Turnip End

Research by Joan West

HAMLET of TURNIP END

Place name of Turnip End. Research by Dennis Claydon. (Joan's Note. Dennis sent me this piece of his research, written in his beautiful neat handwriting on a sheet of paper. I have copied it here in full)

Turnip End is the most interesting name of all, since the settlement lies just within the great defensive earthworks known as Grims Ditch which surrounds Great and Little Hampden, the seat of the Hampden family, leaders of Desborough Hundred since pre- Norman times at least. It is said that Grimm is another name for Odin, or the Devil, and so it might be, but 'Grymus' is Welsh for 'powerful' and so these fortifications must have looked, crowning the Chiltern heights and overlooking the main pass from the Thames Valley into central England, the pass used by the Angles and Saxons to cut off S.E. Britain from the Celtic west.

Turnip End is probably a contraction of Yh-Dynow-Pen, being "Cornish" for "within the chief earthworks" and so it is. One slope up to these earthworks is Darvills Hill, derived from 'Deveral', which is 'Cornish' for 'built up' or 'raised', that is "the hill that is raised up or built up"

It appears that Lacey Green was the settlement that grew up at the sally port of the earthworks, where the steep and direct track down to the valley runs down Callows Hill, - perhaps from Cals-Lu-Hill "the hill of the abundant army or host". Even as late as the Civil War the Hampdens could raise an army from their Chiltern Hundred.

click also Darvills Hill where an archaeologist reports his research on Darvills Hill and Turnip End

and click Dennis Claydon for Dennis's life story

1772 PARISH RECORDS. William Lacey 26. Rebecca Lacey (wife nee Rebecca Floyd). William Lacey 1 born Turnip End. Maria Lacey baby born Turnip End.

15^th April 1808     INDENTURE

William Williams of High Wycombe, bricklayer and John Wade of Darvills Hil, Princes Risborough sold to Stephen Clinch of Cornhill, vintner, for £140, the Cottage, closes of grass ground and hereditaments at Turnip End, Darvills Hill.

1823 ENCLOSURES   DETAILS FOR TURNIP END

Plot no 804   STEPHEN CLINCH   garden and paddock. Freehold.  This was an old enclosure.

Plot no 805   STEPHEN CLINCH   cottage, garden and pightle. Freehold. This was an old enclosure.

27^th March 1829     INDENTURE

Between STEPHEN CLINCH of Green Terrace, Islington, Mddx, gentleman and Ann his wife sold to William Lacey of Catherine Wheel Alley, St Botolph without Bishopsgate, London, bricklayer.

SCHEDULE. The Cottage (research note later fell into ruins and replaced by Turnip End Cottage) wherein John Biggs formerly dwelt now in the occupation of Caleb West at a place called Turnip End, Darvills Hill together with a close of grass ground to the cottage containing by estimate 1 acre, adjoining on the south and west the woodground of the Reverend Edward Stone and on the north and east the land of the late Richard Wade containing about a rood and a half.

1841 CENSUS for TURNIP END

Cottage. Jesse Williams 35 stonecutter born Turnip End. Mary Ann Williams (wife) 32.

Cottage. Elizabeth Ward 87 independent means. Hannah Ward 48 lacemaker

Cottage. William Saunders 30 agricultural labourer. Mary Saunders (wife) 30. Richard Saunders 9. Henry Saunders 6. James Saunders 3. Sarah Saunders 1

Cottage. James Barrett 60 shoemaker. Jane Barrett 55. Charles Barrett 15

1851 CENSUS for TURNIP END

Cottage. Jesse Williams 45 stone cutter. Mary Ann Williams 42

Private House.. William Lacey widower 78 proprietor of houses born Turnip End. Rebecca Franklin widow 52 housekeeper born Chesham. click William & Mary Ann Lacey for William Lacey's life story

Cottage. Charles Barrett 23 agricultural labourer. Naomy Barrett 22 lacemaker. James Barrett 1. Jane Barrett widow (mother) 65 lacemaker born Oakley, Oxon

Cottage. Jabez West 30 sawyer born Turnip End. Ann West (wife) 28 lacemaker, born Darvills Hill. Elizabeth West 4 born Hughenden. Thomas West 2 born Turnip End. Jane West 1 month born Turnip End

Cottage. John Parslow 31 agricultural lab, born Lacey Green. Mary Ann Parslow (wife) 33 lacemaker. Sarah Parslow 8 lacemaker. James Parslow 2.

Cottage. Richard West agricultural labourer born Shootacre. Frances West wife nee Stone) born Shootacre.

1861 CENSUS.   TURNIP END

Private House. William Lacey  29 turner (bodger). Caroline Lacey (wife) 26 lacemaker. Elizabeth Stone (sister) widow 32 lacemaker

Cottage. Benjamin Williams 29 sawyer born Flowers Bottom. Ann Williams (wife) 29 lacemaker born Lacey Green. Juley Williams 11 months born Turnip End

1871 CENSUS    TURNIP END

Cottage. Abel Rixon 30 agricultural labourer. Caroline Rixon 28 lacemaker. Alice Rixon 8 scholar. Bertha Rixon 7 scholar. Kate Rixon 5 scholar. Sarah Rixon 3

Daniel Rixon 1.

Cottage. George Clark 40 agricultural lab. born Lacey Green. Emma Clark born Chesham. Charles Clark 13 agricultural lab. Harry Clark 11 agricultural labourer

William Clark 9 scholar. Eliza Clark 7 scholar born Lacey Green Louisa Clark 5 scholar. Ellen Clark 2 born Lacey Green. George Clark 2 born Turnip End.

1881 CENSUS at TURNIP END

Cottage. William Brown (single) 40 turner (bodger) born The Lee. Ellen Tilbury widow 29 housekeeper born Princes Risborough. Phineas Tilbury  5. Lily Tilbury 2. click William & Ellen Brown for their life story

Thomas Ward (lodger single) 53  turner (bodger)

Farmhouse.   Simeon Anderson 49 farmer of 30 acres born Hughenden. Jane Anderson (wife) 48 born Hughenden. John Anderson 15 born Bradenham. William Anderson 10 born Bradenham. Ernest Anderson 9 born Bradenham. click Simeon & Jane Anderson for their life story

Cottage. John Williams 33 agricultural labourer. Ann Williams (wife) 32 lacemaker born Bradenham. Ada Williams 11. John Williams 8. Thomas Williams 5

Rose Williams 4. Kate Williams 2

1 Cottage Uninhabited

Cottage. George Clarke 53 agricultural lab. Emily Clarke (wife) 52 lacemaker. Elizabeth Clarke 16 lacemaker. Ellen Clarke 13 lacemaker. Frederick Clarke 10 l

1891 CENSUS at TURNIP END

Cottage. Jabez Saunders 36 hay binder. Susan Saunders (wife) 36. Thomas Ward (lodger single) 62 turner (bodger)

Cottage. George Brooks 24 agricultural labourer. Rhoda Brooks (wife) 24. Harry Brooks 2

Cottage. Horace Rixon 29 turner (bodger). Emma Rixon 29 born Saunderton

1901 CENSUS at TURNIP END

NEW HOUSE (Later called Turnip End Cottage) on site of William Lacey’s Private House. Albert Hickman 33 chairmaker and chimney sweep born Lacey Green

Sarah Ann Hickman 24

Cottage. Jabez Lane 61 labourer on roads born Lacey Green. Emma Lane 61 born Loosley Row

Cottage. George Witney 69 turner (bodger) born Oakley Oxon. Mary Witney 59

Cottage. Herbert Witney 31 commercial traveller. Alice Witney 31 born Speen. Herbert Witney 8 born London. Florence Witney 5 born London. Edith Witney 3 born Bradenham. Archibald Witney 1 born Turnip End.

1911 CENSUS at TURNIP END

Cottage with 4 rooms. Elizabeth Casbeard widow 32 dressmaker born Lane End. Ralph Casbeard 14 chair work born High Wycombe. Frederick Casbeard 7 born High Wycombe.

Cottage with 4 rooms, Later called Turnip End Cottage. Albert Hickman 42 agricultural Labourer born Lacey Green Sarah Ann Hickman 34. Crissilla Hickman 7

Ivy Hickman 1.

Cottage with 3 rooms. Alfred Atkins 32 brickmaker born Hughenden. Ruth Atkins (wife) 30 born Hughenden. Lucy Atkins 8 born Hughenden. Ralph Atkins 5 born Hughenden. Frederick Atkins 4 born Hughenden. Vera Atkins 2, baby Atkins 3 weeks. Kate Turvey (sister-in-law) monthly nurse born High Wycombe.

1939 CENSUS at TURNIP END (War Register)

Cottage (Later called Dawn Cottage) Peter Goffin 33 designer of sets and costume for theatre. Margaret Goffin (wife) 33. 1 person absent. Bridget D’oyly Carte divorced 31 private means. Maurice Usher single 29 designer of sets and costume for theatre

Cottage called Stepping Stones uninhabited

Cottage (Later called Turnip End Cottage). Albert Hickman 72 chimney sweep. Sarah Hickman 63. 2 people absent. Ivy Hickman 30 incapacitated, Stella Mary Hunt 6 at school.  (Married Strother 1963) click Albert & Sarah Hickman for their life story

A BOY SCOUT’S DETAIL

Gordon was a boy scout.   He recalled that in 1947, which was a particularly bad winter, he was detailed to help and sleep at Tom Hickmans House., at Turnip End.  The house was 500 yards down a woody stony lane.

HOT WATER BOTTLE FROZE

There was no electricity then and his hot water bottle froze.   He had to get up very early to break the ice, and feed ww2.   Rubbra had a home in Highwoosthe chickens and rabbits before running home for breakfast, then to school.

DAWN COTTAGE at TURNIP END   by Sandra Jenkins

About 1946 Dawn Cottage was lived in by Margaret and Peter Goffin.   At that time Peter was well known as a set and costume designer for the D’Oily Carte Opera Company.   He was often in London all week.   Presumably they had no car as they relied on buses or people giving them lifts.   The cottage had a water tank in the garden where they hung the butter and milk which they bought from the Parslows Farm at Flowers Bottom in order to keep it cool.   The privy was outside and there was no bathroom for many years.

WILLIAM PLEETH   by Sandra Jenkins

In the 1970’s William Pleeth had a mobile home in Turnip End Lane.   He was a famous cellist.   Jacqueline du Pre came to him for lessons.   His home was in London.   He had become friends with Edmund Rubbra, a reknowned composer, whilst they were serving during WW2.   Rubbra had a home in Highwood Bottom and composed music especially for him.

2021 HOUSES at TURNIP END (Google Earth)

BROCK

DARVILLS COTTAGE

DAWN COTTAGE

DAWN MEADOWS

DUCKS NEST

FAIR VIEW

OUTLOOK

TURNIP END COTTAGE    James & Sandra Jenkins.