Clay Lane Farm

UPDATED January 2024

Written and researched by Charlotte Day.

Historic Occupiers (who are not necessarily the owners)=

Description- Half way between Marlow and High Wycombe. 1798= 100 acres with 80 acres of woodland used for timber which seems to have been separately let. 1861=127 acres. 1900=162 acres, mostly growing corn but also had pasture land. 1902 = 162 acres. 1944= 170 acres dairy farm.

1798-1810. Henry Crook. In will written 1800 left Clay Lane and Limmer farms Marlow to his son John and his children. If no child of John survived then Henry's nephews Joseph, William, Charles and James were to share the property. At the time of the will John did have a living son Henry who was under 21. Henry the testator did not die until 1810.

1810-1834 John Crook, son of Henry above. He died that year. His son Henry Junior was involved in the farm by 1831 when he died. Both buried at Little Marlow, see pic of grave below:

John Crook of Clay Lane Farm. Died August 5th 1834 age 53. 

And:

Wife of the above, Martha. Died July 24 1853 age 73

And:

Henry eldest son of the above. Died January 3rd 1831 age 25 [Henry died following a fall from his horse].

And: Martha Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the above. Died --Ju-- 1865. 

The Crooks fell victim more than once to  Webb's gang of marauders. Find out more here

1839-1840 James Crook. I have not yet looked at what relation he was to the previous Clay Lane Farm Crooks. The farm was used to host a ploughing match in 1840. In 1839 Marlow butcher Charles East was sentenced to 14 years transportation for receiving a sheep stolen from James by two Handy Cross (or Booker Common) men. Appeals sent by Marlow citizens, including James Crook, for mercy for Charles on the grounds that he was from a good family and suffered lameness failed. His gaoler reported his character to be bad! The funny thing is he had been the victim of theft from his shop a few years earlier with the thief John Neighbour receiving a sentence of 7 years transportation himself -see here. Note by Kathryn - Charles was transported to Van Diemens Land on the ship Lady Raffles. This departed England on November 30th 1840 and arrived in Van Diemens Land on March 17th 1841. He had the company of other Great Marlow/Bisham men onboard- for details on them see the post here

1841-8 Mr Wane. In 1844 a Mr J Simmonds was also occupying some farm land at Clay Lane- his main crop was corn. Could be a sub tenant.

1848-53 Alfred Keene, farmer [owned by Joseph White]. Alfred farming 127 acres with 5 labourers at Clay Lane Farm on the 1851 census and when he sells up and leaves neighborhood 1853.  Joseph Blackwell also said to be at Clay Lane from 1851 so he must have been farming some of the land, the remaining 60 odd acres, while Alfred Keene was farming the rest and residing at the farm house. Joseph took possession of the whole when Alfred left in 1853. Alfred was at Woolley Farm in 1861. 

1851 (part of), 1853 (the whole) - 1880 Joseph Blackwell. Went bankrupt 1880. Wife Elizabeth. Robert Morcott his employee sentenced to 3 weeks in jail for upping and leaving Joseph's service without notice in 1860. Joseph moved to Hill Farm, Marlow by 1881. See here. For all or part of this time the farm was OWNED by Joseph White.

1881 - Clay Lane Estate up for sale, freehold. Consists of the farm, two model cottages and beech woodlands, in all just over 224 acres. 

1897- farm stock all up for sale. Farm owned by Thomas Phillips?

1899- farm itself up for sale. Charles Stone occupier, probably as bailiff for Wethered family. 1898- 1903 William Hatt lived and worked at the farm as a Carter / labourer. Lived in the farm house with his wife Mary Ann and children.

1903- Thomas Owen Wethered owner, Mr Slocock farm manager. William Hatt, carter as above killed at Marlow Bottom when his horse spooks and runs over him with the cart. Postman Joseph Preston Shipton who was on his round came to his aid but was unable to save him. 

1908- Thomas Owen Wethered selling off stock from the farm.

1909- 1921 Marshall Croxford. Sold up stock and left 1921.

1934- and for many many years afterwards Richard Morris Kimber. Dairy farm. Land Army girls worked on this farm. Mr Kimber was prominent in local farming affairs and often a judge at cattle shows. This is going past my normal blog focuses on up to the 1920s so I'll stop there.

Post written and researched by Charlotte Day with photos by Kathryn Day.

Farm occupancy compiled from adverts, censuses, property records, farming journals, court cases, wills I have transcribed and more. Ongoing research, I hope to fill in the gaps as I sift through further notes.

For other farm occupier listings soon the Specific Shops, Streets Etc option here if you want a Marlow Farm. If you want a Little Marlow or other nearby farm this menu here

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©Marlow Ancestors.