Stanmore:
Pre-Roman - Domesday 1086
Stanmore: From Domesday To The Dissolution of the Monastories 1536 Stanmore 1537-1680 Including The Parish Boundary of Great Stanmore The
Grove, by Any Other Name, it's First Owners and Occupiers
The Grove, Joseph Gillott 1853-1872. The Grove, 1872-1906 Eliza Brightwen |
For
6 years the estate was in the same hands, there is still no mention of
The Grove house, which must have been leased separately, for in about 1800
it is said that a German named Fierville occupied The Grove.
Fierville
was, according to The Ambulator an enthusiastic admirer of Rousseau, and
constructed a lake between the house and the common in the midst of which
he threw up an island and on it erected a tomb in imitation of the philosopher
on the isle des Peupliers, at Ermenonville.
In the book `The Stanmores' published in 1938 it states: The mound, however,
is no longer an island as the water was drawn off many years ago and the
old water bottom planted with trees and shubs. Nearby is a large mound,
locally known as `The Hunge '( for which no derivation has been found),
which was made from the earth taken out to form the lake. Built into this
is a curious grotto, now covered with fully matured trees, the entrance
being overgrown with shubs. The front is constructed of huge blocks of
Hertfordshire conglomerate and waterworn sandstone, and one of these stones
is computed to weigh about five tons. The
inside of the cave was originally lined with red cockle shells. This is
really something of a mystery, but it bears the impress of the handiwork
of Fierville. Grottos lined with shells were a popular feature of a gentlemen's
residence in the early Nineteenth Century, and he seems to have been a
rich man who would keep abreast of the times and adopt the popular fashion
of the day. Expense did not matter, for the author of `The Twelve Churches'
states that he also made an exquisite and costly aviary with fountains
in it. This has entirely disappeared. There is a third mound in an other
part of the grounds (which contains a cavern for preservation of ice from
the lake), from the top of which Dick Whittington, in stone, looks admiringly
towards St. Albans. Little mystery is therefore left, but the huge stones
have to be accounted for. Not only are there large numbers lying about
but archways on which a raised walk over the lake bottom are built of them.
In June 1802 the estate
changed hands again, a land registry document dated 1823 details the estate
:
Whereby it is witnessed that in consideration of the sum £1850 to the said Arthur Ormsby, with the consent of the said John Samuel Torrians, paid by the said Charles Poole, and of £410 paid to the said Arthur Ormsby by the said Charles Poole, for furniture and live and dead stock as therein mentioned, and in consideration of consignments therein contained on the part and behalf of the said Charles Poole, his heirs, administrators assigns to pay off and discharge the sum of £1650 secured on mortgage to the said John Samuel Torrians................To hold the said messuage or tenement, lands and all singular other like expressed to be conveyed by the said Indentures of which this is a memorial, unto the said Arthur Austin, his heirs and assigns forever, in trust nevertheless for the said Charles Poole, his heirs and assigns forever and to be disposed of as be or they shall direct or appoint, but subject nevertheless to the payment by the said Charles Poole of the full sum of £650 interest for the same, and to a term of 500 years.............. In Pigots and Co's Royal National and Commercial Directory for 1826 it lists Sir Charles Pole (actually Poole), brewer, at The Grove. The first Map that The Grove can be seen on is on the parish map of Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore and Edgware c1835. By 1838 more land had been acquired and another change of ownership had been made. On the 1838 Tithe Map of Stanmore can be seen an area of just over 92 acres owned by Robert Charles Smith. The schedule that accompanies the tithe map states: Landowner Robert Charles Smith
Amount payable to Rector £21 5 shillings 5 pence. Click here to see an enlarged Map. Thomas Clutterbuck mentioned in the schedule was, I believe, the son of Peter Clutterbuck Esq who had been a church warden at Stanmore. At the time of the schedule Thomas would have been 30 years old. The Clutterbuck's were a brewing family who had close connections with Stanmore for two hundred years. The Rookery, which stood on Stanmore Hill was their brewery and a private house. Their public houses and signs were once very familiar in the towns and villages for miles around. At one time the brewers grew their own hops in a field on the Warren House Estate. Brewing by the Clutterbuck family continued at Stanmore, until 1923 when Captain T. Rupert Clutterbuck sold the old-fashioned brewery to Cannon Brewery Ltd who closed the site in Stanmore. In Pigot and Co.s Royal National and Commercial Directory Topography of the Counties of Essex, Herts and Middlesex for 1839, just one year after the Tithe schedule, it lists a Peter Clutterbuck at The Grove. Peter Clutterbuck was Thomas' younger brother. The 1841 Census entry
for The Grove states:-
The 1841 Census was the first census to be published and did not give a great deal of information. By 1848 The Grove estate had nearly doubled in size to 170 acres. Land had been purchased across the County border into Hertfordshire and across the parish border into Little Stanmore parish. The Grove was put up for sale in 1848, freehold, and advertised in The Times. Lot 6. THE GROVE Printed particulars may be had of Mr. Froggart, Solicitor, 16 Clifford's Inn, Chancery-lane; at Garraway's Change-alley, Corn-hill; and of Messrs. Brooks and Green, 28, Old Bond-street, of whom only can cards to view Bentley Priory be obtained. The Grove was purchased by Sir Ralph Howard, I have no information, as yet, on Sir Ralph. The 1851 Census entry
for The Grove States:-
The Edgware reporter states that Lady Caroline Bathurst lived at The Grove between 1852-53. Lady Caroline Bathurst (1783-1864) was the widow of Sir James Bathurst (1782-1850). Lady Caroline lived at The Grove with her daughter, Caroline Anne Bathurst, who was a nun. After moving from The Grove, Lady Caroline resided at 7 Southwick Cresent, Paddington, London. The Grove was put up for sale in 1853, freehold, and advertised in The Times on Wednesday 13th April. Stanmore, Middlesex. Excellent Residence, called The Grove, with Pleasure Grounds, Garden, Sheet of Water, Farm house and Buildings, and 163 acres of Arable and rich Meadow Land, lying within a ring fence. Messrs. FAREBROTHER, CLARK and LYE have received instructions from the noble Proprietor to SELL, at Garraway's on Wednesday June 26th, at 12 o'clock, a valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, abutting on Stanmore Common, on the high road from London to Watford, about a quarter of a mile from the town; comprising the excellent residence called The Grove, possessing accommodation for a moderate establishment, and commanding extensive and beautiful views over the county of Herts, including St.Albans Abbey. The residence is approached by a lodge entrance through extensive pleasure grounds, well timbered, and tastefully laid out, a grotto, maze &c, walled kitchen garden, farm house and suitable agricultual buildings, and several enclosure of rich meadow and arable land, comprising in the whole 163 acres. The ground is undulated, and has a fine stream of water running through it. In the occupation of Henry Hulbert Esq. and Mr. Withers, all rents amounting to £340 per annum. May be viewed by permission of the tenants, and particulars had at the Abercorn Arms Stanmore; King's Head, Harrow; Railway and Essex Arms Hotels, Watford; Chandos Arms, Edgware; of John Froggatt Esq., solicitor, Clifford's inns; Garraway's and at the offices of Messrs. Farebrother, Clark, and Lye, Lancaster place, Strand. The Grove was purchased
by Joseph Gillott.
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