Ardengrove

Research by Joan West

1823 THE INCLOSURES OF PRINCES RISBOROUGH

THE LAND UPON WHICH ARDENGROVE WAS BUILT IS LISTED AS A FREEHOLD GARDEN BELONGING TO JOHN CARTER DELL

ARDENGROVE (PREVIOUSLY “HIGHLANDS” & “LIEU DE REPOS”) was built between Wayside Cottage and the Methodist Chapel.

In 1841 Jacob & Rebekah Dell were recorded as shopkeepers at Darvills Hill, but by 1851 are at the later called Ardengrove in Lacey Green.

1851 Census. Jacob Dell, 46, and wife Rebekah, nee Saunders, shopkeepers, Uriah 16, Miriam 11.  (Jacob was the son of Thomas Dell Jnr. & Mary,nee Carter)

1861 Census Jacob Dell, 59, and wife Rebekah, nee Saunders,58, shopkeepers, Sarah Carter Dell, 36, housekeeper.  Jacob and Rebekah dried herrings causing a very fishy smell.

1871 Census.   Jacob Dell, widower, with Uriah Dell, son, 36, with wife Rebecca, nee Carter Dell. (2^nd cousins)

Willam Uriah, known as “Uriah”, married Rebecca Carter Dell in 1960.

They had 3 children, Laura 1865, Francis William “Willi” 1868, Margaret 1870.

1891 census.  Francis William (Willi) Dell, 23 single, and his aunt Ann Carter Dell 71, unmarried.

1891 URIAH DELL DIED    (Comment.  !n 1891 Uriah owned this property, but it is not known when it became his).

In his will Uriah left the property “lieu de Repos” in trust for his wife, Rebecca, nee Carter Dell, then, on her death, to be sold.

1901 census.   William “Willi” Dell, 33. General labourer.

1909 REBECCA DELL DIED. (widow of Uriah Dell)

EXECUTORS OF URIAH DELL SOLD TO WILLIAM ROBSON

September 11th 1909.    Conveyance.   The executors of Uriah Dell sold to the Reverend William Robson, the vicar of Lacey Green: -

All that cottage with the outbuildings, yard, garden and premises known as “Lieu de Repos”, now in the occupation of Francis William Dell.

This property later became called “Highlands” then “Ardengrove”

C    ??? Mr Cameron, commuter to London

C 1939 occupied by Dr Halliday & family.

Joan Vivienne Halliday born 1916 married George L Claydon in April 1942. click George & Vivienne Claydon for their life story.

Leila Mary Halliday, (daughter of Dr J R Halliday of Highlands) married Geoffrey Moore Downe Davy of Glasgow in March 1945. Register signed by F D Coggan The Officiating Minister (later the Archbishop of Canterbury)

Died April 1949. Dr John Rutherford Halliday of Highlands, Main Road, Lacey Green, (retired physician). Note' The Vicar of Lacey Green Church, the Reverend Steward was assisted by F D Coggan, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1951 Vivienne Claydon, nee Halliday and her husband, George Lacey Claydon, were living there. They moved to Speen the next year. Their son reported this in a questionnaire at a Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 leave dates 1949 - 58.

1970's Edward (Ted) Flintham and his wife were living at Ardengrove. Hallmark February 2008. A Tribute to Edward Flintham by Ted Janes Sadly, over ‘the ‘Christmas period, the death occurred of Mr. Edward Flintham, not resident of the village for some years now, but nevertheless remembered, friend and worker of the village particularly. for the Village Hall. Ted Flintham lived at Ardengrove in the days when it had a very large garden, when Silver Birch Drive didn't exist. In his retirement years this garden was his solace, but as a member of the hall committee he used his civil engineering experience to help the committee crystalise its view re-complete new hall or modification of the old hut. For a short-time he was a Parish Councillor, but had great difficulty in coming to terms with the parochialness of village life.

In 1970, together with Michael Knott, James Mowatt (James & Stella Mowatt) and myself he was responsible for getting Hallmark established in the early difficult years, and his own gardening page for three years was eagerly read.

His wife was one of the most forceful W.I. Presidents we ever had and also a keen gardener, but when the large garden became too much for them they moved to Flackwell Heath to be near the children, but through our pages they both kept a keen interest in our affairs and often returned for visits.

In May 1998 James Moorcroft wrote a letter to Hallmark from Ardengrove. In 1999 James Moorecroft was still living there.