Lacey Green Farm

Lacey Green Farm had been part of the Manor of Princes Risborough. However by 1823 at the enclosures of Princes Risborough it was recorded as freehold belonging to Ann Dell, widow. It had been purchased in 1796 by her husband Thomas, 1736- 1811. On her death in 1827 Ann left Lacey Green Farm to their son Thomas who lived at the adjoining Speen Farm.

In 1838 Thomas jnr was bankrupt and both farms were sold by the mortgagee (See comment below). Lacey Green Farm was advertised for sale by auction 29th September 1837, described as 28 acres of rich arable, orchard and meadow land, with barn, stabling and other outbuildings, together with four brick-built cottages in the occupation of John Janes, Joseph Addaway, James Stone and Thomas Ives.

Comment.

By mid-1970's village tales had it that Thomas Dell got into debt by pursuing a dispute in a protracted court case over a hedge.

An official report of that has not so far been found. However an affidavit written in 1834 does hint that something was going on. It also describes Lacey Green Farm quite clearly -----I----I, Samuel Smith, of Speen, labourer, do swear on oath that I have known the five fields or pieces of land, lying together and adjoining each other near Darvill's Hill, the property in the occupation of Thomas Dell of Speen Farm in Princes Risborough, containing together about twenty eight acres and also four cottages, two barns, stable and carthouse standing and being on part and the front thereof next the residence and premises of Mrs. Shard (Grymsdyke) and which twenty eight acres of land and premises are distant from Speen aforesaid about one mile and are called or known by the name of names of "Pettifers" and "Newells" and are in a triangular form and bounded at one end and one side thereof by a road leading from High Wycombe, by Walters Ash to Lacey Green and on the other side by a footpath or way leading from the said road through lands belonging to Mrs Shard (Grymsdyke) to Lacey Green aforesaid. And this deprovent further saith that he hath known such pieces of land all his life or so long thereof as he can remember and he distinctly remembers the same, together with the said cottages, barns, stable, and carthouse to have for upwards of thirty eight years been in the successive uninterrupted and peaceable possession of Thomas Dell, the father of the said Thomas Dell of Speen Farm aforesaid, Ann Dell the mother of the said Thomas Dell of Speen Farm aforesaid and the said Thomas Dell the son, as owners and proprietors thereof. This deprovent further saith to the best of his recollection and belief such twenty eight acres of land were formerly divided into a greater number of fields, but since the same came into the possession of the said Thomas Dell the father, some of the hedges have been grubbed up, such twenty eight acres of land now lie in five fields, only two of which are meadows and the other three are arable. Now owned by Thomas Dell and the four cottages in the occupation of the tenants of the said Thomas Dell.

Note. The road referred to was in the 1823 enclosures called "Daws" Lane, Later called "Slad Lane". Until WW2, Lacey Green,had become part of the Grymsdyke estate, adjoining. During the war Grymsdyke House was taken by the RAF for the Officers Mess, the footpath mentioned disappeared under a road, appropriately named "New Road".

On 10th December 1858 it was again put up for auction by the mortgagee, described as "A compact desiable freehold and tithe free estate known as Lacey Green Farm", consisting of 3 enclosures, formerly 5, of capital meadow and arable land, known as Pettifer's or Home Meadow and Orchard, Welch's, Welch's Arable Field and 2 pieces of arable land called Loosley's Closes, containing together 28 acres, now in the occupation of Mr Willett. Also 4 brick and tiled cottages with woodhouses and gardens adjoining and a detached garden in the several occupations of Jacob Janes (late Robert Rixon), Mary Gomme,and James Horwood. The timber to be taken by valuation.

By 1910 it belonged to John Forrest who died that year. The land and cottages were now part of his Grymsdyke estate (adjoining). The whole estate was was put up for auction in 1911, Lot !, Grymsdyke mansion and farm, 113 acres, 0 roods, 21 perches, was withdrawn from auction presumably sold privately.