Wymers Farm Marlow

Updated October 2024

Description: half way between Wycombe and Marlow. 1850= 59 acres. 1876= 59 acres arable pasture and woodland with two worker cottages included. 1881= 61 acres.

Historic occupiers (who in the past were not often the owners of their farms) and history timeline:

1831- 1851 Henry Webb. Also an agricultural land surveyor from 1849 and church warden. He went bankrupt in 1851 and the household furniture had to be sold off. Henry and his wife Caroline (nee Hyatt, married London 1837] eventually moved away to Croydon, Surrey where they both died in old age. Farm had been up for sale in 1850. (59 acres arable land and 11 acres woodland) At that point as well as the farm house a separate house or "gentlemanly residence" known as "Wymers" was part of the estate. This in other records is consistently described as having an impressive and lovely garden. Henry lived in this larger house at the time of the 1833 parochial assessment with only a cottage as the rest of the residential buildings on the estate. This cottage was either the later farm house in it's infancy or the first of the two worker's cottages later mentioned as being part of the estate with no farm house yet built. In 1844 a dozen turkeys are stolen from Henry in one of Marlow's traditional December poultry thieving raids. 

1854- 1882 Aaron Simmonds. Sometimes given as Simmons. Wife Mary. Before becoming a farmer in his own right he was a corn dealer but also helped his uncle William on his farm in Little Marlow. Aaron lived with him then. Aaron was summoned in 1866 for using a steam threshing machine at Wymers too close to the public highway. Aaron said he was unaware of restrictions on their use in that way and anyway the road concerned was rarely used. He received a minimal fine of 1 shilling plus costs [Reading Mercury 22nd Feb 1866, British Library]. In 1872 the farm house was used for the inquest into the death of 3 year Mary Ann Burt, daughter of Thomas and Harriet of nearby Ragman's Castle (a small farm / homestead) who had accidentally burned to death. Such deaths were sadly not uncommon in Marlow's past, nor anywhere else. Four years later Aaron hosted another coroner's inquest into a a sad case, seventy plus year old Mr Gardener, who lived in a nearby cottage finding himself unable to work due to age cut his throat rather than go into the workhouse. His wife found him lying injured in bed but he could not be saved. The jury decided that he had been suffering from temporary insanity (Reading Mercury 22nd January 1876, British Library Archives). Read more here

Aaron died at the farm in 1882 age 76. His widow Mary died at Little Marlow in 1892.

1882- The owner put the farm up for sale. Marketed largely as a shooting estate rather than a farm.

1890-1895 Mr Sauvee occupier. Employed a game keeper and kept chickens. In November 1893 snow was so severe that the farm was cut off behind drifts that were over 10 feet deep. Seemingly tenant of Mr Phillips.

[1893-1913 at least Wymers farm house as opposed to the farm lands was occupied by Thomas Arnold Herbert a prominent figure in local Liberal politics and who was elected South Bucks M.P. in 1906. He also maintained a home at Kensington Park Gardens London. Sadly though "radical" and "Liberal" for his times he was a dedicated blood sports participant who often hosted local hunts. Wife Elizabeth. Both she and her husband loudly opposed women being given the right to vote. This was thought to be a contributing factor to his failure to be re-elected in 1910. Mr Herbert seems accident prone breaking his arm in a riding accident in London and then while still recovering from that managing to overturn his carriage in Marlow hurting himself afresh. Elizabeth was a passenger in that carriage but was unharmed. A photo of Thomas can be seen on Wikipedia].

1897- farm stock for sale. New tenant if the farm lands / yard coming in.

1901-1902 Henry Seymour. Wife Mary. 

1939 Thomas Herbert retired Q.C. Does not seem to actively farm.

Farm occupancies compiled from the cross referencing of 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 see the Specific Shops, Streets Etc option on the top drop menu here  if you want a Marlow Farm. If you want a Little Marlow or other nearby farm try the Other Places option here 

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©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this my original research for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here.