Miss Elin, Gracefield, Lacey Green

Research by Laurence Rostron

Miss Annie Gertrude Elin – owner of Gracefield – 1911 to 1942. See Annie Gertrude Elin for her life story

Miss Elin was born in 1859 in St. John’s Wood, then in Middlesex. Her father was John Elin who appears to have been born in Jamaica and described himself as a West India Merchant. They lived in 12 Cavendish Road, Marylebone and his family consisted of himself, his wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters. They had 4 servants – a cook, a housemaid, a nurse maid and an under nursemaid.

25th September 1907. The Marchioness of Ely sold the contents of "Gracefield", Lacey Green, in a public auction in September 1907 having already "disposed of the residence". See 1907 Sale Gracefield Contents

It is known that Miss Elin leased Gracefield from Marchioness of Ely on the 3rd October 1907 for 14 years, shortly after the sale of the house contents, but it is not known if she bought furniture in the sale.

On the 28^th of February 1911 Miss Elin purchased the freehold of the Gracefield “estate” for £3000 less a sum of £211.5s.0d paid to Angelique Gertrude Strangeways to redeem the loan (mortgage) and interest and obviously rescinded her leasehold. At the time the “estate” consisted of Gracefield, a cottage, a coach-house with stables and the land measured four acres and thirty poles.

The sale documents describe Miss Elin as being “of Gracefield Princes Risborough” which appears to confirm that she was living at Gracefield at the time that she purchased the property. A photograph, exact date unknown, shows Miss Elin standing outside Gracefield with, it is assumed, her brother Major John Edward Elin, plus 3 dogs!

In the 1911 Census Miss Elin is shown as the lone family member “living on her own means” at 25 Chesham Place, London.

The Census also shows that at the same time there were 2 staff living in Gracefield - Jane Elphick a domestic cook and Bessie Currall (a well known village surname) a domestic housemaid and the house is shown as comprising of 11 rooms.

However, the 1911 Census does not appear to show anyone living in the cottage.

Electoral Register for Lacey Green. Miss Elin is shown from 1912 through to 1927. However, in 1927 things started to change and occupants of Garden Cottage, now Grace Cottage also started to be identified.

The entry for Gracefield reads as follows:

Elin Annie G – no occupation.

Hussey Bessie – domestic duties.

Hussey James – gardener.

Shepperd Catherine – domestic duties.

Bristow Daphne – domestic duties.

The reason why these domestic servants were included in the Electoral Register remains a mystery and it has to be assumed they did not live in Gracefield but were surveyed for the National Register from their place of work. It is also noticeable that she appears to have employed a man!

Miss Elin and her last years

It is probably reasonable to assume that from 1939 onwards Miss Elin lived at Gracefield for most of the time. The records show that she died on the 2nd May 1942 at Gracefield and for the last time she was registered as a “Spinster of Independent Means”. As records were suspended for the duration of the 2nd World War it is unclear what staff she retained at Gracefield.

The entry in the National Probate Calendar reads as follows:-

ELIN Annie Gertrude of 98 Park Street London spinster died 2 May 1942 at Gracefield Lacey Green Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire Probate Llandudno 4 September to Westminster Bank Ltd and Thomas Hume Bischoff solicitor. Effects £69,347-4s-2d.

Will

This was written on the 12th April 1938 and not surprisingly, Miss Elin left most of her effects to her family but also to her staff. This may give some clues as to who was working for her in her last years.

1. She left “all of her personal chattels” to her four nephews and nieces i.e. Charles Carlon Markes, John Edward Markes Doreen Mary Markes and Betty Patricia Markes.
2. She gave legacies to John Edward Elin and Margaret Stockdale who were the children of her brother John Edward Elin.
3. Legacies to goddaughters and friends.
4. Then a list of current and previous employees declared as follows:

1. “to my former chauffeuse Mary Eyles in recognition of 12 years service.”
2. “to each of Beatrice Amelia Allen my cook and Violet Mealey my upper   housemaid.”
3. “to Lizzie Anderson my cook at Gracefield.”
4. “ to Elsie Currell formerly my house-parlourmaid at Gracefield.”
5. “to Bert Dormer who has worked in my garden at Gracefield since 1920.”
6. “to every servant at the time of my death a sum equal to one month’s wages.”
7. “to head gardener Sybille Dennis, to Miss W Kennedy, the said Bert Dormer to Tonie Adams my odd garden man and to my chauffeuse Margaret Pinder a sum equal to one week’s wages.”

Although the amounts of money left to her employees and previous employees were not large by today’s standards, at least it appears that Miss Elin attempted to reward the faithfull

However, the most interesting declaration in her Will reads as follows:

“I give and devise free of duty my cottage Gracefield Lacey Green Princes Risborough and its contents (other than money and securities for money and other than any personal chattels referred to in my wishes) to my nephew the said Charles Carlon Markes.”

Some Cottage!

It is known that Charles Carlon Markes rented the Gracefield “estate” in 1942 to Eliza Carter who was the widow of Harold Carter, the owner of Grimsdyke, who had died in 1941. There is also clear evidence that Eliza Carter purchased the Gracefield “estate” in April 1946 from the said Charles Carlon Markes.

Obviously, it was difficult to sell properties during the war and it is likely that Charles Carlon Markes was away for long periods as he was a Major in the Army and it is believed that he saw service in Monte Casssino, Anzio, San Marino etc. He left the army in 1946 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  

Miss Elin died in 1942 and she is buried in St John’s Church, Lacey Green.