Redfield

Redfield, originally known as Selby Lodge, was built after 1840 for Edward William Selby-Lowndes. It replaced Dudslow or Mobbs' Farm, an enclosure farm, part of the Selby-Lowndes estate. It also incorporated Heighton's Farm, which was bought by William Selby-Lowndes in 1865.

1781 Land Tax (it's not certain that these entries all refer to the same pieces of land as the later Land Tax)
Owner: Ingram, Benjamin
Occupier: Richard Gibbs maltster £3 17s 4d
Occupier: Thomas Wilson £2 0s 0d
Owner: Lowndes, William
Occupier: Augustine Seaton £1 13s 6d
Occupier: James Cox £3 14s 9½d

1786 Land Tax
Owner: Ingram, Benjamin
Occupier: Thomas Read £6 7s 4d
Owner: Selby, William
Occupier: Augustine Seaton £1 16s 6½d
Occupier: James Cox £4 1s 10¼d

1795 Land Tax
Owner: Ingram, John
Occupier: Thomas Read £6 7s 4d
Owner: Selby, William
Occupier: Thomas Read jr £1 16s 9½d
Occupier: John Richardson £4 1s 11d

1805 Land Tax
Owner: Ingram, John
Occupiers: Hawley, Cranwell & Warner £6 17s 11d
Owner: Selby, William
Occupier: Thomas Read jr £1 16s 9½d
Occupier: Henry Mobbs £4 1s 11d

1814 Land Tax
Owner: Ingram, John
Occupiers: G. Hawley & W. Ingram £6 17s 11d
Owner: Lowndes, William Selby £6 17s 11d
Occupier: Thomas Read sr £1 16s 9½d
Occupier: Henry Mobbs £4 1s 11d

1823 Land Tax
Owner: Ingram, John
Occupiers: Jas Tuckey J. Arnott & G. Cross £6 17s 11d redeemed
Owner: Lowndes, William Selby
Occupier: Mrs Read £1 16s 9½d
Occupier: Joseph Neal £4 1s 11d

1832 Land Tax
Owner: Highton, Edwd, esq.
Occupier: Mr Small, house & land ["unoccupied" inserted above, or below previous entry]
£6 10s 6d redeemed
Owner: Lowndes, William Selby
Occupier: Joseph Neal
House & land late Read £1 16s 9½d
House & land late Mobbs £4 1s 11d

One of these houses was Selby Villa, built in the 1820s.

1838 Register of Electors
James Hawley, occupier of house & land, Heightons Farm
Joseph Neal, occupier of house & land, Read's & Mobbs Farm

Oxford Chronicle, 27 March 1841
DARING BURGLARY. – During the night of the 11st inst a most daring burglary was committed in the house of Edward Heighton, Esq. in the Parish of Winslow, situate by the side of the turnpike-road, leading to Great Horwood.  The villains lighted two wax candles, and procured some beer from the cellar, which they drank in the parlour; they afterwards proceeded to Mr. Heighton’s bedchamber, and took his small clothes from under his pillow, without awaking him, abstracted his keys from the pocket, and commenced rifling the house.  Mr. Heighton’s housekeeper hearing them, aroused her master, when the villains decamped, taking with them £64 10s. in gold, three watches, and a great quantity of plate, the whole of which amounted to about £200, with which they made their escape undiscovered.

1885: Principal Probate Registry
BE IT KNOWN, that at the date hereunder written, Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Edward William Selby Lowndes late of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Esquire deceased, who died on the 13th day of April 1885 at Winslow aforesaid a Widower and intestate, were granted by Her Majesty's High Court of Justice at the Principal Registry of the Probate Division thereof to Meyrick Edward Selby Lowndes of Winslow aforesaid Gentleman the natural and lawful son and one of the next of kin of the said intestate, he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.
Dated the 3rd day of July 1885
Gross value of Personal Estate £2232-15-8

After Edward Selby-Lowndes' death in 1885, the estate was auctioned in London and purchased by Henry Lambton.

Bucks Herald, 18 July 1885

A CHOICE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE RESIDENTIAL ESTATE,

DISTINGUISHED as SELBY LODGE, within half a mile of Winslow Station, on the Oxford and Banbury branch of the London and North-Western Railway, nine miles from Bletchley, within an hour of London, in the centre of the meets of Mr. Selby Lowndes’, the Duke of Grafton’s, and the Bicester Foxhounds, and Sir Nathaniel de Rothschild’s Staghounds;  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, surrounded by several INCLOSURES of RICH PASTURE LAND and some highly productive ARABLE, the whole of the Estate handsomely Timbered, and embellished with ornamental Plantations, and embracing an area of 167 ACRES, in a ring fence, exceptionally attractive for its compactness and privacy.  The House is most substantially built, and contains handsomely proportional Reception Rooms, spacious Corridors and 12 well-appointed Bed Rooms, with Domestic Offices commensurate with the Establishment.  There is extensive and excellent Stabling, Gardens, Greenhouses and Vineries, and a set of first-class well designed Farm Buildings.  The Property adjoins the domain of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Hubbard is part Freehold and Copyhold, and for the most part is Tithe-free and early possession may be had.  The undeniable position and character of the Estate, situate in the midst of a favourite residential locality, and in a neighbourhood proverbial for its healthy character and salubrity, render it a most desirable Property to any gentleman fond of hunting and country pursuits combined with the advantage of being such a short distance of London.

Mr. GEO. WIGLEY
Is favoured with instructions from the Trustees of the late Edward William Selby Lowndes, Esq.,
T O    S E LL    B Y    A U C T I O N,
At the MART, TOKENHOUSE YARD, CITY of LONDON,
On TUESDAY, JULY the 21st, 1885 at Two o’ClockPrecisely,
The above important Property.

→Particulars, with Plans and Orders to View, may be obtained of Messrs. Willis & Willis, Solicitors, Winslow;  or of Mr. Geo. Wigley, Land Agent, Winslow.

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.

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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.

1896: Bucks Herald, 29 Feb
I understand that fifteen of the late Mr. Lambton's horses and hunters are being submitted to public auction this week, which will bring the Redfield stables down to half their normal number of horses. The name of Redfield having become quite a household word in Winslow, the following note from the pen of Mr. Clear, senior, may not be out of place:— The late Mr. Lambton, a few years since, erected a commodious mansion at Winslow upon a site then known as "Selby Lodge," but formerly as "Mobbs's Farm." This residence he designated "Redfield;" but it so happens that this appellation is a somewhat historical one at Winslow and long attached to another site in quite a different part of the parish. It is generally considered that the word "Win" at the beginning of the names of places comes from the Saxon "Win," a battle, or fight, and denotes that some battle had been fought there. In like manner the prefix "Red" applies to the immediate spot where such battle occured. In the Hamlet of Shipton is an old farmhouse known as "Red Hall," and the land adjoining is designated "The Red Field" in the Enclosure Act, 1743. This would seem to indicate that there was the probable spot where in long past days a severe engagement may have taken place between some of the Saxon tribes.

1903: Buckingham Advertiser, 31 Jan
Winslow Petty Sessions 28 Jan
CLUB LICENSES. The first of these under the New Act was granted to Mr. Chas. Langley, for the Redfield Servants Club.

1904: Postcard postmarked 28 Dec, addressed to Mr A. Lawrence, Clouds [East Knoyle], Salisbury

Message reads:
Redfield Winslow
Dear A
Thanks for card you will be sorry to hear George is laid up been in bed a month and likely to be there as long again hope you had a good time this Xmas
kinds regards to all yours Jack.

"George" must be George North of Drayton Parslow (born at Swanbourne), footman at Redfield, who died 27 Jan 1905 aged 25 after being ill with influenza since December.  "Jack" might be Mr Clarke the butler.

1909: Postcard postmarked Aug 16, addressed to Mr F. Fuller, The Gardens, Edgcote Park nr Banbury.

Message reads:
Dear Frank,
Just a line to you after all this long time  I meant to have wrote before now but I keep putting it off all the while, am sending you one of our photos we had took in front of the house  You will see our foreman on the right with a can, and one of the gardeners next to me.  We are getting on very well here with the work, but have had a lot of watering this last week  How are things looking at Edgcote daresay you have got plenty of work all the while  I don’t think I have any more to say this time as will bore[?]  hoping this will find you well  I remain
Yours sincerely
Fred

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.

Centre for Bucks Studies D/WIG/2/1/65 (March - Nov 1917)
Valuation of Redfield, Mrs Elizabeth Mary Lambton [deceased?]

CBS, D/WIG/2/1/87 (June - Nov 1926)
Valuation of Redfield, probate of Henry Smith

The Lambton family occupied Redfield until it was requisitioned 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.

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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.

• For a full history of Redfield, see the Redfield Community website