Grymsdyke
From Lacey Green History
cick Grymsdyke Farm for Grymsdyke's Home Farm
Research by Joan West
Grymsdyke House, sometimes called Grymsdyke Lodge, Greames Lodge, sometimes Grymsdyke Estate was the last property at the southern end of Lacey Green
INTRODUCTION : The earliest clue our local history group had was when Dennis Claydon discovered a marriage in 1616 of a couple living in Lacey Green. It was their great grandson, Edward Stone who was to become known as Edward Stone (The Aspirin Man) Although born at what must have been a farmhouse, for the village of Lacey Green had not yet been developed, Thomas married well and left the area. By 1863 the house had been enlarged enough to be called a ‘Mansion’
1823 ENCLOSURES of PRINCES RISBOROUGH
FREEHOLD SCHEDULE for Sarah Shard (click Charles & Sarah Shard) of Lacey Green
1. 708 Greames Lodge. Farm. House. Gardens. Close (field). An old property
2. 642 House (Portobello). Garden. Close (field). (site of future Village Hall.An old property
3. 711 Cottage. Garden. Close (field). An old property, opposite Wimble End, later demolished.
4. 718 Wood called Wood Platt. Sited in the middle of the farm fields. An old wood
5. 707 Field. south & west of Church Lane, later site of the first vicarage on Main Road
6. 709 Field called Pit Croft
7. 710 Field called Clay Furlong
8. 712 Field called Cock's Close
9. 713 Field called Stoney Wood Field
10. 714 Field called Walders
11. 716 Field called Walders Field
12. 717 Field called High Field
13. 719 Field called Grubbed Ground
14. 720 Field called Roonegars
15. 721 Field called New Close
16. 722 Field called Farther Cobbins
17. 723 Field called Home Cobbins
18. 724 Field called Home Close and Meadow
19. 807 Field called Pightle and Long Close. Near Turnip End
20. 707 Field between Turnip End, Darvills Hill and Stocken Farm
21. 808a Field between Turnip End, Darvills Hill and Stocken Farm
COPYHOLD SCHEDULE for SARAH SHARD of LACEY GREEN
1. 809 part Field. Part of Wades Grove. An old property.
1841 CENSUS
Grymsdyke is occupied by George Meadle. The Meade family were related to the Stone family by marriage
1851 CENSUS
Grymsdyke Lodge. Sarah Shard, widow, 80, landed proprietor, born Chipping Norton. Elizabeth Ward, 63, housekeeper, born Chipping Norton. Elizabeth Greaves, 24, cook, Wingfield. Emma Hawes 17 housemaid, Princes Risborough. John Claydon, married, 39, day labourer, Princes Risborough.
1858 DEATH OF SARAH SHARD Sarah Shard's will was taken to the High Court of Chancery because of a dispute between 'Ward' v. 'Gray'
22nd March 1859 Auction Sale. Advertised in The Bucks Herald. (a copy of this advertisement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall At Grymsdyke Lodge, Lacey Green, late the Residence of Mrs. Shard, deceased.
On Tuesday March 22nd, 1859, at 10 for 11 o'clock, and the following day if necessary, by direction of Miss Anne Gray, the whole of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, COMPRISING....(Long list of items including a "loo", presumably a commode.)
6th April 1859 Auction Sale. Advertised in The Bucks Herald (a copy of this advertisement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
By MR. CLARKE. IN CHANCERY. TO BE SOLD, pursuant of the High Court of Chancery, made in a Cause of Ward v. Gray....by Mr. CLARKE, the person appointed by the said Judge, at the White Hart Hotel, in Aylesbury,... On Wednesday, the 6th day of April, 1859, at four o'clock for five o'clock precisely in the afternoon, Certain tithe-free Freehold and copyhold estates, situate at Lacey Green,...late the property of Mrs Sarah Shard, deceased.
LOT 1
All that freehold Mansion, House, or Lodge, with Farm and Home-Stead adjoining containing 143 acres 2 roods 33 poles. The Mansion or Lodge included in this Lot, comprises...8 bedrooms....There are 2 Labourers' Cottages, included also in this lot. This Lot, with the exception of the Mansion, which is now unoccupied, is in the occupation of Mr. Willott, farm manager.
LOT 2
All those TWO several CLOSES of FREEHOLD and COPYHOLD LAND situate a short distance from Lot 1, and containing together 18 acres 0 roods 15 poles, partly Arable and partly Pasture. Mr Charles Brown is the tenant of this Lot.
LOT 3
All those TWO Freehold Brick, Flint and Tiled COTTAGES and ROOM, formerly used as a SCHOOL-ROOM, with gardens in front, also a PADDOCK of useful OLD TURF adjoining containing together 2 acres,2 roods 15 poles, and being in the several occupations of Messrs. Dell and Floyd as yearly tenants. The land tax on this Lot is 2 shillings and 3 pence. The timber in each Lot will be included in the purchase. The tenants in each Lot are under notice to quit. Particulars and Conditions may be had from...(Long list of places) the Auctioneers, Haddenham, Bucks.
24TH MARCH 1860 TWO CONVEYANCES by the Executors of Sarah Shard to Charles Brown of Stocken Farm
1. 1 to 5, Portobello Cottages and Portobello Meadow.(Portobello Close and pasture,2 acres, 2 roods, 15 poles
2. 1 and 2, Grymsdyke Cottages and a Schoolroom.
17th NOVEMBER 1863 CONVEYANCE by the Executors of Sarah Shard to W A Thomas
Ann Batson, executor sold to W A Thomas of Kensington, London
1. The mansion house known as Grymsdyke Lodge and fields belonging
2. Lane Farm, Church Lane, Lacey Green
3. Land that would later become Promised Land Farm, sometimes called Prospect Farm.
19th JUNE 1867 Auction Sale. Advertised in The Bucks Herald. (a copy of this advertisement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
At Grymsdyke Lodge, Lacey Green. 160 Lots of SURPLUS HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, OUT DOOR EFFECTS & ETC, to be SOLD by auction, by Mr. Robert Gibbs, (By order of the Executors; the Family having left,) on Wednesday 19th June 1867, at Twelve o'clock.
1871 CENSUS
Major Gen Harry B Lumden.at sea in Bay of Bengal 49 & Fanny 31.
18th APRIL 1878 CONVEYANCE
William Alexander Thomas sold to John Forrest of Cheltenham for £15,000, 282 acres 2 roods 24 poles
1881 CENSUS
Viscount W M Hopford, 28 b Hanover Sq. London & Catherine25. 2 children
1891 CENSUS
Servants in residence. Julia Badham 52, cook, Martha Hammon 49 & Ellen Cook, housemaids, Charles Jeffs, butler
27th JULY 1891 TRAGEDY at GRYMSDYKE. Three men were killed by lightening at the 1st Cottager's Garden Society Show and Cricket Match in the grounds of Grymsdyke house. For a full report see Inquest
1901 CENSUS
John Forrest 59, born Cape of Good Hope, South Africa and Eveline Forrest 50, born Govan, Scotland
1905 DEATH of EVELINE FORREST. In her will Eveline left £50 each to Harriet Heath, housekeeper, Martha Hammond, maid, and George Tims, coachman. Everything else to her family.
1910 DEATH of JOHN FORREST Click John & Eveline Forrest.for their life histories
1911 CENSUS. Grymsdyke house had 21 rooms. William Harwood 52, caretaker and gardener, born Worcs. Mary Harwood 50, Mary Harwood 14.
JULY 1911 SALE of GRYMSDYKE ESTATE Report in The South Bucks Free Press (a copy of this report is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
"LACEY GREEN. IMPORTANT PROPERTY SALE. On Saturday 15th July 1911, Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley of London, in conjunction with Messrs. Beck and Ellis of Great Missenden, offered for sale by auction at the George Hotel, Aylesbury, the pretty country residence known as "Grymsdyke Lodge," also adjoining farms, accommodation land and cottages, extending to about 455 acres. Sold by the executors of John Forrest :-
Lot 1 Grymsdyke Lodge and farm 113 acres 0 roods 21 poles. Withdrawn.
Lot 2 Lane Farm 48 acres 1 rood 20 poles. £1,140
Lot 3 Two enclosures in Princes Risborough 6 acres 0 roods 29 poles. £180
Lot 4 The Promised Land Farm 99 acres 1 rood 20 poles. Withdrawn
Lot 5 "Combe" in parishes of Princes Risborough and Horsenden 16 acres 3 roods 20 poles. Bidding to £465 (not clear if it was sold at this figure)
Lot 6 Stocken Farm 167 acres 1 rood 28 poles. £3,400
"A pair of brick and slated cottages almost opposite Grymsdyke Lodge withdrawn"
"Accommodation land ... adjoining the church in P.R., 1 acre 0 roods 3 poles 'bidding to £145' (not clear if it was sold at this figure)
" Enclosure of land 2 acres 0 roods 3 poles £175.
1915 KELLY’S DIRECTORY. H. E. Carter, import/export merchant, at Grymsdyke.
NOTE In his research on Church Lane Laurence Rostron commented on the life of Mrs Carter. It is not known if Harold Carter purchased Grymsdyke in the sale in 1911 following the death of John Forrest, but at the very least he must have been living there by 1914 when Kelly’s were preparing their 1915 Directory for printing. After the death of Harold Carter on 21st June 1941 the Grymsdyke estate was to be put up for sale. Whether it was sold or whether the RAF requisitioned it is not known, but Mrs Carter moved away during 1942 and the house became the Officers Mess for Bomber Command throughout the WW2.
Harry Church wrote an article in 1980. The following is an extract :- " The Air Ministry had taken possession of Grymsdyke,
and the first priority was to improve the heating in all the rooms which had now been converted into offices.
Although all centrally heated it was by a method I had never come across before, and was well known as the Baker - Perkins system, much used in baking ovens. It was very simple really, consisting of pipes which were very strong to withstand high pressure and bent to form radiators and coils for the boiler in one continuous length, termination a pressure vessel high in the roof to take the expansion of water as it heated up. The coils were enclosed within brick walls to form the boiler which was hand fed in the usual manner, burning coke.
The second priority was the water supply from the well, which was totally inadequate for the greatly increased personnel, now occupying the premises. Upon a detailed examination which necessitated descending the well and withdrawing the pumping gear and fitting a new leather washer and new bearings to the connecting rods, a really ample supply was obtained.
After the war, in fact in November 1947, Mr and Mrs (now Sir Geoffrey and Lady) Bateman purchased the property, remaining there until the Spring of 1971, when their son Robert and family took over until 1976 when they left for Canada, then the USA.
What a boon it turned out to be for the village during these years 1947 - 1976 by the splendid contribution the families made, both financially and personally. click Sir Geoffrey,FRCS,KB & Lady Bateman for more
POST WW2
After war Mr & Mrs Geoffrey Bateman, purchased Grymsdyke. He was later knighted for his work as an ear, nose & throat consultant at St. Thomas's Hospital. London
Passed down to their son Robert Bateman & his wife 'Paddy'. click Robert & Paddy Bateman for more
1976 Robert, 'Paddy' and children emigrated to Canada. They then moved to northern California where Robert set up in business.
Several owners were to follow. Two were diamond merchants who divided the house into two. The Bleumenthal family were there circa 1970's, young Heston attending the village school.
Circa 1995 Grymsdyke was advertised for sale, the estate agents fancifully calling it 'Grymsdyke Manor', and stating that towards the latter part of the 19th century the house underwent a series of dramatic and substantial alterations in the Victorian gothic style of architecture. This provided the property with turrets, arched sash windows and a superb 'long room' that incorporates eight gothic style sash windows to two elevations. all this combines interestingly with the more traditional 'Chiltern' style of craftmanship with flint work, brick and rendered elevations under a mainly pitch tiled roof.