Pippingford Park, Nutley.

In the early 14th. century the Forest became the hunting preserve of King Edward I who gave it to his fourth son, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. The Forest was fenced and lodges were built to house the foresters. The Forest suffered neglect in the early Stuart reigns, but after the death of King Charles I, the Commonwealth created a body to assess all royal property.

Map of 1610

In the Parliamentarian Survey of 1658 the Great Park contained seven wards, each with a lodge standing upon them. The whole park consisted of 13,991 acres and Pippingford walk was 704 acres, with John Pranke the keeper.

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The map of surveyed by Mr. Rob. Whitpaine and Mr. Alex Shoebridge in 1692 and 1693 shows Mr. Staples, gent of East Grinstead, and other proprietors the owners of Pippingford. They also owned large areas of the surrounding land.

Map surveyed in the years of 1692 and 1693 by Mr. Rob. Whitpaine and Mr. Alex. Shoebridge .

The Lodge can be seen at Pippingford but no properties at Old Lodge or in the vicinity of Witch Croffe.

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John Newnham Esq. of purchased Pippingford, Old Lodge, and Warren Lodge in 1757. It later passed to Sir John Shelley, Bart. of Maresfield in 1815.

Keltons Map of 1747 shows the Pippingford ward of Ashdown Forest to include Pippingford , Old Lodge, Warren Lodge and buildings at Wych Cross.

By 1799 Thomas Bradford had leased Pippingford Estate and the family had moved from Woodlands, Doncaster. Prior to Woodlands they had resided at Alverley Grange, and he was the owner of Coley Park Estates in 1802. The family lived in Ashdown Park House, and it is unknown whether he had the first mansion built.

3 Thomas married Elizabeth Otter in 1769 in Doncaster. They had five children, four sons and one daughter. Two sons were knighted for gallantry action, Sir Thomas Bradford and Sir Henry Hollis Bradford who died later on 17 December 1816 as a result of wounds from the Battle of Waterloo. Son, William Bradford became the Vicar of Storrington, where Thomas Bradford, senior died in 1824 aged 79, and is buried. Elizabeth died in in 1840, aged 94.

Sir Thomas Bradford

In July 1803 John Baker Holroyd, the First Earl of Sheffield of Sheffield Place was granted permission by King George III to raise a Legion of Volunteers, Cavalry and Infantry at his own expense, in the North Division of Sussex. This legion comprised two rifle companies and twelve battalion companies, a total of 1,260 men, drawn from the twenty parishes in the northern section of the Rape of Pevensey.

Lord Sheffield became Colonel of the North Pevensey Legion, Charles Abbot of Kidbrooke Park became Lieutenant - Colonel, with Edward Cranston as Major. The Legion was divided by district into several companies, each under the command of a Captain. Thomas Bradford was in charge of Ashdown Forest and Maresfield. He had 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 2 drummers and fifers and 50 privates, and led one of two companies of riflemen. He supplied his company with uniforms and appears to have displeased Earl Sheffield with the choice of colours. In December 1803 Thomas Bradford resigned, after he had been reprimanded by the Earl Sheffield for missing a troop inspection in London.

In 1822 he sold Warren Lodge, ( Ashdown Park ) and Old Lodge to Captain Henniher,R.N.

Did he sell Pippingford estate to William Le Blanc at that time ?.

William Le Blanc was a lawyer at New Bridge Street in London. He became a partner in Shawe Le Blanc and Shawe in the early 1800s. He provided finance for several properties, including a plantation in Jamaica with slaves.

In 1824 William Le Blanc who owned Pippingford Park died and his son William Elliott Le Blanc inherited the estate. As William was under 21 it was held in trust by his mother, Ann Le Blanc and his brother Thomas Le Blanc. William and Ann had two other children, Ann who married William Day and lived in Hadlow House, Mayfield, and Arthur who farmed at Marshalls Manor, Nutley. The estate was advertised for sale in 1826 but obviously did not sell for a while because Ann Le Blanc was resident there in 1828.

The next owner was Mr. Henry Shirley of Hyde Hall, Jamaica. He inherited Hyde Hall from his uncle in 1812 whilst he was serving in the Coldstream Guards. His first wife, Dorothea Francis Houlton died in 1828 at Bath and he remarried Isabella Martha Darrell in 1837 at Brighton. He already had a son, Henry and a second son, Leicester Colville was born in 1838. The family left for Jamaica soon after the birth. Henry Shirley was listed in Piggots Directory of 1833.

Hyde Hall, Jamaica. 4 The deeds of Pippingford Lodge Estate in 1838, 851 acres, record that the lodge house had been destroyed by fire since 1831. Did Henry Shirley build the first mansion, or did he live in one of the other houses on the estate ?. Henry Shirley died in Jamaica in 1845, his widow returned to Sussex and died in 1899.

Mr. John Gordon of Newton, Aberdeen bought the estate in 1839. He owned plantations in Tobago and an estate in Kensington, London. He died suddenly in 1840 aged 38 years. There were no children.

In 1841 Robert Henderson and his family were resident on the estate. All had been born in Scotland and Robert was the bailiff. They must have moved south when John Gordon moved to Pippingford. Also living on the estate were Sussex born John Bailey, a farm labourer and his wife Frances.

On 20 September 1843 John Mortimer became the owner of Pippingford Estate. John Mortimer had just retired from the prosperous Mortimer and Hunt, Goldsmiths and Jewellers to Her Majesty, having been in partnership earlier with William Gray, also a goldsmith and Jeweller at 13 New Bond Street, London, and then Storr and Mortimer, 1822-1839. A third partner John Samuel Hunt joined the business in 1826 and after the death of Paul Storr in 1844 the company continued as Mortimer and Hunt. There are many examples of their work in Royal Palaces, major museums around the world, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert, the State Hermitage museum in Russia and numerous in Australia, Canada and America.

In 1851 Robert Henderson and his family were still in residence. Also John Bailey and the addition of a groom, Henry Nye, wife, daughter and a lodger. At this time John Mortimer employed 28 people. A new house was commissioned in the French Style , the architect was Hector Horeau and this was completed in 1857.

A Post Office directory entry in 1867 has John Mortimer as the owner of Pippingford Park and a Captain Frederick Henniker also resident there.

Frederick Henniker was the son of the late Rear Admiral Jacob Henniker, R.N. of Ashdown Park. His brother Edward was living in Old Lodge at this time.

The properties below were conveyed on 3 August 1871 by John Mortimer to Henry Pearle Bird of 58 Lincoln's Inn Fields and John Mortimer Hunt of 156 New Bond Street in trust to build cottages for six poor honest persons, with preference given to tenants of the Pippingford Estate.

Wych Cross Inn with barns, stables and several fields adjoining. Cottage and garden with lodge and buildings. Wych Cross Toll House, conveyed to Mortimer in 1866. 5 Piece of ground lying before Wych Cross Inn 2 rood in width. From the end of the nine pin alley, and the length from the orchard, formerly a hop garden.

Wych Cross Tollhouse View looking south.

John Mortimer died in October 1871. He was survived by his widow , Mary. They had no children.

The tablet is in Nutley Church.

The conveyance is endorsed as having been produced in Chancery in Mortimer and Gray v Bird 1882. In 1883 the above property was surrendered by the trustees to Thomas Charles Thompson Esq of Ashdown Park. Keith Mortimer Esq. of Brighton, only brother of John Mortimer had been a trustee.

The next resident of Pippingford Estate was Frederick Gray. I have been unable to find the evidence that Frederick Gray did inherit the estate or that the estate was advertised for sale. Records at the Records Office Kew appear to show Hunt/Bird as the owners of the estate. Possibly the estate had been left in trust by John Mortimer since the earlier Chancery appearance in 1882 would indicate.

Frederick Gray was born in 1833, the eldest son of the Rev.Frederick Gray and Lucy Eliza Gray ( only daughter of George Wyndham, Esq. of Roundhill ), at Castle Carey, Somerset. He had three brothers and all four boys attended Radley College until 1849. Rev. Frederick William Gray died in 1848.

In 1871 he married Frances, daughter of Charles Wyndham of Donhead Hall, Wiltshire. and widow of Captain T. P. Rickford.

The Post Office Directory of 1874 has Frederick Gray in residence.

In the 1881 census listed is Frederick Gray , married, age 45 , born Somerset , occupation land owner. Frances Barnes, servant, age 46, born , housekeeper. Fanny Dawes, servant, age 29, born , cook. Sarah Lephard, servant, age 23, born Newick, housemaid. Edith Turner servant, age 19, born Fletching, housemaid. 6 Mary Heasman, servant, age 17, born , kitchenmaid. William Dawes, servant, age 26, born Uckfield, footman. George Parkhurst, age 17, born , groom.

Pippingford Lodge. William Gurr, age 64, born Maresfield, gamekeeper. Elizabeth Gurr, age 34, daughter, born Maresfield, housekeeper. Fanny Gurr, age 30, daughter, born Maresfield, servant.

Pippingford Park.

Jesse Stevenson, born in 1846, the son of John and Harriet Stevenson was the tenant farmer at Pippingford Park Farm in 1881. He had married his wife Sarah in 1865 and his children were Albert, George, Ada, Elizabeth, Frederick, Catherine and Arthur. He employed John Stevenson, aged 15 as a farm servant and Ruth Card, aged 19 as a domestic servant.

In 1888 James Green was listed in Brooker's Guide as a gamekeeper.

Frederick Gray was a Justice of the Peace and he supported local events.

On November 5th.1885 the Bonfire Boys of Nutley were welcomed with refreshments at the home of Frederick Gray before their journey to Fords Green to light the bonfire.

In 1887 he was Vice President of the Nutley Cottagers' Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Show.

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Mrs. Gray, maid, Mrs. Edith Peckham Mary and Arthur Parker Arthur and Watty Peckham about 1888.

Mrs Gray about 1890

I believe that Mrs. Gray was the mother of Frederick Gray.

Jethro Senior and son with the sail binder, Pippingford circa 1891.

8 In the 1891 census the address for Frederick Gray was the Constitutional Club, Northumberland Avenue.

Jesse Stevenson died in 1898.

According to a newspaper article Frederick Gray's wife Frances died in 1900 in Teddington, and was late of Pippingford Park. The inscription on the memorial monument in Nutley churchyard records that Francis died at Pippingford Park. Frederick died in 1903. They had no children.

In the 1901 census Pippingford Park farm was run by George Osborne, age 35, wife, Mahala, age 35, daughter Ellen, age 8, son, Thomas, age 7, son, Albert, age 6, son, William, age 5, daughter, Elizabeth, age 1, and daughter, Eliza, age 6 months.

Pippingford Lodge.

John Bulbeak, gamekeeper, age 44, wife, Sarah,age 43, son, Frederick, age 15, daughter, Rosie, age 14, son, Charles, age 12, daughter, Beatrice, age 11, daughter, Nora, age 10, daughter, Grace, age 6, son, Ernest, age 5, and son, Arthur, age 4.

Pippingford Park.

William Dawes, age 46, butler, Elly Dawes, daughter age 19, servant, Edith Johnson, age 26, cook, Mary Jeffery, age 26, housemaid, Fanny Sayers, age 15, housemaid Trayton Funnell, age 23, coachman, wife, Beatrice, age 23, daughter, Elsie, age 3, Edwin Izzard, age 59, gardener, daughter, Harriett, age 27, son, George, 11, and daughter, Ellen, age 10.

Fanny Sayers, 1902.

Edwin Izzard, 1911.

The will of Frederick Gray, published in March 1904 valued Pippingford Estate as £82,046.0s.

9 The Kew Records Office indicate that Captain Banbury was the next owner. I was unable to find an advertisement for the sale of the estate.

Burkes Peerage list Major Cecil Edmund Banbury,was born on 19 March 1878, son of George Banbury and Nina Beale. He married Baroness Lily de Brienen on 14 November 1905. He died on 18 January 1963 at age 84. He fought in the Boer War. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for between 1909 and 1923. He fought in the First World War, where he was mentioned in despatches. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the 11th. Reserve Regimental Cavalry.

In 1905 when he was a captain he took part in the Scottish Automobile Trial and was awarded the silver medal. While en route he was detained by police on the Nottingham Road for driving to the danger of the public and was heavily fined. His address was given as London

The Ashdown Forest Conservators minutes reported that Captain Banbury was the new owner of Pippingford Park in December 1908.

The local newspapers do not record his residency at Pippingford Park until 1909.

Prior to the beginning of the First World War he allowed the army to use the estate for training. There are several accounts of training listed in the Ashdown Forest Conservators minutes.

By 1911 the tenant of Pippingford Farm was Richard Stevenson, born in 1866, the son of Richard and Ellen Stevenson, and grandson of John and Harriet Stevenson.

Richard Henry Stevenson, age 46, farm bailiff, born Maresfield. Henrietta Louisa Stevenson, aged 39. Ellen Orpath. Stevenson, aged 67. Ruth Anscombe, aged 13.

Edwin Izzard, aged 69, widowed, gardener. born Maresfield. Harriett Izzard, aged 37. George Izzard, aged 22.

Richard Stevenson, 1912. In the mansion in 1911 it was recorded that the following,

Capt. Cecil Banbury , aged 33 of private means. born in Middlesex. Mrs. Lily Banbury, age unknown of private means, born in the Hague. Count Fritz Thurn, aged 30 of private means, born in Austria. Countess Elsa Thurn, aged 24, born in Austria. The Hon. Henry Lygon, aged 26, born in Middlesex. Violet Pressland, Secretary, aged 27, born in Middlesex. 10 Isabella Bell, aged 25, cook, born in Dumfries. Jane Raeburn, aged 24, kitchen maid, born in Macduff, Banffshire. Caroline Bloomer, aged 29, scullery maid, born in Middlesex. Josephine Power, aged 28, head housemaid, born in Kings Co. Banagagar. Deborah Parker, aged 26, 2nd. housemaid, born in Norfolk. Mary Woodward, aged 22, 3rd. housemaid, born in Middlesex. Rose Peddel, aged 30, nurse, born in Middlesex. Annie Grace, aged 23, nurse, born in Windsor. Bertha Foldier, aged 34, nurse, born in Colombo, France. Emily Saner, aged 34, ladiesmaid, born in Hampshire. Cecil England, aged 25, 1st. footman, born in Somerset. Josephine Shobert, aged 27, ladiesmaid, born in Vienna. Arthur Gubbins, aged 24, 2nd. footman, born in Glocs. Arthur Phillips, aged 18, 2nd. chauffeur, born in Middlesex. Charles Powell, aged 23, groom, born in Shropshire. George McRae, aged 39, valet, born in Inverness. Miss Peggy Ward, niece, aged 6, born in Middlesex, Miss Nicole Ward, niece, aged 3, born in Middlesex, Miss Nellie Ward, niece. aged 3, born in Middlesex.

It would seem that when the census was taken Pippingford had several house guests with their servants. Possibly some of the servants had come down from the London home of the Banburys.

Listed residing at Pippingford Park are the following,

Frederick Carter, aged 37, butler, Notting Hill, London. Edith Carter, aged 28. Evelyn Carter, aged 6. Lilla Carter, aged 4. Frederick Carter, aged 10/12 months. Mary Blackman, aged 54.

Frederick John Greenaway, aged 32, chauffeur, born Eastleach Turville, Gloucestershire. Alice Greenaway, aged 31. Christian Greenaway, 2.

Thomas Powell, aged 40, carpenter, Acton Round, Shropshire. Lila Powell, aged 34. Edna May Powell, aged 9. Evelyn Elizabeth Powell, aged 4.

Henry Smith, aged 41, carter, born . Mary Ann Smith, aged 39. Charles Smith, aged 13. Henry Smith, aged 10. Thomas Smith, aged 7. Cissie Smith, aged 3. Frederick Smith, aged 1.

Listed as Gardens Cottages.

Peter Sutherland, aged 32, gardener, born Perth. Ellen Sutherland, aged 31.

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There was a large timber yard at Pippingford, named as Van Diemens. This was possibly because Van Diemens Land, ( Tasmania ) was well known for the timber extraction at that time.

Photographs taken in 1911. Children are playing around the timber sawing.

Working with horses in 1911.

In July 1914 the estate was advertised for sale. The advertisement read, The Freehold Residential and Sporting Estate, Pippingford Park, Sussex, the heart of the Ashdown Forest.

In July 1916 Captain Banbury was in court having claimed £25,000 from the Bank of Montreal as damages for transactions carried out by them on his behalf. His address was given as Pippingford Park. 12

Captain Banbury and his wife are recorded in a few local newspaper articles in 1917 but he must have sold the estate by 1918.

Two employees who were not resident when the 1911 census was taken at Pippingford were killed during the First World War.

Percy Coleman and his wife lived in The Cottage, Pippingford Park when he enlisted in the 2nd. Royal Sussex Regiment at Lewes in September 1914. He was a private with the regimental number G/1647. He was later transferred into the 7th. Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and became a Lance Corporal. He disembarked for France on 29 November 1914. In the winter of 1915 he developed double pneumonia and was sent back to England. He returned to the front and was killed on 5 March 1916 aged 26 and is buried in Bethune.

Michael James Callaghan, his wife Jane, son, James and daughter Nancy also worked at Pippingford Park. His home was Clonnel, County Tipperary, Ireland. He enlisted at Horsham. He was a sergeant in the 36th. Company Machine Gun Corps, number 20301. and was killed on 16 February 1916 age 23. His widow remarried William Rivers, widower in 1918 and they remained at Pippingford until her death in 1938. James Callaghan lived at Pippingford Park until he was called for service in World War two. Nancy moved to Forest Row.

The estate with 767 acres was advertised for sale again in February 1917.

The next owner was Mr. George Anderson who had bought the estate for the timber required by the government for pit props in the mines. He had also purchased Ashdown Park estate in 1918.

George Anderson owned a mine, part of the Oxcroft Colliery in Derbyshire, trading under the company of George Anderson and Anderson at Empire House, 175-176 Piccadilly, London.

The first reference to the company was in the May 1918 Ashdown Forest conservator minutes stating that timber was being felled and left by the road sides, and that two fires had occurred from sparks emitted by traction engines, carrying pit props from Pippingford to Forest Row railway station. A letter written on 12 May 1918 from Messers Anderson stated that they had ordered spark arresters to be attached to their tractors and to instruct their men to be extra careful.

An application dated 25 September 1918 from the company was for the sanction to their laying down tram ways and erecting a power station on the forest between Ashdown Park and the Colemans Hatch to Wych Cross Road for the period of the war and for six months after the proclamation of peace. They agreed to nine conditions including having to pay £50 for the consent.

13 In December 1918 the company asked for consent to lay another tramway to remove 1500 tons of timber for pit props from Tile Lodge Wood. A second licence was granted for £50. In February 1919 the clerk to the conservators recorded that the £100 had been received. A letter from the company was received in June 1919 requesting an extension on the first licence until 31 December 1920 for which they were willing to pay a further £50.

George Anderson resided in the Crows Nest , Pippingford House lying empty, needing renovation work. He appears to have resided in his London property during the week and visited Pippingford for the weekends.

Robert Stevenson, born in 1874, grandson of John and Harriet Stevenson had moved with his wife Orpha and children Jessie, Frank and Elizabeth to the new Trinity Cottages, Chapelwood Manor in 1904. He was employed as a carter.

Lord Brassey, the owner of Chapelwood Manor died in 1918 and the estate was sold .

Robert found employment as bailiff at Home Farm, Pippingford Park.

Jessie, Frank,

Robert, Orpha,

Elizabeth Stevenson.

Robert Stevenson

Robert Stevenson's daughter Elizabeth was a parlour maid and son Frank worked on the Foden Steam engines with trailers taking pit props all the way to mines in Wales at times.

Daughter, Jessie became the cook in the Ashdown Park House kitchen providing hot meals for the many workers on the forest.

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Ashdown Park , 2017.

Frank Stevenson, centre. Jessie Stevenson

Men employed to cut down the trees were considered essential to the war effort.

Charles and Gilbert Sargent both worked for George Anderson, Gilbert becoming the chauffeur at the end of the war and driving the Rolls Royce.

In February 1920 George Anderson notified the conservators of Ashdown Forest that his timber felling programme had been completed.

George Anderson and Andersons of Empire House London disolved their business by mutual consent on 3 March 1920. The business would be carried on by Maria Stuart Maitland Anderson, dated 23 November 1921.

In April 1919 there had been a gas explosion in George Anderson's pit , claiming 6 lives. 74 miners were working in the pit at that time.

15 In October and November 1919 the estate with about 400 acres of land was advertised for sale, The sale listed the manor house with 369 acres, and separate lots making a total acreage of 540.

The Army was still using land at this time.

The estate was bought by Mr.Hayley Morriss, a bullion broker with connections to the Far East.

Robert Stevenson and his family vacated Home Farm when the estate was sold.

Gilbert Sargent was kept on as chauffeur and remained with the Morriss family until his death in 1981, aged 91.

Gilbert Sargent, 1917.

Frank Hill and his wife Florence managed Home Farm after the first world war until 1925, when they moved to Forest Bank, Nutley.

Wedding photograph of Frank and Florence Hill

In 1922 in a newspaper advertisement the bailiff was listed as Mr. Hudson. It could be the same Mr. Jim Hudson who was working as a carter for Mr. Anderson.

A book containing details of employees working at Home Farm and in the house has given a glimpse into life from 1930 to 1938.

Mr. Gilbert Sargent, Mr. William Rivers and Mr. Hudson were still at the estate in July 1930. It would seem that Mr. Hudson either retired or moved on later in 1930. 16 The following names are also listed, Driver, Arthur, Foreman, Tom, and Flora and Carrie in the house. By November 1930 , Cox, Tester, Gibbons, Ridley, Pike, and Coalfied have been added.

In 1932 Kingsland, Stevens, Gould and Horsecroft were employed.

The book contains enough material to be incorporated into a separate article about the farm.

James Callaghan, the son of Jane Rivers was living with his family in 1930 but does not appear on the pay role. He may have been employed elsewhere on the estate, or with another landowner. He witnessed a road accident outside the estate gates on the A22 which was reported in the local newspaper.

Later in the 1930s the farm appears to have been been changing, and by 1938 the majority of the livestock had been sold.

At the outbreak of war Pippingford Park was taken over for the duration by the government. Home Farm was managed by the Ministry of Agriculture at this time. A farm manager called Mr. Sparkes was in charge but did not live on the estate. Cattle and pigs were back, and many fields were used to grow potatoes.

Initially British troops were camped there but by November 1941 the first Canadian Division had moved into a constructed camp.

November 1941

Various Canadian regiments were housed in the camp until July 1944.

Hayley Morriss had two sons, Richard and Alan. Richard, born in 1922 qualified as a pilot but was killed on 10th. September 1943 when his Percival Proctor aircraft crashed into the tower of Pippingford Manor House. He is buried in St. James the Less Churchyard, Nutley.

After the war Home Farm was let to a fruit farmer until 1986. The total estate acreage now is approximately 940 acres. The Ministry of Defence hold freehold and leasehold of approximately 862 acres.

Hayley Morris died in 1962 and the estate passed to his son, Alan.

17 The estate is still managed by the family.

Acknowledgements.

Mr. Alan Morriss.

Mrs. Caroline Tayler, daughter of Mr. Alan Morriss.

Mrs. June Brown, grandaughter of Mr. Robert Stevenson.

Mrs. Jill Rolfe.

Kew Records Office.

The Website.

Sussex Newspaper Reports.

The Ashdown Forest Conservators Minutes.

Danehill Parish History Society, Volume 3.

Written by Mollie Smith, 2017.

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