Walters Ash Farm
From Lacey Green History
Research by Joan West from census, parish registers and business documents of the business, lent by Jill Bristow, one of 's grandchildren
| Walters Ash Farm | |
|---|---|
| Construction Era | 1600-1699, 1823 Enclosures Record |
| Type of Property | House, Farm, Land |
| Use of Property | Residential, Business |
| Locations | Walters Ash |
RICHARD JANES
Richard Janes Born 1656. Died 1707
MARRIED at Princes Risborough
Richard Janes married Anne Clarke
WILL
To son Martin, 3 closes of arable land, (7 acres) called White Pieces in Walters Ash, also wood of 1 acre adjacent. To son Jacob £100, to daughter Elizabeth £30. The residue to Martin
MARTIN JANES
Martin Janes. Born 1678. Died 1757
MARRIED
Martin married Mary Gadbury 1682- 1764
WILL
Martin Janes Yeoman to wife Mary, freehold messuage wherein we dwell. All meadow and arable land thereto, and all goods for her life. Then to son Richard. To son James £100 and to daughter Mary Stone £120 after Mary’s death.
RICHARD JANES
Richard Janes married c1751 to Sarah ?
MARTIN JANES
Martin Janes, born 1761, inherited Walters Ash Farm. He had the farm both before and after the enclosures of 1823. Only 16 acres of it were in Lacey Green, the majority being in Walters Ash (the parish boundary between Princes Risborough and Hughenden runs through it.)
1841 CENSUS
Martin Janes, 80, farmer with his wife Mary,60, and son James Janes, also farmer.
1851 CENSUS
Mary Janes widow 70, James Janes 49, son and John Wootton, 60 single, farmer of 35 acres.
1861 CENSUS
John Wooton, 70, born Dinton, Sarah his wife 56, with him was John Janes,59, his brother-in-law and Mary Nash 4, stepdaughter.
1871 CENSUS
Thomas & Hannah Anderson. Thomas 43, farmer of 9 acres
1881 CENSUS
Thomas & Hannah Anderson. Thomas 53, farmer 40 acres,2 labs
1891 CENSUS
Thomas Anderson, farmer, 61, born Princes Risborough.
1896. THOMAS BRISTOW PURCHASES
In 1896, Thomas Bristow, then living at Darvills Hill, a stone merchant selling stone from Denner Hill and realizing that suitable stone was getting more difficult to find, decided to start a brickworks and purchased Walters Ash Farm, the land there being good brickmaking clay. In digging for clay the land was found to contain the same stones as those at Denner Hill. Still calling it "Denner Hill Stone", for that name was widely famous, his stone working business was started, trading as T.Bristow & Bros, not only making setts but also many other commodities with the stone. He also established a brickworks there.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
The Brickworks and Stone works provided work for a number of local men. In the 1939 census Archibald Ernest Lacey is recorded as being a brick kiln setter there.
FARM TENANT 1901 CENSUS
John & Julia Smith (nee Anderson) lived Walters Ash Farm. John went on to found J. Smith & Sons, road contractors. Walters Ash.
1911 CENSUS FARM TENANT
Albert George Rolfe, 34, farmer, born Aston Clinton.
1911 CENSUS “DONNEYBROOK”,WALTERS ASH FARM
Thomas Bristow 55,born at Denner Hill, brick manufacturer and stone merchant.
DEATH of THOMAS
Thomas died at Walters Ash in 1927 at “Donnybrook”, Walters Ash Farm.
3rd MAY 1940 CONVEYANCE
COMPULSORY PURCHASE FOR LAND FOR BOMBER COMMAND. SITE 4, THE FUTURE SPORTS FIELD, BELONGED TO WALTERS ASH FARM, BUT WAS NOT IN THE PARISH OF LACEY GREEN (WALTERS ASH)
FARM TENANT to 1951
The farm was let to Albert George Rolfe till he died 1951
FARM TENANT 1951
Fred Turner was the farm tenant from 1951 until 1958, when he bought Promised Land Farm in Lacey Green.
1958 OWNERS
In 1958 WALTERS ASH FARM OWNED by Messrs BRISTOW BROS, The Bristow Brothers were Dudley Frank Bristow, born 1895 and Archibald Charles Bristow, born 1897. ( Frank was known as “Dick” and Archibald as ”Ben”, although the family called him “Co”. They were brick makers and stone merchants. They had built a house called “Donnybrook” to the east of the farmhouse which stood by the farm entrance.
1958 NEW FARM TENANT
In 1958 R.M. West & Son of Stocken Farm took over the farm tenancy. It is still ongoing in 2021.to be added