Redfield

Redfield, originally known as Selby Lodge, was built about 1840 for Edward William Selby Lowndes. It replaced Dudslow or Mobbs' Farm, an enclosure farm. After his death in 1885, the estate was auctioned in London and purchased by Henry Lambton.

Sale Catalogue 1885: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies D/WIG/2/2/41Q

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Particulars, Plan, and Conditions of Sale of the Highly Valuable and Attractive Residential Estate, distinguished as SELBY LODGE in the Parishes of Winslow and Great Horwood, comprising a Very Superior Family Residence, excellent Domestic Offices, extensive Stabling 166a 3r 17p of First Class Pasture and Arable Land, beautifully situate in a ring fence, about half a mile from Winslow Station, on the Oxford and Banbury Branch of the London & North Western Railway.

Also an excellent Brick Yard containing 3a 1r 39p.

To be Sold by Mr Geo Wigley, at the Mart, Tokenhouse Yard, City of London, on Tuesday, July 21st, 1885, at Two o'clock precisely, by direction of the Trustees of the late Edward William Selby Lowndes Esq.

With Early Possession
Particulars with plans, and orders to view may be obtained of Messrs Willis & Willis, Solicitors, Winslow, or of Mr Geo Wigley, Land Agent, Winslow, Bucks.

THE SELBY LODGE ESTATE,
A Beautiful Residential Property within half-a-mile of Winslow Station on the Oxford and Banbury Branch of the London and North Western Railway, from which there is an excellent service of trains to Bletchley, within an hour of London, and at which thirty express trains to London and all parts of the Kingdom stop daily; half-a-mile from the town of Winslow, 6 miles from Buckingham, and 10 from Aylesbury, comprising a very superior Family Residence, Delightfully situate a pleasant distance from the Aylesbury and Buckingham turnpike road, environed with Plantations of Fir, and approached by an avenued Carriage Drive with Entrance Lodge, commanding magnificent and extensive views over a richly diversified tract of hill, dale and woodland, sheltered from the north and east by plantations, and having Lawns, Gardens, Orchards, Conservatories, Extensive Stabling, and a set of first-class well-designed Farm Buildings, and possessing every feature of a Charming Residential Estate

The House, which is brick-built and slated, is of most substantial and modern elevation, and contains handsomely proportioned Reception Booms, spacious Corridors, and well-appointed Bedrooms and Domestic Offices and comprising
On the Ground Floor, A lofty Entrance Hall 42ft. by 9ft 9in. Dining and Drawing Rooms each 20ft. by 24ft. Morning Boom 15ft. 9in. by 15ft. Gun Boom.
On the First Floor, 6 principal Bedrooms, 2 of which are 20ft. by 24ft., Dressing room, 5 Secondary Bedrooms with spacious Corridors and Landing.

The Domestic Offices, comprise Housekeeper's Room, Butler's Pantry, Servant's Hall, Store Room, large Kitchen, Scullery, Larder, and 3 capital Ale and Wine Cellars in the basement. Detached brick and slated Wash-house, Men's Mess Room. Shoe and Knife House, Coal House, Hen-house and Potato Room.

The Whole is in a first-class state of cultivation, having been highly farmed by the late Proprietor for half a century. The Grounds are particularly well fenced with thriving hedge-rows. The Grass Land is of excellent feeding quality, and a most invaluable feature of the property is that every ground possesses a never-failing supply of water. The Arable Land is of a most productive character and grows the finest crops of Wheat, Barley & Roots. There is a Brick and Tiled open Hovel, Chaff-house, and feeding house in No. 5. There are also two Brick and Tiled open Hovels and Rickyard in Nos 21 & 22.

The Estate is bounded by the handsome Turnpike Road from Buckingham to Aylesbury, and also by the Road from Winslow to Stony Stratford.
Postcard of Redfield

Following his purchase of Selby Lodge in 1885, Henry Lambton rebuilt the front of the house in red brick and renamed it Redfield. He extended and developed the Redfield Estate, building distinctive estate-workers' cottages on the Great Horwood Road. Redfield was a centre for foxhunting, and outdid Winslow Hall as the town's most opulent residence.

1896: Letter from Winston Churchill to his mother, written from Tring Park (a Rothschild house), 26 Jan
My dear Mamma,
There is no hunting tomorrow owing to the death of Mr Lambton, a prominent member of the hunt, so I shall be back in time for luncheon.

1911 Census

Redfield: 38 rooms

William Henry Lambton Head 43 Single Private means b. London
Elizabeth Mary Caroline Lambton Mother 67 Widow do b. Windsor
Dorothy Lambton Sister 37 Single do b. London
Florence Catherine Burrough Servant 53 Single Lady's maid b. Croydon
Gertrude Mary Isabel Bath Servant 26 Single Lady's maid b. Bristol
Antoinette Monin[?] Servant 50 Widow Cook housekeeper b. France
Annie Mountstephen Servant 24 Single Housemaid b. Langley, Bucks
Matilda White Servant 23 Single Kitchenmaid b. Warnborough, Hants
Olive Laura Hobbs Servant 18 Single Housemaid b. Bentworth, Hants
Stanley John Attrell Servant 33 Single Butler b. Broadwater, Sussex
Hubert George Trapp Servant 26 Single Footman b. Upton on Severn[?], Worcs
James Stone Servant 20 Single Footman b. South Farnborough, Hants

Living in cottages and stables on the estate were a stud groom, gamekeeper, gardener / bailiff, coachman, 6 grooms and 2 under-gardeners.

The Lambton family occupied Redfield until it was requisitions by the Air Ministry during the Second World War. After the War, Buckinghamshire County Council bought Redfield for use as a tuberculosis hospital. In fact, the County Coucil used it as an old people's home and divided the land was into smallholdings. The following extracts from the County Council minutes of the period show the diligence of the Council and its officers in fulfilling the terms of the various Acts of Parliament governing welfare and agricultural affairs.

Buckinghamshire County Council: Public Health and Housing Committee 9 May 1946

TUBERCULOSIS

Additional Accommodation for Tuberculosis Cases

Your Committee have for some time been endeavouring to find suitable premises to provide additional accommodation for cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, and have recently entered into negotiations for the purchase of a property known as Redfield, Winslow. These premises comprise a Georgian mansion, with five reception rooms and twenty-seven bedrooms, and an estate of 185 acres with cottages and farm buildings. Fifty-nine acres of the farm land are let to a tenant, but vacant possession of the remainder will be given on completion, and your Committee are of opinion, that the latter area could suitably be used as a farm ancillary to the institution. The property would provide accommodation for between fifty and sixty patients.

Negotiations were still proceeding at the date of your Committee's meeting, and the necessary recommendations are being submitted through the Finance Committee.

Buckinghamshire County Council: Public Health and Housing Committee 28 November 1946

Redfield, Winslow

With reference to your Committee's report to the Council in May last the purchase of Redfield, Winslow, for the purpose of providing additional accommodation for cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was completed on 7th October last. Negotiations are now taking place with he Air Ministry regarding the purchase of fittings installed by them in the premises when they were requisitioned by the Air Ministry, and the County Architect is preparing plans and estimates of the adaptations and alterations necessary to fit the property for its intended use.

In the meantime your Committee have made arrangements to continue farming that part of the estate, amounting approximately to 131 acres which is in hand. The County Land Agent has agreed to supervise the farm, and a Sub-Committee has been formed to which all questions relating to it will be referred.

Buckinghamshire County Council: County Health Committee 27 July 1950

OLD PERSONS HOSTELS

Redfield, Winslow

With reference to your Committee's last report, the Minister of Health, has now formally approved the appropriation of the mansion house, gardens and surrounding land at Redfield, Winslow, for the purpose of Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948, in order that it may be adapted for use as an old persons' hostel. Your Committee have accordingly given instructions for the preparation of detailed drawings and bills of quantities with a view to tenders being invited for the work of adaptation for which the Council approved an estimate of £18,000 at their last meeting.

The Small Holdings Committee have now obtained the approval of the Minister of Agriculture in principle to the appropriation of 156.462 acres of the farm land at Redfield for small holdings purposes, and have accordingly asked your Committee to recommend the appropriation of this area. The Minister of Agriculture considers that the remaining area of 10.2 acres should not be included in the small holdings. This area is part of the park land through which the drive runs, and immediately adjoins some of the land included in the appropriation for welfare purposes. Your Committee therefore consider that this land should be added to the area held for welfare purposes, and will arrange for its letting as a bare land holding. The land would be managed for your Committee by the County Land Agent.

Your Committee accordingly recommend that, subject to the approval of the Minister of Health, the Council should appropriate
(a) 156.462 acres of the farm land at Redfield, Winslow, including the buildings standing thereon, for small holdings purposes;
(b) 10.2 acres of the park land which lies on either side of the drive at Redfield, Winslow, for the purposes of Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
and that the sums to be transferred in the Council's accounts should be determined by the District Valuer.

Buckinghamshire County Council: Small Holdings Committee 27 July 1950

REDFIELD, WINSLOW

Your Committee reported to the Council in May, 1949, that they had appointed a small Sub-Committee to consider the use for small holdings of Redfield Farm, Winslow, which had been purchased by the Council for public health purposes, but was not now required for those purposes.

After careful consideration, your Committee are satisfied that this farm is suitable for conversion into small holdings and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have approved, in principle, the appropriation of approximately 156 acres for this purpose. Your Committee, therefore, support the recommendation which appears in the report of the County Health Committee for the appropriation of this land for small holdings.

Three holdings will be provided on this land and your Committee have already arranged tenancies as from Michaelmas next at rents totalling £474 10s. 0d. per annum.

The estimated capital cost of equipping the three holdings is £6,700 and the estimated annual deficiency on the scheme, i.e., the excess of outgoings including loan charges, over income is £413, 75 per cent of which will be borne by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Buckinghamshire County Council closed the old people's home at Redfield and sold the property 31 January 1978 to a housing co-operative. The successors of this Co-operative still own and live at Redfield.
Copyright 27 November, 2013