The Grove 1800 - 1853

Including The 1838 Tithe Map.

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.

Two Arches at 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 Third Mound with Dick Whittington. 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.
The Mound, Ice House or not?

In June 1802 the estate changed hands again, a land registry document dated 1823 details the estate :
being a lease made between James Ormsby, of Garden Court, in the Middle Temple, London, Esq and Arthur Ormsby, of Great Stanmore, in the Co. of Middex, Esq, of the one part, and Arthur Austin, of Lincolns Inn, the said County of Middlesex, Barrister at Law, of the other part, and the release being made between the said Arthur Ormsby and Catherine, his wife, of the first part, the said James Ormsby, of the second part, John Samuel Torrians, of the parish of Kensington, in the said County of Middlesex, Esquire, of the third part, Charles Poole, of Somerset Place, in the said County of Middlesex, Esquire, of the 4th part and the said Arthur Austin of the 5th part.

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..............

The 1838 Tithe Map For The Grove 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

No. Type Occupier Acres Roods Poles

342 Kitchen Garden William Abbot 1 2 0

343 House & Garden Lawn & Park -"-       -"- 24 1 0

344 Land & Buildings Thomas Clutterbuck 32 1 7

349 Meadow -"-         -"- 3 3 0

347 Meadow -"-         -"- 5 3 2

346 Meadow -"-         -"- 6 0 21

345 Meadow -"-         -"- 4 3 0

351 Wood -"-         -"- 1 2 37

350 Arable Field -"-         -"- 3 3 4

--- --- ---

92 3 38

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 Grove

Augustus Cavendish aged 30 Clergyman

Richard Elwes aged 74 Ind

Francis Elwes aged 12 Male

Elizabeth Armstrong aged 2

Ellen Land aged 22

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

A desirable freehold estate, comprising in whole, 170 acres, on the margin of the beautiful common of Stanmore, and opposite Bentley Priory, about a quarter of a mile from the town, on the road leading to Watford, at which place, four mile distant, is a first-class station, where all trains on the North Western Railway stop, and only three miles from Harrow station; eight miles from Uxbridge, fourteen miles from Windsor and about ten miles from London; comprehending a substantial brick-built family residence, erected on elevated ground, with South aspect, sheltered from the North, and commanding a extensive and beautiful views over the surrounding country, embracing amongst others, Porters, the seat of S.Jervoise. Esq.; Shenley-Hill and the venerable Abbey of St.Albans. The situation is proverbially healthy, and society select. The land beautifully undulated, recedes from the house in handsome enclosures (through which is a fine flow of water), and would, if thrown together form a handsome park. The residence - approached by a carriage drive, with a lodge entrance through shubberies and plantations, which are extensive and of thriving growth, intersected with gravel walks - is surrounded by lawns, laid out in great taste, with ornamental flower beds, and studded with splendid cedar and fir trees of great size and beauty, a wilderness and hermitage; and contains on the upper floor five bedrooms communicating by a long corridor, and a store room; first floor, four chambers, two dressing rooms, and a water closet; ground floor, a handsome drawing room about 40 feet by 18 feet, dining room of good dimensions, breakfast room opening to a conservatory, entrance hall, porch entrance, good staircase. The domestic offices comprise servants hall, housekeeper's room, butler's pantry, kitchen, scullery, dairy, larder, coal room and cellar, a paved area with covered way to knife and wood house, and other useful offices. Detached, secluded in the shrubbery, is a brick building, including brewhouse, laundry, three-stall stable, double coachhouse, loose boxes, lofts and saddle room. Near the entrance lodge is a spacious kitchen garden, very productive, and walled to the south, stocked with an abundance of fruit trees.

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:-

Martha Baines Head Widow aged 52 Proprietor, Fund Holder

Susanna Baines Daughter aged 21 Fund Holder

Thomas Abbott Servant aged 38 Butler

Charllotte Abbott Servant aged 19 Needle Woman

Lucy Abbott Servant aged 32 Cook

Edith Taylor Servant aged 29 House Maid

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.