Hillcrest
From Lacey Green History
Research by Joan West
In 1823 Goodacres Lane did not exist. The land on which it was later constructed was part of the vast common of Princes Risborough which covered much of Lacey Green and some land on the hilltop of Loosley Row. Click Princes Risborough Common to see two maps.
The first map shows the full area of Princes Risborough Common.
The second map below that shows the changes made in 1823 when the Enclosures of Princes Risborough took place.
Before 1823 there were no roads in Lacey Green village. The route from the Hughenden Valley to Princes Risborough ran through Speen, along Highwood Bottom, cut straight across Princes Risborough Common to the pond behind Windmill Farm. It proceeded down towards Princes Risborough joining Woodway, which was already an established route and on to the town. In 1823 the proposed Main Road in Lacey Green was confirmed in the 1823 Enclosures.
The land on which Goodacres Lane was constructed had formerly been part of Princes Risborough Common, part of the Manor of Princes Risborough. Cows from the town were brought up here to graze.
In 1823 this part of the Common was bought by John Grubb, the Lord of the Manor. On the second map above, it is coloured plain green and shows Windmill Farm. He gave a small part of it to the new Lacey Green Church as Glebe land. The Remaining Land stretched from “Windmill Road”, later called "Pink Road" to the north to Kiln Farm to the south. The only properties on it were the Windmill on Windmill Farm, and the Kiln and Kiln Farm on the southeast.
In 1841 John Grubb, being bankrupt, sold it to to Lord Buckingham and Chandos who also became bankrupt and in 1848 put it up for auction.
John Cheshire, tenant of Windmill Farm, miller, wishing to own his rented property, purchased this lot.
John Cheshire struggled to cope with the size of his mortgages.
By 1861, after several mortgages with various people the sole mortgagee was Frances Josephine Irving of West Worthing, Sussex
In 1889 as £1,300 plus accruing interest was now owing by John Cheshire, F.J.Irving was enabled to sell several plots of land by Power of Sale as mortgagee.These included -
Sold to William Saunders, of New House Farm, Denner Hill, Great Missenden, for £730: -
Schedule. - 1. The field of arable land ( This is the site of Walnut Tree House) at Lacey Green, containing 7 acres, 19 poles, bounded on the S by a proposed new roadway (later to become Goodacres Lane); on the north by property of John Cheshire, mortgaged to Frances Josephine Irving: On the South by property of John Cheshire, but recently remortgaged to Mary Ann Buckmaster
2. The arable field at Lacey Green known as the “Hillocks”, formerly part of Kiln Farm, then containing 30 acres 2 roods 14 poles, but a small portion having been sold, it was found to contain 29 acres 1 rood 37 poles. (This is the field straight ahead at the bottom of Goodacres Lane)
Which herein 1st and 2nd described, together with full right and liberty for William Saunders, in along and over the proposed new roadway, 16 feet in width and abstracting presents recently set out by Francis Josephine. click William Saunders & Bethia Janes for more about William Saunders.
Research by Joan West
William Saunders had "Hillcrest" built before the First World War, in the field he had bought in 1889 from Josephine Irving. William Saunders was then renting New House Farm at Denner Hill. In 1911 he purchased Stocken Farm
Research Note. William had said he had built Hillcrest for his retirement. However, he lived at Stocken Farm until he died in 1934.
At some point his daughter Alice and her husband lived there after their farm failed. click Philip & Alice Pitcher.
When William died in 1934, his executors put it up for Auction, together with the field in which "Hillcrest" stood. House and field first offered as one lot, then if not sold, offered separately.
The following details are taken from the sale catalogue: --
Lot 5. A Pre-War Freehold COMMODIOUS RESIDENCE
Particularly well built in brick with Tiled Roof, standing in its own grounds extending to about 2roods : 27poles, approached by a Drive Entrance and known as "HILLCREST", Lacey Green, in which village it occupies a very pleasant position well back from the road.
The Accommodation includes: --
On the Ground Floor: Entrance Porch with seats, Entrance Hall, Dining Room and Drawing Room with bays 14ft 9 ins., Morning Room 13ft 6insx10ft with cupboards and wood block floor, Capital kitchen 14ft.6insx 14ft.3ins with Gradient range cupboards and wood-block floor. Servants' Hall 14ft 6ins x10ft., Pantry 13ft.6ins x 7ft.6ins, with shelves, two windows and red tiled floor; Scullery with glazed sink, force pump, taps, draining board, shelves, and red tiled floor. Underground cellar. with Gradient Range, cupboards
On the First Floor: Approached from the Hall are Landing and five bedrooms 14ft 9ins x 13ft 9ins, 14ft 9ins x 13ft 9ins, 14 ft 3ins square, 13ft9ins x 10ft and 14ft 6ins x 10ft. Airing Room with heated cupboards adjoining the Bathrom with bath (h. and c.) and Lavatory Basin (h and c), W.C.
Outside . Behind the house is a brick built and tiled Stable and Harness Room which could easily be converted into a garage.
Water supple from two large underground tanks.
Drainage is to a cesspit near the boundary of the property.
Electric Light is available in the village and there is an excellent service of Trains at Princes Risborough about two miles distant.
Mains water is being brought to Lacey Green and will shortly be available
Land Tax £1-4s 1d
N.B. This Property is particularly well adapted for a small Sanatorium or Private School
1939 Register (census). Hill Crest. Alfred Master born 1883 retired Indian Civil Servant. Lecturer Oriental & African studies. Dorothy A Master born 1883, Daphne M C Master born 1917, kennelmaid, married Dunnell.
In the late 1950s was lived in by a family called Cholmondley
In 1976/7. Hillcrest now divided into 4 flats. Ethel Drysdal (Scottish) on NW. Tony & Sharon Kenworthy on NE, Dot & Hugh Leighton on SW, ? on SE.