Kingswood Farm
From Lacey Green History
click Farms for a list of other local farms
click Farming pre 1823 for this era
Research by Joan West
In 1823 Kingswood Farm on the east side of Highwood Bottom did not exist. The land on which it was later built was part of the vast Parish Woodlands of the parish of Princes Risborough. Click Princes Risborough Common to see two maps
The first map before 1823 shows the areas of Parish Woodland, marked with dark green trees. Kings Wood was part of the large area of woods on the right side of the map next to the boundary with Monks Risborough.
In 1823 when the Enclosures of Princes Risborough took place, the woods were exactly the same. However they were now sold into the private ownership of John Grubb, but were still classed as Parish Woodlands, eg. people were still allowed to go there to collect fallen wood.
By 1900 all the trees had been felled and on part of the woodland
Kingswood Farm was created.
By 6th Jan 1877 the farm was owned by Thomas Roger Parsons of Whiteleaf, gent, brewer.
The following information is taken from the Deeds of Red House Farm, formerly Speen Kiln Farm and Kingswood Farm, lent to Dennis Claydon by the family. (A copy taken from Deeds is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall.
By 6th Jan 1877 the farm was owned by Thomas Roger Parsons of Whiteleaf, gent, brewer.
6th January 1877. Conveyance. William Simmons Witney of Redland End, timber dealer and farmer purchased from Thomas Roger Parsons :-
Schedule All the land and buildings known as Kingswood Farm, Lacey Green. Mr Witney agrees to take all live and dead stock and fixtures, being horse going gear, chaff cutter and fixtures on valuation. Sold together likewise with Speen Kiln Farm later called Red House Farm), Speen
-
1877 Sale Inventry and Valuation of Live and deadstock of Speen Kiln Farm and Kingswood Farm, sold together. (a copy from Deeds held by Mrs Edith (Witney) in Canada, copied by Joan Moore and given to Dennis Claydon is archived n Lacey Green Village Hall)
INVENTRY and VALUATION of LIVE and DEAD STOCK, CORN, HAY, STRAW, SEED & CULTIVATIONS, ETC of KILN and KINGSWOOD FARMS, SPEEN. JAN 1877 From J R PARSONS, of White Leaf to MR WILLIAM WITNEY of Redland End.
IMPLEMENTS. 2 Strong Iron Arm Waggons in Ladders, 1 Light Ditto & 1 Old Ditto, 4 Iron Arm Dung Carts, 3 Sets of Iron Harrows, Set of Seed Ditto, 2 Iron Ploughs & Tackling,1 Wood Beam Ditto, Horse Hoe, a 9 line Scarify, a 22” Ring Rolls, Wood Roll, Water Barrell, Pulper, 2 Chaff Machines with horse gear, etc, Hayes patent Corn Mill, Horse Power Threshing Machine as fixed, Sack Barrow, 2 seed carts, 3 Corn Bushels, Chaff Baskets, large Rick Cloth, Page’s Cake Crusher, Weighing Machine & weights, 2 Winnowing Machines, Turnips & Corn Drill, a Dress Box etc, 2 8ft Iron Water Troughs, a 2ft Iron ditto, 9 Iron Pig Troughs, 5 Wood ditto, 20 Corn Sacks, 2 Loft Ladders, 2 40-pound Ladders & 6 others, Turnip Cutter & Scuttle, 168 Hurdles & Stakes, 8 Side Stone Staddles & Timbers, 6 Stones & Caps, 2 Wheel Barrows, Zinc Water Tub, 3 Zinc Troughs, 18 Wood Sheep Troughs, 2 Cow Cribs, 4 Iron Drag Harrows, 1 Wood ditto, 5 Barn Shovels, Knee Fan, Hay Knife, Iron Pot and Furnace as fixed, 2 Tressels, 3 Meal & Wash Tubs, Meal Bin, 3 Meal Tubs, Meal Bin, 3 Meal Tubs, 7 Buckets, 2 Bowls, Pair of Yokes, 5 Hooks, 3 Iron Bars, Wimble Thatching Cap, 2 Cow Chains, 4 Iron Shovels, 2 Mattocks, 5 Pitch & Hay Forks, 4 Dung Forks, 2 Drags, 3 Hoes, Baskets, 6 Cart Ropes, 4 Straw Ropes, 2 Pig Nets, sundry Brooms, etc, 3 dozen New Plough Shares, 6 Skim Shares, 2 Plough Wheels, 3 Beds, 4 Rises, 2 pair Jaws, Slide Rake, sundry old Stakes & others, Iron Rick Pegs, 2 Hen Coops, 2 Grease Jacks & Hammers, 6 Nose Bags, 5 sets Shire Harness, 5 sets Cart Chains, 7 sets Plough Harness, 5 pair Plough Reins, 7 Head Halters, 4 Whips, sundry Harness, 2 bins, Hand Barrow, 11 Road Ladder Lanterns, 2 Hemp Halters, 300 loads of Stones.
LIVE STOCK. 18 Fat Hogs, 7 Farm Horses, 8 Starks & Steers, 139 Halfbred Tegs, 35 head of Poultry.
CORN, HAY & STRAW ETC. The Produce of 32 acres of Wheat, unthrashed & thrashed, 2 Ricks of Waterloo Oats, about 10 bushels W.J. Oats, 53 bushels ditto, threshed, 1 ditto White Tartary Oats, quantity Dun Peas, about 13 bushels Linseed Cake, 2 & half sacks Ground Maize, 2 clamps trussed Hay, 2 Ricks of ditto, 45 trusses of Wheat Straw, Unthrashed Wheat Straw. The sown Corn, etc at Consuming price, 3 clamps of London sweepings, and Manure in heaps.
CULTIVATIONS. 25 acres Wheat, 1 plough, 4 harrows, cost of dressing & spreading, drilling, seed & dressing. 11 acres Turnips & Swedes, folded off. (9 acres 1 plough) 9 acres Swedes to feed off, then plough, 4 harrows, cart dung & spreading, seed & drilling, Bush Sweepings per acre, 1 horse hoe, hand hoeing, pulling & clamping, 2 acres Tares, 1 plough, 4 harrows, seed & Sowing, 32 acres Young Grass, seed & Sowing, 17 acres Wheat & Pea Stubble, 1 plough, 21 acres Wheat & Pea Stubble, 1 plough, 6 acres for Peas, cart & dress.
VALUE. The foregoing property enumerated in the inventory is valued by the undersigned at the Sum of “Sixteen hundred and forty pounds, ten shillings” (after deducting thrashing and marketing for unthrashed corn).
Ralph P Clark, Agricultural Valuer, Ashwell Farm, Kingshill, Great Missenden
RESEARCH NOTES no 1
When Roger Parsons sold Speen Kiln Farm & Kingswood Farm in 1877 only buildings and land are mentioned for Kingswood - NO House.
In 1823 Highwood Bottom was the route from High Wycombe through Speen to Princes Risborough, with NO houses.
By 1857 when properties were registered by the owners for tithes there were a number of small holdings. The families of these plots built houses and became established in the valley, all east of but near the track in the valley bottom
Highwood Bottom is not listed in the 1841, 1851 1861 or 1871 census's. In 1881 a James Bowler aged 42 is listed, an agricultural labourer
In 1891 Census 3 Households of Lovetts the heads are John 26, William 64, Benjamin 66 all agricultural labourers.
1901 is the first time KINGSWOOD FARM is listed. Lived in by William Charge, 59, a cattle man on farm- NOT farmer.
In 1871 Kingswood Farm and Speen Kiln Farm were both owned by Thomas Roger Parsons whose farm bailiff was Samuel Charge.
It is quite possible that the two farms were run together, keeping on the farm bailiff. Certainly the sale in 1877 was for both, with all live and deadstock listed together. Also possible that the cattleman living there (William Charge) was connected to Samuel Charge.
1991 census. This is the first time a HOUSE has been mentioned at Kingswood Farm in a census.
13th July 1903 CONVEYANCE. Thomas Parsons Esq. of Princes Risborough had lately agreed to sell Kings Wood Farm to George Cowdray Welch of High Wycombe, draper, for £675.
The following details are taken from the deeds of Woodbyne Farm, Lacey Green, which George & Anne Hawes also owned. Lent by Mrs Johnstone.
Also in 1903, George Cowdray Welch now agreed to sell Kingswood Farm to George Hawes of Woodbyne Farm Lacey Green, chairmaker, for £700.
All that Farm House, buildings, lands & hereditaments in Speen Bottom (Highwood Bottom), also the tithes or tenths of the same.
The schedule of lands comprised-
Ord no (1899 edition) Description Acres
361 House, garden, yard & entrance 0.747
360 Paddock in front of house 1.200
373 Field west of house 21.796
372 Field east of house 27.636 TOTAL 51.379 acres. (This Double Conveyance in 1903, Thomas Parsons to G C Welch to George Hawes is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
RESEARCH NOTES no 2. Joan West reporting conversation with Harry Hawes, the son of George Hawes. "Harry was born at Kingswood Farm. George and his wife Annie had been living at Woodbyne Farm. He had built the house there when they got married in 1896. Kingswood Farm was much bigger than Woodbyne, 51acres as apposed to 1 acre. He bought it in 1903 and they moved there for a year or two. Harry was the youngest of 8 children. Finding it inconvenient for Lacey Green School they moved back to Woodbyne Farm in Lacey Green. George continued to farm Kingswood Farm until 1936, when he sold it to Randolph John Wood (a new farmer of Red House Farm, previously known as Speen Kiln Farm). Kingswood land was extremely flinty but being lower, near Highwood Bottom would have been more fertile than at Lacey Green. George went there daily and while there milked his cow carrying the buckets of milk home on a yoke.
RESEARCH NOTES no 3. Trudy Saunders, daughter-in-law of William John & Florence Saunders said that they spent a weeks honeymoon at Kingswood Farmhouse in 1920, at that time owned but not lived in by George Hawes. It is not surprising that there is a connection there as William Saunders was born in the house next door to Woodbyne Farm, Lacey Green, where George Hawes lived at the time.
6th Oct 1936 Conveyance George Hawes of Woodbyne Farm, Lacey Green, farmer, sold Kingswood Farm, to Randoph John Wood of Red House Farm, Speen, farmer. for £650. All that farm house, outbuildings, lands and hereditaments, Lacey Green, known as Kingswood Farm.
The schedule of land comprised----51.379 acres as at conveyance of 13th July 1903. (this Conveyance Document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
1937 Tenancy Agreement
22nd June 1937, tenancy agreement between Randolf John Wood of Red House Farm Speen, the landlord, and Arthur George Drayson of Hayes, Mddx, the tenant for part of Kingswood Farm comprising 10 acres of land. This is identical to the Tenancy Agreement of 7th Oct 1938, except there is no surety needed and the rent is £35 per annum, to be paid in advance in monthly instalments. (This Tenancy Agreement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
7th Oct. 1938, tenancy agreement between Randolf John Wood of Red House Farm, Speen, farmer (the landlord) and Eric George Drayson of "Newstead",Chalfont St Peter, meat inspector (the tenant) and Laurence Burke of Hayes, Mddx, deputy chief sanitary inspector (the surety). All that parcel of land, part of Kingswood Farm, comprising 10 acres, (ord.no.1921 edition) 361, 0.882 acres, 373e, 5.772 acres, 373b 2,871 acres, together with the Farm Cottage and farm buildings erected thereon, being part of Kingswood Farm, together with the Right of Way in common with the landlord & others over the entrance track and through the rickyard at the rear of the buildings. Also reserving unto the landlord all minerals, stones, gravel, trees and underwoods. (This Tenancy Agreement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
The agreement stated- "The tenancy shall start on 8th Oct.1938 for 363 days. If continued further should the landlord desire to resume occupation before 7 years he shall give one years notice to quit of 29th Sept. of any year .before 1946 without being liable for compensation for disturbance.
The rent shall be £32.2.0 p.a; payable in advance by fortnightly instalments of £1-7s-6d.
The tenant agreed to: -
1, Pay the rent on time;
2. Keep the premises in good repair,(after first being put in repair by the Landlord);
3. To keep fences in repair to keep stock in:
4. Not to let the premises or use as a market garden;
5. To farm the premises as a Pig and Poultry Farm, not to convert to tillage and not to mow the land twice in one year or two years in succession;
6. To keep the hedges brushed and trimmed and to lay those as need to be done at the proper season of the year;
7. To keep the ditches clean and free from obstruction,
8. To destroy rabbits, moles, and other vermin, to level mole-hills, to prevent docks, thistles, nettles and other noxious weeds from running to seed and preserve from injury all trees and underwood.
NOTE ADDED on edge of document. In the event of war being declared or breaking out the tenant agrees that the landlord may at any time thereafter resume occupation of such of the farm buildings as he may require, writing abatement of rent.
Note The tenancy continued during WW2 but with a reduced acreage from 10 to 2.5 acres and less of the buildings.,
31st Oct 1939. Tenancy Agreement between Randolf John Wood of Red House Farm Speen, farmer & Eric George Drayson of Kingswood Farm, meat inspector, for 3 & half acres, part of Kingswood Farm, comprising the farm cottage including use of entrance track & two adjoining pieces of land to the north of the cottage next to the lane of Highwood Bottom, but no buildings. The tenant agrees to the 8 conditions in the tenancy agreement of 7th Oct 1938. The rent to be £1-4s-0d in advance every 2 weeks. (This Tenancy Agreement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
31st Oct 1940 & 31st Oct 1941, Tenancy Agreements ( the second using the first document by altering the dates - saving paper?) between Randolf John Wood of Red House Farm, Speen, farmer & Eric George Drayson, meat inspector. for part Kingswood Farm. for 2 parcels of land of 3 & half acres comprising Ord,no.(1921 ed) part 361 part 373e & part 373b, as in tenancy agreement of 31 Oct 1939.The rent still £1-4s. The tenant agreed to the 8 conditions as in the tenancy agreement of 7th October 1938. (These Tenancy Agreements are archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
17th June 1942. Conveyance. Randolph John Wood of Red House Farm, Speen, farmer sold to Arthur John Drayson, son of Eric George Drayson, tenant of Kingswood Farm, farmer for £1000. (This conveyance document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
Kingswood Farm. All that farm house, outbuildings, land & hereditaments situate in, Highwood Bottom, Lacey Green.
Schedule
Ord No, 1921 edition Description Acreage
361 House, garden, yard, & entrance 0.882
360 Paddock in front of the house 1.065
372b Field east of the house 2.329
372c ditto 6.034
372 ditto 12.732
372a ditto 6.541
373b Field west of house 2.871
373e ditto 5.772
373a ditto 6.315
373 ditto 6.838 TOTAL 51.379 acres
28th March 1951. Arthur John Drayson sold Kingswood Farm to Denys Charles Tuckett of Burr Cottage, Horsell, Woking for £4,450. Comprising - All that Kingswood Farm in Highwood Bottom, Lacey Green. The schedule of land was same as 1942. (This Conveyance document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall
1st Oct. 1956 Conveyance. Denys Charles Tuckett of Kingswood Farm, Lacey Green, farmer sold Kingswood Farm to Frank Malcolm Allen-Armitage of Chadwell Farm, Stoke Hammond, farmer for £5,000. All that farmhouse, outbuildings, lands & hereditaments. The schedule of land as that of 1942. (This Conveyance Document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
17th Oct 1963 Conveyance. Frank Malcolm Allen-Armitage of Kingswood Farm, Lacey Green, sold Kingswood Farm to R M West & Son of Stocken Farm, Lacey Green. for £8,000, comprising 51.379 acres. The schedule of fields is identical to that shown in conveyance of 29th March 1942. (This Conveyance Document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)
RESEARCH NOTE no 5 Report by Joan West of R.M.West & Son, of Stocken Farm. We sold off the house, after constructing a new driveway up to it, keeping the land, which all adjoined Stocken Farm on the opposite (eastern) side of Highwood Bottom Lane.
29th June 1964 Conveyance. R M West & Son of Stocken Farm, Lacey Green sold to Cecil Sydney James, the farmhouse to be now known as Kingswood House.
RESEARCH NOTE no 6 Report by Joan West of R.M.West & Son of Stocken Farm. When Mr James died, we bought back Kingswood House, with an agreement that his widow could live there for her lifetime.
ACCIDENT at KINGSWOOD FARM recorded by R M West & Son in their Accident Book.
" A tractor driver was turning hay in the field above Kingswood House. when the turner got clogged. He alighted the tractor and unblocked the implement. The tractor started to move downhill. Gathering speed it proceeded to go through the washing line, draping the clothes round the tractor, then delivered them right through the kitchen wall thereby wrecking the kitchen. Mrs James, a stalwart woman, saw it coming and got out before it arrived.
Its an ill wind that blows no good!!! Having recovered from the shock Mrs James was delighted with a brand new kitchen and boiler system replacing the ancient one that the old house had before, paid for by the farmer's insurance.