Kingswood, High Wood & Abbotts Wood
From Lacey Green History
Research by Joan West
HIGHWOOD, KINGSWOOD and ABBOTT’s WOOD
Highwood, Kingswood and Abbott’s Wood were for centuries Parish Woods, where people could gather fallen wood for heating and cooking. They belonged to the Manor of Princes Risborough.
ONE VAST BLOCK OF WOODLAND
These three adjoining woods formed a vast block that lay on the hillside to the east of Highwood Bottom for the whole length of that track of road, which was gated both ends.
1823 ENCLOSED
When the parish of Princes Risborough was enclosures in 1823, they became the freehold property of John Grubb Esq, the Lord of the Manor, but remained as part of the Parish Woodlands
JOHN GRUBB to Lord of Buckingham and Chandos
1st June 1841 John Grubb was bankrupt and his estate was purchased by Lord Buckingham and Chandos. He too went bankrupt in 1848 and his estate was put up for sale.
20th DECEMBER 1853 Auction of 70 lots of land at Speen
22nd JUNE 1855 Conveyance of 5 acres in Speen to John Janes, bounded on the N & E by property of Sir William Foster, S by a new road leading from Speen to Lacey Green and land belonging to Stocken Farm. John Janes is freed from copyhold right of timber to the Manor. Thomas Janes had previously declared tithes on 5 acres of land at Highwood Clearing.
THE ACT FOR THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES
Tithes shall henceforth be absolutely merged and extinguished in the freehold and inheritance of lands according to the provisions in that behalf contained in a certain Statute made in the sixth and seventh years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth cap 71, entitled “An Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales”
Which stated that tithes shall henceforth be absolutely merged and extinguished in the freehold and inheritance of the same lands according to the provisions in that behalf contained in a certain Statute made in the sixth and seventh years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth cap 71, entitled “An Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales”
FULL VERSION
Tithe document 3/156 is printed in full, then given in an edited version. The following documents, being identical are edited for simple clarity.
TITHE 3/156 Received by Tithe Office 3rd June 1859
Know all men by these presents that I Charles Stephens of Reading in the County of Berks Banker being lawfully seized in possession of an estate in fee simple, of and in all the tithes arising from lands known by the name of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, now occupied by Thomas Roger Parsons of Princes Risborough in the county of Buckingham Brewer which lands are well known by metes and bounds and are situate in the parish of Princes Risborough in the County of Buckingham the estimated quantity in statute measure of which amounts to One acre two roods and twenty four perches and which lands are portion of the Woodlands of the said parish which were excepted from the operation of the Award made under the provisions of an Enclosure Act for the said parish, passed in the first year of the reign of King George the Fourth, chap18, do hereby declare it to be my Will and Intent that the said tithes shall henceforth be absolutely merged and extinguished in the freehold and inheritance of the same lands according to the provisions in that behalf contained in a certain Statute made in the sixth and seventh years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth cap 71, entitled “An Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales”
In Testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this Twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand and eight hundred and fifty nine.
Chas Stephens
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER CHARLES STEPHENS, TENANT THOMAS ROGER PARSONS
Charles Stephens of Reading, banker, owned 1 acre 2 roods 24 perches, occupied by Thomas Roger Parsons of Princes Risborough, brewer, a portion of Kingswood, Highwood and Abbott’s Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure award of 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNED and OCCUPIED by OWEN and LAWRENCE WILLIAM WETHERED
Owen Wethered and Lawrence William Wethered of Great Marlow, Brewers owned 6 acres, occupied by themselves, a portion of Kingswood, Highwood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough excepted from the Enclosure award of 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER HUMPHREY BULL, 15 TENANTS
Humphrey Bull of Aston Clinton, land agent, owned 78 acres 2 roods 10 perches, occupied by John Wood, Thomas Easton, Robert Easton, John Janes, Thomas Ridgley, Jesse Ridgley, James Bowler, Benjamin Lovell, Levi Lacey, William Witney, Jonah Lacey, Charles Wood, James Chilton, Joshua Dell and John Dormer, portions of Kingswood, Highwood and Abbott’s Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough excepted from the Enclosures Award of 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER CHARLES STEPHENS, OCCUPIED by SELF & TENANT THOMAS ROGER PARSONS
Charles Stephens of Reading, banker, owned 10 acres 1 rood 28 perches, occupied by himself and Thomas Roger Parsons, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough excepted from the Enclosures Award of 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNED and OCCUPIED by THOMAS ROGER PARSONS
Thomas Roger Parsons owned 68 acres 1 rood 12 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award of 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER RALPH POTTER CLARKE, TENANT OBEDIAH LACEY and OTHERS
Ralph Potter Clarke owned 2 acres 25 perches, occupied by Obediah Lacey and others, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award of 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER RICHARD TILBURY
Richard Tilbury of Princes Risborough, gentleman, owned 1 acre 2 roods 14 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award of 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER JOSEPH SHARP
Joseph Sharp of Princes Risborough, farmer, owned 32 acres 2 roods 38 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award of 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER JAMES CUDDON
James Cuddon of Wimpole Street, London, conveyancer, owned 35 acres and 15 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award of 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER JESSE DELL
Jesse Dell of Princes Risborough, chair turner, owned 31 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER JESSE DELL
Jesse Dell of Princes Risborough, chair turner, owner 31 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER THOMAS PARSLOW
Thomas Parslow of Princes Risborough, wheelwright, owned, 8 acres 2roods 2 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER DANIEL TURNER
Daniel Turner of Princes Risborough, hurdlemaker, owned 1 acre 30 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER DANIEL TURNER
Daniel Turner of Princes Risborough, hurdlemaker, owned 1 acre 30 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER GEORGE LACEY
George Lacey of Prince Risborough, bricklayer, owned 1 acre 3 roods 31 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER THOMAS JANES
Thomas Janes of Princes Risborough, flint dealer, owned 5 acres 3 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER and OCCUPIER JAMES CHILTON
James Chilton of Monks Risborough, timber dealer, owned 13 acres 3 roods 5 perches, occupied by himself, a portion of King’s wood, High wood and Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosure Award 1823.
TITHE 3/156 (edited) OWNER SAMUEL DELL, EXECUTOR in TRUST for JOHN CHILTON, DEC’D
Samuel Dell of Princes Risborough, farmer, executor in trust for John Chilton dec’d, holds 70 acres, a portion of Abbotts Wood, woodlands of the Parish of Princes Risborough, excepted from the Enclosures Award 1823.