Seward House
This late 17th Century House is named after the family of John and Mary Seward who moved to Badsey at that time. The fourth of their sons, William (1702 – 1740) was closely involved in the early Methodist movement. As a young man he went to London and became a successful businessman and benefactor of the poor. He also gave Badsey Church the Altar Table, which is still in use, and the box pews which remained until the church restoration of 1885.
In 1738, William met the Reverend Charles Wesley and soon became closely involved with the evangelistic campaigns of the early Methodists. One of the group, George Whitefield, wrote in his diary in April 1739, "went to Badsey and preached in Mr Seward’s brother’s yard". In all, Whitefield preached at Badsey on three consecutive days, on the third occasion to "a weeping audience".
In 1740, following his return from a trip to America, William Seward commenced open-air preaching on his own account. He encountered hostile crowds in South Wales and then at Hay-on-Wye in October he was heavily stoned by a particularly aggressive mob and a few days later died from his wounds, thus becoming the first Methodist martyr. He is buried near Hay, in the village churchyard at Cusop.
Up until the house was bought by Sir Julius Sladden, a brewer from Kent, in 1879, the house was occupied by several prominent local farmers. Like the other large houses on the High Street, it had land going down to Badsey Brook, and Sladdens Barn at the end of the Garden. It remained in the possession of the Sladden family until the death of Miss Juliet Sladden, the baby of the family, who died in 1984. It subsequently became a nursing home. The Nursing Home closed in October 2001, and was bought by property developers. The main house was divided into two, the southern section being still called Seward House and the northern part being called The Court. The former outbuildings (which had been converted into bedrooms for the nursing home residents) were converted into two cottages.
Looking towards the west, beyond the rose garden is Seward Barn and the orchards that were cut down to make way for Seward Road. Sir Julius was a keen grower and judge of roses.