Winslow History | Winslow Vicarage and Vicarage Farm

Winslow Vicarage

rear view of the Vicarage
Rear view of the Victorian Vicarage (2007)

Oxford Diocesan Papers c 1670\1

These documents record the arrangements for rebuilding the Vicarage.

1863

1863

Letter 7 Oct

I Richard Suter of No 28 Fenchurch Street in the City of London architect and surveyor certify that I have surveyed the house and offices in the Glebe of the Vicarage of Winslow Bucks and that the same is old and dilapidated unable to be repaired and requiring to be wholly rebuilt and that there is no growing timber on the said Glebe nor any of the old materials in the present structure fit to be employed in the new works the old materials I estimate might fetch £34

26 Nov Permission from Bishop of Oxford to Rev Alfred Matthew Preston Vicar of Winslow for rebuilding residence house and offices

We the Rev John Wheeler Hayward Vicar of Grandborough in the county of Bucks and the Rev James Niven Vicar of Swanbourne in the said County of Bucks being two clergymen within the Diocese of the Lord Bishop of Oxford do hereby certify to the said Lord Bishop pursuant to the directions and instructions sent by him to us that we have made enquiry into the state and condition of the buildings upon the Glebe belonging to the Vicarage of Winslow within the said Diocese at the time of the Rev Alfred Matthew Preston, the present incumbent thereof, entered upon the said living which was in about the year of our lord 1863, and do find that the same have by wilful negligence been suffered to go to decay and that they have sustained damage from a want of common and ordinary repair to the account of £158 5s that is to say the vicarage house and premises, the amount of £130, and the buildings on the vicarage farm to the amount of £28 5s And we have also enquired into the money received by the said Rev Alfred Matthew Preston for dilapidations from the former incumbent and do find that he hath received the sum of £158 5s for such dilapidations and that the same hath not been laid out or expended in repairing the buildings upon the glebe belonging to the said living.

Front view of the Victorian vicarage

The photograph above shows the Victorian Vicarage in 2007. In 2011 it was demolished prior to the site being redeveloped. The photograph below (June 2011) shows the rubble from the demolition, and the view from Vicarage Road to Horn Street (shown by the tower of the former Congregational Church) which can seldom have been seen since the Middle Ages. The pre-Victorian Vicarage was on the south side of the plot, i.e. about the middle ground of the photo, and it would have been orientated towards Horn Street or the church, not towards Vicarage Road. In the 1851 Census the Vicarage was listed in Church Street, suggesting that it was approached from where the Girls' School was built in 1865.

The site of the demolished vicarage

Clear (1894, 53):

A Terrier of this date [1631], states there was then a Vicarage House of four bays, a lean-to, another building out-standing, two bays of Housing built by Robert Maynewaring the then Vicar, a yard, orchard, garden, and little close, all being about an acre of ground, and about 57 acres of Glebe besides.

A handwritten description of all the St Albans parishes written in 1705 by an unknown author (Herts RO D/Z53/Z6) cites the same terrier, but gives the date as 1634:

A vicaridge house consisting of 4 Bayes, besides a Study and a Lean to for a milk-house. Two bayes of Housing for a Stable, and other uses built by Robert Manwaring the present Vicar, a yard, Orchard and a Garden, with a little Close, being all together, about an acre of Ground, and 57 Acres of Glebe.

This sale notice for the curate, Rev. Mark Kerr, shows the contents of the Vicarage in the 1830s, and the occupations of a clergyman. In fact, Rev. Kerr only moved to Great Horwood, and was lodging at Brook Hall in 1841, but he had to move out of the Vicarage because of the appointment of a new Vicar.

Northampton Mercury, 27 Dec 1834

For PEREMPTORY SALE,
Genteel and Modern HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
LINEN, BOOKS, CHINA, GLASS,
ALE CASKS AND BREWING UTENSILS,
Nag Horse, Pointer and Setter Dogs, three double-bored Guns,
Poultry, Suffolk Cow, Saddles, Bridles, and other Effects,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
BY DUDLEY & SON,

On Wednesday, 31st of December, 1834, and following day, on the Premises of the Rev. MARK KERR, at the Vicarage House, WINSLOW, Bucks, who is removing to a distant County;

COMPRISING lofty four-post and tent bedsteads, with dimity and cotton furnitures; excellent goose feather beds, wool and flock mattresses, blankets, counterpanes, and quilts; mahogany and oak chests of drawers, mahogany wardrobe dressing tables, and swing glasses in mahogany frames; painted wash-hand stands, mahogany dining and Pembroke tables, bed and table linen, scroll sofa, dining, drawing-room, and chamber chairs; mahogany portable writing desk, dumb waiter, bureau and barometer, cloth and moreen window curtains, small library of books, oak and painted book stands, German flute, stuffed birds and hare, in glass cases; turkey and Brussels carpets, thirty-day timepiece (by Drury); alarum, wine decanters and glasses, dessert service, tea ditto, blue-and-white ware, tea urn and trays, polished fire irons; kitchen utensils, in copper, brass, and tin; ale casks, and brewing vessels.

Capital brown nag horse, seven years old; excellent pointer and setter dogs; three double-barrel guns; number of poultry, Suffolk cow; cock of hay, four bushels of old beans; saddles, bridles, corn bins, wheelbarrow, dog cubs, ladders, chaff box, hurdles, iron roller, cucumber frames and lights, garden tools, and various other effects.

May be viewed the Day preceding, and Morning of Sale till Eleven o’clock, at which time the Sale will commence.
The whole will be expressed in Catalogues, which may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and at the Auctioneers’ Office, Winslow.

There was another sale of contents after the death of Rev. H. Walpole:

Bucks Herald, 20 Feb 1841

GENTEEL and Modern Household Furniture, Piano-forte, Handsome Four-wheel Carriage, ale and wine casks, tubs, cast-iron roll, garden tools and effects,

To be Sold by Auction, by
DUDLEY & SON,

On Wednesday, March 3rd, 1841, on the premises of the late Rev. T. H Walpole, at the Vicarage House, Winslow, Bucks, comprising handsome mahogany four-post bedsteads with furniture, tester and stump bedsteads, goose feather beds, hair and wool mattresses, mahogany wardrobe, chests of drawers, swing glasses, painted wash-hand tables, night-commode, bidet, dressing-tables, 12 mahogany chairs, Windsor and chamber chairs, set of mahogany dining tables, large mahogany office table, mahogany folding and work-tables, piano-forte, (by Rolfe) set of moreen window curtains, floor, and bed-side carpets, rugs, stair-carpeting, brass and wire fenders, polished fire irons, kitchen utensils in general, ale and wine casks, tubs and trays, cast-iron garden roll, wheelbarrow, cucumber frame and lights, working tools, and various other effects.
Catalogues will be prepared, and may be had at the Inns in the neighbourhood, and at the Office of the Auctioneers, Winslow.
The Sale will commence positively at Eleven o’Clock.

The Vicarage Farm (Glebe Farm)

After Enclosure, there were 37 acres of glebe land in Shipton (south of Swanbourne Road) and 94 acres in Winslow (south of Verney Road; it eventually became Glebe Farm). The land was let to farmers: in 1845 Charles Monk had the land in Winslow (he was described as the vicar's steward) and John Bull the land in Shipton. The following seems to refer to Monk's land (he lived in Horn Street according to the 1841 Census). He apparently did not leave after all.

1843: Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News, 13 May
WINSLOW, BUCKS.
130 SHEEP AND LAMBS,
8 USEFUL DAIRY COWS,
TWO STOUT CART HORSES,
2 in-foal Mares, 2 Yearling Cart Colts, 2 Useful Hackneys, 9 Store Pigs, Poultry, Hay,
60 ACRES of EXCELLENT GRASS KEEPING, (Up to the 29th day of September, next,)
Farming Implements, Waggons, Carts, Milk Leads, Dairy Vessels, and Effects,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY Dudley and Son, On MONDAY, the 15th of MAY, 1843,
On the Premises of Mr. Charles Monk, at Winslow, Bucks, who is removing to a distant county.
THE KEEPING will be found of superior quality, well fenced and watered. Three months’ credit will be given for the hay and keeping.
The Sale will commence at Eleven o’clock.
Catalogues may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and at the office of Messrs. Dudley and Son, auctioneers and land agents, Winslow.

1843: Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News, 20 May
TO BE LET,
A DESIRABLE FARM, IN THE PARISH OF WINSLOW, BUCKS,
COMPRISING 125 Acres of Capital Pasture and Arable Land, in excellent cultivation.
For further particulars, apply to Messrs. Dudley and Son, auctioneers and land agents, Winslow.

The sale below (Bucks Herald, 25 July 1846) seems to have resulted from Rev. W.W. McCreight deciding to let some of the land in Winslow as allotments for the poor, later known as Van Diemen's Land:

Vicarage Farm, Winslow,
VALUABLE Growing Crops of Corn, comprising 27 Acres of Wheat, 12 Acres of beans, and 3 acres of seed vetches, 5 large ricks of beans, peas, barley and clover, 8 acres of lattermath clover, grass keeping, grey cob horse, waggon, carts, haymaking machine, farming implements, corn staddles, and effects,
To be Sold by Auction, by DUDLEY & SON,
On WEDNESDAY NEXT, July 29th, 1846, on the Vicarage Farm, in the Parish of Winslow.
The wheat, straw and rick of clover may be taken off.
The usual credit will be given, and the corn sold in convenient lots.
The Purchasers of the Spring Corn will have the use of the barns and yards to thrash the same and spend the straw.
The Sale will commence at 12 o’Clock.
Catalogues may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and of Messrs. Dudley & Son, Auctioneers and Land Agents, Winslow.

Mr McCreight was apparently involved in farming (Bucks Herald, 25 July 1863). The farmyard was where Glebe Farm is now.

T H E V I C A R A G E F A R M,
WINSLOW.

COWS, SHEEP, PIGS, OLD AND NEW HAY, CORN, MANURE, FARMING IMPLEMENTS, and GRASS KEEPING;
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY DUDLEY & SON, On TUESDAY, AUGUST the 4th, 1863,
At the Farmyard, on the Vicarage Farm, Winslow, by direction of the Rev. W. W. McCreight, who is leaving.

The Hay and Straw may be taken off.
Two Months’ Credit will be given for the Hay on the usual Conditions.
The Sale will commence at One o’Clock.

Catalogues may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and of Messrs. Dudley and Son, Auctioneers and Land Agents, Winslow.

1866: Bucks Herald, 16 Sep

THE VICARAGE FARM, WINSLOW
SIX NEW-MILCH COWS, 7 yearling Sturks, 35 Southdown Ewes and Tegs, Pigs, Bay Cart Mare, yearling colt, rick of barley, farming implements, and effects,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY DUDLEY & SON, On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1866, On the Premises,
At the VICARAGE FARM, WINSLOW,
By direction of Mr. Benjamin Todd, who is leaving.
The Sale will commence at Eleven.
Catalogues may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood, and of Messrs. Dudley and Son, Auctioneers and Land Agents, Winslow.

1882: Bucks Herald, 23 December

THE VICARAGE, WINSLOW.
RICK of NEW HAY, about 10 TONS, 11 Acres of GRASS KEEPING, up to March 25th, 1883: FARMING IMPLEMENTS, comprising Chaff Cutting Machine, Samuelson’s Turnip Cutter, nearly new, pony Dung Cart Harness, Iron Sheep Rack on Wheels, Ladders, Rick Cloths, Two-dozen Churn, Dairy Vessels, &c.; Four-wheel PONY PHAETON, by Salmons, with Lamps, Cushions, &c., complete; set of Plated Pony Harness: and a few Lots of Surplus HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, including Mahogany Writing Desk with seven drawers, French and other Bedsteads, Palliasses, Chest of Drawers, a 6½ octave Cottage Pianoforte, in polished deal case; numerous Out-door Effects, Garden Requisites, &c.,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY
Mr. GEO. WIGLEY,
On FRIDAY, DECEMBER the 29th, 1882,
On the PREMISES, WINSLOW VICARAGE, by direction of the Executrix of the late the Rev. A. M. Preston.
The Sale will commence at Twelve o’Clock.
Catalogues may be had at the Offices of the Auctioneer, Winslow.

1915: Assessment (TNA, IR58/2346)
Situation              The Vicarage
Description         House & Garden
Gross Value: Buildings   £55
Rateable Value: Buildings             £45
Occupier }            Rev. Thomas Hinkley Winslow Vicarage Bucks.
Interest of Owner            Occupier of house whilst vicar of the parish
Estimated Rent                 £50
Who pays (a) Rates and Taxes (b) Insurance       }              Occupier
Owners Estimate              [by] Small & Barker, Winslow
[stamp] 29 JAN 1915
Particulars, description and note made on inspection
A White Brick and Slated Det(ached) Residence
Entrance Hall, Passage, Study, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Cellar, back entrance, back staircase, W.C. & boot room
kitchen, scullery, pantry, store cupboard, W.C.
1st Floor 7 Bedrooms, Bathroom, W.C. & 3 Attic Rooms over
Very poor decoration
See Stabling
3 R 25 P
Charges, Easements and Restrictions affecting Market Value of Fee Simple
Very poor state of repair
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition     £1000
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land
about 30 a pole                                                                 £200
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c.                £800
Description of Buildings
Brick & Tiled Stabling [?]2 [?]stall
harness room (or store) & coach house

1930: Buckingham Advertiser, 12 July (notes by A.J. Clear)
I am glad to hear that there is a probability of a house being built on the Glebe Farm, Winslow, and it would be a good thing if others could be built – if there is a moderate-sized house to let, there are always about a dozen applicants for it, but not many want 10s. a week houses, with rates at about 13s. or 14s. in the £. There are plenty of building sites and Winslow has probably the best bus and rail service in North Bucks, both weekdays and Sundays.