View source for 1911-1934 William Saunders - farmer

This item is listed in [[Social Snapshots 1900-1968 inc]], dated under 1934 

click [[Farms]] for other local farms 

Research by Joan West

click [[William Saunders & Bethia Janes]] for William's family life.

click [[Stocken Farm]] for other records of the Farm ......continued from [[1827-1910 Stocken Farm with Charles Brown and John Forrest]].

Note 1899.  William Saunders already owned 2 fields in Lacey Green which had bought in 1899.  He added these to Stocken Farm which he bought in 1911.  For details of these 'Hillocks' and a pasture field click [[Modern transcript of 2 fields]]. 

'''September 1911.   Conveyance.'''   William Saunders purchased Stocken Farm, including the semi detached 'Graham Cottages‘ built by John Forrest for £3,400, from the executors of John Forrest.

'''''Research Note.'''   In 1878 John Forrest had paid £8,250 for Stocken Farm, added 2 houses, and sold losing £4850, 33 yrs later.''[[File:William Saunders.jpg|thumb|William Saunders|link=https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/File:William_Saunders.jpg]]'''William Saunders already owned two fields in Lacey Green''', which he had bought from [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Josephine_Irving Josephine Irving] mortgagee of land, part of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Princes_Risborough_Common Princes Risborough Common].   They were at the bottom of [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Goodacres_Lane Goodacres Lane] one of them on the north side and one straight ahead to a field called 'Hillocks'.    From 1911 they became part of Stocken Farm.  

'''Farm Produce before 1934'''.  Before mains water was laid on in 1934, the farms on the hills could grow barley, oats and wheat, the grain either sold or used to supplement the grass eaten by the horses, pigs and chickens.   The land was poor so the crops would not have been heavy.  Important by-products were hay and straw.   Both of these are notoriously difficult to produce in England, even more difficult then, before the advent of modern machinery.   Both rely on good weather particularly the hay.  

'''There was a ready market for both hay and straw in London'''. There were a great number of horses kept there for carriages, riding and commercial purposes and hundreds of herds of dairy cows.  These were probably of less than half a dozen animals and they were kept inside all the time.   The village farmers delivered their goods and brought back the manure for their own land, without which this land would grow very little indeed.   A good bit of recycling you could say

'''Making Hay'''.  A farmer had to be very good at predicting the weather, for hay takes about four days of hot weather to dry.   Also he had to call in as many extra hands as possible, for it involved much labour, tossing and turning, carting and stacking into ricks when it was dry.   It must not go mouldy or overheat.   A great many people were glad of extra work so a ride through the village shouting for all hands to the fields was all that was needed.   Many children skived off school to the despair of the teachers, but the parents would rather have them working.

'''The corn crops also needed much labour''', but getting it dry was not quite so critical.   It could be reaped and stooked (stood up in sheaves) until dry enough to bring into ricks. It would then be threshed at a convenient time.   Then the straw was available to sell.

'''It was a long journey by horse and cart to London and dangerous'''.   William Saunders was particularly distressed when he was stopped during WW1 at Holtspur and his best horses taken for the army.  And to make matters worse he was left up the A40 (not the big road we know in 2020) with a loaded wagon and nothing with which to pull it.

'''1911.'''   Report from the South Bucks Fee Press  August 4<sup>th</sup> 1911.   Mr. H. J. Astley  was one of the competitors for the “Daily Mail” £10,000 prize.   On Friday he had started second but by the time he got to Nottingham he encountered several difficulties.

On Saturday morning he decided to fly on his 50hp Birdling monoplane, from Nottingham to Brooklands,…….followed the Great Central Railway route …....He alighted at Ford and partook of breakfast, ……. He raced a Great Central express between Princes Risborough and Saunderton, but was obliged, owing to the increasing wind, to come down in Mr Wiliam Saunders'  meadow. at Pound Farm, Saunderton.

Leaving the aircraft in the field, Astley went home.   Mr Saunders charged people admission to see the monoplane, which remained there until Monday morning.   A police sergeant and a constable maintained a guard on the machine, as hundreds of sightseers came to see it.   Some apparently slept under the hedgerows to be sure to see it take off.    

''Research Note.''   ''Mr. Saunders lived at  [[Smalldean Farm]], Smalldean Lane at that time  and also had land at Saunderton Lee,  where the plane landed.   William Saunders was not one to miss an opportunity!''

'''1914 William taken to court.'''   Report in the South Bucks Free Press March 25th 1914.   See [[1914 William Saunders guilty]]

'''During WWI the Royal Engineers were billeted in the village.   The horses were stabled at Stocken Farm and exercises done in ‘Home Field’.'''   They also took the smaller schoolroom.   [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Mabel_Janes Mabel Janes] said the farm dining room was an army hospital and the old grain store their blacksmith’s shop.

'''1914 William taken to court.'''   Report in the South Bucks Free Press March 25th 1914.   See [[1914 William Saunders guilty]]

'''Douglas Brett, schoolboy from 1923-1931 wrote the following in his autobiography - " Mice For the Classroom.'''   Harvest time was a source of great excitement for the boys when the corn was cut and brought to the farm for thrashing.   [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/Stocken_Farm Stocken Farm], above the school, was a favourite haunt and we would stand round in a circle with sticks and as the sheaves of corn were pitch-forked onto the thrashing machine out would tumble numerous rats and mice.  These we attacked with great gusto.   Sometimes we went in the dinner hour and put a few live mice in our pockets – these we took back to school to release in the classroom in mid–afternoon, to the consternation of teacher and the girls who stood squealing on their seats."

Click [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/1931_Douglas_Brett_in_Lacey_Green 1931 Douglas Brett in Lacey Green] for more tales from Douglas.

'''William Saunders died in 1934.'''

'''1934  FETE'''  ([[1934 Gala Fete Day]]) with permission of the executors of William Saunders

'''1934 Stocken Farm was put up for sale''' by the executors of William Saunders

'''1934 Details of Stocken Farm taken from the Sale Catalogue''', as follows: --

A Decidedly Attractive, and for its situation, Particularly Well Watered and Choice Pastured FREEHOLD HILL HOLDING with Farmhouse and ample Buildings. known as Stocken Farm, Lacey Green, Bucks,   In the centre of the village, and extending to an area of about 165a ; 2r : 37p. as set out in the following schedule: --

'''Ord.no 1921 Ed.....Description''' . . .  '''Acres'''

293   Farmhouse, Buildings, Yards .   1.578.

290   Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..2.957

291   Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..  .973

294   Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.549.

295   Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.104

332   Arable    . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .11.437

331   Arable and Pasture  . . . . . . . .  23.433

363   Arable   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10.803

330   Arable and Pasture   . . . . . .  . .23.954

Pt.125   Pasture   . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .33.671

126  Pasture   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.716

Pt. 127  Pasture   . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .16.559

'''TOTAL'''  . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .  . . .. '''165. 734'''

'''The Brick built, Stucco and Tiled Farmhouse contains: --'''

Entrance Lobby, Dining and Drawing Rooms, both 14 feet square.   Kitchen with Gradient range, sink, rain-water pump and dresser, back Hall, Dairy with slate and marble slabs and tiled floor, lobby and passage.   Underground cellar.

Outside: -- Woodhouse and Washhouse with pump, sink, two coppers, baking oven and range.

On the first floor: -- Landing, two bedrooms, 14 feet square, Two Single Bedrooms and hanging cupboard.

On the second floor: -- Landing and Two Bedrooms

'''The Farm Building Comprise'''

Range of Brick, Flint and Slated Buildings consisting of Nag Stable, Coach-House, Cart Horse Stable with stone and drained floor, Cart Shed, Cattle Shed with stone and drained floors; Brick, Flint and Galvanised 4-bay Wagon Shed; detached range of 4 Brick built and Slated Pig-styes; Range of Two brick foundation, boarded and tiled and slated Barns and two sheds with stone floors and mangers, and Fodder House; Cattle Yard with three open sheds and mangers and large iron water trough; Calving Box; Granary on staddles; Boarded and Slated Fowl-house.

'''In the Rickyard''': A 4-Bay Dutch Barn, 20 yds x 8 yds., boarded and galvanised Implement Shed.   Shed with Manger with access to Ord No.127.

'''Notes'''.   Certain fields on the farm possess long frontages to the hard road, which, in this lovely and unspoilt countryside, remote from the hustle of present-day conditions, and yet within easy distance of High Wycombe by bus service, must have a PROSPECTIVE BUILDING VALUE.

The growing timber will be included in the sale

Electricity is available.   Water from Underground Storage Tanks

Main water is now being brought to Lacey Green and will shortly be available.

No charge will be made for Unexhausted Manurial Values, but the purchaser will be required to pay for Beneficial Cultivations (if any) on the Arable Land in addition to the purchase money

Land Tax £5 2s 5d.

'''1934 STOCKEN FARM SOLD BY AUCTION.'''  The following details are taken from the deeds-

'''5<sup>th</sup> October 1934.'''  The property of William Saunders of Stocken Farm was sold at auction by his two executors Annie Daisy Smith of ‘Stoneycroft’, Walters Ash, and Fred Floyd of Lacey Green

'''''Note'''.  Annie Daisy Smith, known by ‘Daisy’ was the youngest daughter of William and Bethia Saunders.  She was the wife of Ernest Smith.  Fred Floyd of Lacey Green was the son-in-law of William and Bethia. He had married their daughter Caroline ‘Carrie’.  Carrie died young and their son Peter was brought up by William and Bethia as the youngest child in the family.  William left his estate between his children in which Peter, being a grandchild, did not get a share.''

'''5<sup>th</sup> October 1934.'''  The executors of William Saunders stated that William Saunders of Stocken Farm, Lacey Green had died on 31<sup>st</sup> December 1933.   His will dated 7<sup>th</sup> September 1931 was proved on 28<sup>th</sup> February 1934.

This document lists the mortgages taken out by William Saunders.

'''15 October 1889'''. Mortgage with John Field Junior, corn dealer, of Ham Farm, West Wycombe for £500, interest 4% per annum.   On 6 November 1890.  Eleanor Allnutt purchased the mortgage for £500, interest 4% p.a. from John Field Junior.   25 May 1898. William Saunders of Small Dean Farm took out a mortgage with and Charlotte Elizabeth Plaistowe and Harriet Wren Plaistowe, spinsters from Loudwater, High Wycombe, for £800 @ 4% interest p.a. This covered the on-going mortgage of £500 @ 4% interest plus land and property at Amen Corner, Loosley Row, which are not part of this document.

'''24 February 1921.''' William Saunders cleared the mortgage of both principal and interest.       

'''5<sup>TH</sup> October 1934.'''  The Executors sold to George Hawes of Lacey Green for £500, the field containing 2 roods 27 poles, no 272c ordinance map 1921, pink on plan, with the house and outbuildings built on it and known as ‘Hillcrest’, with full rights for all time to use on foot or with carts or carriages over the roadway coloured brown on the plan.   click 1899 [[Modern transcript of 2 fields]] for details and map.

1934.   Conveyance. Ernest Smith, son in law of William Saunders, purchased Stocken Farm for £3,225.   It still included the large field ‘Hillocks, but the smaller field to the north of [[Goodacres Lane]] was sold off separately.  (Purchased by George Hawes of [[Woodbyne Farm]]),    William Saunders had built a house there, also sold separately, called [[Hillcrest]].   For more on Ernest Smith go to [https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/1919_Wedding_of_Daisy_Saunders_&_Ernest_Smith 1919 Wedding of Daisy Saunders & Ernest Smith]

'''''Research Notes'''.   In 1911 William Saunders had paid £3,400 for Stocken Farm.  He had added the large [[Field called Hillocks]]'' ''It'' ''sold in 1934 for £3225, losing £175, 23 years later.''

'''''Using Stocken Farm as an example''', the following figures show what a difficult times these were for farming.''

''1878  sold for £8,250.   1934 sold for £3225.   Losing £5,025, even though 2 houses and a large field had been added.''

click [[1934-1948 Stocken Farm with landlord Ernest Smith and tenants Dick & Hilda West]] to continue the history of Stocken Farm.