Built in around the 17th century on the site of an earlier mansion some 8 miles south west of Hereford, Whitfield House was enlarged in the late 1800s and much altered in the mid 1900s when a third floor was added; however later the additions were removed.
The estate of Wormbridge was bestowed by Richard 1 on the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who were then established at Dinmore. After the order was dissolved by Henry VIII it again became Royal property; in 1596 Elizabeth made one of her favourites, Sir Christopher Hatton, a present of the estate, and from him it was bought by Rowland Vaughan. In 1609, it passed to James Husbands and Martin Leather; James married Martin’s daughter and their daughter Kitty inherited the estate.
Kitty went on to marry George Clive of Salop in 1652, and thus the Clive family were established at Wormbridge.
The Clive family arrived at Whitfield House in the 1790s, having previously lived at Wormbridge Court and descendants continued to live in the mansion until recent times.
Kitty Clive was just as bubbly and entertaining in her private life, and maintained an unsullied reputation whilst attracting friends of both sexes of high rank.
She performed in Dublin, as well as Covent Garden and did her last performance on 24th April 1769 – The Wonder and Lethe – before retiring.
He received the education that would prepare him for duties both clerical and laie, which he so ably discharged, at Oxford, where he became a B.A. in 1821 and M.A, in 1823. He was ordained a deacon in 1825 and priest in the following year.
The Rev. Archer Clive occupied a stall as prebend of Pyon Parva in Hereford Cathedral from 1850 and became Chancellor of the choir of the Cathedral in 1868, and he was the highly esteemed Rector of Solihull, Warwickshire from 1829 to 1847.
Archer was appointed chief steward of the city of Hereford on the death of the Right Honourable Sr. George Cornewall Lewis in 1863 and he was also a JP for Herefordshire; a deputy Lieutenant; Chairman of the Lunatic Asylum Committee; Lord of the manors of Treville and Wormbridge, and patron of the joint livings of Wormbridge and St. Devereaux.
Archer Clive married Caroline Meysey Wigley, and they had one son, Charles Meysey Bolton Clive who succeeded to the property, and one daughter who became the wife of Colonel Greathead.
In 1861 the Rev Archer Clive hosted a “brilliant assemblage of neighbours and friends. He clearly had a great many, as there were at least 96 horses and 46 carriages which all required stabling and storing – many of the visitors were staying in the house so it must have been a noisy and jolly household.
Dancing began at around ten o’clock to the competently played music of the Monmouthshire Militia Band with refreshments being served in the entrance hall, which with its exquisitely painted panels was greatly admired as a true work of art.
The chef of the household was Mrs. Gurney who made sure that the feast was presented in a splendid manner.
After supper, everyone went back to the ballroom and continued dancing until dawn.
Archer Clive acted on the Finance Committee and was a faithful guardian of the ratepayers’ interests. He did much to promote the sociability of the county of Herefordshire by the establishment of the Herefordshire Club, and although he dined with the great he never forgot the poor and was an attentive and kind friend to same.
He was described as a model country gentleman and an encouraging and liberal landlord. He gave generously to charities of every kind, and listened “with kindly patience” to the tales of distress from the poor.
Charles Meysey Bolton Clive was born in 1842 and died in 1883. He was married on 10th January 1867 to Lady Katherine Elizabeth Mary Julia Fielding and they had six children; Marjory Katharine Clive, Mabel Adelaide Clive, Percy Clive, Wilfred Clive, Robert Clive and one other.
Charles became Dept. Lieut. Of County of Hereford and was a J.P. for Herefordshire. Educated at Balliol College.
Percy Archer Clive was born in 1873, his great great grandfather being a first cousin of Clive of India, and became a British army officer and Liberal Unionist MP.
Percy’s military career began with the Grenadier Guards in 1891 and he fought in the Boer War, and then again in World War 1 – he was wounded twice, and was given bravery awards as well as being mentioned in Despatches. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards when he was killed in action in 1918 at Bucquoy. He was the twentieth MP (or former MP) to die whilst fighting in WW1, and his memorial in Hereford Cathedral records that he “died a gallant death”. Percy was attempting to rescue a fallen comrade, but was shot.
A fire broke out at Whitfield House in 1899, and a telegram was sent to Hereford Police Station requesting help. The fire brigade immediately set off under the command of Captain Richardson – it took them nearly an hour to cover the nearly nine miles, and the horses must have been exhausted on arrival. Once they arrived, it was found that some of the outbuildings were well alight but not Whitfield House itself.
The buildings were tenanted by a Wheelwright named Morgan and were stuffed full with the produce of around 40 acres, and the fire brigade lost no time in bringing the fire under control; a great deal of hay and some of the buildings were saved……….the tenant was not insured, but more surprisingly neither was the owner, Mr. P.A. Clive.
The rest of the household is very hard to decipher due to faded, poor writing and there is little point in guessing. However there were 19 servants: Governess, Cook, Nurse, Ladys Maid, Butler, Coachman, Footman, Groom, another Coachman, another groom, maid, kitchen maid, dairy maid, two housemaids a scullery maid and one indecipherable.