Laceys
We only have a few notes about Laceys or Lacy’s and it is often referred to in conjuction with Scoltons. The combined area totalled around 47 roods.
The area outlined in red on the 1930 map below shows the location of Laceys and Scoltons to the north of today’s Stowupland URC Chapel.
2nd March 1790 William Fenton surrendered the messuage known as Lacys to the Steward of John Marriott of the Manor of Mumpliers and Braziers.
From an 1834 document relating to the Absolute Surrender of land by The Rev Henry Heigham of Hunston to William Fisher of Boxstead, Essex (as copied by Ena Carter) ‘All that one piece of pasture lying in Stowupland beetween the lands of the Manor of Thorney Leissons …abutting on the way leading from Stowmarket to Mendlesham towards the North west & upon the land of the Manor of Leissons called Laceys towards the southeast.’
1840 Tithe map has orchard (tm 408), Cottage (tm409 ) and Garden (tm414) owned and occupied by Robert Stephenson (farm bailiff of Rattlesden), also John Harbour was recorded as the owner of an orchard (tm410 so near by to Scoltons, the occupier was John Hannibal) and the Dissenters House was tm415. Owner C.R.Freeman. The area was copyhold to manor of Mumpliers and Brazier
In 1845 Robert Stephenson senior had died intestate, his son also Robert claimed the right to be admitted to his father’s lands and hereditaments (i.e. a messuage or cottage called Laceys) under the rules of Manor of Mumpliers and Braziers .
The property was subequently sold to John Dent who pd £90 for absolute purchase of the copyhold.
How thus fits into the story remains to be determined but:
From Ipswich Journal,13th sept 1856. Building and land to be sold ‘adjoining Thorney Green, lying near the church and road leading from Stowmarket to Earl Stonham – 80 roods, with an OLD CHAPEL or MEETING House standing thereon … (TM 405(?) and415)
When in 1863 John Dent the younger took possession of the land for £100 it was described as freehold being ‘late parcel of wastelands now fenced off containing together 45 roods in 2 pieces;-
37 roods abutting land late parcel of waste granted to John Pyman towards the west
8 roods lying between the Kings Highway towards the south on the church path towards the north and abuts land formerly of Charles Oxer (tm 411) and afterwards John Pyman.
John Dent had taken out a mortgage with John Parsons being the lender and Manning Prentice, merchant acting as surety.
1884. In John Dent’s last will and testament his property was to be divided equally between his daughters Jane Roper (wife of William Roper, a machine band maker) and Eliza Brown (wife of Henry Brown from Norwich). John died 21st March 1884 and his daughters subsequently sold the property to George Dent.
By 1889 occupiers were Frederick Wilding and Robert Burch.
George Dent took out a mortgage with John Parker Peasons, a Stowmarket plummer and decorator. George died in 1894, nis wife and sons were appointed executors.
In 1907 Herman Burch, a London Tram Conductor, bought the property known as Laceys (& Scoltons) from L.P. Rose.
In 1920 it was sold to George Back, a Gentleman from Kilburn. It was described as Laceys and 2 tenements formerly Scoltons with 1 rood.
Under George Back’s will of 1917, on his death (in 1929) his wife inherited 3 cottages known as Laceys and Scoltons.
In 1930 Charlotte Back conveyed the property comprising 47 rood to Stanley Arthur Tricker and Leonard Hunt. Tricker was an engine driver and Hunt an omnibus driver.
It is described as being ‘on the NE side and having frontage onto a lane leading from the Main Road to the common and being bounded to the SE side by the Congregational Chapel, consisting of 2 messuages and 3 tenements in occupation of J. Burch, L.Hunt and Mr Manning.’
1937, following death of S.A.Tricker, Eva Florence Tricker held the land as trustee.
{Most of the above information comes from copies of deeds donated to and held in the SLHG Archives/BBF}
