Grange Farm (tm 157), Saxham Street
At the present time (2023) it is unclear when the name Grange Farm was applied to this property.The names of the fields mentioned in the tithe apportionments (1839/40) are useful indicators of past owners of the surrounding farmland.
The Town and Country Planning Act of 1947 describing buildings of Special Architectural or Historic value described Grange farmhouse as 27/28 C Two storey. ‘L’ plan. Timber framed, plastered, plaintiles. Casements. Plank door,=.
In 1842 Susannah, elder daughter of Charles Law married Henry Scotchmer. After her father’s death in 1869, her husband took over the tenancy.
1844 (Whites) occupier is Chas Bloomfield Law, he is also Stowupland’s Relieving Officer . The owner is Samuel Holland
A sketch map showing the fields around Grange Farm that are menrioned in the 1839/40 tithe apportionaments. Mrs Scarlett 153 refers to Sidney’s mother who lived in Grange Cottage in to the 1960’s not in 1840, though the property was part of the Grange farm estate.
At the time of the 1840 census Charles Bloomfield Law with his wife Susannah were living and farming at Grange Farm. Also there were his three children Susannah, Charles and Mary, all who seem to been born in 1820.
They have a 15 year old servant, Mary Dent.
Charles, the father, died in 1867
In 1868, the stock of Charles Law was auctioned off.
From a press cutting from 6th September 1856, as noted by Ena Carter “A serious accident occurred at Stowupland on Monday last to William Chapman, in the employ of Mr C.Laws, farmer…age 60 …and been on the farm for 30 years…doubtful if he will recover.”
In 1897 Samuel Cobbold was occupier of Grange Farm (owner Samuel Holland), in 1921 he becomes owner.
Samuel Holland had owned the property since 1826 when the occupier was John Roper. Between 1840 and 1874 the occupier was Charles Bloomfield Law.
In 1874 Henry Scotchmer was the occupier for 10 years.
From the Ipswich Journal, 19th Feb 1842 – “married 12th inst Stowmarket church by Rev A. G.H Hollingsworth vicar Mr Henry Scotchmere of Gipping to Susannah eldest daughter of Mr Charles Law of Stowuplamd” (ECA)
1881 Census gives the Lingwood family at Grange farm, Decimus Lingwood, a widowed farmer with servants Sara Phillips and Job Hunnibal
From 1885 John William Howard was the occupier until the Cobbold’s arrived, first as occupiers in 1897 becomming owners in 1921.
We are grateful to Margaret Catchpole’s family for saving this photo of a butter making class that was hold at Grange Farm in 1890. The gentleman to the left, in the apron, is John Blenkoe Howard. To his right on the back row is Alice Barnard (m. Forsdyke, see Crown Inn). The lady in front of them is Mrs Mary J. Carter.
In 1926, Samuel Cobbold added Bradwell Croft to his farmlands.
Roy Colchester shared his memories with a local researcher as to what local people recalled of WW2. He was living in Mendlesham in 1939.
‘A lone Dormier (sic) bomber machine gunned a building at Grange Farm, Stowupland where pigs were kept. Will Scarlett had a near miss when the bullets hit the building within inches of where he was standing.
Grange Farm was my aunt’s property (ed. note Ivy Cobbold) and the buildings were shattered when a V2 rocket exploded in space and much of the debris descended there. Luckily the venturi of the rocket carried on about another half a mile. It is now an exhibit in a museum.
In the document designating ‘Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Town and Country Planning Act, 1947: Section 30) Grange Farmhouse is listed as Grade III, ‘17/18th C. Two Storeys. ‘L’ plan. Timber framed, plastered, plantiles, casements. Plank door’.
