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The Auction Sale document of
the Arborfield Hall Estate dating from
August 18th 1855 was held in central London, and was successfully sold to John
Hargreaves. After the image of the front page and picture shown below is most of the text contained in
the Sale document.
BERKS.
THE ARBORFIELD HALL ESTATE
near the Capital Town of Reading,
A particularly healthy, beautiful, and favourite Neighbourhood, within reach of
Four Packs of Hounds, and only One Hour and a Half's Journey from London.
Particulars of the above very valuable estate and delightful residence,
embracing a compact freehold domain of nearly 318 Acres,
comprising a strikingly handsome and substantial Mansion, in the Elizabethan
style, admirably planned and highly decorated, placed on a gentle elevation,
with Southward aspect,
in a small park, approached through rustic lodges;
superior stabling & walled gardens, and varied pleasure grounds & walks,
Bounded by the River Loddon, in which it possesses an extensive fishery, and on
which, in a picturesque spot, is
a capital Mill and Residence attached to the property; together with (in a Ring
Fence) the well known Model Farm on which the late Sir John Conroy, Bart.,
devoted a great portion of his time and attention,
and expended productively a large amount of capital:
Which will be sold at Auction by Messrs. Daniel Smith & Son,
at the Mart, near the Bank of England,
on Friday, the 24th Day of August, 1855,
at twelve o'Clock (unless privately disposed of by Private Treaty).
Particulars
Arborfield is a remarkably healthy &
picturesque rural little parish in Berkshire,
upon the River Loddon,
About 5 Miles Southward of the capital TOWN OF READING.
It is on the borders of HAMPSHIRE, within easy
distances of STRATHFIELDSAYE and WOKINGHAM.
A finely wooded and favourite sporting
district,
In the midst of a most desirable Neighbourhood, the Country being well studded
with Gentlemen's Seats, and intersected by picturesque Drives.
The Great Western Railway Station at Reading affords communication with Bath,
Bristol, Gloucester, and South Wales, with Branch Lines connecting it also with
the Windsor, Southampton, Brighton, and Dover Railways; and the New Line now
under construction from Staines by Ascot Heath to Wokingham, which latter Town
is only about 3½
miles distant, will give ready access to all parts of the
Kingdom.
ITS DEMESNE
is partly bounded and intersected by THE RIVER
LODDON,
in which it has the full right of fishery.
THE ESTATE IS ALL FREEHOLD,
and comprising, in a perfect ring fence,
Nearly 318 Acres
OF EXCELLENT PARKLIKE, PASTURE, MEADOW, & ARABLE LAND,
comprising
AN ELEGANT AND MOST CAPITAL ELIZABETHAN MANSION.
THE PARK
is pleasingly Undulated, [unreadable] in parts
by PLANTATIONS, and Studded with handsome TIMBER, through which are handsome
Carriage Roads, with an ornamental Rustic Lodge at both the READING and HURST
Entrances;
and near the church is a beautiful little wood of about five acres, stored with
young thriving oaks, and through which are wild shaded walks.
THE MANSION,
which was only Finished within the last Twelve Years,
Is a very
substantial Edition, of solid Brickwork, with Stone Dressings, in Foundations
and walls of unusual strength. It is of the olden English style of Architecture,
chiefly of the Elizabethan order, with Gables, Oriel Windows, and Ornamental
Roads and Chimneys.
It presents a strikingly handsome exterior.
Placed upon a Dry gently elevated part of the Grounds, with a paved Terrace
enclosed by Ornamental Balustrades, and surrounded by beautiful pleasure
grounds, connected with a fine raised broad terrace walk,
skirting (but much above) the bank of the river for a considerable extent, a
shaded on each side by majestic firs and limes, forming a noble avenue.
The Mansion is in the most perfect and
beautiful order, the Rooms particularly cheerful, and the Decorations in
admirable taste, evidently executed without regard to expense; the principal
Window Frames, Doors, Staircase, and many of the Floors, of Polished Oak.
It contains, on the upper floor, the Clock
Tower: Nine cheerful Bed Rooms (one Suite planned for Nurseries); a Work Room;
Linen and Housemaids' Closet; Hot and Cold Water Pipes, and Water Closet; wide
Landings, with enclosed Stone Staircase.
On the First Floor, five best Bed Rooms ( 3
large, and with Bow or Oriel Windows overlooking the Park and River), and 3
large Dressing Rooms, They open upon a spacious light Corridor, its Windows
ornamented with embossed Glass.
These Rooms are all furnished, as to Chimney
Pieces, Papering, Mouldings, and other decorations, in a tasteful and expensive
manner; and in some are convenient modern Wardrobe Presses, and other Fittings.
The Stone Staircase from the Servants'
Apartments has a communication with (but shut out from) this Floor also.
The Principal Staircase is of polished Oak,
broad and handsome, and lighted by a richly painted Window; the Ceiling
panelled.
The Ground Floor consists of an elegant Drawing
Room, about 51 Feet long, its length relieved by four deep Recess or Bay
Windows, looking over a Terraced Court to the Park, with Steps leading to the
River Bank. It is finished with a most costly and beautifully Sculptured
Statuary Marble chimney, rich Gold Paper and Mouldings.
A large Morning Room, now used as a Bed Room; a
Water Closet; a Bath Room; a handsome Library, about 24 Feet by 15 Feet,
exclusive of Window Recesses; a small Cabinet Ante Room; and Billiard Room,
about 24 Feet by 18 Feet, overlooking the Back Lawn and the River.
A noble Dining Room, with spacious Bow, about 30 Feet by 18 Feet. It is finished
with costly Marble Chimney, Green and Gold Papering, and Panelled Ceiling.
The Reception Rooms are all light and cheerful,
and are connected by a warm, handsome broad Inner Hall and corridor, with
Vestibule and Porch to the carriage approach.
The Domestic Offices
are of a very superior description, and most judiciously arranged. They are
nearly surrounded by an Area, and have Hot-water Apparatus in the Passages,
rendering them particularly dry and healthy.
They consist of a large Housekeeper's Room, with Store Room adjoining; a
Butler's Pantry, with Water laid on, and fitted with a large Fireproof Iron
Plate Closet, and a smaller one over the Fireplace; Butler's Sitting Room and
Bed Room; Men Servants' Bed Room; Housemaids' Closets; Store room; Ale cellar;
Wine Do. with 26 Bins; Beer cellars; a Range of enclosed Bottle Racks; Knife and
Lamp Rooms; and a Bath and Water Closet for Servants; Footmen's Bed Room (f r 2
or 3 Beds); Servants' Hall; a capital Kitchen, completely and expensively fitted
up with Steam Apparatus and Stewing Stoves, marble Dresser, &c., with a large
Scullery and all amply supplied with River and Rain Water; Bricked Coal Bins
under cover for the Kitchen, and outer Depots for Wood and Coals; a Larder,
fitted with Marble Slab Dressers; Dairy, and Churn House, with Water laid on,
and Bakehouse; and a large bed Room above for Dairymaids.
The Offices open to a neat Paved Yard, in which
is the Engine House, Water Closet, &c., and are approached by a concealed
Carriage way under an Archway of the Office Wing.
The whole of the Premises and Offices, &c. are in perfect Order and repair.
On the Bank of the River, close to the Flower Garden, is an ancient Pavilion
Building, partly covered with ivy, &c. It contains a Sitting Room, and one below
appropriated for light Boat Gear, Fishing Tackle, Archery Stores, &c., under
which is the Boat Bay.
Intermixed with the Pleasure Grounds are Parterres and Clumps of Flowers,
Plants, and Shrubs, Sculptured stone Fountain, a handsome Conservatory, &c.
The Vegetable Gardens are enclosed by Lofty Walls, clothed with the choicest
Fruit Trees - the greater number now in their prime. There is a Vinery and Plant
House in the Gardens, and about 124 feet of the fruit walling enclosed glazed
frames, forming an extensive and lofty hothouse for various fruits.
There is a Melon Ground, with Melon and other
Forcing Pits, Water Cisterns, and Pumps; Fruit and Sand Room, Tool Sheds &c.,
and Two Rooms for the use of the Gardeners - the other part of the Cottage being
shut and near the Mill, consisting of three or four Rooms for Labourers.
The Mill.
This valuable Property is situated on the bank
of the River, north-westward of the Farm Homestead, in a picturesque secluded
spot, perfectly screened from the Mansion. It comprises a most comfortable
Residence, placed on a Grass Bank of the River, which flows through its Gardens
and Pleasure Grounds; and it opens backward to a Rich Meadow, No. 14, with a
fine view of the country towards Reading.
There are excellent Gardens and Ornamental
Grounds in front of the House, which contains 3 Attics and a Lumber Room, 5 Bed
Rooms and a dressing Room, and Water Closet, Front and Back Staircase, Hall,
Dining and drawing Room, and Study or Breakfast Room, good Kitchen, Washhouse
with excellent water, Dairy, Pantry, and cellars. Back Yard, with Wood, Coal,
and Knife Houses, &c.
On the opposite side of the Garden are a small Cottage and Cow House, Stabling
for 4 Horses, Harness Room, and Lofts.
The Mill is exclusively established as a Factory of Brown Paper, inroducing
nothing offensive; and the whole process is carried on in a remarkably neat
clean manner.
The Buildings are very spacious, but remarkable
light and neat; comprising an Engine and Machine Room, Vat, Store and Hemp
Rooms, large Drying Rooms, and finishing Salle or Hall, with large Press and
Packing Rooms. The whole are in excellent repair. The large Water Wheel belongs
to the Estate, but the Engines and Machinery, and other fittings, to the
Lessees, Mr. Toogood - a most respectable tenant, who holds the Residence and
Premises under a Lease, of which 6 years are unexpired at Lady-day, 1854, at the
low rent of £200, with the option to the Tenant to hold one additional year for
the purpose of removal, if no new arrangement is completed.
The Farm-Steads
may be considered Models for farms; they are at the back of the Stable Yards and
Gardens, perfectly detached, at a considerable distance and perfectly screened
from the Mansion.
The First Stock Yard is completely enclosed by
its Buildings, consisting of a range of Fatting Lodges, with Hay and root
Houses; capital Strong Piggeries, both for Store and Breeding, with Wash
Cisterns; a Granary; Meal and Slaughter House; Meal Store, &c.; and in the
centre of the Yard a Covered Sheep House, on Strong Pillars, about 54 Feet
square, divided into 5 Pens, capable of Fatting 240 Sheep, with open rail and
floors and Manure Pit below.
The Second Yard
is enclosed by a double Range of Bullock Lodges, Hay and Root Houses, raised Hog
Pens, and separate Pig Yard, with Troughs, &c.
There are altogether Stalls for 38 Beasts, and
Calves' Pens, with good pitched standing, and fitted with Troughs for Food and
Water. the Yards have stoned causeways next the Buildings, which are all well
drained, and planned for the economy of labour, and against all waste of Food
and Manure.
Adjoining is The Bailiff's House,
Containing 5 Rooms, Wood House, &c.; and across the road, which leads down to
the Mill, is
The Farm Yard,
On which a vast sum has been expended in Substantial Buildings, and Improved
Machinery for expediting and economising the operations for marketing the
produce of the lands, for the reception of which they are judiciously placed.
the Buildings comprise a Rest or Dinner Room for the Farm Servants; a Shed, with
Weighing Machine for Coals, cattle &c.; a Bailiff's Office; Implement Sheds;
Capital Stabling for 11 or 12 Horses, with Harness Room; Corn and Chaff Bins,
&c.; a long spacious Shed for Straw or Cattle; and an extensive Barn divided
into Grinding, Threshing, Dressing, Chaff-cutting, Pulse-splitting, &c.,
completed by a Steam-engine of 10-horse power; the whole in perfect order and
repair.
In the Rear is a small Granary, Cart Shed, and a large Implement Shed, and a
range of Poultry Houses; and on the side, a long 9-bay Cart Lodge.
The Estate altogether comprises about 317A. 3R. 31P., but the quantities of some
of the following Subdivisions are only Estimated, the Fences having been
altered, viz. -
No on Plan Description Quantity (A., R., P.)
1 Site of Mansion and Gardens 3 2 22
2 Gardens, Stabling, Stock Yards, Plantations, &c. 2 2 34
3 Road to the Mill 0 2 16
4 Triangle Piece - Meadow (about) 7 0 0
5 Park Meadows, and carriage Drive 28 1 1
6 West Park (now broken up and cropped with Oats),
including Belt and Reading Entrance Lodge
26 2 3
7 Meadows over the River (in Shinfield) 9 1 33
8 Meadows and Plantations over Reading Road 2 0 18
9 East Entrance Lodge and Shrubbery 0 0 26
10 Wood 5 0 4
11 Site of Farm and Stack Yards 1 1 9
12 Orchard 1 1 36
13 Site of Mill and Mr Toogood's Residence and gardens, &c. 3 0 11
14 Meadow at back of ditto 3 3 27
15 The Grove 1 2 7
16 Ozier Beds 0 2 2
16a Ditto (in Sonning)
0 0 36
17 The River 7 1 16
The Farm Lands
Comprise about 210 Acres, in a ring fence, lying North-eastward of the Farm
Yard, and bounded on the North-west by the River and on the South-east side by
the Park and the Road to Sindlesham and Bear Wood, and are now cultivated as
follows, viz. -
18 Peas (about) 22 0 0
Barley do. 46 0 0
Clover do. 10 0 0
Wheat do. 70 0 0
Fallow, Vetches, &c. do. 56 0 0
Field next Mill Gardens, now thrown into Farm 3 2 20
19 Plantations, &c. adjoining, Road, Cottage, &c. 5 3 30
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Total Acres 317 3 31
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About 80 Acres the North-east side of the Farm are in Hurst Parish.
In No. 18, at the North-east side of the Farm, is a newly-built substantial
Cottage,
containing Six Rooms, Pantry, Pumps, &c. Also, in No. 19, on the South-east
side, Three Model Ditto, each containing Four Rooms, with Gardens, Wood houses,
Pumps, &c.
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The rural little Church is at the verge of the Park, partially screened by
Shaded and Ornamental Plantations and Shrubberies. The greater part of the side
Aisle, which belongs to the Estate, will be consigned for the use of the
mansion.
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About 56 Acres of additional Meadow and Arable, in the Parish of Shinfield,
North-westward of the River, are held by Lease for 9 years from Michaelmas next,
determinable by the Lessee at Michaelmas, 1856; and it is probable, if a larger
extent is desired, that they may now be purchased.
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All the expensive and costly Marble Chimney Pieces, Pumps and Cisterns, Water
Closets, Pipes, Bars, Locks and Keys, and other Fastenings - also all Hot Houses
and Conservatories, melon Pits, and fixed permanent Iron Fences - will be
included with the Freehold.
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The Steam Engine and various Patent and other Machines and Machinery may be
taken to at a fair Valuation, or the Vendor reserves the right of selling and
removing the same.
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Hand-written on the last page:
I, John Hargreaves of Broad Oak, Accrington, Lancashire, Esquire do hereby
acknowledge that I have this day purchased by private treaty the estate
described in these particulars at (?) for the sum of Thirty two thousand pounds
including all the fixtures, steam engine and apparatus, timber plantations - and
having paid into the hands of Messrs. Daniel Smith & Son the sum of one thousand
five hundred pounds as a deposit in part payment of the said purchase money. I
hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrator to pay the balance of
the said purchase money and to complete the said purchase in all other respects
agreeable to the above conditions of sale.
As witness my hand the 18th day of August 1855
Purchase money £32,000
Deposit money £1,500
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£30,500 (signed)
John Hargreaves
As agent of the Vendor, we hereby confirm the sale on the above conditions, and
acknowledge to have received the said deposit.
(signed) Daniel
Smith & Son
The deposit to be paid to Messrs Hrail within a week
(signed) John Hargreaves.
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