Oxenbourne Tithing 2 - East Meon History

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OxenbourneTithing

SummaryOxenbourneisoneofadozentithingsintheHundredofEastMeon.ItliestotheeastofEastMeonvillageanditshistoryistypicalofsmallagriculturalsettlementsthroughoutEngland.ItgraduatedfromopenfieldcultivationintheMiddleAgestoEnclosedfieldsinthenineteenthcentury,fromtenantandserflabourunderchurchownershiptowealthylaylandlordsandeventuallytoowner/farmers,frommanualtillagetomechanisation,fromsingle-celldwellingstofarm‘households’tocountryhouses.In1479,BishopWaynfleteofWinchestergavelandinOxenbournetoMagdalenCollege,Oxford,whichhehadfounded,tohelpfinancetheinstitution.ThehistoryofOxenbourneistoldthroughthefarmersandtheirfarms,basedonprimarysourcesincludingtheWinchesterPipeRolls,TudorRentalsandStuartsurveys,ondeedsandtestaments.NineteenthcenturyTitheApportionmentsandestatesalemapshaveenabledustotrackchangesofownershipandchangeoflanduse.Thesesourcesareextensivelyquotedandtheappendicesincludetranscriptions.ThankstoagrantfromtheHeritageLotteryFundandtotheHampshireRecordOffice’sgeoreferencinginitiative,wehavebeenabletomapthetithinganditsfarmsfromconjecturalchartsofmedievalopenfieldsuptodetailedanalysisoflandownershipinthepast150years.

ThesettlementAttheheartofOxenbournetithingliesaclusterofthreefarms,UpperHouse,OxenbourneandParsonageFarms(Map1).

Map1showsthecoresettlementofOxenbournetithing.Thesearethehousesandfarm

buildingslistedinthe19thcenturyTitheApportinments,clusteredaroundOxenbourneandUpperHousefarms;thishadprobablynotchangessincetheMiddleAges.LuckwellsandEstfieldwereopenfields.HilhamptonwasaseparatefarmsteadbelongingtoMagdalenCollegeOxford;

LeytheFarmwasprobablybuiltinthe17thcentury.

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ThesettlementwhichtodaycomprisesGiant’sCottage,ParsonageBarnandFishpondshousedfarmworkers,equipment,animalsandgrainforUpperHouseandOxenbourneFarms;throughouttheMiddleAges,themenwouldhavewalkedouteachdaytoworkinopenfieldssurroundingthesettlement.ParsonageFarmwasaclusteroffarmbuildings.

TheMiddleAgesFromSaxontimes,thetwomanorsofEastMeonandMeonEcclesiabelongedtotheBishopsofWinchester,formingthelargestoftheirHampshirelandholdings.OxenbournewaslistedatdifferenttimesaspartofMeonEcclesiaandofMeonManor.IntheWinchesterPipeRollsof1409–1410itislisted(alongwiththetithingsofEastMeon,Drayton,Riplington,Coombe,Ramsdean,Bereleigh,TyggehaleandIteden)aspartofthemanorofMeonEcclesiaandasourceoftithesfromapplesandcorn1.

Map2–OpenFields&demesneland(grey)in

EastMeonandOxenbourne

Farmersrented‘lands’fromthediocese–stripsofarablegroundinopenfields;theyrotatedtheircropsinunisonwithothertenantsandsharedgrazingonthecommon.Map2ontheleftshowsbothopenfieldsandthe‘demesne’landownedandfarmedbytheChurch.Thesystemallowedthepooresthusbandmantoploughhislandsalongsidetherichesttenantfarmer.TheBishop’sreeve,alocalman,wasresponsibleforcollectingrentsfromtenantsoftheopenfields,andforthecropsgrownondemesnelandwhichweretilledby

tenantsandservii(serfs)whoowed‘labourservices’aspartoftheirrent.Thereevealsocollectedthegreater,orrectorial,tithes,onetenthofallcropsandotherproduce;theBishopwastherectorandthegrainwasdeliveredtotithebarns.ThereweretwoinOxenbourne,oneatParsonagefarmnearthemainsettlementandtheotherinthesouthofthetithing,nowcalledUpperParsonagebarn(Fig1).TherewasnochurchorchapelinOxenbourne;thelessertithes,takenfromtheproduceofgardensandofanimalskeptinthem,wenttothevicarofEastMeon.

Fig1.UpperParsonageBarn,inwhichthegreater(‘rectorial’)titheswerecollected.

1Page,Mark(ed)WinchesterPipeRolls1409–1410HampshireRecordSeries

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MagdalenCollegelandsAseparatestudyhasbeenconductedoflandaroundHillHampton(today’sspelling)whichbelongedforfivehundredyearstoMagdalenCollegeOxford2.DocumentsinthearchivesofMagdalendatebacktothe14thcentury;Hilhamptonappearstohavebeenasub-manorofEastMeon,whichtheDioceseofWinchesteradministeredonbehalfofMagdalen.Below(Fig2)isanentryina1567Rentalwhichrecordsthatthecollegepaidrentonafarmat‘Hellhampton’.Laterhistoryofthefarmisdescribedonpages7/8;thelandswerefinallysoldin1897

Map3,landsownedbyMadgalenCollege

Fig2Excerptfrom1567RentalforTithingofOxenborne.111Showingthatthe‘PresidentoftheCollegeoftheblessedMarieMagdaleneOxford’Oxfordpaidrentof£2.13forthemessuageof

Hellhampton

EarlyModernOxenbourneIn1567,theDioceseofWinchesterconductedasurveyofrentalspaidonitsestates,takingstockfollowingHenryVIII’sReformationoftheMonasteries,EastMeon’sRentalrecordstheoccupancyofopenfieldsintheDecenna(Tithing)ofOxenbourne&Eccl[es]ia3.TheoccupantsofEstfieldandLuckwells,totheeastandsouthofthetithing,arelistedonthenextpage.

2Blakstad,MichaelMadgalenCollege’spropertyinOxenbourne,EMHGlibrary20173HRO11M59/A1/2/10RentalsurveyAvailableasaPDFonwww.eastmeonhistory.org.uk.

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Estfield‘Eastfield’wasthelargestoftheopenfieldsinOxenbourne,spreadingfromthecoresettlementupgentleslopestowardsButserHill.Fig31567Rentalbook,tithingofOxenbourne,listingtenantsofEstfield.

‘BeginningnexttothetenementofThomas

HookerisacertainfurlongcalledWorthingLongleadingfromtheE[a]sttowardstheWestonthenorthpartofthesaidfurlongtowardsthesouth.’

Lefthandcolumn:JoanAburoweholds3acres’Thesame,3acr.RobertHemes1acre.JohnKnight1acrcalledpekedacreabovetheLynchatthesouthpartofthefurlongFurlongcalledtheMotesthesouth…ThepresofthecollegeowsnoneacreundertheLynch.RobertEamesholds1rodThomasHokerholds1rodJohnSteleholds1acreunderthehedgeRightHandColumnPresedensCollholdshalfanacrewiththeeastendGoreBarres.JohnSteleheld1rodundertheLynchinthenorthpart.EstisthesameparcelofwastecalledBrowningHillrunningEastWest.MartinYoungholdshalfrunningeastabuttingontheblackhedge.NicholasPinkholds1acre.PresedensCollholds1acreandahalf.JohnKnightholds1acre.JohnSteeleholds1acreatthesouthpartofthefurlong

LuckwellsUnder‘LandsinOxenbourne’theRentalBookentryfor‘Luckwells’confirmsthatLuckwellswasanopenfieldrentedtoseveralfarmers(Fig4).NoteHelhamptonintheRHScolumn.Thenumbersontherightrefertodetailedentries(below,Figs5–9)

Fig41567Rental,LandsinOxenbourneFig5.112,ElizabethAdcocke,3acres,113RobertHomes1messuage&1acrecalledSmithland,3s6dinlabourservices,2schurchscot,114idem(thesame)1cottageand7acresoflandand14acresofpurpesturecalledLanglands115,thesame,7acrescalledLuckwells,116,Thomas

Hooke8acresoflandcalledLuckwells

Fig6122JohnKnight3acrescalledLuckwellsand6acrresofpurpestureforpannage

Fig7129NicholasPink1acreoflandcalledLuckwells

Fig8134GeorgeSuggatt14acrescalledLuckwells

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Fig9142GeorgeSuggatt1messuageand14acrescalledFishewers3acrescalledLuckwells

and8incommmonland

TheTitheApportionmentsofEastMeon,conductedin1852,givethename‘Luckwells’totwofieldslocatedbetweenHilhamptonandOxenbournefarms(Map4)withthename,suggestingthatthiswasthelocationofthemedievalopenfield.

Map4TitheApportionmentmap,1852,showingtwo‘Luckwells’fields,whichwereOpenFields

untilEnclosure

LaySubsidy,1586TwodecadesaftertheRentalsurveyofEastMeon,ataxwasraisedonprosperouslandholders.ThreeOxenbournefarmerswerelisted,whowerepresumablytheownersofthethreelargestfarms,laternamedOxenbourne,UpperHouse,andHilhampton(Table1).Table11586LaySubsidy

LaySubsidyofEastmeanemanorsOxenbourneGoods EdwardHaycroft£9,JohnPincke

£9,ThomasHooker£7

HearthTaxes,1665Eightyyearslater,asurveywasmadeofthenumberofhearthsinhousesinEastMeonHundred,Table2,whichmakesitpossibleforustoestimatethepopulationoftithings.4Oxenbournewasthenathrivingcommunityofovertwohundredresidents.‘Paupers’wereexemptfrompayinghearthtax,sotheratioofexemptionstohousesliabletotaxisaguidetothepovertyofeachtithing:OxenbournewasoneoftheleastdeprivedtithingsinEastMeonhundred,withonlytwoexemptdwellingsoutof52.Bycontrast,almostathirdofthehouseholdsinEastMeonandLangrishtithingswereexempt,andalmosthalfinRiplington.

4Thepopulationfiguresarecalculatedbymultiplyingthenumberofhearthsandexclusionsby4.3AndrewHindeCalculatingCrudeBirthandDeathRatesforLocalPopulationsDuringtheParishRegisterEra.p90LocalPopulationStudies.PauperswholivedintheirownhouseswereexemptfromHearthTax

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Table2HearthTaxAssessments16655

Township Hearthtax Exemptions Totals x4.3EastMeon 102 31 133 572Oxenbourne 52 2 54 233Langrish 33 14 47 202Ramsdean 64 12 76 327Combe 25 1 26 112Riplington 21 10 31 133Bordean 50 1 51 219Froxfield 115 34 149 641Steep 148 30 178 765Ambersham 105 8 113 486EastMeonHundred 751 137 888 3818

EnclosuresIntheearlymodernperiod,asthepopulationofEnglandgrewandastownsandcitiesdemandedmorefood,efficientfarmersrespondedbyimprovingtheirequipmentandintroducingtechniquessuchasirrigationandfertilisers;itwasmoreproductivetocultivateenclosedlandsthanopenfieldsandprosperousfarmerspersuadedtheDioceseofWinchestertomovetheirlesssuccessfulneighbourstootherlocationssothattheycouldenclosefieldsfortheirexclusiveuse.Theothersweremovedtolessfertileplots,orbecameagriculturallabourersworkingforhire.OnlythreeEnclosurecontractssurvivefortheparishofEastMeon;tworelatemainlytoOxenbourne.Oneisdated1661,immediatelyaftertheRestoration.

Fig10.Enclosurecontract,1661,forlandinthetithingofOxenbourne6.‘Wewhosenamesare

hereuntosubscribedbeingthecopyholdersofthelandslyinganddispersedamongtheseveral

commonfieldsinthetithingofOxenbourne..doforourselvesandeveryoneofhisheirsand

executors…assign,covenant,promiseandagreeandengagehimself…onetotheotherthatwe

willeveryoneofuscontribute…payaproportionateshareofthechargebuyingalicensefromthelordofthemanortoenclose,

exchangeandtakeintoseveralsthesaidcommonfieldlands…ancientexchangewon’taltertherentstothelord…setuntomanorrolls..witnessunto…Thesignaturesareofbetter-offyeomanfarmers,CharlesCranley,AnthonyBulbeck,AnthonyLonge,NicholasPyncke,Richard

Aylward,JohonHobbs,RichardDowns,ThomasandJohnAdcoke

5FiguresfromElizabethHughesandPhilippaWhite(ed)TheHampshireHearthTaxAssessment1665pp246&726HRO1M59/C611/108/1381661EnclosureinthetithingofOxenbourne,EastMeonAgreement

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Fig11.ThissectionissignedbyArthurBoldEsq.,thebishop'sstewardatthemanorcourtandsurrendersthemessuageintothelordbishop'shandsfortheuseofAlicePinke

duringherlifetimeandafterwardstoremainwiththesaidRogerSmithandhisheirs.

InFig10,ninecopyholderspromisetopaythelordofthemanorforpermissiontoenclosecommonlandsandconvertthemintoseparateownershipswithoutanylossinrentsorduestothelord[bishop].Thebeneficiariesarebetter-offyeomanfarmers.TheparagraphinFig12issignedbyArthurBoldEsq,thebishop'sstewardatthemanorcourt,andsurrendersamessuage(afarmhouseandland)toAlicePinke.

Figs12&13.XsmarkingtheagreementtosurrenderofThomasAubrey&JosephTerrillThosewhoagreedtohavetheirlandenclosedwere,forthemostpart,illiterate,andsignedwithamark…Figs12and13showthecrossesofJosephTerrillandofThomasAubreyandhiswife.Thedispossessedwereassignedlesserlandsandperhapsacottage.

Thefarm‘household’AsaresultofEnclosures‘newfarmsteadsappearedinthemidstoffields’7.Thesewerebuiltaroundbrickfireplacesandchimneybreastswhichenabledseparaterooms,staircasesandcorridorstobebuilttoaccommodatethefarmer’sfamily,the‘farmservants’andworkspaces.Farmservantswereunmarriedyoungpeopleofbothsexeswholivedandworkedonthepremises;whentheymarriedtheyhadtosetuptheirownhomesandbecame‘agriculturallabourers’,workingforhire.LeytheHouseFarmwasprobablybuiltataroundthistime;existingfarmhouseswererebuilttoaccommodatetheirhouseholds.OneexampleofsuchdevelopmentisHillHampton.Inthe1567and1647surveysofMeonmanorsitislistedas‘amessuage’;thepresentfarmhousewasbuiltinthelate18thcentury,fromlocalmalmstone,probablybyDrEdwardBentham,DeanofChristchurchCollegeOxford,whorentedtheMagdalenlands.

7HoskinsW.G.TheMakingoftheEnglishLandscapeLittleTollerBooks2013p188

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Fig14.HillHamptonfarmhousefromthesouth,probablyGeorgian,builtof

malmstone

Fig15.Fromeast,withextension

Fig16.Fireplaceintheoriginalkitchenwherefamilyandservantspreparedandatefood.isnowthe

sittingroomBenthamandhisheirsneverlivedinHampshire;thenewfarmhousewasdesignedtoattractwell-offtenantsandhigherrents.Ithousednotonlythefarmer’sfamilybutfarmservants,maleandfemale;thewholehouseholdwouldhavepreparedandeatentheirfoodinthekitchen,andtheusualserviceswouldhavebeenunderthesameroof–dairy,pantry(paintrieorbakery),buttery(bouteillerieorbrewery),possiblyakill-house.between1750and1850,4,000ActsofParliamentwerepassedenforcingEnclosuresinEngland,appropriatinginall6.8millionacres.ThelargestEnclosureActaffectingEastMeonwaspassedin1845.

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Maps5–7depictthe1845enclosureoffieldsinOxenbourneandadjacenttithings,fromthenorth(left)tothesouthernendofthetithing(right).Bothcommonandarablelandwasenclosed,downlandpasture,openfieldsandwasteland.Thelargestallotmentsweremadetowealthylandlords,includinggentrysuchasJohnBonhamCarterofAdhurst,SteepandSirWilliamHyltonJoliffe,andsuccessfulyeomenincludingWilliamWeeksandJohnChristmas;thebishopofWinchesteralsoretainedland.LesserfarmerssuchasBlackmore,BerryandHumphreywereallocatedsmallstripstothesouthofthetithing(Map7).Closertothevillage(map6),simlarstripswereallottedtoprominentvillagessuchasthedoctor,GeorgePink,shopkeeperJohnNathanielAtkins,andthemillerofFrogmore,JohnLillywhite.Thesemayhavebeen‘allotments’inthemodernsense,groundonwhichtheycouldgrowvegetablesfortheirfamilies’consumption.Toalleviatetheplightofpoorfarmerswhohadbeenforcedofftheirland,two“allotmentsorparcelsoflandonOxenbournDown”wereawarded“forthegrowthoffurzeandfueltobecutandusedbytheoccupiersofsmallcottagesnotexceedingtheannualvalueoffourpounds”,andasecondstrip“forpurposesofexerciseandrecreationoftheneighbouringpopulation.”Acharitywasformed,namedthe‘OxenbournFuelandRecreationGroundAllotments’

1851/2TitheApportionmentsIn1836,Parliamenthadrespondedtogrowingdispleasureatthesystemoftithes,wherebytheChurchexactedonetenthoftheproduceoftheland,stockandgoodsfromeveryfarmerandtradesmaninthecountry.Parliamentfinallypasseda‘TitheCommutationAct’whichconvertedthepaymentoftithesfromkindtocash;inordertoassessthesumsinvolved,itcommissionedadetailedsurveyofallpropertyinEngland.EastMeon’swasTitheApportionmentwascompletedin1852,andshowsthatlargelandownersnowheldthemajorityoflandintheparish.BecausetheDioceseofWinchesterwerestilllordsofthemanorsandnominalownersofthelandinEastMeon,thecategoriesofownershiparecomplicated.The‘lessees’werethebiglandownerswhohad‘appropriated’thegreater,orrectorial,tithesfromtheDiocese.Theydesignatean‘owner’andan‘occupier’toeachproperty,theformerbeingthetenantandthelatterthepersonwjplivedinthepropertyand/orfarmedtheland.Hilhampton,orinstance,islistedas‘owned’byThomasBatesRowse,yet‘occupied’byJohnChristmas(whoappearstohavelivedatOxenbourneFarm,sopresumablykeptstaffandequipmentatHilhampton).8

Landowners&farmersManyofthemajorlandownerswere‘designated’asgentlemenoraristocrat,includingViscountGageofWestburyHouse,GeorgeForbesofBereleigh,JohnBonhamCarterofAdhurstinSteepandSirWilliamHyltonJoliffe,Bart,allofwhomlivedinstatelyhomes,mostofthemoutsidethehundred.Bycontrast,twofamiliesofyeomanfarmers,JohnChristmasandtheWeeksfamily,ownedandoccupiedasubstantialamoundoflendinOxenbourne.8Appendix5ExtractfromTitheApportionments

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JohnChristmasJohnChristmaswasthe‘lessee’ofmuchofOxenbourneandislistedasownerandoccupierbothofOxenbourneFarm(940–942)andofHilhamptonFarm9.Hediedin1876andmostofhisestatewasboughtbyoneofthelargelandowners,JohnBonhamCarter.JohnChristmastheelderoriginallylivedinSelborne.FirstthefatherandthenthesonaccumulatedlandinOxenbourneandatsomepointmovedtothetithing.Indenturesdrawnupbetween1790to1800recordthattheBishopofWinchesterhadallocatedthe‘greatertithes’forlandsownedbytheDiocesetoJohnChristmasofHillhampton10.(Inthe1790Indenture,thisJohnChristmasisdescribedas‘ofBlackmoreintheparishofSelborne’,andas‘agedaboutthirtynineyears’andasfatherof‘JohnChristmas…anInfantagedaboutsixyears’.)Thesumof£7wastobepaidtotheBishoptwiceayearfortherighttoclaimtherectorialtithes.JohnChristmastheolderdiedin1805andhiswillisAppendix7.(Thereisaprobatenote,17thDecember1805,stating‘thattheGoodsChattelsandCreditsofthesaiddeceaseddonotamounttothesumofFiveThousandpoundsastheyverilybelieve…’soJohndidnothaveasmuchmoneytobequeathashethought.)Hisson,alsonamedJohnChristmas,isnamedintheTitheApportionments,thoughThomasBatesRowse,theheirofEdwardBentham,islistedas‘owning’Hilhampton,yetitis‘occupied’byJohnChristmas(whoappearstohavelivedatOxenbourneFarm,sopresumablykeptstaffandequipmentatHilhampton).Christmasexpandedhisestatebetweenthecensusesof1851and1861,from392to726acres,partlythroughasubsequentActofEnclosure.Hisnameappearsin1870aschurchwardenofAllSaintsinEastMeononawallplaquecommemoratingtherefurbishmentofthechurch.Inthe1871census,OxenbourneFarmwasoccupiedbyEliCollins,FarmBailiff,andhisfamily,presumablymanagingthefarmonbehalfofthenow-elderlyJohnChristmas.HisburialisrecordedinEastMeon’sparishregisterin1876;hewasaged81;thedaughter/sisternamedinthe1805willoftheseniorJohnChristmas,Elizabeth,hadbeenburiedin1846aged5311.HehadnowifeorchildrenandlefthislandtohiscousinsDavidTurvill,WilliamRayandHenry

Map8,EstateofJohnChristmassoldin

1876

Chalcroftwhosoldtheestatelaterthatyear.(Thereisanintriguingentryinthe1881censuswhichrecords‘AlbertChrismas’[sic]aged41,farmer,livingatHilhamptonwithhiswifeandchild.)AJeremiahChristmas,probablynorelation,workedontheLeydeneestateinthe1930sandwasthefather-in-lawofHerbieGoddard,famedasthe‘MayorofEastMeon’inthe1960sand‘70s.

9ThereismoreinformationaboutJohnChristmas,fatherandson,inthereportonHilhamptonFarm.10HRO11M59/D1/9page118Lease by Winchester Bishopric Estate to John Christmas of tithes of corn and grain in the tything of Oxenbourne in the parish of East Meon11Appendix6RegisteredcopywillofJohnChristmasofOxenbourne,EastMeon,gentleman

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WilliamWeeksInthe1851census,73-year-oldWilliamWeeksseniorlivedinLowerHouseFarm;intheTitheapportionments,WilliamWeeksjuniorislistedasoccupying600acresofland;fatherandsonowned537acres,ofthemajorityofwhichJohnChristmaswasthelessee.TheWeekswerethefourthlargestfarmersinthewholeparish,andtheirfarmsalsoincludedParsonage,StonyLand,UpperHouseFarmsandHarvestingBarn(nowUpperParsonageFarm).AccommodationThe1891census(Appendix8)showsonlyonefarmhouseinthetithingwasnowoccupiedbyaworkingfarmer.Mostfarmsteadshadbynowbeendividedintoseveraldwellings,toaccommodaterelativesandfarmworkers.OxenbourneFarmnowhousedCharlotteandRichardBerry,sisterandbrotherof‘theFarmer’12,withasingledomesticservant,whileWilliamWeeksSenior[Farmer]wasanoldman,livingatLowerHouseFarmwithhisdaughtersAnne[Housekeeper]andEmily.UpperHouseFarmisoccupiedbyWilliamandEmmaVokes(heisa‘FarmServant’)withfivechildrenandonegrandson,twoofthesonslistedas‘AgriculturalLabourer’(aged17)and‘CarterBoy’(aged15).Hillhamptonhasbeendividedintothreecottages,oneoccupiedbyThomasMerritt,another‘FarmServant’,andhiswifeandthreeyoungchildren,andSarahSnelling,Anne’smother,theothertwobyEdwinMoney,FarmServant,withwife,sonandboarder,HenryHall,andbyWilliamBlackman(FarmServant)andwife.LytheHouse,ontheotherhand,hasfarmerRichardHarrisoninresidencewithhiswife,fourchildrenandtwofemaleservants,aswellasseparateaccommodationforWilliamWeeks,Coachman.Attheturnofthecentury,severalofthesefarmhousesunderwentanotherconversion,enlargedtoaccommodateprosperousbusinessmenastheircountryhomes.OneexamplewasUpperHouseFarm.

UpperHouseFarm/OxenbourneHouseIntheMiddleAges,UpperHouseFarm,alongwithitsneighbourOxenbourneFarm,hadformedthecoreofOxenbournetithing.Afarmhousewasbuiltinthe17thcenturyandstillformsthecoreofwhatisnowOxenbourneHouse.Its17thcenturybarnsurvives,alongwith19thcenturystables.

Map9TitheApportionmentshowingUpperHouseandOxenbourneFarms

TheTitheApportionmentmap(left)showsthe17thcenturyfarmhouse(936),describedasa‘homestead’,withfarmbuildingsextendingfromit,andanorchardandrickyardtothewest(937);ontheothersideofthelanetherearemore‘buildings’,possiblydwellings(938),alargepondandorchard(939).940and946areOxenbourneFarm.

12Seep15fortheBerryfamilyofOxenbourneFarm

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Map10.1870smapofthetwofarms

An1870smap(left)showsthebuildingandorchardontheeastsideofthelanemoreclearlyandanotherorchardtothewestofthegardenofUpperHouse.Thefarmsteadenclosedanalmostsquareyard.

Fig17.UpperandLowerHouseFarmssale,

1883

Fig18.Ramsdeanestatesale1908,Lot1

UpperHouseFarm

Map111908saleofBonhamCarterestate

In1883,Lower&UpperHouseFarmsweresold,(Fig17)andboughtbyJohnBonhamCarterbutcontinuedtobeoccupiedbyWilliamWeeksandWilliamVokesrespectively.Inthefirsttwodecadesofthe20thcentury,UpperHouseFarmchangedhandstwice.Thefirstsalewasin1908,sellingextensivelandsbelongingtotheBonhamCarters(map11).ItincludedRamsdeanandLowerFarmsandothersmallerpropertiesinRamsdean,andHydenandCoombeWoods,HydenandLowerFarmsinEastMeon13.UpperHouseFarmwasLot1,(Fig18above)andthehouseandsomefieldswereoccupiedbyMrRichardGreen,whileotherpasture

wasrentedbyMrJamesDeadman.Thefarmsteadisdescribedas‘adesirablesmallholding,awell-builtbrickstoneandtileresidencecontaining3sittingrooms,kitchen,pantry,larderandcellarwith5bedroomsandgarden,atimberandthatchcarthouseandatimberandslategranary’.Thefarmhousehadalreadybeenenlargedfromtheoriginal17thcenturybuilding,butitwasabouttoberebuiltbytheArtsandCraftsarchitect,GeoffryLupton..13Forimagesofthecatalogue,whichbelongstoMichaelAtkinsonatSouthFarm,gotohttp://www.eastmeonhistory.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/farm-estate-sales/ramsdean-estate

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TheestatewasboughtbyLordHotham,whowasresponsibleforinstallingawatersupply,withapumpatSouthFarmandareservoiratSaltHillAccordingtoalaterowner,LadyPhyllisWhite,UpperHouseFarmwasoccupiedbya‘MrLiddell’,butthe1911censusshowsthatThorntonHassell,aretiredbankmanager,livedtherewithhiswife,his85-year-oldmotherandtwodomesticservants14.Kelly’sDirectoryof1921alsoshowsThorntonHassellastheresidentofOxenbourneHouse.Presumably,therefore,itwasHassellwhoengagedLuptontorefurbishthefarmhouse.(LuptonwasoneoftheoriginalpupilsatBedalesSchool,andremainedinSteepafterleavingschool;hedesignedtheiconicRedHouse,onCockshottLaneinFroxfieldforthepoetEdwardThomas,andworkedwithErnestGimsontobuildtheLibraryandLuptonHallatBedalesSchool).Inthe1920s,Lupton’sfriendandassociateEdwardBarnsleyopenedhiscarpentryworkshop,alsoonCockshottLane,andheprobablyproducedthewoodworkatOxenbourneHouse,includingthehandsomestaircaseaswellasthewoodenpillarssupportingtheSouthGable.

Figs19&201911censusentryforUpperHouseFarmshowingThorntonHassell,wifeand

mother,asresidents

Fig21.1918RamsdeanEstatefarmsale,detail

14LadyWhite’snote,Appendix10,waswrittentoStephenandLucyRockwhoboughtOxenbourneHousein2006.

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Thesecondsaletookplacein1918(Fig21);UpperHouseisdescribedinsimilartermstothe1908saleparticularsas‘averydesirablesmallholding…comprising3sittingrooms,kitchen,pantry,larder,cellarand5bedrooms,garden,atimberandthatchedbuildingandagranary.’ItwasnowboughtbySirRobertandLadyEleanorPeel,whoseacquisitionofahugeestateinEastMeonisdescribedonpage18.WhenLadyPeeldiedin1953,thewholeestatewassold,includingwhatwasnownamedOxenbourneHouse.PhotographsfromthesalesdetailsshowtheextentofLupton’sre-building,andthehousewassoldwithvacantpossession(thoughthecottagewasrentedbyMrJBroadway).Thesalesdescriptionreferstothe‘pleasinggabledelevation,’the‘Southgable,withoakstudsbuiltinwithherring-bonefashionbrickwork’and‘windowswithdiamondandotherleadedlights’.Itstatesthat‘theolderportionofthehouseprobablydatesbacktothe17thcenturybuttheadditioneffectedsomeconsiderabletimeagoblendsartisticallywiththeremaindertoformastrikingandverypleasingdesign’.ThispresumablyreflectstheArtsandCraftsre-designbyLupton.Thiswasnowaverysubstantialandelegantcountryhouse.

Figs21–23&Map12.ExtractsfromLeydeneEstateSale,1953TheoccupantofOxenbourne

HousewasthenMrJBroadway.

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LytheHouseAnotherfarmhousewhichbecametheresidenceofawell-offmiddleclassmanwasLytheHouseFarm,southofHillHampton.Since‘Lith’or‘Lithe’wasacommonplacename,usuallyawood,itisimpossibletoknowwhethermedievalnamessuchasRichardatteLithe(HampshireTaxList1327)orJoscelineatLigh(1301PipeRoll)locatetheseindividualsinanearlierdwellinginthislocation,whichmighthavehousedworkersatHillHampton.

Fig24,LytheHousetoday

Fig25.The18thcenturybarn

Therearetracesintoday’sLytheHouseofaseventeenthcenturyfarmhouse,andthebarnwasbuiltinthe‘long18thcentury’,butthebulkoftoday’shousewasbuiltinthe19thcentury.AtthetimeoftheTitheApportionmentsitwasaworkingfarmuntilitwasconveretedintoacountryhouseattheturnofthecentury.

TitheApportionmentslistingfor‘LeytheHouse’,1852Lessee,JohnChristmas850Owner&OccupierGeorgeHillyer15Homestead851dittoOrchard852dittoHomefieldpasture854dittoPartofOxenbourneLithWood

Map12Tithe

Apportionments1852Map13Estatesale1876

Aslessee,JohnChristmasreceivedthegreatertithes,whichhehadpurchasedfromtheDioceseofWinchester,theBishopbeingtherectorofEastMeonparish.Hewasatthetimethelargestland-holderinOxenbourne,livingatandfarmingOxenbourneFarm.Appendix10containsnotesfromthecensusesfrom1851to1891whichtellthestoryofsuccessiveoccupiersofLytheHouse(variouslyspelled),mostlyworkingfarmers.

15Listedin1851censusas‘Farmer’swife’of150acresempoying4men.

16

WhenJohnChristmasdiedin1876,MessrsRutleyofCanonStreet,London,placedonsale,onbehalfofJohnBonhamCarter,the‘CopyholdandPartFreeholdEstatesknownasOxenbourneandLytheHouseFarms’16.LytheHousewaslot4andthelandsfarmedfromLytheHouseFarmwereLot6(green),andthosefromOxenbourneFarmasLot7(pink).

Map151876estatesaledetail,LytheHouselands

Fig26EstateSaleparticulars

Fig271901censusdetailforLytheHouseandLytheCottage

LytheHouseisnowoccupiedbyasingleman,GeraldKingsbury,29yearsold,describedasafarmer,whohadbeenborninLondon.Hishousekeeper,EmmaKay, came fromPortsmouth, andadomestic servant,RomeSimes, 17, fromBattersea,London.(LytheCottagewasoccupiedbyThomas,38,andAnnieMerritt,42,andtheirfive children, aged between 17 and 9. Thomas Merritt is described asForemanonFarm,andtwoofthesonsas‘BoyonFarm’and‘ShepherdBoy’.)Kingsburywasevidentlyprosperoussincein1902hedonatedaLitanyDeskandFauldstooltoAllSaintsChurch,hiscontributiontotherefurbishmentbySir Ninian Comper under the Reverend Thomas Heywood Masters. It wasdedicated to his brother,Walter BridgemenKinsgsbury,who had died thatyear aged38 years. Thededication reads:ByG.F.Kingsbury of LytheHousetogetherwithhismotherbrothersandsistersinmemoryofhisbrother.

16HRO92M72/E/B170SaleofChristmasestate

17

In 1904 the wife and children of WilliamJoseph Kingsbury ‘of Lythe House’,dedicated the magnificent Comper oaklectern to his memory; he had died inJanuary that year. Thededication is carvedonthesideofthelectern.

Figs28&29,Lectern&dedication‘InLovingMemoryofWilliamJosephKingsbury,January9th

AoDni1904’Thesamenamesappearinthededicationofa‘wholeboundbookoftheLitanyinblackmorocco’donatedbyMrsKingsburyin1905.

TheBerryfamilyofOxenbourneFarm.

Fig30OxenbourneFarmhouse

InOctober1891,MaryWeeksmarriedHenryBerryofOxenbourneFarm(left),unitingtwoprominentfarmingfamilies17.Inthatyear’scensus,OxenbourneFarmwasoccupiedbyHenry’syoungersisterandbrother,CharlotteandRichard,andheisdescribedasthefarmerofOxenbourne,HillHamptonandPrestonfarms.AccordingtoalaterprofileofOxenbourneinthePetersfieldPost,thebride’s

father,WilliamWeeks,thenownedOxenbourneandParsonagefarms,andafterhediedin1907,aged89,theBerryfamilyfarmedOxenbourneforthenextfourgenerations.TheywereprominentfiguresintheEastMeoncommunityandJeanBerryprovidedtheHistoryGrouparchivewithanextensivecollectionofnewspaperclippingsandphotographsshowingvariousmembersofthefamilytakinganactivepartintheHomeGuardduringWorldWarII,Coronationcelebrations,theVillageInstitute,cricketandsoccerandamusicgroup,aswellasorganisingmotorcycleeventsatOxenbourneFarm18.TheyleasedthelandfromSirRobert,laterLord,Peel,andsubsequentlyfromSirDymokeWhite,fromwhomtheyboughtitin1954.Theirstockincluded150Herefordbeefcattleandtwobulls,500sheep,partlySuffolk,partlycrossed.Theirestatecomprised170acresofwhich20werearableand500leasedforgrazing.

17ThebaptismofMaryWeeksisregisteredin1869,thedaughterofWilliam[Farmer]andAnnWeeksofOxenbourneFarm.18http://www.eastmeonhistory.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/collections-2/jean-berry

18

Figs31–35.FromtheBerrycollection.Topleft,Edwardianfarmingscene,right‘GreetingsfromOxenbourneFarm,middleleft,John,Pat,Jean,andDickBerryonCoronationfloat,right,motorcycleraceatOxenbourneFarm,bottomleft,LittleFolkgroupincluding,secondfrombackrow,IanandTeresaBerry,andfrontrow,GillianBerry.

TheJonesesofHillhamptonFarmThroughmostofthe20thcentury,threegenerationsofJonesesownedandfarmedLowerHouse,RookhamandHilhamptonfarms,whichGeorgeEdwardJonesboughtin1918.Inthe1980s,StanleyEliJoneswroteamemoir,Appendix10,inwhichhedescribeshowhisfatherboughtthethreefarms,passingontohimHillhamptonwhichoriginallycomprised95acres,butheowned120,andrentedafurther300acres.Heranitasamixedfarm,withcattleandsheep.HissonRichardJonessoldHillhamptontothepresentowners,SashaandNigelBrooksandboughtHydenFarm.FreddieStandfieldwrotein1994thatthe‘150-acreHilhamptonFarm…plusabout300acresofrentedlandinanadjoiningparish,isfarmedbyStanleyJonesandhissons.TheykeepaFriesianmilkingherd,andsomeLonghornbeefcattle–oneoftheoldestEnglishbreeds.Theyalsokeptabout300breedingewes,Welshhalf-breds(SuffolkCross)aswellasasmalllotofpedigreeHampshireDowns’19.

19StandfieldF.GIbidp82

19

SirRobert&LadyPeel

Fig36.WilliamRobertWellesleyPeel Fig37.EleanorDowagerCountessPeel

AfterthedeathofJohnBonhamCarterin1906,RobertandLadyPeelaccumulated100,000acresofEastMeonlands,thelargestholdingsincethebishopsofWinchester.RobertwasadescendantofSirJohnPeelandarisingpolitician,subsequentlytobecomeSecretaryofStateforIndiaunderLloydGeorge,LordPrivySeal,andChairmanofthePeelCommissionwhichrecommendedthepartitioningofPalestine.Hehadmarriedin1899thedaughterofLordAshton,amulti-millionairewhohadmadehismoneyfromthemanufactureoflinoleum.AshtonsettledonEleanorthesumof£800,000–tensofmillionsintoday’smoney.ThebuiltatLeydeneanimposingcountryhouse,larger,accordingtoL.H.Tyrode,thananyprivatehouseintheprevioushalfcentury.Oxenbournewasjustonepartoftheirestate,anditwasduringtheirownershipthatOxenbourneHousewasenlargedandimproved.LadyPeeldiedin1953andtheestatewasputonthemarket20.

SirDymokeWhiteSirDymokeWhitewassecondBaronetandheirtotheTimothyWhitechainofchemists.Hebought200acresoffarmlandand400ofwoodlandfromthePeelestate,includingOxenbourneHouseinwhichheandhisfamilylived.170acres,comprisingpartofOxenbourneDown,WascombeBottomandHilhamponDown,werelettoHampshireCountyCouncilasanaturereserve21.SirDymokewasMPforFarehamfrom1939to1950andvicechairofHampshireCountyCouncil.SirDymoke’ssonLyntonlivedinOxenbourneHouseandwaschairoftheCountyCouncilfrom1977.Hewasanarchitectand,duringWWII,aRoyalArtilleryofficerwhodidintelligenceworkinChina;atthefallofHongKongin1941hewascapturedbytheJapanesebutescapedbacktoChinathroughastormwaterdrain.

20FormoreaboutLordandLadyPeel,http://www.eastmeonhistory.net/leydene-house/21Standfield,F.G.,AHistoryofEastMeonPhillimore1994,p83

20

Fig38SirLyntonWhiteChairmanofHampshireCountyCountil1977

Fig39.SirLyntonWhite,secondfromleft,atthedeparturein1984ofthevicarofAllSaints,RevRodneySmith,photographedwithSir

WilliamDouglasHome(left)andDickBerrySirLyntonwasarespectedmemberoftheEastMeoncommunity,andhispartinguaranteeingthefinancingofthenewVillageHallin1973isdescribedintheEMHGreportontheHistoryoftheInstituteandHall22.

TwotithebarnsBarnshavealwaysbeenthearistocratsoffarmbuildingsandbecausetheyhavebeenlargeenoughtoaccommodateatleastsomemodernmachineryhaveoftensurvivedwhereothershavebeendemolished.Themostrecenttrendinadaptingfarmbuildingsstartedinthelastquarterofthetwentiethcentury,theconversionofexistingbarnsintoup-markethousesorhospitalityvenues.

Fig40ThreshingintheMiddleAges,DecemberentryintheJuliusWorkCalendar,British

Library

TwoOxenbournebarnscarrythename‘Parsonage’;thebishopofWinchesterwasparsonofEastMeon,ashewasrector,andthesewerealmostcertainlytithebarns,towhichfarmerswereobligedtodeliveronetenthofthegrainandotherfruitsoftheircultivationandwhereitwouldhavebeenthreshedduringthewinter.ClosetotheheartofOxenbournetithingwasParsonageBarn,whichhasbeenconvertedintoasubstantialresidence.

22http://www.eastmeonhistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Village-Institute-and-Hall-report.pdf

21

ParsonageBarnEdwardRobertshasdatedParsonageBarntothe'long'C18-i.e.1680-1830’. Thebuilderswhomovedthestructurefound,underoneofthecolumns,acoindated1695,probablyplacedtheretomarktheyearofitsconstruction.FromtheTitheApportionmentlistings

Map16Parsonage‘Farm’inTithe

Apportionments,1852

• LesseeJohnChristmas• 837BuildingsandyardOwner

andOccupierJohnChristmas• 838GardenOwnerJohn

ChristmasOccupierHenryAcock• 839CottageandGardenditto

Therewasno‘homestead’atParsonage‘Farm’,thoughChristmas‘occupied’thefarmbuildings,presumablyincludingthebarn.

As‘lessee’,JohnChristmasheldtheleaseofParsonageFarmfromthedioceseofWinchester;hehadboughtthegreater,orrectorialtithesfromthediocesesohederivedbothrentandtithes.Sincetitheswerenowcommutedtomoneypayments,thebarnwasnowusedforstoringandthreshinghisgrain.In1994/5,AlanandCeannaCollettboughtthebarnatParsonageFarm;itsexteriorhadbeenreplacedwithmoderncladding,buttheoriginalframeworksurvived.Theymovedthestructure30yardstothesouth,andbuiltanimposingnewhousearoundit(Figs41–46).Theoriginalwoodworkisvisiblewithinthenewbuilding

. Fig41Themodernbarn,ontheright

Fig42Theframeworkoftheoldbarn

22

Fig43.Interiorunderconstruction Fig44.Thenewhousenearingcompletion

Fig45(left)Postandup-bracesintoday’s

sittingroom,withtiebeamandpurlin

Fig46Ceilingoftoday’ssittingroom,showingcollar

abovetiebeamandpurlin

Fig47Tiebeamandqueenstrutinsecond

bedroom

Fig48Ceilingofsecondbedroom

Fig49Roofofthirdbedroom

23

UpperParsonageBarn

Map17Oxenbournetithingwith

UpperBarn(830)

‘UpperParsonageBarn’wasbuiltinthe18thcentury,presumablyreplacinganearliertithebarn;itislocatedatthesouthernendofOxenbournetithing,left,anduntilthe1980sitstoodalone,toreceivethetithesfromEstfield,thelargeopenfieldbelowit.ItbearsnonameintheTitheApportionments.Inthe1980s,SueandNickAtkinsonbuiltanewfarmhousenexttothebarn,whichtheynamedUpperParsonageFarm.NickandhisbrotherMatthewmanageSouthFarmonbehalfoftheirfatherMichael.SueandNickrunabed&breakfastbusinessatUpperParsonageFarmandtheyconvertedthebarnasatearoomandeventvenue.

Fig50UpperParsonageBarnfromthe

south

Fig51.InteriorUpperParsonageBarn

ConclusionMoreinformationonsubjectscoveredherecanbefoundinseparatereports,availableasPDFsonwww.eastmeonhistory.net.Moreresearchisbeingconductedintothehistoryoffarmbuildingsandofagriculturaltechniques.Therewerenodiaristsorletter-writersinOxenbourne,orindeedinthewholeofEastMeon,sothehistoryofthistithingisdrawnfromofficialreportstaxlistsandlegaldocuments.ThetithingintheMiddleAgeswas,asitisnow,aclusterofdwellingsandfarmbuildingsaroundOxenbourneFarm.Openfieldswerereplacedbyhedgesandwallssurroundingenclosedfields.Farmsteadsappearedamongthefieldsandaccommodatedworkinghouseholds,someofwhichinturnweredividedintoaccommodationforlabourersandrelatives,andfinallyconvertedintocountryhousesformiddle-classowners.AftertheCivilWar,thebishopsofWinchesterwerereplacedasfeudallordsandlandownersbylaylandlords,mainlygentrybutincluding,inthenineteenthcentury,yeomanfarmerssuchasJohnChristmasandWilliamWeeks.TypicalofthousandsofsuchruraltithingsthroughoutEngland,itisacameoofsocialandeconomichistory.

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Appendices

Appendix1.WillJuly201776Oxford,TheRevEdwardBentham,DoctorofDivinityPrerogativeCourtofCanterburyPROB11/1023

GlorybetoGod…IEdwardBenthamDrofDandCanonofChCh..manytokensofdivinegoodnessgranteduntome…beingofsoundmind…donowmakethismylastwillandtestamentIngrtitudetotheprincipal…dogiveandbequeathtotheDeanandfellowsofChChOxford&c&callthatlittleestatecontiguoustotheRectorialCloseandgardenat(?)Oxfordshire…alsotothesaidDeanandChapterforpublicusefiftypoundstotheProvostandFellowsofOrielCollegetwentypoundstothePresidentandScholarsofCorpusChristiCollege…manybequeststofamily…(p2)IgiveandbequeathtomysaiddearwifeallthatmyLeaseholdEstateheldunderMagdalenCollegeOxfordatHillhamptoninEastMeonHampshiretogetherwiththeFreeholdandCopyholdduringhernaturallifehopingthatshewillcarefullyrenewthesaidLeaseholdestatefromtimetotimeasusualandafterherdeceasetomysonThomasBentham.…continues

Appendix2.PrerogativeCourtofCanterburyPROB11/1398WillSept17th1803ElizabethBenthamTheonlydaughterofthelateRevDrEdwardBentham,thelandcametoherviahermother’swill9Mar1791GlorytoGodCreator…&cIElizabethBenthamoftheCityofOxford…onlydaughterofthelateRevDoctorEdwardBenthamRegiumprofessorofDivinityandcanonofChristChurchintheUniversityofOxfordsomakethismylastwillandtestamentwithhumbleandunfeignedthankfulnesstoAlmightyGodIrecollectthemanygraciousandmercifuldispensationsmanifestedtome&c……willgraciouslypleasetopardonallmysins…AstothepropertyImaysitpossessedofsomeofwhichwasleftmebymyexcellentparentshaving(?)theirsfromtheirrelationsandmyffathersstationincreasedbytheirkindcaretoenablethemtocometoustheirchildrenwhatmightbeourcomfortandsupportsomeofmypropertywasunhappilydevolvedtomebythedeathofmybrothertheReverendThomasBentham’swifealsoofChristChurchCollegeOxford…sustaininthisworldGodgranImaymakesureourriseofallasIwouldwishcouldIknowgod’swillinhishavingpermittedittofallintomyhandsandfirstItrustthatallmydebtsandexpenseofmyfuneralwhichIdesiremaybeonlyplainand(?)andthecostsofprovingthismywillmaybepaidassoonasconvenientlyafterdeceaseandgiveanddevisemyLeaseholdEstateatHillhamptonintheparishofEastMeonintheCountyofHantsheldunderMagdaleneCollegeOxfordandmyffreeholdorcopyholdofinheritanceEstateofKingswayinthesameCountyuntoJohnThurlowDeringofCrowhallnearcJohnThurtonDeringWilliamBenthamandWilliamBucklenearTitsworth(?)intheCountyofOxordandwhichsoeverofthemtheirheirsandassignsintrustandtoandfortheintentandpurposethattheysoraise…restmissing,butHROnotesstatethat

25

Appendix3.HRO29M82/356/1CourtpapersofthecaseinChanceryconcerningthewillofElizabethBenthamofOxford1804BetweenJohnThurlowDeringEsqandothers(WilliamBentham&WilliamBuckle)andJamesBenthamandothers(PhilippaBentham,ThomasBatesRouse,GeorgeRous).ThenameThomasBatesRousappearsonthetitheapportionmentmap,alongwithGeorgeRous,possiblyhisson.P4.First,thetestatricehasdevisedherLeaseholdonlyatHilhamptonintheparishofEastMeoninthecountyofHants-butshewasalsoatthetimeofmakingheWillandherdeath,seisedofcertainfreehold&copyholdclosesoflandinthetithingsofOxenborne&ChurchMeoninthesameparishofEastMeonwhichwereandareheldandoccupiedbythetestriceatoneentirerentof£130&shehadsurrenderedthecopyholdtotheuseofherwill.Thequestionsonthispointare:

1. WhetherthelimitationsoftheleaseholdinfavourofthechildrenofThosBatesRous,&infavouroftheeldestsonHenryPeteroreitherofthemarenotvoidasbeingtooremote.

2. WhetherthelimitationsoftheleaseholdinfavourofthechildrenofThosBatesRous,&infavouroftheeldestsonofHenryPeteroreitherofthemarenotvoidasbeingtooremote

3. Whetherthefreehold&copyholdarenotatalleventsliablrtothesumoftheAnnuityof£100firstgivento(?)MrsBentham,thetestatricehavingsubjectedallherHampshirepropertytothepaymentoftheirandtheotherAnnyof£100giventoherbytheWill-But

4. Ifthereisadeficiencytopaythisanny–whetheritbeowingtotheleaseholdonlybeingchargedwithit–orthattherentsofthefreehold,togetherwiththeleasehold,willnotbesufficientforthepaymentofit=-thedeficiencywill,weapprehend,beachargeofthepeersonalestate,as,forthereasonhereaftergiven,theBinsted&Kingsleyestatewillnotbeliabletoit–andasMrsBenthamisgreatlydistressedbythedelayinpaymentofherannnuity,wehopethecourtwillallowthetrusteestopeyherimmediatelyastherentsoftheleaseholdaredeficienttopay.

Appendix4HRO27A01/C13/1Indenture,1830BetweenTheReverendMartinJosephRouth,DoctorofDivinity,PresidentoftheCollegeofStMaryMagdaleneattheUniversityofOxfordandTheScholarsofthesaidCollegeoftheonepartandJohnThurtonDeringofCrowhallintheCountyofNorfolkEsquireWilliamBenthamlateofLincoln’sInnbutnowofUpperGowerStreetintheCountyofMiddlesexEsquireandtheReverendWilliamBuckleofPyctonintheCountyofOxford,Clerk,(survivingdeviseesandTrusteeesnamedandappointedinandbythelastWillandTestamentofElizabethBenthamlateoftheCityofOxfordspinsterdeceasedadwhichsaidElizabethBenthamwasthesisterandNextofKinandalsoAdministratorofallandsingluarthegoodschattelsrightsandcreditsoftheReverendThomaslateofChristChurchintheUniversityofOxfordClerkdeceasedtheotherpartWitnesseththatthesaidPresidentandScholarsforandconsiderationofthesumofThreehundredandthirtyonepoundsfourteenshillingsandsixpenceof

26

lawfulmoneyofGreatBritaintotheminhandpaidbythesaidJohnThurtonDeringWilliamBenthamandWilliamBuckleatorbeforethesealinganddeliveryofthePresents(theReceiptwhereofisherebyacknowledged)andfordiversothergoodcausesandconsiderations,havedemisedleasedsetandtofarmletandbythesepresentsDodemiseleasesetandtofarmletuntothesaidJTD,WBandWBAndthattheirCapitalMessuageinOxenbornwithintheParishofEastMeanintheCountyofSouthamptoncommonlycalledHillhamptonwithallthelandsmeadowspasturesandcommonstothesaidmessuagebelongingtogetherwithalltoftsandmssuageswiththeappurtenancessituatedandbeinginOxenbornaforesaidLangrishandRamdentothesaidChiefmessuagebelongingorappertaining.AllwhichpremiseswerelateinthetenureoroccupationofAlexanderRobinsonGentlemansinceofThomasBatesEsqurehisassignsorundertenantsandalwaysreservedwiththesaidPresidentandScholarsandtheirsuccessorsandandallmannerofTimberandotherTreeswiththelopstopsandshredthereofnowgrowingorbeingorwhichhereaftershallgroworbeinanduponthesaiddemisedpremisesoranypartthereofwithfreelibertyofIngressEgressandRegresstofellcutdownandcarryawaythesameatallconvenienttimesduringhepresentdemise.TohaveandtoholdthesaidCapitalMessuageandallandsingularotherthepremisedherebydemisedthethairandeveryoftheirappertenances(exceptbeforeexcepted)untothesaidJTDWBandWBtheirexecutorsandadministrators(intrustasaforesaid)fromthemakinghereofuntothefullendandtermofTwentyYearsfromthenceandensuingandfullytobecompleteandendedSothatthesaidJTDWBandWBdonotsubstituteormakeanyundertenantorundeertenantsnorgrantovertheirestatetoanypersonorpersons…&c,withouttheconsentofthePresidentandScholars…Yieldingandpayingthereforeyearly….atorintheGreatHallofthesaidCollegetherentorsumofThirtysevenshillingsandninepenceoflawfulmoney&onthetenthdayofOctoberandthefifthdayofAprilbyevenandequalportionsaGallonofGoodSweetMalttobedeliveredthesaidcollegeyearlyonthesaiddaysOrelsethejustpriceandvaluethereofinmoneyaftertherateasthebestWheatandMaltshallbesoldintheMarketoftheCityofOxford…YieldingandPayingyearlyduringthesaidterm…overandabovetheyearlyrentofmoneyandcoinbeforereseservedthefurtherandadditionalrentofThirtypoundsforeveryacreofmeadoworPastureparcelofthepremisesherebydemisedandformerlyploughedwhiththesaidJTD,WBandWBshallPloughSoworconvertintotillageatanytimeduringthetermherebygrantedandsoproportionallyforanygreaterorlesserquantitythananacrethefirstpaymentthereoftobeginandbemadeoneachofthedaysofpaymentaforesaidasshallnexthappentoensureaftersuchEaring(?)PloughingSowingorConvertingintoTillage…andtheaforesaidJTD,WBandWB…doherebycovenantpromiseandagreetoandwiththesaidPresidentandScholars…shallattheirownpropercostsandcharges….SufficientlyrepairupholdmaintainandkeepthesaidCapitalMessuageandalltheBarnsStablesandotheredifices…allkindofreparationsstuffandworkmanship(exceptGreatRoughTimberontheStemwhichshallbehadbytheassignment&c…ifanybegrowinginanduponthepreises)andalsoshallfencehedgeandditchallthefenceshedgesandditchesbelongingtothesaiddemisedpremisesatalltimes&c…andsoattheendthereofthesameshall

27

haveandyieldupingoodrepairandwellfencedhedgedandditchedAndalsoshallandwillattheirlikepropercostsandchargesbearpayanddischargeallandallmanneroftaxesquitrentsandchargesandpaymentswatsoeverissuingdueandpayableoutofthesaiddemisedpremises&c…andshallyearlyandeveryyearduringthesaidtermcontributeandpaytowardsthechargesofthesaidPresidentandScholars&ccomingintoHampshireintheProgressofthesaidCollegeFiftyFiveGallonsandhalfofaGallonofgoodsweetWhateorthevaluethereofinmoneyaftertheradeaforesaidattheoptionofthesaidCollegeAndshallandwillyearly&everyyear&c…plantsetandnourishuporcausetobeplanted,setandnourishedupinandaboutthehedgerowsbelongingtothesaiddemisedpremisesoranypartthereofsevenyoungtreesofOakelmorOashAndshallnotnorwillfellcutloportopanyoftheTimberorotherTreesnoworhereaftertobegrowinginanduponthesaiddemisedpremises…uponpenaltyorforeitureofthesumoftenpoundsforachandeverytreeshiwhshallbesofelled&c…(exceptsuchtreesasshallbeassignedasaforesaifortherepairsofthesaidPremises).AndthesaidPresident&cdoherebyforthemselves&ccovenantandagreetofindandallowsufficientRoughTimberforthesaidrepairsAndasoHousboteHedgeboteFireboteandPloughbotegrowinguponthepremisesatallconvenienttimesduringthesaidtermtobetakenbyAssignmentofthesaidPresident&cyearlyridingthitherintheProgressofthesaidCollegeProvidedalwaysneverthelessthatifitshouldhappenthatthesaidyearlyrentofmoneyandsuminmannerandformaforesaidshallbebehindorunpaid&c…thenandthenceforththisIndentureandeveryclausearticlecovenantandcondition…beabsolutelyvoid..InWitnessI…

Appendix51857HROQ23/2/41Enclosuretext1856Textincludes:InclosureofStroudCommon,SheetsCommonandthreesmalladjaacentpiecesnumbered537,530and459intheTithesmap.TheboundaryliesbetweentheTithingofRamsdeanandtheManorofEastMeonandtheTithing&ManorofLangrish,commencesatthesouthwesterncorneroftheoldinclosedpremises&brickkilnintheTithingofLangrishwhereofJohnBerryistheowner(MarkedAonthemap)extendingthenceinasouth-westerlydirectionacrosstheadjoiningstreamandacrosstheTurnpikeroadfromPetersfieldtoWinchesterhavingtheManorofEastMeonandtheTithingofRamsdeanontheNorthside….Inastraightlineandterminatesatthesouth-easterncornerofInclosureswhereofSirWilliamGeorgeHyltonJoliffeistheowner,no444ontheTithesmap…Carriageandoccupationroadtwenty-fourfeetwidefromturnpikeroadandthenceinawesterlydirectionacrossStroudCommon(no46,or590and591onTithesmap),severalallotmentsandoldenclosures…tobemaintainedbyowners…anotherprivatecarriageandoccupaatonroadbelongingtoJohnBonhamCarter(17–E)allotments15,16,17…RothercombefarmbelongingtoJBC,…privaecarriageandoccupationroad(40)belongingtoC.J.Manning.

Appendix6.1852TitheApportionmentlistingsforHilhampton914Owner&OccupierGeorgeHillyerPriorsarable

28

913OwnerThomasBatesRowseEsq,OccupierJohnChristmas23EsqEastCroftarable915dittoCrabtreemeadpasture916ditto,HilhamptonHomestead917dittoHomeMeadpasture918dittoGrovearable919dittoStaplefieldandHomefieldarable

Appendix7HRO1805B/81876WillofJohnChristmasThisisthelastWillandTestamentofmeJohnChristmasofHilllhamptonfarmintheTithingofOxenbourne…Yeoman,wherebyIcommendmysoultoGod…FirstallmyjustdebtsandFuneralExpensesbefirstpaidandjustifieddAlsoIgiveandbequeathallmyFuelLiquorandProvisiionsthatshallbeinandaboutmyhouseatthetimeofmyDeceaseuntomybelovedwifeElizabeth…alsoImakenominateconstituteandappointGeogeInwoodofHolybourneintheCountyofSouthamptonYeomanandJohnTrimmerofHolybourne…Maltster,DanielInwoodofBinsted…yeomanExecutorsandtrustees…AlsoIgivedeviseandbequeathuntomysonJohnChristmasallmyEstateandInterestinAllthosetheGreatTithesarisingrenewingandincreasingfromlandslyingandbeingwithintheaforesaidTythingofOxenbournewithalltheHereditaments&cwhichIholdunderaLeasefortheseLivesundertheBishopofWinchesterandalsoallthatmycopyholdbarnandaboutsevenacres…orarableland…withtheHereditamentsandappurtenancestheretobelongingwithintheTythingofOxenbourne…ToholdtohimmysaidsonJohnJohnChristmashisHeirs&caccordingtomeEstateandInterestthereinSubjectneverthelesssubjecttotheCountroulentiremanagementandDirectionofthesaidGeorgeInwood,DanielInwoodandJohnTrimmeruntilmysaidsonshallarriveatandattainthefullageofTwentyfiveyears,andIherebyempowerthesaidGeorgeInwood,DanielInwoodandJohnTrimmerandtheSurvivorofthemtodemiseandletthesaidTithesandBarnandSevenAcresofLandforthemostimprovedyearlyvalueuntimesaidsone&candalsotoletandcompoundforthesaiTithesofOxenbourneornotastheyintheirDiscretionshallthinkproper.TheymysaidTrusteesrenderingajustaccountoftheRentsIssuesandProfitsofthesameonhisattaininghissaidage….butincasemysaidTrusteesshouldnothavesufficientmoneyintheirhandsarisingfromthesaidTithesthenIauthorizethemtomakeupandDeficiencytheremaybeoutofmypersonalEstate.AlsoIgivedeviseandbequeathuntomysaidsonJohnChristmasAllthatmyMessuageTenementorDwellinghouseTogetherwiththeBarnHopkilnandaboutEightAcres(moreorless)ofLandnowintheOccupationofmytenantKishChristmassituatelyingandbeingintheparishofEastWorldham…AndalsoThatmyMessuageTenementorDwellinghouseandgarden…nowintheOccupationofJohnDawsToHoldtohimmysaidsonJohnChristmas…AlsoIgiveandbequeathallmyhouseholdGoodsplateLinenChinaandFurnitureofeverydescription…topermitandsuffersaidwifetotakesuchpartthereofassheshallthinkfittoandforherownuseforandduringthetermofhernaturalLifeandtoselltheRemainder…andaftertheDeceaseofmysaidwifeUponTrusttodividemyGoodsintheposession

29

ofmysaidwifeatherDeathequallybetweenallmyChildrenbymypresentwifethenlivingshareandsharealikeAlsoIgiveanddeviseandbequeathuntothesaidGeorgeInwoodDanielInwoodandJohnTrimmertheSumofTwothousandandThreehundredPoundsoflawfulmoneyToholdtothemthesaidGeorgeInwoodDanielInwoodandJohnTrimmer…eithrtocontinueortoplaceoutatinterestthesaidsumof£2,300uponGovernmentofsuchotherSecurityorsecuritiesastheyintheirDiscretionshallthinkfit,ndtopaytheDividendsproceedandproduceof£2,000partofthesumeof£2,300tomysaidwifeElizabethforandduringhernaturalLifeinCasesheshallsolongcontinuemywidowandunmarried,ButincasemysaidwifeshallmarryagainThenuponTrusttopaytheSumofFiftypoundsayearonlyandtoapplytheRemainingInterestinsuchmannerastheResiduumofmyeffectsisdirected…andexpendtheInterstandProduceof£300…sotobeplacedoutatinterestonmynaturalChildHannahtheDaughterofHannahBanksnowMrsWrightthewifeofEdwardWrightaLaboreratFarnham…untilmysaidnaturalchildshallarriveattheAgeofTwentyfiveyears….thenuponTrusttopaythesaidsumof£300tomysaidnaturalchildtoandforherownuse…AndfromandaftertheDeceaseofmysaidwifeuponTrusttodividethesaidsumof£2,000betweenmysaidsonJohnChristmasandmyDaughterElizabethChristmasshareandsharealikeButincaseIshouldhaveanyotherchildorchildrenbymysaidwifeElizabeth…(divideequallyamongallchildren)…AlsoIgiveandbequeathuntothesaidGeorgeInwoodDanielInwoodandJohnTrimmerAllmyMoniesSecuritiesformoneyfarmingStock,cropsandallothermypeersonalEstateandeffectsofwhatnature…UpontrusttocarryonmyfarmingBusinessaslongastheyintheirDiscretion….AnduponfurtherTrusttopayuntomysaidDaughterElizabeththesumofOneThousandPounds…uponattainingtheageofTwentyfiveyears…morestipulationsintheeventofanyotherchildofhisbeingborn…

Appendix81891CensusDataforOxenbourneDwelling First Last Mar Age Sex Rel Occupation Birth parish

Oxenbourne Annie Lintott Wid 51 F Head East Meon

John Lintott S 29 M Son Groom East Meon

Charles Lintott 6 M Son East Meon

Lower Farm William Weeks Wdr 73 M Head Farmer/Maltster East Meon

Annie Weeks S 31 F Dau Housekeeper East Meon

Emily Weeks S 25 F Dau East Meon

Oxenbourne George Newport M 46 M Hea

d Ag Lab East Meon

Sarah Newport M 47 F Wif

e

William Newport 18 M Son Ag Lab East Meon

Ernest C

Newport 11 M Son East Meon

Edith A Newport 8 F Dau East Meon

Annie R

Newport 1 F

Granddau East Meon

Upper Farm William Vokes M 54 M Head Farm Servant Sutton Scotney

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Emma Vokes M 54 F Wife Bullington

Agnes Vokes S 22 F Dau Barton Stacey

William Vokes 17 M Son Ag Lab Upper Clatford

Albert E Vokes 15 M Son Carter Boy Upper Clatford

Laura K Vokes 13 F Dau Upper Clatford

Edith M Vokes 8 F Dau Upper Clatford

William B Vokes 2m M

Grandson East Meon

Oxenbourne James Dance M 31 M Head Ag Lab Andover

Emily J Dance M 29 F Wife Upham

Charles E Dance 6 M Son Warnford

William Dance 2 M Son Kilmeston

James Dance 1m M Son East Meon

Alice Nutley 12 F Vis East Meon

Oxenbourne George Ham M 28 M Head Ag Lab East Worldham

Susan Ham M 29 F Wife Alresford

Ernest G Ham 10 M Son Alton

Silas W Ham 6 M Son Alton

Oxenbourne James Rutter M 35 M Head Ag Lab East Meon

Jane Rutter M 34 F Wife East Meon

Mary J Rutter 10 F Dau East Meon

James W Rutter 9 M Son East Meon

Charles H Rutter 6 M Son East Meon

Albert J Rutter 3 M Son East Meon

Edith M Rutter 1 F Dau East Meon

Oxenbourne Henry Merritt M 44 M Head Gamekeeper East Meon

Emily Merritt M 48 F Wife Laundress East Meon

Mary J Merritt 21 F Dau Laundress East Meon

Agnes E Merritt 11 F Dau East Meon

Bessie Merritt 9 F Dau East Meon

Hubert J Merritt 7 M Son East Meon

Oxenbourne Edward Phillips M 45 M Head Shepherd Westbourne

Jane Phillips M 44 F Wife Westbourne

William Phillips 15 M Son Ag Lab Bedhampton

Harry Phillips 12 M Son Under Shepherd Bedhampton

Charlotte Phillips 11 F Dau Bedhampton

Herbert Phillips 6 M Son Bedhampton

Ada Rose Phillips 4 F Dau Funtington

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Oxenbourne James Grant M 70 M Head Ag Lab East Meon

Harriet Grant M 67 F Wife East Meon

Oxenbourne Isaac House M 57 M Head Shepherd Kings

Sombourne

Mary House M 67 F Wife Wooten

Stonylands George Cook M 67 M Head Shepherd Alresford

Elizabeth Cook M 69 F Wif

e Steep

Down Farm George Coles M 35 M Head Farmer Clanfield

Jane Coles M 38 F Wife Islington

Edith J Coles 9 F Dau East Meon

Ernest G Coles 7 M Son Clanfield

Gilbert L Coles 5 M Son Clanfield

Frederic W Coles 3 M Son Clanfield

Florence K Coles 1 F Dau East Meon

Oxenbourne Farm

Charlotte E Berry S 24 F Sist

er Farmer's Sister Weston Patrick

Richard J Berry S 18 M Brot

her Farmer's Brother Weston Patrick

Elizabeth Leach S 14 F Ser

v Gen Dom Serv East Meon

Hilhampton Thomas Merritt M 28 M Hea

d Farm Servant East Meon

Anne E Merritt M 31 F Wife Thursby

Annie O Merritt 5 F Dau Wallops Wood

Thomas H Merritt 5 M Son Wallops Wood

Charlie Merritt 3 M Son East Meon

Sarah Snelling Wid 72 F Mot

her Chalton

Hilhampton William Blackman M 39 M Hea

d Farm Servant East Meon

Sarah Blackman M 49 F Wif

e East Meon

Edwin Money M 30 M Head Farm Servant Bishop's

Sutton

Annie Money M 22 F Wife Midhurst

Edwin W Money 1 M Son Midhurst

Henry Hall S 15 M Boarder Farm Servant Priorsdean

Lythe House Richard F

Harrison M 45 M Hea

d Farmer Enfield

Caroline F

Harrison M 41 F Wif

e

Daniel T

Harrison 15 M Son

Harriet M

Harrison 12 F Dau

Caroline F

Harrison 10 F Dau Harvard

Jesse E

Harrison 5 F Dau East Meon

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Belinda E Virtue S 25 F Vis Redbridge

Annie Culverwell S 18 F Ser

v East Meon

Kathleen Merritt S 14 F Ser

v Domestic Servant East Meon

Lythe House William Weeks S 26 M Head Coachman East Meon

OnlyLythe[House]Farmisoccupiedbyaworkingfarmer,althoughOxenbourneFarmhousesCharlotteandRichardBerry,sisterandbrotherof‘theFarmer’,withasingledomesticservant,whileWilliamWeeksSenior[Farmer]waslivingatthetimeatLower[House]FarmwithhisdaughtersAnne[Housekeeper]andEmily.Upper[House]FarmisoccupiedbyWilliamandEmmaVokes(heisdescribedasaFarmServant)andfivechildrenandonegrandson,twoofthesonslistedasAgriculturalLabourer(aged17)andCarterBoy(aged15).Hillhamptonhasbeendividedintothreecottages,oneoccupiedbyThomasMerritt[FarmServant]andhiswifeandthreeyoungchildren,andSarahSnelling,Anne’smother,theothertwobyEdwinMoney,FarmServant,withwife,sonandboarder,HenryHall,andbyWilliamBlackman[FarmServant]andwife.LytheHouse,ontheotherhand,hasfarmerRichardHarrisoninresidencewithhiswife,fourchildrenandtwofemaleservants,aswellasseparateaccommodationforWilliamWeeks,Coachman.

Appendix9OxenbourneHouseLadyPhyllisWhitewrotethesenotesinthe1990sOxenbourneHousewasprobablybuiltintheearly1600s.Therearenodeedstoprovideafirmdate.Itwasoriginallyasmallfarmhousewithtwoquitelargeroomsonthegroundandfirstfloors,asemi-basementdairyroomandalargeatticspaceundertheroof,whichwasprobablythatched.ThefabricofthehousewasthelocalmalmstonefromLangrish,withlathandplasterinteriorwallsandchaffforinfillingandinsulation.Theoutbuildings,barnandstableblock,arethoughttohavebeenbuiltintheeighteenthcentury.Thestableblockwasthatcheduntilitwassetonfirein1905.Afewoftheburntraftersremain.Therewasprobablyafarm-yardpondormiddeninthecentreofthepresentgrassedareawiththecircleofevergreens.Thefootingsofabuilding,anditspresenceonanoldmaphardupagainstthewalloftheareaacrosstheroad,werevisiblesometimeago.Itmayhavebeenasmallcottageorabarn.OxenbourneHousewaspreviouslyknownasUpperHouseFarmuntilabout1910–12whenitwasboughtandturnedintoagentleman’sresidence.Variousroomsandalterationshadbeenaddedandmadebeforethen.Thedifferentrooflinescanbeseenintheroofspace.Thepurchaserinin1910wasaMrLiddell24whoemployedawell-knownlocalarchitect,Lupton25toimprovethebuildinginArtsandCraftsstyle.Lupton;’soriginalworkcanbeseenattheRedHouse,24Seep3.The1911censusshowsthatThorntonHasselllivedatUpperHouseFarmthen,andLadyWhitemayhavemis-rememberedthename..25GeoffreyLupton,seep3.

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CockshottLane,Froxfield,atthetopofStonerHill.HeworkedinconjunctionwithEdwardBarnsleywhomadeallthedoors,&c,attheRedHouseandprobablymadethehandsomeoakstaircaseatOxenbourne.Newwindowswithleadedlightswereinsertedinsteadoftheexistingsashwindowsexceptwheretheoriginalwindowswiththediamondpaneswerealreadyinsitu,ortransferredfromelsewhereasinthe‘breakfast’room.ThekitchenwingwasaddedbyLuptonasasculleryonthenorthsideandwoodenwalledpartitionorpantriesofstorefoomsonthesouthsideandaverysmall,darksittingroomfordomesticsattheendwithafireplace.Thefloorofthescullerywasbarebricksontheearthandthebrickwallswereunplasterred,andonlywhitewashedorpainted.Theoriginallanternontheroofhadopenlouvreasandprovidedlightforthepassagebetweenthepantriesandthescullery;alsocoldairandrainattimes.Thepresentstoreroomunderthebackstairswasadairyuntil1975.Therewerethreestepsdowntothefloor,ontwosideswereblackslateslabsrestingonbrickuprights.Therewouldhavebeenasluicefordisposingofwaterinthewalloverlookingthepathoutside.Onthispathisastoneslabwhichwouldprobablyrevealthedrainrunningintothedrainagesystem.Underthebrickpaththereisawaterchannelforthecisternunderthepathnearthepresentdrainfromthesinkinthekitchen.Watercanbeheardrunningintoitsometimesinheavyrainfall.Thewallinthedairyshowedsomeweaknessandwaterusedtorunintothedairyandfloodthefloor.In1975thespacewasfilledwithlargepebblesfromthebeachatHaylingIslandandbroughttothelevelofthepassageoutside.Apropermembrane,screedandfloorcoveringwasputdowninthestoreadtheadjoininglavatory,takenfrompartofthespaceavailable…(moreabouttheproblemsofdamp)Waterorthekitchenwouldhavebeenprovidedbythehandpumponthebrickslab(notivy-covered)fromthecisternbelow.Thereisalsoalargecisternbehindthestableblockandtherelicofthepump.Thereisalsoawellinthegardenonthesouthsideunderthelargeconcreteslabnearthegardensteps,undertheplants.Thebowwindowinthestudyand(present)diningroomandthestonearchtothefrontgatewerealladdedbyLupton

Appendix10.LytheHousefromthecensuses,1851-18911851: ‘LeithHouse’was occupied by George andHenriettaHellyer. Georgewas not there on the night of the census, and 62 year old Henrietta wasdescribed as a farmer’swife of 150 acres employing 8 labourers. Their 40year old sonWilliamwas a baker& grocer, and their 19 year olddaughteralso lived in the house alongwith a 6 year old grandson. Two agriculturallabourersalsolivedwiththem,a25yearoldfromFroxfieldand18-year-oldWilliamTitheridgefromthevillage.1861:47yearoldmastermarinerJohnSmirefromPortsmouthlivedin‘LeithHouse’withhis45yearoldwifeJane.1871: 27 year old carter George Carpenter from Froxfield lived in ‘LytheHouse’withhis26yearoldwifeElizabethandtheirdaughterbornin1871.

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Elizabeth(neeKnight)hadbeenbornatLeithyard,whereher fatherwasashepherd.ShewaslistedinthecensusasbeinginchargeofLeytheHouse.1881:RobertThomson,a62yearoldfarmerfromHappisburgh,Norfolk,livedat‘LeytheHouse’withhis60yearoldwifeMariaandhistwodaughters,aged29and23.Theyhada23yearoldfriendvisitingandoneservant,17yearoldAnn Eames from the village. The 1880 Harrod’s directory listed RobertThompson(sic)asafarmeratLytheFarm.1891:45yearoldRichardHarrison,fromEnfield,Middlesex,wasthefarmerat ‘LytheHouse’.He livedtherewithhis41yearoldwifeCaroline,whohadbeen born in the USA, as had their three oldest children. The fourth child,aged5,wasbornin1885inEastMeon,sothefamilyhadbeeninthehousefor at least six years. They had two domestic servants, 18 year old AnnieCulverwelland14yearoldKathleenWeeks,bothfromEastMeon.