Charles Brown

Charles Brown was born in Kent in 1796. He purchased Stocken Farm Lacey Green at auction in 1827. He was to be a significant player in the development of the local area. He not only lived in Lacey Green, but actually farmed himself throughout his long life. He invested in local properties and made generous contributions to school and church.

Charles Brown's Will

He had made his will 31 July 1880, subsequently adding two codicils. His Executor was Frederick Aldridge Clark, of 40 Lynton Court, Hove, Lead merchant.

Properties in London

Charles owned freehold properties in Blackheath, Whitechapel and the Hope and Anchor public house in Hammersmith. He probably owned these before he came to Stocken Farm. They were all leased out.

Properties in Lacey Green

Gracefield, Main Road, Lacey Green. Purchased from the Reverend Oliver James Grace, to be his own retirement home

14 freehold cottages in Lacey Green and Parslows Hillock

Bequeathed

He bequeathed Gracefield to his niece Sarah, the wife of his Executor, together with its gardens and fields.

He bequeathed the London properties to his nieces, Frances Maria Marshall, Emily Sarah Ford and Margaret Emma Clark to be held as tenants in common not as joint tenants, for their separate use, free from debts or interference of present or future husbands. The first codicil instructed his executor how to manage the insurance and letting of these properties.

The fourteen local cottages and land he left in trust for his executor to sell, by public auction. This was changed in the second codicil, giving his executor the option of disposing of the cottages either by auction, private contract or taken at valuation by a competent estate valuer

The 14 cottages were

Firstly Purchased by Charles Brown 24 March 1860, from the executors of Sarah Shard of Grymsdyke,

2 freehold houses and schoolroom, Main Road Lacey Green

4 freehold cottages (Hillock Cottages 1-4) with gardens, and an adjoining close of pasture at Parslows Hillock

5 cottages (Portobello Close), gardens and adjoining Close called Portobello Meadow, Main Road, Lacey Green.

Secondly All that cottage with garden about 25 poles with the outhouse at Lacey Green, known as Hets Loo, then in the occupation of Robert Rixon, bounded on the SW by the highway of Lacey Green, on the SE by Cottages and gardens then or lately belonging to James Grace Jnr and on the NE partly by land belonging to Mistress Shard and partly belonging to Joshua Dell as the same was then in the occupation of Robert Rixon.

Death

Charles Brown died 9 March 1881. Probate proven 20 May 1881.

Valuation

Reciting the 2nd codicil, a valuation of the cottages was made by John Aubrey Mumford, estate valuer of Brill. The valuation amounted to £971-13s-10d. This satisfied all parties concerned.

Sold to Frederick Aldridge Clark

Reciting the 2nd codicil , Frederick Aldridge Clark, executor, purchased the properties for £1013-9s-10d. It satisfied all parties concerned, who agreed to execute the conveyance to Frederick Aubrey Clark.