A Farm called Arnolds

Whilst carrying out some research on the internet I came across a picture of a sampler, entitled

‘A Map of The Farm Called Arnolds in The Parish of Stapelforth Abby & Lambourn in the County of Essex, being part of the estate of…’

There was no indication of who had made the sampler or a date when it was done, although it is estimated it was made circa 1760. The sampler shows each field and the acreage of each. The total acreage of the farm was 215 acres.

According to the Victoria County History, Arneways/Arnolds is a lesser manor of Lambourne. It probably took its name from Adam Arneway, who is said to have held land in Lambourne 'about the reign of Henry VI' under the Earl of Oxford, who held the neighbouring manor of Battles in Stapleford Abbots .

In 1525 Arneways was among the possessions of Sir William Fitzwilliam of Milton (Northants.) and was settled in that year to the uses of his will. He also owned the manor of Hunts (see below), and his property descended on his death in 1534 to his son and heir Sir William. In a list of owners drawn up about 1543-6 Anthony Browne is given under Arneways. By 1556, however, Arneways and Hunts had come to Robert Taverner, lord of the manors of Pryors (see below) and Lambourne-and-Abridge (see above) who died in that year. Arneways remained in the possession of Thomas, son of Robert Taverner, after Lambourne-and-Abridge had been sold, and descended on Thomas's death in 1610 to his son Robert. In 1625 Robert Taverner sold Arneways and Pryors to Robert Draper, merchant tailor of London. Taverner evidently remained tenant of the estate. Draper died in 1635 and was succeeded by his younger son William. At its fullest extent the Taverner estate probably comprised about 500 acres.

In 1641 William Draper of Oxford sold Arneways to Robert Broomfield of Stratford. The estate descended to John Broomfield, son of John, son of Robert, who in 1681 assigned the lease of Arneways 'heretofore in the occupation of Robert Taverner', to John Todd of Walthamstow. In 1687 this estate 'once in the occupation of Robert Taverner and afterwards of Lance Nash' was sold to John Todd. Todd is said to have given half the estate to William Church, who married his daughter; their daughter and heir married Peter Searle who sold Arneways to Thomas Scott (d. 1733) of Woolston in Chigwell (q.v.).

The estate passed to Thomas's son George Scott who was holding it in 1746. A map of the farm was drawn for George Scott in that year by Josiah Taylor. Arnolds then consisted of 215 acres in Lambourne, most of which lay opposite the farmhouse to the south of the main road.
A reference to the Victoria History says there is a photo of the map in the E.R.O., ref T/M 227, (now T/M 227/1). Look at it online and it's the same map! There are also two photos of the sampler (T/M 227/A and B) not online. They've dated it 1746-1801, when Sarah Sewell died.

George Scott still held the farm in 1771, but by 1782 it was owned by Edward Sewell. He was returned as the owner until 1788 when the farm belonged to Mrs. Sarah Sewell, probably his widow. After Mrs. Sewell's death about 1801 Arneways came to Samuel Sewell who still held it in 1841. In the latter year the farm consisted of 203 acres in Lambourne. It was occupied by Mrs. Kitty Collyer and Philip B. Collyer. The Collyer family had been tenants since 1788.
Arnolds Farm was advertised for sale in 1843. It was then stated to contain 203 acres freehold in Lambourne and a further 10 acres copyhold of the manor of Stapleford Abbots. It was bought by Samuel Crane, whose family continued to farm it until about 1916 when it was sold to Mr. Jacob Saward. In 1925 the farm was bought by Mr. A. Clarke, whose son, Mr. H. E. Clarke, eventually took over the farm.

Sadly (and mysteriously after several failed planning applications) it burned down c 1970.

The Josiah Taylor map has the 1746 owner's name filled in, and details of the house and farmyard. The embroiderer has added the alternative name for Ebridge/Aybridge, and all the decorative pictures.

The identity of the person who made this elaborate and precise depiction in embroidery of Arnolds Farm. It may have been worked as a sophisticated exercise during a young girl's education, combining needlework skills with a lesson in geography and rural economy.