Rose Villa
From Lacey Green History
Research by Joan West
In 1823 Rose Villa did not exist. The land on which it was later built 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 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 the 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, Lacey Green was confirmed in the 1823 Enclosures of the parish of Princes Risborough.
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click Main Road section 1 for other properties in this area.
The land on which Rose Villa was built had formerly been part of the vast common, known as Princes Risborough Common, cows from the town were brought up here to graze.
At the time of the enclosures of Princes Risborough, the Common was divided up and sold. A large part was purchased by John Grubb the Lord of the Manor.
1841 John Grubb being bankrupt, put his vast estate up for sale
It was purchased the day before the auction by Lord Buckingham and Chandos.
1n 1848 Lord Buckingham and Chandos also went bankrupt in 1848 so the estate was once more put up for auction
John Cheshire, the Miller, Purchased. This whole area was put up for auction as one lot, and was purchased by John Cheshire, the miller. (Click John & Ann Cheshire). From 1856 to 1877 he was beset with mortgage debt.
In 1889 Josephine Irving, the mortgagee, in order to reduce John Cheshire's growing debt, sold several plots off the land.
One plot was sold to John Saunders
By 1897 he had built the semi detached Jubilee Cottage no 1 and Jubilee Cottage no 2, and also Rose Villa next door to the south.. John and his wife Corah, lived in Rose Villa. See John & Corah Saunders
1939 Register (census). Harold 'Tommy' Maunder 41 heavy motor driver, 3 absent for war, Colin G Maunder 2, Winifred F Maunder 39.
About 1948 Arthur, known as 'Toey' Lacey bought Rose Villa when it was put up for auction. He lived there for a while. It was not in a good state with no mains water etc. Trevor Stevens said that Toey was illiterate and was said to knock his wife around.
It was inherited by his son George 'Jotty' Lacey. About 1956/7 George and his wife Mabel moved out. click George & Mabel Lacey for their story. Their daughter Edie married Stan Williams and lived at Rose Villa about 50 years. click Stan & Edie Williams for their story.
About 2010 Mr Simpson bought Rose Villa with a view to developing the whole plot including the large rear garden. He only obtained permission for three houses on the frontage onto Lacey Green Main Road. He sold the plots to Richard Alan Potyke
ROSE VILLA was DEMOLISHED.
Three houses were built on the site a semi-detached pair called Windmill Cottage no 1 and Windmill Cottage no 2. The third, the southernmost of the three was detached and called Windmill Cottage no 3.