White House Farm

White House Farm was previously called Sunnybank

click Farms for a list of other local farms

click Farming pre 1823 for this era

Research from Deeds loaned to Dennis Claydon with further research by Joan West

WHITE HOUSE FARM, previously called SUNNYBANK

Highwood, Kingswood and Abbotts Wood belonged to the Manor of Princes Risborough before the enclosures in 1823, when it became the property of John Grubb Esq, but remained as part of the Parish Woodlands.

Highwood Clearing. (Research note. This site appears to be the first area to be cleared in the Highwood/Kingswood Parish Woodland)

Thomas Janes married Elizabeth in 1823.

Highwood Clearing was leased from John Grubb by Thomas Janes. Thomas was a flint dealer.

1836 Commutation of Tithes. Thomas Janes declared Tithes on 5 acres 3 poles at Highwood Clearing. See Highwood Bottom

1841 Census. Elizabeth Janes 50 widow of John Janes with son John 19.

1^st June 1841   The vast estate of John Grubb was put up for auction.   The entire lots of the sale were purchased the day before the auction by Lord Buckingham and Chandos.

1848 Lord Buckingham and Chandos also went bankrupt. His estate was put up for sale by auction in 1853.

1850.   Marriage.  John Janes of Loosley Row to Mary Elizabeth Randell, aged 26, the daughter of William Randall, blacksmith of Loosley Row.

1851 census.   Elizabeth Janes, widow, aged 60, with son John, 29 and Elizabeth Mary, 27

December 20th 1853 Auction of 70 lots of Woodland by order of the mortgagees of Lord Buckingham and Chandos.

Conveyance.   Highwood Clearing, 6 acres at Highwood Bottom, purchased by John Janes. John Janes is freed from the right to timber as a Parish Woodland.

1861 census.   Elizabeth Mary Janes, nee Randall, widow, farming 6 acres.

The property became known as “Sunnybank”

September 9^th 1892.   Sunnybank was inherited by daughter Caroline Ruth Janes from her mother. See Boaz & Caroline Janes

Mortgage. Between John Janes of Speen, labourer, and Caroline Janes, wife of Boaz Janes of Speen Bottom (Highwood Bottom), chair turner.   Two plots of land £200 interest at 4 ½ % per annum. Schedule. 5 acres, house barn and outbuildings formerly in the occupation of John and Elizabeth Janes.   Also land of 1 acre 17 perches in the occupation of Joseph Bowler, bounded on the N by land of Thomas Parsons, S by highway to  Hampden Row, on the other side by land of Joseph Bowler, Thomas Parsons and Jesse Parslow. Mortgage reconveyanced December 9^th 1916

June 14th 1948 The executors of Caroline Janes Conveyance

Victor Ralph Janes, woodturner, High Wycombe, Archie Owen Janes, grocer, Speen and Sidney Albert Hanes, aircraft worker, Speen, executors of Caroline Janes

Conveyed to Doris Kathleen Frances Oliver, (click Andrew & Doris Oliver)the premises known as ‘Sunny Bank Farm’.

Schedule. 6 acres, O.S.1921, plot nos. 359/358/375a/374 for £3000

September 29th 1950 Sale by Doris K F Oliver

Conveyance to Margaret Rumer Haynes-Dixon of Speen, better known as Rumer Godden OBE (author) from Doris K F Oliver, for £5,500, Sunny Bank Farm.

Note by Rosemary Mortham, daughter of Doris and Andrew Oliver. " Rumer Godden painted the house white and renamed it White House Farm".

September 1952.   Sale by M R Hayes-Dixon

Conveyance to Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins, KCMG DSO MC, purchased from M R Haynes-Dixon, for £5,375 White House Farm. See 1952 Major-General Sir Colin Gubbins retires here.

December 14^th 1961 Gift. Sir Colin Gubbins gave White House Farm to his wife, Lady Gubbins

August 29^th 1975 circa.   Sale by Lady Gubbins

Conveyance to Geoffrey Charles Ellis and Joan Ellis of Speen (joint owners) from Lady Gubbins for £40,500

January 14^th 1983.   Sale by Ellis and Ellis

Conveyance to Michael Stretton and Jaqueline Cockerham of Radnage from Ellis and Ellis, for £122,500, White House Farm.

October 11^th 1991. Sale by the B B Mortgage Trust, mortgagees of White House Farm

Conveyance to Richard W Floyd and Joan Floyd.

Research note. White House Farm is the nearest house to the site of the old brick kiln in Kiln Lane. Richard Floyd from Speen was unaware that the kiln was run by the Floyd Family for 150 years closing in 1865, lastly by Richard's g-g-g-g-grandfather.