Harold Edward & Eliza Carter
From Lacey Green History
Research by Joan West
Harold Edward Carter purchased Grymsdyke, Lacey Green after the death of John Forrest.
Harold Edward Carter purchased Lily Bottom Farm, Lily Bottom Lane 5th December 1917.
Harold Edward Carter sold Lily Bottom Farm, Lily Bottom Lane 14th October 1919.
Harold Edward Carter purchased 14 cottages, 17th February 1921.
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Harold Carter import/export merchant in the City of London purchased Grymsdyke, Lacey Green.
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Harold Carter purchased The Indoor Tennis Court in Church Lane, Lacey Green from the Reverend William Robson
Measuring 35.5 metres by 61 metres, it was constructed in brick with skylights in the roof. The wooden floor was ‘sprung’ made of narrow boards to a very high standard and painted green with a special non-slip surface.
The Carters lavishly restored the tennis court. They entertained the current Wimbledon stars, many playing on the court.
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17 February 1921 Conveyance. Harold Edward Carter of Grymsdyke, purchased for £2025, 14 cottages, gardens and land from Margaret Emma, Marchioness of Ely, and the Trustees of her Marriage Settlement, inherited from Charles Brown of Stocken Farm.
(research note. In 1937 Eliza Bayman Carter of Grymsdyke, travelled back from Madeira, 1st class on the 'Winchester Castle' with Joyce Waite of Loosley House). (For more about Joyce Waite click Arthur & Joyce Waite)
In WW2 Harold Carter was in the Home Guard, click 1940 1st Year of the Home Guard for more
1939 Register (census) Grymsdyke. Mr and Mrs Carter and house and company staff , Mr Charles Boorman, gardener
Converted in WW2. During WW2 Harold Carter transferred his business, Carters Merchants Ltd, an import and export company, from the City of London to the tennis court in Lacey Green.
Winnie King, later Mrs Stan Rixon reports --My sister had worked for Carters Merchants Ltd, in the City of London, an import and export company. The Carter family had already bought Grymsdyke House. Lacey Green. They also owned the indoor tennis court in Church Lane.
Mr Carter, the chairman of the company, decided to transfer the business to Lacey Green for the duration of the war. He converted the tennis court into staff accommodation and offices. Dormitories either end for single men and single women, and offices in the middle, also a kitchen and dining room. It was the end of the building’s prestigious life as a tennis court.
1939 CENSUS
The Tennis Court, c/o H E Carter, 26 employee-
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Research by Laurence Rostron
Harold Edward Carter born 1871 was the son of Charles & Emma Carter.
Eliza Bayman Graham born ? was the daughter of ?
NOTE In his research on Church Lane Laurence Rostron commented. 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.
On the 21st June 1941 Harold Edward Carter died at Grymsdyke. His will is interesting in that, apart from a relatively small immediate legacy to his wife, he instructed his trustees (who included his wife) to sell his property and hold the proceeds in trust. The trustees are instructed to invest the proceeds and the income from these investments was then to be paid to his wife, Eliza Bayman Carter, for the remainder of her life. On the death of his wife the remaining proceeds and income would then pass on to his daughter Madeline Foster Cox.
This would appear to explain why Eliza Bayman Carter had to move out of Grymsdyke fairly quickly after the death of Harold Carter and why she rented or leased the Gracefield “estate” in the latter part of 194
There is clear evidence that Eliza Carter purchased the Gracefield “estate” in April 1946 from Lt Col. CC Markes, who, as far as is known, never lived the
May 1949 - Eliza Bayman Carter died at Quinta de Revoredo, Santa Cruz, Madeira at the age of 75.
Notes by researcher Joan West.
In 1937 Eliza Bayman Carter of Grymsdyke, travelled back from Madeira, 1st class on the 'Winchester Castle' with Joyce Waite of Loosley House.
In WW2 Harold Carter was in the Home Guard, click 1940 1st Year of the Home Guard for more