Lane Farm

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Research by Joan West

SIR WILLIAM LAWRENCE YOUNG

In the enclosures of Princes Risborough in 1823, Sir William Lawrence Young was allotted number 659 freehold allotment Purchased of the Commissioners.

These were adjoining fields from the south- east side of the east end of Smallridge Wood, running west past no 677 and the south side of Smallridge Wood to include Lane Farm, Church Lane, Lacey Green. Sir William Lawrence Young lived in North Dean and the farm was leased out.

THE FARM

In 1823 the farm consisted of 3 fields, stretching from the homestead in Church Lane to Smallridge Wood to the NW (allotment no.676).

FIELD NAMES

The names of these fields at the time they were allotted were - closest to the homestead, GINGER's WALTERS FIELD, 3 acres 0 roods 9 poles. GINGER'S WINTERS FIELD 8 acres 1r 0p. GINGER'S WINTERS FIELD 8 acres 2r 35p.

TWO MORE FIELDS

Lane Farm also had the use of 2 fields adjoining on the NE which Wm. Lawrence Young had exchanged for tithes of copyhold land, (allotment 677). These were a new allotment and were freehold - he owned them. The names of these two fields were GRAY'S CROOK FIELD 5 acres 1 rood 0 poles, and GRAY'S LOW CLOSE 2 acres 0r 26p. ( Gray was a name associated with the Grymsdyke Estate, so a past connection there?)

Also a further field adjoining allotment 677 which he had purchased from the Commissioners (allotment 659). This was a new allotment and this too was freehold.

ALMOST ATTACHED

4 more fields virtually joined the farm fields, just a track through Smallridge Wood to get to them. These were the fields of Coombs situated at the SW of the wood (allotment 675). It was an old allotment, copyhold (rented from the Manor).

FIELD NAMES

The names of these fields at the time they were allotted in 1823 were - GINGER'S COMBS, 3 acres 0 roods 23 poles. GINGER's LITTLE COMBS 4 acres 7r 43p, GINGER's COMBS 2 acres 3r 33p, GINGER'S GREAT COMBS 10 acres 1r 30p,

RESEARCHER’s NOTE

It is not yet known when the farm was first established.

CENSUS 1841

Tenant Joseph Floyd 45, shoemaker, Jane 40, John 20, William 15, shoemaker Eliza 14, Emma 9, Dan 5, Sarah 2.

15 February 1850 Conveyances

Lot 2. William Floyd of Lane Farm purchased from John Redrup of Great Hampen, blacksmith: ---

Schedule

The north end of the garden of Wimble End Cottage No 1. On this site was a building that had been a blacksmiths shop . William used this as a barn then built a cottage that later became called "Green Hedges"

CENSUS 1851

Tenant William Floyd 26, farmer 40 acres,1 labourer. Sophia nee Hawes 26, Lucinda 7, Julia 3, Cora 1, Peter Tyler Floyd, cousin 19, shoemaker, Benjamin Hawes cousin 22, shoemaker.

November 17^th 1863.   Conveyance.   Ann Batson, executor for Sarah Shard sold the Grymsdyke estate to William Alexander Thomas.   Lane Farm was part of the Grymsdyke Estate

CENSUS 1871

Tenant William Floyd 49, farmer 49 acres 2 men 1 boy, Sarah 37, Albert 3.

April 18th 1877. Conveyance. To John Forrest from Charles Brown, the Revd. Walker King, the Revd. Edward Henry Aldridge and Henry Cartwright - All those lands and heredits situated at Lacey Green containing 3 acres and 6 perches, bounded on the N.E. side by the Main Road leading from Lacey Green to Princes Risborough.

April 18^th 1878.   Conveyance.   William Alexander Thomas sold the Grymsdyke Estate to John Forrest.   Lane Farm was part of the Grymsdyke Estate.   John Forrest employed a farm Bailiff for his several farms. They lived at Stocken Farm.

CENSUS 1881

Tenant   William Floyd 58 farmer 1 man 1 boy, Sarah 48,

Monday 1st August 1887 Lane Farm. Sale of live and deadstock. Notice in the Bucks Herald.

Sale by Auction. By direction of Mr William Floyd, the tenant, who is leaving.

SCHEDULE 46 acres of capital growing, crops of corn, the feed of 13 acres of aftermath to 29^th next. 2 Ricks of well-got Seed and Sainfoin Hay. A small assortment of Agricultural Implements, 10 strong Store Pigs, and an active Working Cart Horse. (a copy of this advertisement is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

CENSUS 1891

Tenant George Floyd, assistant gardener for John Forrest and his family. See George & Annie Floyd

CENSUS 1901

Tenant Casper Degens, 34, b Germany, British citizen, poultry farmer.  Annie Gibbons, widow, 40, housekeeper.

CENSUS 1911

Tenant Harold Hickman 34 farmer, Emily 30. See Harold George Hickman

SALE OF LANE FARM. (The Abstract of the Title of Lane Farm is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

September 9^th 1911   Conveyance.  The Executors of John Forrest sold Lane Farm to the Reverend William Robson of Imperial Square Cheltenham for £1,640.

SCHEDULE

48 acres 1 rood 20 perches (48.377 acres)   Farmhouse and buildings.   In the occupation of Mr. H. G. Hickman, a yearly tenant. See Harold George Hickman

Also land and hereditaments adjoining, 2 acres 29 poles

Also land bounded on the N E by the main Road leading from Lacey Green to Princes Risborough, 3 acres and 6 poles

             ORD.NO.                                            

                      134         Pasture                       3.236 acres    

                      135         Arable/pasture        17.363  

             part 136         Arable                        20.106

                      156         Arable                         1.634

                      280         Arable                         5.350

            part   284       House/buildings          . 688

THE EXTRA LAND

N0 278 allotment 4.068 acre

No.279 allotment 2.111 acres

No 128 arable 1.017 acres

No 288 allotment 2.022 acres

SALE OF LANE FARM

November 26th 1924   Conveyance.   The Reverend William Robson sold to Albert Stevens, of Kimble, farmer for £1,350. (This document with that of the sale of land in 1926 is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

SCHEDULE. Lane Farm, including the extra fields as above, now established as part of Lane Farm

SMALL PIECE OF LAND SOLD                

1926. Conveyance.  Albert Stevens sold a small piece of land for £300 to Charles Avigdon Birstingl of Wimble End. Schedule. All that piece of land site at Lacey Green on the S.W. side of Church Lane and having a frontage to the said road of 220 feet or thereabouts. The purchaser to erect and maintain a good and sufficient fence. (Research note. This land was the opposite side of Church Lane from Wimble End

SALE OF LANE FARM

July 4^th 1930  Conveyance   Albert Stevens sold to Clara Sibyl Cox   43 acres for £1,800.

A bungalow was built shortly after this conveyance.

SALE OF LANE FARM

4^th August 1932  Conveyance   August Clara Sibyl Cox sold to Frederick Blunt Wathen the aforesaid premises for £2,700

LAND of LANE FARM LET

Mr & Mrs Wathen lived in Lane Farm House and let the land to R.M. West of Stocken Farm.   R.M. West & Son continued to rent the land of Lane Farm throughout the ownership of the next four owners until they finally purchased it themselves.

1939 CENSUS   LANE FARM

Frederick B Wathen 61 retired manager M & SM Railway, India, Col. Indian Aux Force 34 yrs, Louisa Wathen 59.

Research Note by Laurence Rostron. In 1954 Lane Farm was auctioned in 3 lots. Lots 1 and 3 consisted of the house and a paddock. They were purchased by Roger Edward Thompson and the Rt. Hon. Robert William Evelyn Rockley on behalf of Col. Wilfred L and Mrs Abel Smith. At the time Lot 2 which consisted of almost 40 acres was rented largely by Mr R M West and a minor portion by Mr F W Floyd. It is not clear who purchased Lot 2

New Occupiers. Colonel and Mrs Abel Smith. In September 1955, R M West & Son commenced paying the rent for the land to Colonel Abel Smith. Field Ord no. 135a, 3.067 acres, Field No 135, 14.152 acres, Field No Pt. 136, 15.225 acres. Total 32.444 acres at 25/-d per acre.

8th August 1963 Conveyance. Frederick Blunt Wathen sold Lane Farm for £5,000 to Roger Edward Thompson and the Rt.Hon. Robert William Evelyn Rockley of City of London.

8th August 1963 Conveyance of 2 Fields. Roger Edward Thompson and the Rt. Hon. Robert William Evelyn Baron Rockley, mortgagees of Frederick B Wathen, conveyed to Harry Floyd of Lacey Green 2 pieces of land containing 6.984 acres being nos.156 and 280 on the Ordnance Survey Map 1921 Edition

1962 Richard May Purchased Lane Farm from Roger Edward Thompson and the Rt. Hon. Robert Evelyn Baron Rockley

1971 John & Frankie Plowman purchased Lane Farm from Richard May.

1984 David & Sheila Clay purchased Lane Farm from John & Frankie Plowman The land had been let to R M West & Son. See John & Frankie Plowman

July 13th 1986. Strawberry Tea and Band Concert, 3pm at Lane Farm, Church Lane

2000 David and Sheila Clay sold Lane Farm to the Tillotson's

LAND BOUGHT BY R.M.WEST AND SON

2016 Ordinance Survey Map Church Lane, Lacey Green, researched by Laurence Rostron. Lane Farm House occupied by Mr C & Mrs C Tillotson