Ickwell Grange - 7 Ickwell Green

Home Farm House in 1924 [AD1147/16]

Ickwell Grange was listed by the former Department of Environment in October 1966 as Grade II, of special interest. The department dated the farmhouse to the the later 18th century "encasing an earlier, probably 17th Century, building". The house is constructed of red brick with a clay tile roof and has a double pile plan, in otherwords the house lies in two parallel parts, one behind the other, with separate roofs. It comprises two storeys and attics. A 20th century flat roofed adition lies to the rear.

The farm was either built by the Lords of the Manor of Ickwell, or was at some stage acquired by that estate. The name Ickwell Grange is modern, the farm having been known as Home Farm due to its proximity to Ickwell Bury. The name is spurious in that a grange had a specific meaning - a manor house forming the seat of a manor held by a religious order such as a priory or abbey. The Ickwell Bury estate was put up for sale by auction in 1924 and the particulars for Home Farm [AD1147/16] were as follows:

A Substantially Erected Dwelling House
WITH RANGES OF FARM BUILDINGS
known as the
Home Farm
with Orchard and Garden
1 a. 0 r. 1 p.

THE DWELLING HOUSE, Brick Built with Plastered Walls and Tiled Roof, with neat garden in front, has a South aspect overlooking Ickwell Green. Contains: -

Good Tiled Hall, Dining Room and Drawing Room each with two windows, two large Kitchens, two Pantries and Cellar with seven Bed Rooms and W. C. and two Attics with Out Offices.

THE BRICK, TIMBER AND TILED BUILDINGS
comprise: - Six-bay Barn, Loose Box and Stable with Loft over, double four-bay Shed, one with Open Yard, four-stalled Stable, Loose Box and Chaff House (wood and thatch). Three Brick and Slated Pigsties.

Wood and Iron Store, Open Shed, Loose Box, Hen Roost and thoroughfare to Orchard.

Company’s Water.

Let to Mr. A. J. ODELL (with part of Lot 28 [10 acres, 1 rood, 26 poles]) on a Yearly, October 11th, Tenancy, subject to one year’s notice.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. Ickwell was assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting 7 Ickwell Green, then called Home Farm, found it owned by A. J. Odell and occupied by A. Ballard and S. C. Brunt. The valuer commented: “Farm House with 2 labourers in it”.

The house comprised a hall, two reception rooms, two kitchens, two pantries and a cellar with seven bedrooms, two attics and a w. c. above. The valuer commented: “Much too big” considering it unlettable. An earth closet, dairy and wood shed lay outside. Mains water was laid on to the house. The valuer then noted: “Ballard is employed by Odell. Brunt pays 4/- a week”.

The adjoining farm buildings covered 1.6 acres and were occupied by Odell. The valuer noted: “Serves odd Land Throughout the Parish” and “Used for 72 acres only far too many”. There were three yards and buildings as follows:

• 1st Yard: a brick and tiled barn to the west; a brick and tiled barn to the north; a wood and tiled four bay cart hovel to the east;
• 2nd Yard: a four bay brick and tiled cart hovel to the west; a four stall stable, chaff house, harness room and loose box to the north; four brick and tiled piggeries and wood and corrugated iron stables for six horses to the east; a wood and corrugated iron store shed to the south;
• 3rd Yard: a wood and corrugated iron two bay cart hovel, a wood and slate three bay cart hovel and a wood and slate granary; a wood and tiled barn, a wood and corrugated iron four bay hovel to the north and a wood and tiled barn to the south.

In 1937 A. J. Odell put Home Farm up for auction [AD1147/17]. The particulars describe ten lots amounting to sixty acres. Lot 1 was the farmhouse and homestead along with 11 acres, 1 rood, 27 poles. The description of the buildings was as follows:

ALL THAT VALUABLE FREEHOLD and TITHE FREE PROPERTY situate at Ickwell, Northill, Beds., comprising a Brick and Rough Cast and Tiled

FARM RESIDENCE 

Facing the picturesque Ickwell Green, noted for its old world Maypole Revelries, and with a general view of the renowned Green of surpassing Rural Beauty.

The Residence contains:

On First Floor: 7 Bedrooms and Box Room

On Second Floor: 2 Attics

On Ground Floor: Entrance Hall approached by enclosed FrontGarden, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Living Room, Kitchen with Copper and Sink, Dairy, Pantry, Larder and Coal House.

There is an Earth Closet with large Cess Pit.

Public Water Supply and Electricity are connected.

RANGES OF FARM BUILDINGS

Are conveniently built in 4 Enclosed Yards, viz,

1. Garage, Implement Barn, Stabling for 2 Horses, Poultry House and 4-Bay Implement Shed.
2. Stabling for 3 Horses, Stabling for 4 Horses with Chaff House, Large Mow Barn, 4-Bay Cart Hovel.
3. Brick and Timber built Granary, 3-Bay Cart Hovel, 2-Bay Implement Shed.
4. Exceptionally good Barn, 4-Bay Cattle Shed and Large Barn with Onion Loft.

Ickwell Grange 7 Ickwell Green April 2009