Crown Farm (tm 341)
This 1940s sketch of Crown Farmhouse was copied from for a WI diary in SLHG Archives.
Most of the following comes from the material collecected by Ena Carter and passed over to SLHG Archives by her daughter.
17th century
Crown Farm Fields 1699
Reedfield: 13a Or 21p
Reedfield Meadow: 3 a 1r 0p
Pratts Pightle: 3a 2r 33p
Home Close : 2a 2r 8p
Simmies (?): 5a
Long Close: 6a
Rushie Close: 3a 2r 0p
Creakes meadow: 2a 3r 30p
Padnalls Croft: 11a 0r 10p
Aylmer Field 9a
Cart House Meadow: 10a
Bucke 12 a 1r 16p
Total 82a 1r 38p
Indenture 25th March 1699 – between Joseph Crane of Stowupland the younger Gent & Martha Crane of Stowupland spinster & George Richardson of Stowmarket woolcomber.
£120 paid by George Richardson –
Messuage etc late in tenure or occupation of Robert Wiggen & now of Robert Richer.
…………………………………………….
A will of 1703 tells us Wm Goodrich purchased 14a off Thos Tyler was leased to John Saer by Christopher & Eliz (nee Goodrich) Last.
18th century
Details from an indenture record of 1703 (retrieved by Ena Carter), between James Dalton of Stowupland, Gent; Joseph Crane late of Stowupland & now of Writtle Essex, Gent and John Saer alias hawkings of Stowmarket worsted weaver.
– relating to messuages etc in Stowuplnd late in the tenure or occupation of Robert Wiggen, after in tenure or occupation of Robert Richer 7 now of Elizabeth Richer widow. Fields as above.
Details from an indenture record of 1704 and later 1708 (retrieved by Ena Carter) Joseph & Martha Crane (brother & sister) are named as owners. Their grandfather was Joseph Crane and father John Crane. (By 1708 Martha has married James Dalton).
mention is made of ‘ three acres of meadow with appurtenaces late parcell of the moiety of one messuage or tenement sometime surrende by Joseph Crane their grandfather to the use of Edward Baker & Dorothy his wife.
Occupiers, Edmund & Dorothy Baker, Robert Wiggen, Robert Richer (1708 Eliz Richer, widow)
In 1791 an occupier is named as John Robinson.
Members of the Carter family were in Crown Farm from 1791 to 1819, they then left Stowupland but returned in 1850 to Green Farm
19th century
1809 to 1819 occupiers are Henry Carter, Widow Carter then William Pearle. In 1818 the farm was put up for auction.
Lot 2 was a cottage adjoining Lot 1 with 1a 0r 34p of ‘excellent pasture’ in the occupation of John Robinson.
In addition “ This estate has an unlimited right of commmonage on Thorney Green which abuts on it. Half the purchase money may remain on security of the estate”
In the 1839/40 Tithe record the owner is named as Edward Jermyn and the occupier of the land was John Boby, also named William Fenton. Moat Meadow (tm 404) also occ John Boby, own Ed Jermyn. Pightle (tm 405) occ Robert Burch, owner Ed Jermyn.
In the 1851 census John Boby is named as a farmer of 100 acres employing 2 men and 1 boy.
From the 1855 Rate Book E. Jerman Esqu . John Stedman is an occupier, also named is George Southgate. John Stedman is named as occupier from 1855 to 1896.
Ena Carter listed the fields of Crown Farm in 1861. Although the listing says nos refer to Ord Survey they seem to be Tithe map nos..
To the North of the Main Road. 404 and 343 both border the Main Road, wrapping round The farmhouse and Crown Pub (publican J.C. Cobbold Esq). 404, 403A and 403 (Tyler’s Field) border Thorney Green. 349, Great Reads borders land owned by George Faulkner and properties along Gipping Road (or the road to Newton).
To the South of Main Road. 416 Great Meadow and 426 Long Field borders Park Farm Drive and lands of Miss Pyman. 338 Marks Field borders land for the Poor of Stowupland.
See also Mill Street
The Ipswich Journal of 31st Aug 1861 announced “For sale – Crown Farm (98a 2r 15p) now in occupation of Mr John Stedman”
From an indenture record of 1877 (retrieved by Ena Carter) between John Stedman and Lucy Screiber of Claydon, widow.
20th century
Sale Particulars of Crown Farmhouse: 31 Dec 1901.
“Stud & plaster built, with pan-tiled roof. standing back from the Road, with garden in front having entrance lobby, parlour 18ft by 14 ft 6ins; keeping room 18 ft by 13 ft, with corner cupboard; wash house with two coppers, sink & pump from pond; dairy; storeroom; cellar, with small room over; four bedrooms & 2 lumbar rooms; near to is a thatch gighouse & fowl houses (tm 341)
In a meadow next the Green is a stud & plaster thatched OLD COTTAGE (tm 406).
A large reservoir pond in the cottage meadow (OS 405) which the Parish Council pays £1 per annum for the right to draw water from by two pumps.
At the start of the 20th century Mr H.F. Harwood is owner of Crown Farm, till 1926 when the previous tenant Edgar Abbott takes over ownership. followed by Wm (Billie) Abbott who had the house, orchard and buildings to north of Main Road, Fred Cubbitt had land & buildings south of the road.
In 1955 Crown farm was sold in 4 lots.
Lot 1 (in red) was 3 ½ acres to include the ‘old fashioned timber framed house with 4 bedrooms and newly fitted bathroom (h & c) and separate W.C. with modern flush.
lot 2 (in blue) was a small holding which was described as ‘an excellent set of premises well-maintained and conveniently planned for pig keeping and 4 arable fields.
Lot 3 (blue) was 2 arable fields and included grazing rightd over Thorney Green
Lot 4 (red) was an arable field.
(Details taken from leaflet in SLHG Archives)
Lot 1 & 3 (house & orchard) were bought by Colonel Richard & Shirley Leaming.
Lot 2 was bought by Fred Cubitt of Croft Farm. This was later split: 475 was kept by F.Cubitt, 478 sold to Mr Farrow and 13 ac of 463 sold to E.Taylor.
Lot 4 was bought by Edgar Wilden and later sold to R.Ames who built a bungalow there. Ames sold to Mr Haylock ( rating clerk to Gipping RDC, later (1966) Mid-Suffolk RC)
Aroung 1966/8 Mr Haylock sold to F.W. Keeling (a greengrocery market tradesman)
October 1976 Peter Field & his wife are named on the voters list as living in the farmhouse.
October 1980 Oliver & Janet Lake are named on the voters list as living in the farmhouse.
