Lime Tree Cottage no 1
From Lacey Green History
NOTE. For Lime Tree Cottage no 2 see separate history.
Research by Joan West. Taken from the Deeds which were lent to me by Sue Parslow. Thank you Sue, Very much appreciated. (For more about Sue click Doug & Sue Parslow)
PREVIOUS HISTORY
The land on which Lime Tree Cottages were built had formerly been part of the vast Princes Risborough Common. Cows from the town were brought up here to graze. This land was part of the Manor of Princes Risborough. In 1823. The Enclosures of Princes Risborough part of the Common became privately owned by John Grubb, the Lord of the Manor. This part stretched from Windmill Farm to Kiln Farm.
GRUBB BANKRUPT. Both John Grubb and his successor both went bankrupt The 1st in 1841, the second in 1848.
JOHN CHESHIRE, MILLER, PURCHASES
This whole area was put up for auction as one lot, and was purchased by John Cheshire the miller. From 1856 to 1877 he is beset with mortgage debt. One of the mortgagees was William Woods.
MORTGAGEE, WILLIAM WOODS SELLS A PLOT
March 8th 1856. Conveyance. William Woods, mortgagee, sold to Jesse Ward of Loosley Row, carpenter, a close of pasture land, known as 'Pond Piece’, containing 2 acres, 3 roods. It was part of Kiln Farm. Subject to a private right of way for Joshua Dell born 1801 ,Richard Gibbs and William Woods (Ed. later became Kiln Lane)
Jesse Ward built a semi-detached pair of cottages which were known as Lime Tree Cottage no 2 on the east side of Lime Tree Cottage no1
10 September 1881. John Ward, son of Jesse, inherited ‘Pond Piece’ and the two cottages from his father.
August 9th August 1884. Conveyance. Alfred Ward, of Lower Road, Loosley Row, postmaster, grocer and carpenter, purchased from his brother John Ward, for £220, both Lime Tree Cottages and gardens on ‘Pond Piece’. The tenant of Lime Tree Cottage no 1 at that time Edward Free.
August 7th 1906. Mary Ann Allen of Loosley Row, inherited from Alfred Ward her father. She was married to Henry Allen, draper’s manager. (click Henry & Mary Ann Allen for more about Mary Ann.
April 22nd 1919. Conveyance. Free Curell purchased for £380, both Lime Tree Cottages nos 1 and 2 on ‘Pond Piece’, from Mary Ann Allen.
Free and Elizabeth Jane Currell lived in Lime Tree Cottage no 1 (nearest the Main Road). Elizabeth Jane Currell continued to live at number 1, after Free died in March 1934.
1939 Census. Elizabeth Currell, 83, Elsie Toms, nee Currell, 35. (men in WW2)
September 11th 1944. Elsie Currell, aged 40, daughter of Free and Elizabeth Jane Currell, married George Henry Toms aged 43, bricklayer, son of George Toms of Great Hampden, farmer.
ELSIE TOMS INHERITS
When Elizabeth Jane Currell died, Elsie Toms inherited both Lime Tree Cottages with gardens and outbuildings and orchard on “Pond Piece”. (Note. ‘Pond Piece’ stretched from Lacey Green Main Road, down the west side of Kiln Lane as far as ‘Whitewashing Pond’. The Currell family kept ducks which swam on this public pond.)
Elsie and George Toms lived in Lime Tree Cottage no 1. She would sell flowers from her wonderful cottage garden.
1974. Executors of Elsie Toms sold both Cottages.