Wardrobes Farm (Row Farm)

Row Farm staff & postman. House called Little Wardrobes when new house built later.

click Farms for a list of other local farms

click Farming pre 1823 for this era

Research by Joan West

The original Row Farm House was built in the 1600's. It stood on what was much later called 'Little Wardrobes Lane. Row Farm House became known as Wardrobes Farm House. Then a new 'Georgian' style house was built behind it with a separate entrance off the road called Woodway. The new house was called Wardrobes, relegating the original house to 'Wardrobes Lodge', and then to 'Little Wardrobes' and the lane on which it stood to 'Little Wardrobes Lane'. Eventually the old farmhouse was sold away from the new house and the farm. For the history of this separate premises go to Little Wardrobes

It is not yet known when the new house was built.

1841 CENSUS

James Grace 51, farmer, Mary Grace 40, sister, Oliver James Grace 7.

1851 CENSUS

James Grace, 66, farmer of 910 acres, employing 24 men 9 boys.   1 servant aged 20.   Wardrobes Cottage, Mary Grace 50, single, Catherine Grace 48, sister.

Sale by Auction Wednesday 15th June 1853

Sold by Lord George Henry Cavendish to Merton College, Oxford.

Schedule. Wardrobes Farm with Gentlemanly Residence and Suitable Offices, Gardens, Neat Cottage, Farming Buildings, and Cottages for labourers. And sundry Enclosures of Meadow, Pasture & Arable Land, the whole consisting of upwards of Five Hundred and fifty-six acres. Let to Mr James Grace, at five hundred and forty pounds per annum

1861 CENSUS

James Field Fetch 29, farmer, born Cambridge, Sophia 29, born Suffolk, 3 children born Wardrobes.

1871 CENSUS

George Eggleton 44, farmer of 490 acres, 13 men 7 boys, Caroline 45, 6 children

1881 CENSUS

George Eggleton 54, farmer of 550 acres, 13 men 6 boys, Caroline 55, 6 children

1891 CENSUS

George 64, farmer, Caroline 65, 4 children 1 grandchild

1901 CENSUS

1939 REGISTER (Sept) census.

Wardrobes. Maxwell Raison 38 director of publishing company; Phyllis Raison 30; Florence E Raison 63 widow; 2 away for war; William Chandler 49 chauffeur and gardener; Nellie Chandler 48 cook.

Wardrobes Lodge. Reginald H Day 29 manservant

Sale by Auction 28th September 1945. Vendors Merton College, Oxford. (Research Note. Sold for £9,250.)

The Sale Catalogue listed Lot 3 as Wardrobes Farm and Wardrobes Lodge as follows :-

WARDROBES FARM Area about 332acres 3 roods 39 poles.

This Attractive Residential and Agricultural Property comprises :-

Superior Residence; Secondary Old-World Cottage Residence and Two Flint and Blue-Slated Cottages.

The Principal Residence, approached by a short drive, is built of brick, with slated roof, and contains the following accommodation :-

Hall with fireplace; Morning Room (12 ft. 6 ins by 11 ft.) with brick fireplace; Lounge (17ft. 6 ins by 15ft.) with brick fireplace; Dining Room (22ft. into bay by 14ft. 6ins.); Kitchen with "Aga" cooker; Scullery with sink (h. & c.); Larder; Maids' Sitting Room; Cellar in basement. On the first floor are seven well-proportioned Bedrooms; two Bathrooms (h. & c,) and two W.C.'.

There are attractive Pleasure Grounds, Kitchen Garden, etc.

Septic Tank Drainage System. Main Electricity. Telephone. Water Supply from Estate System (see remarks and Stipulations).

WARDROBES LODGE. This Picturesque Old-World Secondary Residence, is built of flint and brick with slated roof and contains :-

Small Hall; Sitting Room (14ft. 6 ins. square), with large open fireplace; second Sitting Room (14ft 2ins by 13ft 3ins.) Kitchen with sink (h. & c.) and "Triplex" grate; Cellar. On the first floor are Lounge (24ft. by 14ft.) and three good bedrooms. On the second floor are two bedrooms; Bathroom, fitted bath and lavatory basin (h&c); and W.C.

THE FARM BUILDINGS include :-

Detached brick and timber Oil Store with Granary over; range of brick and tiled buildings forming Garages and Stores and Harness Room. There are two excellent Cattle Yards with water laid on. Yard No. 1 has flint, timber and tiled Open Shed (two bays enclosed). Yard No. 2 has 3-bay Open Shed and Calf Pen; timber, brick and blue-slated Barn. Near to Wardrobes Lodge is a small Cattle Yard with timber and tiled Barn ; 4-bay Open Shed; three Pigsties and a Pump House with Well and petrol oil engine.

THE ARABLE FIELDS with O.S. nos. and Acreage

236 Allotments........................2.001

253 Upper Durgall................22.350

254 Beeches Gap................24.461

260 Lower Durgall............... 23.205

Total Arable ........................72.017

THE PASTURE FIELDS with O.S. nos. and Acreage

251 Close...............................3.924

pt.255 Bottom Field...............48.519

pt.259 Gravel Pit...................20.335

pt.261 Old House Close....... 75.961

262 Upper Meadow................9.808

264 Old Orchard.....................2.582

265 Hilly Close.......................7.548

414 The Grubbings..............18.070

416 Stoney Croft etc............30.512

422 Lower Meadow...............7.450

pt.432 Lily Hill & Stepney....28.215

432a Lily Hill & Stepney...... .1.622

Total Pasture ....................255.646

HOUSES, BUILDINGS, COTTAGES, GARDEN, ORCHARD, ROAD, Site of RESERVOIR O.S. nos. and Acreage

420 Two Farm Houses & Buildings & Gardens 4.092

419 Garden .340

418 Two Cottages & Buildings .173

421 Orchard .760

433 Road .983

pt.396 Site of Reservoir .083

Total Houses, etc. 5.331 acres