Seedly House Leintwardine was built in the 18th century, and although not the prettiest of buildings it was home to the Mason family for a great many years in the 19th century during which time they made improvements to the interior.
A typical middle class 19th century wedding
In May 1863, one of the daughters of William Mason of Seedly House, Eliza, married Mr. C. Wright and the Leintwardine villagers made much of the occasion.
An early morning start
At five in the morning, the boom of a cannon woke everyone up, and an hour later all the villagers were hard at work making the preparations for the wedding party. Arches and other emblems were erected to show respect for the house of Seedly, but there was also a very genuine love for the bride who had been born in Leintwardine and had grown up amongst the villagers.
The village is decorated
The village looked beautiful, and it was said that if magic had been used it could not have been transformed in a shorter time. Everyone no matter what their age or status lent a hand and brought something to add to the appearance of the village, many remarking that it was not enough to show their affection for the bride. There were floral arches with flags at every turn, and indeed there seemed to be something of a competitive streak in some of the constructors, with everyone striving to outdo everyone else.
It seems that Eliza was always ready to be charitable and kind, but without any vanity or pride. Poor and rich alike loved her.
The Wedding
At ten in the morning, the wedding party departed from Seedly House – four carriages were used; the first containing William Mason, the bride and the bride’s sister. It was a brand new and very elegant carriage, built by Griffiths of Ludlow and it was much admired. The whole party included Mr. and Mrs.Mason,Miss Elizabeth Mason, Miss Lucy and Miss Alice Mason (both bridesmaids), Mr. W. Mason,Mr.G. Mason, and J.Beard who was best man.
At the church a throng of very esteemed people from near and far had gathered; the church had been tastefully decorated with ivy and creepers, and lovely white flowers.
Once the ceremony in front of 500 people was over, the bells rang out in glorious peal as the wedding party made their way outside – they more or less had to force their way through the crowds of well wishers, and some twenty children from the National School all dressed in white threw flowers from baskets onto the carpet covered path.
In addition, twelve white dressed girls held wreaths of flowers to form a floral arch under which the wedding party had to pass on their way back to Seedly House to partake of a splendid lunch after which the happy couple set off to Craven Arms station en route for London. Their departure was marked by a huge amount of old shoes being thrown at them with enthusiastic cheering and many prayers and good wishes for health and happiness.
1841 – Seedly House Household
| William Mason | 31 |
| Rebecca Mason | 31 |
| William Mason | 6 |
| Jane Mason | 5 |
| Rebecca Mason | 4 |
| Mary Mason | 3 |
| Eliza Mason | 2 |
| Elizabeth Mason | 11 months |
1851 – Seedly House Household
| William Mason | 41 | Landed Proprietor | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Rebecca Mason | 42 | Wife | b. Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire | |
| Jane Mason | 15 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Rebecca Mason | 14 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Mary Mason | 12 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Eliza Mason | 11 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Elizabeth Mason | 10 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Lucy Mason | 4 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Frances Mason | 3 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Margaret Taylor | 30 | Cook | b. Salop | |
| Caroline Woodhouse | 24 | Housemaid | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire | |
| Margaret Williams | 13 | Nurse | b. Salop | |
| John Harris | 31 | Groom | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
1861 – Seedly House Household
| William Mason | 51 | Magistrate, Deputy Lieut. Of County of Herefordshire | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Rebecca Haynes Mason | 52 | Wife | b. Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire |
| Eliza Ann Mason | 21 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Mason | 20 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Lucy Mason | 14 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Frances Alice Mason | 13 | Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Elizabeth Wright | 22 | Visitor | b. Wentworth, Derbyshire |
| Emma Jones | ?? | Housemaid | b. Bromfield, Salop |
| Mary Ann Savage | 22 | Cook | b. Herefordshire |
1871 – Seedly House Household
| William Mason | 61 | Magistrate and landowner | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| George J. Mason | 27 | Son | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Clara Mason | 23 | Daughter in law and farmers wife | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Nelly Mason | 3 | Grand Daughter | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| William Mason | 11 months | Grandson | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| George Griffiths | 21 | Groom and general domestic servant | b. Herefordshire |
| Fanny Griffiths | 19 | Cook | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Jasmine Davies | 15 | Housemaid | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
| Ada Jones | 12 | Undermaid | b. Leintwardine, Herefordshire |
By 1881 George was a widower and had moved to farm in Downton Rock, and Charles Longueville Clerke eventually moved into Seedly House. He was born in Oswestry and educated at Rugby before going up to Cambridge University, initially at Trinity but he migrated to Christs. He remained unmarried all his life, and died at Seedly house in 1910.
1901 – Seedly House Household
| Charles Longueville Clerke | 71 | Living on own means | b. Salop |
| Mary Wiles | 50 | cook | b. Salop |
| Jane Bayliss | 35 | Parlourmaid | b. Brimfield, Herefordshire |
| James Hughes | 49 | Groomsman | b. Onibury, Salop |
| Clara Evans | 16 | Kitchenmaid | b. Radnor |