known as The Court) He added tennis courts and croquet lawns as well as a sweeping avenue and a well stocked orchard.
Born in 1825 he became Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Hereford and achieved the rank of Major in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.
1872 he divorced his first wife Elizabeth after having a prodigious number of children with her, and married Frances, remaining at Coddington Court until he died aged 89.
Coddington Court School
Opened in 2002, this special needs school catered for up to 40 autistic children aged 8 to 19. It was both a residential and day school and was mostly funded by charitable donations, being owned by the charity Autism West Midlands.
Sadly just 7 years later it had to close as there were just not enough pupils and some 120 staff were made redundant, by this time the grounds were gradually being reclaimed for agriculture and the gardens were neglected or removed.
Budhist Retreat
In 2013 Coddington Court became a Budhist retreat and was renamed Adhisthana.
1861 – Coddington House Household
| Henry Edward Vale |
36 |
Landowner |
b. Sutton, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Anne Vale |
28 |
Wife |
b. Kent |
| Harrry Vale |
8 |
Son |
b. Tottenham, Middlesex |
| Florence Vale |
7 |
Daughter |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Helena Vale |
4 |
Daughter |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Francis Vale |
1 |
Son |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Kendrick |
17 |
Housemaid |
b. Worcestershire |
| Emma Jones |
23 |
Nurse |
b. Weobley, Herefordshire |
| James Minett |
14 |
Groom |
b. Bosbury, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Greaves |
31 |
Cook |
b. Herefordshire |
1871 – Coddington House Household
| Henry Edward Vale |
46 |
Captain Worcester Militia |
b. Sutton, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Vale |
38 |
Wife |
b. Sittingbourne, Kent |
| Helena Vale |
14 |
Daughter |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Francis Vale |
11 |
Son |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Octavius Vale |
9 |
Son |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Bower (?) J. Vale |
8 |
Daughter |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Harvey A. Vale |
5 |
Son |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Hugh C.W Vale |
4 |
Son |
b. Coddington |
| Elizabeth Sanders |
31 |
Governess |
b. Northampton |
| Hannah Batten |
22 |
Servant |
b. Gloucestershire |
| Ann Twenberrow |
17 |
Servant |
b. Cradley, Herefordshire |
1881 – Coddington House Household
| Henry Edward Vale |
56 |
Capt. Militia |
b. Herefordshire |
| Frances E. Vale |
44 |
Wife |
b. Isle of Man |
| Octavius D. Vale |
19 |
Son, Lieutenant, Militia |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Mary A. Higgins |
18 |
Servant |
b. Worcestershire |
| Elizabeth Brastin |
20 |
Servant |
b. Pendock, Worcestershire |
| George Jenkins |
20 |
Servant |
b. Wellington Heath, Herefordshire |
1891 – Coddington House Household
| Henry E. Vale |
66 |
Dep. Lieutenant Major, Worcs. Regiment |
b. Sutton, Herefordshire |
| Frances E. Vale |
54 |
Wife |
b. Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Emily Price |
28 |
Cook |
b. Colwall, Herefordshire |
| Fanny G. Price |
17 |
Housemaid |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
1901 – The Court Household
| Henry E. Martindale Vale |
76 |
Major, Retired, Worcester Regiment |
b. Sutton Herefordshire |
| Frances E. Martindale Vale |
64 |
Wife |
b. Isle of Man |
| Emily E. Martindale Vale |
38 |
Daughter |
b. Coddington, Herefordshire |
| Catherine Leighton |
28 |
Cook |
b. Peterchurch, Herefordshire |
| Annie Paseman |
20 |
House Parlour Maid |
b. Yarpole, Herefordshire |
1911 – Coddington Court Household
| Henry Edward Martindale Vale |
86 |
Landowner |
b. Sutton, Herefordshire |
| Frances Martindale Vale |
74 |
Wife |
b. Isle of Man |
| Rosa Emily Hicks |
52 |
Widow, servant |
b. Much Marcle, Herefordshire |
| Margery Beasly |
18 |
Servant |
b. Herefordshire |