Stocken Farm

STOCKEN  FARM     PART OF  THE  MANOR OF  PRINCES  RISBOROUGH      researched and written by Joan West

THE MANOR OF PRINCES RISBOROUGH

The Manor stretched from Ilmer in the west to Speen and Lacey Green in the east.

The Lords of the Manor had always been the Kings of England long before 1066, when William of Normandy came to the throne.

In 1343 King Edward III gave the Manor to his son, known as “The Black Prince”.   He had a stud farm in Princes Risborough where his war horses were bred.  He died before his father so never became King.

King Edward VI, before he died in 1553, had given the Manor to his sister Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth in 1558. She remained Lord of the Manor till her death in 1603.

MAY 1558 TENANT

May 1558.   A close of wood. (Ed. Stocken Wood), and pasture called ‘Stocken’ was let to Frances Pigot for his faithful services.

JULY 1558 TENANT

Stocken was let to Elizabeth Pigot, the widow of Francis Pigot

PRESERVATION OF TREES

In 1567, Queen Elizabeth, in order to preserve certain woods, belonging to the Crown, and for £26-3-0d per annum, for 21 years, demised to William Windsor Esq, Stockynes, Kingswood and Smallridge Wood, parcel of the Manor, except for all great trees, saplings of oak and 12 staddles in every acre, according to the form of statute of her father Henry VIII.  (A staddle was a young tree.)

Note (Ed.  This Statute had been instituted by Henry VIII, to ensure timber was available for building war ships.)

1577 TENANT

Stocken was let to Thomas Cornwallis Esq, one of her ‘Gentlemen Pensioners’.

WOODS RECORDED 1582

Kingswood 139 acres, Smallridge Woods 15 acres and the woods and underwoods of Stocken.                                                                                                                                                                  

1594 TENANT

Queen Elizabeth in recompense of all the sums of money due to Captain David Powell, dec’d.for his services in the wars and at the request of Jane Powell, his widow, demises to Henry Best all the woods, underwoods and woodland called Stocken containing 60 acres, (Stocken Wood)

Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, followed by King James Ist then King Charles Ist.

1628 SOLD BY KING CHARLES Ist.

In 1628 King Charles Ist conveyed the Manor of Princes Risborough to the City of London towards debts incurred by the Crown and in 1637 it was conveyed to the Chibnall family.   Mrs Chibnall, one of the Lords of the Manor set up various charities.

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION.   From this time on the Manor passed from one wealthy family to another as straightforward commercial transactions.

GREAT CHANGES TOOK PLACE DURING THE 1600’s

BRUSHWOOD COVERED HILLS

It would appear that after the Chibnall family became Lords of the Manor from 1637, followed by the Abraham’s then the Adeane’s, many alterations took place in Lacey Green.   Prior to then, the lettings had been for woods and scrubland, which if cleared, quickly reverted to scrub, primarily with hawthorn.   In fact the ‘Old English’ for ‘Risborough’ is ‘Brushwood covered hills’

FARMHOUSES BUILT

During the mid - 1600’s, several farmhouses were built, land cleared and dew-ponds made.   The result was that Kiln Farm, Stocken Farm, Speen Farm, Grymsdyke Farm, and Row Farm (Wardrobes Farm), were established.   As all this land belonged to the Lords of the Manor, they must have been involved in all this development. (Ed.   It is research that is on-going.)   

STOCKEN FARMHOUSE BUILT AT LEAST BY 1670

At some point in the mid -1900’s a grade II preservation order was put on Stocken Farmhouse.   In particular, stating that the windows and the chimney must not be altered.   The house did look very Georgian, but during restoration in the 1970’s it became very evident that this appearance had been given to the house probably about 100 years after it was built.   The original windows had been a completely different shape and some had been blocked.   Experts who were called in to see the evidence thought it had been built before 1670.   There is a benchmark on one of the buildings at 700 feet above sea level.

APRIL 1683 LEASE      (This document was found by Lawence Rostron in Winchester Records Office.)

April 20^th 1683.   Lease between Thomas Adeane, merchant of London, Lord of the Manor of Princes Risborough and William Lacey.

COMPRISING

1.      The messuage (premises) with its appurtenances, wherein William Lacey now dwells. Together with the fields of arable land known ‘Stockings’ (Stocken) near Lacey Green and anciently did and now do belong to the messuage wherein William Lacey dwells.

2.      The messuage with its appurtenances wherein William Briscoe lately dwelt   Also fields and parcels of land that formerly belonged to the messuage late in the possession of William Briscoe.

NOT INCLUDING STOCKING (STOCKEN) WOOD

All the fields and lands to be let and the tythes growing upon it.   To hold the said messuages, fields, arable land, ley ground, tythes and premises (except Stocking Wood) to William Lacey from Michaelmas for 21 years for £26, paid half-yearly to Thomas Adeane at his mansion in Princes Risborough.

CONDITIONS

1.      No part of the property shall be sub-leased without special agreement with Thomas Adeane.  All the fences belonging to Stocking Wood adjoining the premises, to be maintained to prevent any damage to the wood, coppice or underwood by cattle.

2.       All straw chaff and stover and all dung compost and soil shall be used on the land.

3.       Shall not crosscrop or sow any fields that shall be sown the next two years, but lay them fallow and unsown every third year.

REQUIRED IN 20^th YEAR

In the 20^th year a convenient lodging room in one of the messuages shall be provided for the agent of Thomas Adearne, also stables for horses and team.   And shall allow the fallow and unsown land to be entered to sow and manure without hindrance.

PROVISIONS

Rough timber shall be provided from time to time within 2 miles, as needed to maintain the buildings and also the fences belonging to Stocken Wood, within 40 days of request by Thomas Lacey.

PAYMENTS

William Lacey shall pay all taxes, charges and payments or any other part thereof for firehearths, the church poor, the highway, Kingsbench and maimed soldiers and all other ordinary taxes and payments.

If the lease becomes forfeit, Thomas Lacey shall pay the sum of four years rent.

THOMAS ADEANE DOTH COVENANT

Thomas Adearne doth covenant that he will from time to time pay board and discharge all extraordinary taxes, charges, payments and impositions and will aquit Thomas Lacey of them.

NOTE   Ed,   A possible tax for maimed soldiers is mentioned here.   This could well have been because there had been some pressure on Charles II to do something about them.   In 1681 he had issued a royal warrant authorising the building of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, to care for those broken by age or war.   Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design and build it.   It was completed in January 1692.   By the end of March a full 476 had moved in.

WILLIAM LACEY’s FIRST WINTER

The winter of 1683/4 was most bitter.   The ground froze four feet deep.   Frost killed men and cattle, split trees, ruined vegetables, killed birds and fish and froze the ponds.   The Thames was frozen down as far as London Bridge and a fair was held on the ice for many weeks.   All water was frozen so no ships could move.   Fuel, food and water was so expensive that collections were made for the poor in the citie.

THE PENTON FAMILY

The Pentons of Winchester and Princes Risborough were Lords of the Manor from 1692 to 1766.

THE GRUBB FAMILY

From 1766 the Grubb family were Lords of the Manor until the Enclosures of Princes Risborough in 1823.

TENANTS

1781.   Stocken Farm leased to Jacob Janes

1791.   Stocken Farm leased to William Palmer

1797 to 1811.   Stocken Farm leased to Thomas Dell.

AN OPPORTUNITY SPOTTED

The Napoleonic wars had drained finances and many wealthy families were on the verge of, if not brought to, bankruptcy.   Noting that Princes Risborough was not enclosed and having access to money through the vast Cavendish family estates, Lord George Henry Cavendish set to work.   (He later became Lord Burlington)

MANOR FARMS SOLD

John Grubb, of Horsenden, the Lord of the Manor, was in financial difficulty and from about 1808 onwards he sold to Cavendish, most of the Manor Farms including Culverton Farm, Row Farm (Wardrobes), Brimmers Farm and Stocken Farm, all in the Upper Hamlets.    Cavendish never lived here and all the properties continued to be tenanted.   He then campaigned to get the enclosure of Princes Risborough.

1813 STOCKEN FARM SOLD

In 1813 Cavendish had purchased Stocken Farm.

TENANTS

1811 to 1827.   Stocken Farm leased to Ann Dell, widow of Thomas Dell.

1827 to 1831.   Stocken Farm lease inherited by James Dell, grandson of Ann Dell.

1831 STOCKEN FARM SOLD

In 1831 Stocken Farm, 121 acres, purchased by Charles Brown from Lord George Henry Cavendish.

1851 census.   Charles Brown, 55, farmer, 347 acres, including some rented land.   18 labourers.

1861 census.   Charles Brown, 65, farmer, 210 acres.   6 men 4 boys

1877 STOCKEN FARM TO BE LET

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^th 1877.

SALE ADVERTISEMENT   from the Bucks Herald

1877   AUCTION to be held October 15^th 1877 at Stocken Farm, Lacey

Green, by direction of C. Brown Esq

The whole of LIVE and DEAD FARMING STOCK

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

1878 STOCKEN FARM STILL TO LET.  From the Bucks Herald

September 21^st 1878 Advertisement

STOCKINGS (STOCKEN) FARM, LACEY GREEN.  TO BE LET and may be entered on immediately.  It comprises about 170 acres of good stock land.

1878 STOCKEN FARM SOLD

The farm not having been let, Charles Brown agreed to sell for £8,250, to John Forrest, who fifteen years earlier had purchased Grymsdyke Lodge.

DEVELOPMENTS

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.    

2.      In 1885 John Forrest built a pair of semi-detached houses in the front meadow of Stocken.   They were back to back, sideways on to the Main Road.   They were called Graham Cottages.        

FARM BAILIFFS

John Forrest had three farms, but his farm bailiffs lived at Stocken Farm

1903  Farm bailiff John Crook, farm bailiff

1907  Farm bailiff William Redding, farm bailiff

1911  Farm bailiff James Fletcher, farm bailiff to executors of John Forrest.

1911 STOCKEN FARM SOLD

1911.   Conveyance.   William Saunders purchased Stocken Farm, now including ‘Graham’ Cottages, for £3,400, from the executors of John Forrest.

P.S.(Ed. In 1878 John Forrest had paid £8,250 for Stocken Farm, added 2 houses, and sold losing £4850, 33 yrs later)

LAND ADDED

William Saunders already owned two fields in Lacey Green, which he had bought from Josephine Irving, mortgagee of land, part of the old 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.

1934 STOCKEN FARM SOLD BY AUCTION.

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 west of Goodacres Lane was sold off separately.   William Saunders had built a house there.

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.

NOTE   (Ed.   Using Stocken Farm as an example, the following figures show what a difficult times these were for farming.

1878  sold for £8,250.   1934 sold for £3225.   Losing £5,025, even though 2 houses and a large field were added.

STOCKEN FARM IS LET

Ernest Smith had his own business to run, so he let Stocken Farm to Richard ‘Dick’ and Hilda West.   A guarantor was necessary to secure the rent as so many were defaulting in these depressed times.

LANDLORD’S IMPROVEMENTS

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.

1.      The farmhouse and some fields were connected to mains water, just newly brought to the village.   This enabled milking cows to be kept.

2.       A building was converted into a cowshed

3.       In the house a bedroom was converted into a bathroom.

4.      Three years later in 1937, two cottages were built for farm staff in Kiln Lane.   They were called 2 & 1 Coronation Cottages.   This was later changed to 1 & 2 Stocken Cottages.

1948 LANDLORD OFFERS TO SELL

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 farm but had been lodging with Dick and Hilda.   He lent them money, telling them it was an opportunity they must not miss.

DICK & HILDA WEST

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

R.M.WEST and SON

In 1958, on leaving Harper Adam’s Agricultural College, Dick & Hilda’s son John came home to join them.  In 1960 a new partnership was formed, called ‘R. M. West and Son’.

The name remained the same when John’s wife Joan joined the partnership.

The name remained the same when John and Joan’s son, Richard joined the partnership in 1991.

The name remained the same when Richard’s wife Maxine joined the partnership.

DICK WEST DOES NOT RETIRE

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.   It 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.

JOHN WEST DOES NOT RETIRE

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.

DEATH OF JOHN WEST

John West died in July 2010.   The partnership, R. M. West and Son, continues with Richard, Maxine and Joan.

Stocken Farm
Construction Era
Type of Property	House, Farm, Land, Wood
Use of Property	Business
Locations	Lacey Green