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.

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Bankruptcy

In 1837 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.

Affidavit

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".

11th November 1845. A letter headed "Lacey Green Farm", was written on behalf of Charles Brown of Stocken Farm by his Solicitors, "Parker & Sons" of Lewisham, referring to a previous letter written on the 6th September 1845.-------

Quote Sir, We shall be in a situation to write to you on the subject of this title in the course of a few days. . On the 6th Sept. last we wrote to say that unless the business was forthwith brought to a close Mr Brown would lose the season for sowing etc And if such were the case it would be owing to the vendors delay and they would have to make Mr. Brown compensation for the loss he might sustain.

Mr Brown has just been with us and informed us that since Michaelmas last the lands and premises have been wholly neglected and unproductive, and that the late tenant Mr Douglas is carrying away the wheat, straw and chaff therefrom and not bringing back manure in return, which is contrary to the rules of husbandry, and that the gates, fences etc are being destroyed and taken away without check or hindrance on the part of the vendors.

Now if the vendors contemplate Mr. Brown paying interest under the contract they must of course in discharge of their duty so long as he is out of possession, properly cultivate and manage the estate themselves so as to produce and secure yo him the due and proper benefit thereof, and it is also their duty to see that their late tenant does what he ought to do in reference to his late tenancy and according to the rules of good husbandry and custom of the county.

With respect however to the vendors themselves entering upon the cultivation and management of the estate, we would suggest that Mr Brown should be at liberty to immediately enter thereon for that purpose and his so doing should be without prejudice to all questions as to title and other matters on both sides. And that if the contract should eventually be put an end to,that in such case the vendors should repay to Mr. Brown (by valuation in the usual way if the parties differ) all monies which he shall expend in such cultivation and management.

We shall be glad to hear from you in reply to this letter, and on the above suggestion, with the least possible delay,

And remain, Sir, your obed't Serv't Parker & Sons.

Note Harry Douglas was in the Lacey Green census of 1841, but was farming in Lewknor , Oxon, by 1851.

On 10th December 1858 it was again put up for auction. Described as "A compact desirable 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 Willott. 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.

Comment Mr Abraham Willott was the farm manager for Sarah Shard's estate, Grymsdyke. She had died in 1858 and the farm was sold by her executors. In 1961 Abraham Willott was still Grymsdyke estate manager for John Deacon aged 70 of London.

Conclusion Charles Brown's letters were written in 1845 when he had a contract to purchase Lacey Green Farm. As Abraham Willott, referred to in the letter was the farm manager of Grymsdyke estate in 1861 it would appear by then to belong to the Grymsdyke Estate and safe to presume that the contract of Charles Brown had fallen through.

Note By 1871 the cottages had disappeared off the census, presumably falling into decay and subsequently all trace of them and the buildings disappeared. The fields became one and by mid-1900's only a lone tree remains.

By 1910, it belonged to John Forrest who died that year. Lacey Green Farm had disappeared, absorbed into Grymsdyke estate (adjoining). The whole estate 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.

The Grymsdyke Estate was eventually broken up circa 2000, the land that had been Lacey Green Farm being purchased by R.M.West and Son of Stocken Farm.