Moraston House building started in 1811 and was finally finished in 1815, with a large extension being added in the late 19th century. The grounds and gardens were, and still are, absolutely beautiful.
Situated just off the Ross to Hoarwithy road, the house was built for the new agent for Guy’s Hospital in Herefordshire – Whaley Armitage who due to ill health had to give up his profession as a barrister and move to the countryside. When he retired in 1849 at the age of 82, his son Arthur Armitage took over the post.
When Whaley died in 1855 Moraston house was sold, but from 1873 to 1910 it was owned by George Hayward Hadfield.
During the second World War the house was used for evacuated Chelsea Pensioners.
1861 – Moraston House Household
| James Allaway |
47 |
Banker |
b. Newland, Gloucestershire |
| Elizabeth Hall |
72 |
Housekeeper |
b. Lyonshall, Herefordshire |
| Sophia Simmons |
34 |
Housemaid |
b. Dursley, Gloucestershire |
| Eliza Cox |
22 |
Parlour Maid |
b. Gloucestershire |
| Sarah Derry |
16 |
Nurse/Housemaid |
b. Much Cowarne, Herefordshire |
| Joseph Walton |
47 |
Coachman |
b. Wiltshire |
1871 – Moraston House Household
| James Allaway |
55 |
Retired Banker |
b. Gloucestershire |
| Sarah Rogers |
41 |
Housekeeper/Cook |
b. Herefordshire |
| Sophia Simmons |
43 |
Housemaid |
b. Dursley, Gloucestershire |
| Sophia Collins |
21 |
General Servant |
b. Bridstow, Herefordshire |
1881 – Moraston House Household
| Matilda Gwilliam |
34 |
Parlour Maid |
b. Bridstow, Herefordshire |
| Fanny Price |
21 |
General Servant |
b. Tretire, Herefordshire |
1891 – Moraston House Household
| George H. Hadfield |
57 |
Living on own means |
b. Manchester, Lancashire |
| Sarah Hadfield |
53 |
Wife |
b. Beaminster, Dorset |
| Marion H. Hadfield |
23 |
Daughter |
b. Birkenhead, Cheshire |
| Philip Hadfield |
21 |
Son, Medical Student |
b. Birkenhead, Cheshire |
| Heywood G. Hadfield |
18 |
Son, Law Student |
b. Birkenhead, Cheshire |
| Ada Gittus |
28 |
Visitor, Actress |
b. London |
| Mary Leng |
21 |
Visitor |
b. Sheffield, Yorkshire |
| Mary Adams |
39 |
Cook |
b. Cornwall |
| Olive Higginson |
16 |
Kitchen Maid |
b. Bridstow, Herefordshire |
| Mary J. Bevan |
28 |
Parlour Maid |
b. Wiltshire |
| Alice Terry |
20 |
Housemaid |
b. Kings Caple, Herefordshire |
1901 – Moraston House Household
| George Hadfield |
67 |
Living on own means |
b. Manchester, Lancashire |
| Sarah Hadfield |
63 |
Wife |
b. Beaminster, Dorset |
| Rhoda Barwell |
22 |
Hospital sick Nurse |
b. Bristol, Somerset |
| Marion Price |
25 |
Domestic Servant |
b. Glewstone, Herefordshire |
| Ada E. Price |
22 |
Domestic Servant |
b. Glewstone, Herefordshire |
| Clara Guy |
16 |
Domestic Servant |
b. Glewstone, Herefordshire |
1911 – Moraston House Household
| Edward Deedes Newnham Smith |
61 |
Retired Colonel India Staff Corps. |
b. Agra, India |
| Catherine Louisa Newnham Smith |
58 |
Wife |
b. Brecon |
| Annie Palmer |
24 |
Housemaid |
b. Brecon |
| Daisy Emily Ross Tichurst |
15 |
Kitchen Maid |
b. Tunbridge Wells |
| Leah Watkins |
28 |
Parlour Maid |
b. Cowbridge |
| May Clara Award |
22 |
Serving (or sewing) maid |
b. Bidborough |
| Esther Berry |
23 |
Cook |
|
1921 – Moraston House Household
| Edward D. Newnham |
b. Agra, India 1849 |
Indian Army Retired Colonel |
| Catherine Louisa Newnham |
b. Brecon, Wales 1853 |
Wife, Home Duties |
| Katherine H. Simpson |
b. Mooltan, India 1884 |
Visitor |
| Ogilvie David Bennett |
b. Rawalpindi, India 1885 |
Visitor, Indian Army Major |
| Audrey Elizabeth Ferrier Bennett |
b. Abbottabad, India 1897 |
Visitor |
| Laura May Hyans |
b. Lydbrook, Gloucestershire 1899 |
Kitchen Maid |
| Eleanor Brace |
b. Sheffield, Yorkshire 1903 |
Parlour Miad |
| Elizabeth Peters |
b. Woolhope, Herefordshire 1879 |
Housemaid |
| Cecilia Elizabeth Field |
b. Bosbury, Herefordshire 1881 |
Cook |