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| − | [[File:Stocken_Farm.jpg|alt=|thumb]] | + | click '''Richard West reports''' [[Stocken Farm News]] from May 1919 |
| − | [[File:Stocken Farm circa 1900.jpg|thumb|Stocken Farm circa 1911|alt=|left]]'''STOCKEN FARM ''' researched and written by Joan West
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| | + | click [[The Maize Maze]] 2003-2011 for this |
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| | + | click [[The Lords of the Manor of Princes Risborough]] for details. |
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| − | '''In 1813 Stocken Farm was sold by the Lord of the [[Manor of Princes Risborough]] to [[Lord George Henry Cavendish]], who continued to let it.'''
| + | click [[Manor Documents]] for list |
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| − | See [[Absentee Landlords]], second article. Also put 'Farm' into Search for other farms.
| + | click [[Farms]] for a list of other local farms |
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| − | '''Advertised for sale by auction 10th July 1827''', by Messrs Driver at The Hart, Bartholomew Lane, London, opposite the Bank of England
| + | click [[Stocken Wood]] for history of this wood |
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| − | '''Specification'''. Freehold Estate (Tithe Free), Situate at Lacy Green in the parish of Princes Risborough, About Five miles from High Wycombe and Two from Risborough, called Stocking Farm containing one hundred and twenty six acres, of very useful Meadow and Arable Land, together with Farm House, Three Barns, Granary, Stables, and other out-buildings. The whole is in the occupation of Mr [[James Dell]], a Yearly Tenant. It was purchased by [[Charles Brown]]
| + | click [[Farming pre 1823]] for this era |
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| − | '''1831 Census.''' There is nobody recorded at Stocken Farm | + | click 1899 [[Modern transcript of 2 fields]] for the purchase of 'Hillocks' and a pasture field by William Saunders. |
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| − | '''1841 Census'''. Charles Brown, 45, farmer, single, Sarah Brown & Araminta Brown, older sisters, and Francis Powel 18 niece with him
| + | Research by Joan West taken from the deeds. |
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| − | '''1851 census.''' Charles Brown, 55, farmer, 347 acres, including some rented land. 18 labourers. | + | '''The History''' |
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| − | '''1861 census.''' Charles Brown, 65, farmer, 210 acres. 6 men 4 boys
| + | click [[1066-1827 Stocken Farm under the Lords of the Manor and Lord Cavendish]]. |
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| − | '''1877 STOCKEN FARM TO BE LET'''
| + | click [[1621 Lease of Stocken Farm]] giving details of lease from the Lord of the Manor to Henry Lacey. |
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| − | In 1877, Charles Brown, aged 81, decided to retire. He advertised the farm to let with a sale of the live and deadstock to be held on October 15<sup>th</sup> 1877.
| + | click [[1631 Lease of Stocken Farm]] a |
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| − | '''SALE ADVERTISEMENT ''' from the Bucks Herald
| + | click [[1632 Stocken Farm]] and [[1632 Stocken Farm Summary]] |
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| − | 1877 AUCTION to be held October 15<sup>th</sup> 1877 at Stocken Farm, Lacey Green, by direction of C. Brown Esq
| + | click [[1649 Stocken Farm]] and |
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| − | '''The whole of LIVE and DEAD FARMING STOCK'''
| + | click [[8 December 1658 Stocken Farm]] |
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| − | 6Horses, 4 Cows, a 2 year old Bull, 60 sheep, 2 pigs, 3 Wagons, 3 carts, 3 Iron Ploughs, Iron Harrows, Scarifiers, Rolls, Horse Hoes, Corn Drills, Turnip Drill, 4–horse Power Gear Work, Threshing Machine by Ransome & Sims, Chaff and Winnowing Machines, Weighing Machines, Turnip Cutters, Sheep Cribs and Troughs, Cow Cribs, Ladders, Cart and Plough Harnesses, Tools of husbandry, Barn Tackle and effects.'''''NOTE''''' '' Ed. It is possible to deduce the type of farming being done at this time from the contents of this sale''
| + | click [[1658 Summary of 8 December 1658 Stocken Farm]] |
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| − | '''1878 STOCKEN FARM STILL TO LET. '''From the Bucks Herald
| + | click [[1683 Stocken Farm Lease]] giving details of lease from the Lord of the Manor to William Lacey |
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| − | September 21<sup>st</sup> 1878 Advertisement
| + | click [[1735 Stocken Farm]]. Lease from Henry Penton (Lord of the Manor) to Samuel Wade of Culverton. |
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| − | STOCKINGS (STOCKEN) FARM, LACEY GREEN. TO BE LET and may be entered on immediately. It comprises about 170 acres of good stock land.
| + | click [[1735 Stocken Farm Summary of lease to Samuel Wade]] |
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| − | '''1878 STOCKEN FARM SOLD'''
| + | click [[1827-1910 Stocken Farm with Charles Brown and John Forrest]]. Charles Brown lived at & farmed Stocken, John Forrest lived at [[Grymsdyke]]. |
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| − | The farm not having been let, Charles Brown agreed to sell for £8,250, to John Forrest of [[Grymsdyke]]. Click [[John & Evelyn Forrest]] for their histories
| + | click [[1911-1934 William Saunders - farmer]] giving details of farming and family |
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| − | '''DEVELOPMENTS'''
| + | click [[1934-1948 Stocken Farm with landlord Ernest Smith and tenants Dick & Hilda West|1934-1948 Stocken Farm with landlord Ernest Smith and tenants Dick& Hilda West]] |
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| − | 1. Stocken Farm had the six underground water tanks, collecting rainwater from the roofs. John Forrest had them connected to tanks at Grymsdyke to take any overflow.
| + | click [[Stocken Farm with Dick & Hilda West]] for the history of the farm from 1948 to 1960 |
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| − | 2. In 1885 John Forrest built a pair of semi-detached houses in the front meadow of Stocken Farm. They were back to back, sideways on to the [[Main Road]]. They were called [[Graham Cottages]].
| + | click [[Stocken Farm with R M West & Son]] from 1960 to |
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| − | '''FARM BAILIFFS''' | + | '''The articles called 'Stocken Farm Diary' were all printed in Hallmark - as follows :-''' |
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| − | John Forrest had three farms, but his farm bailiffs lived at Stocken Farm
| + | [[Stocken Farm Diary Part 1]] from July 1976 to May1986 |
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| − | 1903 Farm bailiff John Crook, farm bailiff
| + | [[Stocken Farm Diary Part 2]] from Sept 1986 to Oct 1996 |
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| − | 1907 Farm bailiff William Redding, farm bailiff
| + | [[Stocken Farm Diary Part 3]] from Jan 1997 to June 2007 |
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| − | 1911 Farm bailiff James Fletcher, farm bailiff to executors of John Forrest.
| + | [[Stocken Farm Diary Part 4]] from July 2007 to Oct 2017 |
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| − | '''PROGRAMME OF FESTIVITIES HELD IN HOME FIELD AT STOCKEN FARM LACEY GREEN'''
| + | Individual records not recorded above are as follows - |
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| − | To commemorate THE CORONATION OF KING GEORGE V - 22<sup>ND</sup> JUNE 1911
| + | click [[1911 Coronation Celebrations]] for programme of celebrations for King George V, 22nd June 1911 in Stocken Farm meadow |
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| − | For details of the celebration click [[1911 Coronation Festivities]]
| + | click [[1914 Royal Engineers at Stocken Farm]] for more details of WW1 training taking place |
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| − | '''1911 STOCKEN FARM SOLD'''[[File:Stocken Farm circa 1900.jpg|thumb|Stocken Farm circa 1911]]
| + | click 1915 [[Philip & Alice Pitcher]] for wedding photos taken at Stocken Farm |
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| − | September 1911. Conveyance. [[William Saunders]] purchased Stocken Farm, now including ‘Graham’ Cottages, for £3,400, from the executors of John Forrest.
| + | click [[1916 Horses taken by the Army]] by Mabel Janes. Horses taken from a loaded wagon on its way to London |
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| − | '''''P.S. ('''Ed. In 1878 John Forrest had paid £8,250 for Stocken Farm, added 2 houses, and sold losing £4850, 33 yrs later)''
| + | click 1917 Plane Lands in [[Stocken Farm]] Front Meadow. The military seized the infant classroom from which to guard the aeroplane |
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| − | '''LAND ADDED'''
| + | click [[1919 Wedding of Daisy Saunders & Ernest Smith]]. |
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| − | William Saunders already owned two fields in Lacey Green, which he had bought from [[Josephine Irving]], mortgagee of land, part of [[Princes Risborough Common]]. They were at the bottom of [[Goodacres Lane]] on the west and straight ahead to a field called ‘Hillocks’. From 1911 they became part of Stocken Farm.
| + | click [[1931 Douglas Brett in Lacey Green]] in which Douglas mentions catching mice to let loose at school |
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| − | '''WWI'''
| + | click [[1931 Fete at Stocken Farm]] for a report of the occasion |
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| − | 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. [[Mabel Janes]] said the farm dining room was an army hospital and the old grain store their blacksmith’s shop.
| + | click [[1944 Stocken Farm Airfield]] by Doug Tilbury with photos |
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| − | '''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 [[1931 Douglas Brett in Lacey Green]] for more tales from Douglas.
| + | click 1944 [[Lacey Green Airfield]] by Doug Tilbury for more details of this airfield on Stocken Farm |
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| − | '''1934 FETE''' ([[Gala Day Fete]]) with permission of the executors of William Saunders
| + | click [[The Cricket Club]] for 1946 Air Ministry Letter to The Cricket Club renting land of Stocken Farm following WW2. |
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| − | '''1934 Details of Stocken Farm taken from the Sale Catalogue''', as follows: --
| + | click [[Stocken Farmhouse]]. John and Joan west, with three young children moved in in 1970. They modernised & part restored the old house. |
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| − | 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: --
| + | [[File:Stocken_Farm.jpg|alt=|thumb]] |
| − | | + | [[File:Stocken Farm circa 1900.jpg|thumb|Stocken Farm circa 1911|alt=]] |
| − | '''Ord.no 1921 Ed.....Description''' . . . '''Acres'''
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| − | 293 Farmhouse, Buildings, Yards . 1.578.
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| − | 290 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..2.957
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| − | 291 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .973
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| − | 294 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.549.
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| − | 295 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.104
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| − | 332 Arable . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .11.437
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| − | 331 Arable and Pasture . . . . . . . . 23.433
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| − | 363 Arable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.803
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| − | 330 Arable and Pasture . . . . . . . .23.954
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| − | Pt.125 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .33.671
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| − | 126 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.716
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| − | Pt. 127 Pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.559
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| − | '''TOTAL''' . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. '''165. 734'''
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| − | '''The Brick built, Stucco and Tiled Farmhouse contains: --'''
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| − | 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.
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| − | Outside: -- Woodhouse and Washhouse with pump, sink, two coppers, baking oven and range.
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| − | On the first floor: -- Landing, two bedrooms, 14 feet square, Two Single Bedrooms and hanging cupboard.
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| − | On the second floor: -- Landing and Two Bedrooms
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| − | '''The Farm Building Comprise'''
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| − | 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.
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| − | '''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.
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| − | '''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.
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| − | The growing timber will be included in the sale
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| − | Electricity is available. Water from Underground Storage Tanks
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| − | Main water is now being brought to Lacey Green and will shortly be available.
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| − | 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
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| − | Land Tax £5 2s 5d.
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| − | '''1934 STOCKEN FARM SOLD BY AUCTION.'''
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| − | 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 [[1919 Wedding of Daisy Saunders & Ernest Smith]]
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| − | '''''P.S'''. (Ed. In 1911 William Saunders had paid £3,400 for Stocken Farm. He had added the large field ‘Hillocks’.'' '' It'' ''sold, losing £175, 23 years later.''
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| − | '''''NOTE''''' '' (Ed. Using Stocken Farm as an example, the following figures show what a difficult times these were for farming.''
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| − | ''1878 sold for £8,250. 1934 sold for £3225. Losing £5,025, even though 2 houses and a large field were added.''
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| − | '''STOCKEN FARM IS LET'''
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| − | Ernest Smith had his own business to run, so in1934 he let Stocken Farm to Richard West. See [[Dick & Hilda West]]. A guarantor was necessary to secure the rent as so many were defaulting in these depressed times.
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| − | In the 1939 Register (census) the occupants are recorded as Richard M West born 1911 general farmer, Hilda E West born 1910, his wife, 1 entry closed WW2, Fred Crook born 1881, father-in-law, assisting son-in-law, Marion Milchener born 1879, sister of Fred Crook, Herbert Baer born 1919 Germany, trainee plumber.
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| − | '''LANDLORD’S IMPROVEMENTS'''
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| − | Over the past years the farm had had little or nothing spent on it, and had become somewhat run down. The landlord now made useful improvements.
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| − | 1. The farmhouse and some fields were connected to mains water, just newly brought to the village. This enabled milking cows to be kept.
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| − | 2. A building was converted into a cowshed
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| − | 3. In the house a bedroom was converted into a bathroom.
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| − | 4. Three years later in 1937, he had built, two cottages for farm staff in [[Kiln Lane]]. They were called 2 & 1 [[Coronation Cottages]]. This was later changed to 1 & 2 [[Stocken Cottages]].
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| − | '''WW2 AIRFIELD, STOCKEN FARM reported by [[Doug Tilbury]]'''
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| − | On Saturday June 6<sup>th</sup> 1944 at 6 pm, bulldozers arrived to make an airfield for Air Chief Marshall ‘[[Bomber’ Harris]], of [[Bomber Command]], [[Walters Ash]]. 45 acres of the flat grazing land of the farm were to be taken. The fields of the farm were bulldozed to make the airstrip. The first plane took off three mornings later. Two clumps of horse-chestnut trees and a clump of lime trees had been felled and [[Nanny Coopers pond]] was filled in. A blister hanger was erected behind the school to house the American Stinson plane of Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris. Local lads, including [[Gordon May]] used to help push the plane into the hangar.
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| − | 'Bomber' Harris ordered Andrew Oliver To inspect every Spitfire which came down in England. He used Harris's private plane, to fly to the crash sites to see if the accident was due to a fault in the wood/ glue manufacture.
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| − | The next year they took a further 21acres, which this time, included the [[Sports field]], which was being leased from Dick West. The farm had to reduce their breeding ewes and rent more land at Waldridge Farm.
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| − | '''1948 LANDLORD OFFERS TO SELL'''
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| − | In 1948 The Landlord offered Stocken Farm, now 190 acres, including ‘Hillocks’ to Dick and Hilda West. They were encouraged to buy, by [[Harry Floyd]], who was the grandson of William Saunders and been brought up in the house. He had his own [[Floyds Farm]] but had been lodging with Dick and Hilda. He lent them money, telling them it was an opportunity they must not miss.
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| − | '''DICK & HILDA WEST'''
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| − | Dick and Hilda West bought Stocken Farm in 1948. WW2 had brought improved farming conditions and gradually they paid off their loan from Harry Floyd. They were the owners of Stocken Farm
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| − | In 1958, on leaving Harper Adams Agricultural College, Dick and Hilda's son John came home to join them
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| − | '''1958 EXTRA LAND LEASED'''
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| − | SEE under Properties. Click [[Walters Ash Farm]]
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| − | '''R.M.WEST and SON'''
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| − | In 1960 a new partnership was formed, called ‘[[R. M. West and Son]]’.
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| − | The name remained the same when John’s wife Joan joined the partnership.
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| − | The name remained the same when John and Joan’s son, Richard joined the partnership in 1991.
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| − | The name remained the same when Richard’s wife Maxine joined the partnership.
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| − | '''DICK WEST DOES NOT RETIRE'''
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| − | In 1970 a new bungalow was built in Kiln Lane for Dick and Hilda. John and Joan, who had been living in no 2 Coronation Cottages in Kiln Lane, needed a bigger house for their growing family. A bungalow would also be much better for Hilda, who had a weak heart. Dick, Hilda, Harry and Hilda’s father moved into the bungalow. John, Joan and their children Patricia, Caroline and Richard moved into Stocken Farmhouse. Dick had not retired and still came every day to the farm.
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| − | '''JOHN WEST DOES NOT RETIRE'''
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| − | In 2005 it became obvious that Richard and Maxine, with two children, needed more bedrooms than the ’Cowshed’ could provide. Application was made and passed for a new house to be built on the [[Main Road]] for John and Joan. They moved out of the farmhouse in February 2006, and Richard and Maxine moved into the farmhouse. Maxine’s parents, Liz and Ed Phillips, moved into the ‘Cowshed’. John did not retire and still came every day to the farm.
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| − | '''DEATH OF JOHN WEST'''
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| − | John West died in July 2010. The partnership, R. M. West and Son, continues with Richard, Maxine and Joan.{{Property
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| − | |Type of Property=House, Farm, Land, Wood
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| − | |Use of Property=Business
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| − | |Village=Lacey Green
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