View source for Shop. Stores & 1st P.O.

Thomas Eggleton’s name appears twice in the documents of [[1823. The Enclosures of Princes Risborough]].    Once for an allotment number 619, which is bare land.

In 1841, Jesse Ward and his wife Ruth, nee Eggleton, are recorded there with a stores and carpentry shop..   The other plot was enclosure number 568, this had a cottage, on Woodway, where Thomas probably lived.

'''''ED’S RESEARCH'''''

''No further mention has been found of Thomas Eggleton.   Research to confirm this connection is ongoing.''

'''JESSE WARD born circa 1800'''

'''THE FAMILY'''

Jesse Ward was born in Speen.    In 1827 he married Ruth Eggleton.   Their four children were Alfred, born 1827, Jabez 1832, Mary Ann 1836, and John 1839.

'''THE PROPERTY'''

''Ed.   In the 1823 Enclosures of Princes Risborough this plot was allocated to Thomas Eggleton.   It was an old plot, rented from the Manor and had no house.   Ruth Eggleton had married Jesse Ward in 1827.    Research as to a likely connection here is ongoing.''

'''GROCERY AND CARPENTRY'''

Jesse and Ruth ran a grocery store and Jesse also worked in their carpentry workshop.   A Post Office was added.  (sub post offices were started in 1840)

'''DEATHS'''

Ruth died in 1848.   Jesse died in 1881.

'''ALFRED WARD'''

Alfred Ward, inherited the property and businesses.   He was born in 1827, the eldest son of Jesse and Ruth

'''1<sup>st</sup>MARRIAGE'''

In 1858 Alfred married Jane Maberly, born 1822 in Loosley Row.   She died in 1871

'''2<sup>nd</sup>MARRIAGE'''

In 1872 Alfred married Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Steel, born 1834, the daughter of the miller.   They had 1 daughter, Mary Ann, known as ‘Polly’

'''DEATHS'''

Betsy died in 1904.   Alfred died in 1906

'''MARY ANN WARD'''

Mary Ann Ward was born in 1874, the daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Ward.   She was known as ‘Polly’.   Polly was remembered as a refined and accomplished young woman, who played the harp in the Methodist Chapel and was expert at making pillow lace.

'''THE STORE AND POST OFFICE'''   Polly took over the store in 1904 and became postmistress when her father died in 1906.

'''POSTMISTRESS'''

Mary Ann Ward, ‘Polly’, was the 3<sup>rd</sup> person to run the Post Office.  It was, however, still in the original building.   She ran the Post Office for eight years until she married.

'''MARRIAGE'''

In 1913 Mary Ann Ward married Henry Allen.   Henry was a young evangelist, born 1883, nine years younger than Mary.   They had met about nine years earlier when he had been preaching in the area and been entertained by the Wards.

'''NEW POSTMASTER'''

In 1914 Henry Allen was appointed Postmaster.   The 4<sup>th</sup> Postmaster but still in the same property.

'''TELEPHONE'''

The Post Office had a telephone, a rare thing just after WW2.   Opposite, in a small cottage, lived Dr Ucko.   His practice was in London.   His patients would ring Henry Allen, who would signal to Dr Ucko by hanging a red handkerchief out of the bedroom window.

'''RETIRED'''

The Allens gave up the Post office in 1945.   They had no children.

'''PROFESSOR PETER UCKO'''

Professor Peter Ucko moved in to The Old Post Office.  He was a Professor of Archaeology, from Southampton University, son of Dr Ucko who lived opposite.

Trevor Stevens, a carpenter & joiner, did some work on the house for him.  Trevor told how much Peter loved the old place and wouldn’t have it changed.    He had replaced the red handkerchief to signal to his father opposite, when wanted on the telephone, with a large bell.

'''REPLACED'''

Peter Ucko also stayed in Southampton.   It was there that he died.   Following his death the old Post Office was demolished and a builder from Princes Risborough built a new house on the site.   It was called ‘Green Pastures’.{{Amenity
|Amenity Name=Lower Road, Loosley Road, Stores, P.O. & Carpentry
|Current Status (Active/Inactive)=Inactive
|Founded Date=by 1840
}}