BARN ELMS FARM : BARNES : CO. SURREY; LITTLE WOODCOTE FARM : CARSHALTON : CO. SURREY;...

Business correspondence, agreements, profit and loss accounts, catalogues of stock etc, Cropping books, leases, valuations, Sundry papers etc

Summary of classes

1 CORRESPONDENCE

2 AGREEMENTS

3 BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

4 CATALOGUES

5 CROPPING BOOKS

6 ESTIMATES

7 LEASES

8 MINUTES

9 NOTE BOOKS

10 PETITIONS

11 PLANS

12 POLICIES

13 REPORTS

14 VALUATIONS

15 SUNDRY PAPERS

Presented on permanent loan 1966 June 12 by W.J. Lobjoit

(Acc no 359)

The LOBJOIT family (Huguenot refugees) settled in co. Kent in the early 17th century. In the 1820s, a W. J Lobjoit became head gardener to the Rothchilds family and in 1828 founded the firm of W.J. Lobjoit and son ltd, market gardeners. At first, the firm operated from 12 acres of ground at Hammersmith, co. Middlesex, which later became the site of Harrod's Depository. Produce was normally taken from Hammersmith to Covent Garden. In 1840, W.J. Lobjoit took over Gypsy Lane Farm, Upper Richmond Road, Barnes, co. Surrey and at the beginning of the Crimean War assumed the tenancy of Bell Farm, Putney, co. Surrey (now the site of a church), which became the home of his son W.J. Lobjoit junior (born 1835 April 13). Putney Park Farm, otherwise known as Dulleys, which adjoined Gypsy Lane Farm, was taken over in 1856. Although W.J. Lobjoit junior lived there for a time, it was later rented by George Armstrong, his uncle whose sons Walter and George married into the Lobjoit family.

In 1843, the new South-Western Railway from Waterloo to Windsor was built through W.J. Lobjoit's land. In the 1860's he became overseer for the poor of the joint parishes of Batnes and Putney, co. Surrey. When he died in 1868 March, the market garden business was extended by his son to other farms (Southfields 1865-6; Middle Field 1871; Harrod's Field 1874-5; Collis 1874-5; Park Fields 1874-5; Little Woodcote Farm, Carshalton, co. Surrey 1883; Barns Elms Farm, Barnes, co. Surrey 1886; Heston Farm, Hounslow, co. Middlesex 1894; Osterley Park Gardens 1897 and Worton Farm, Isleworth, co. Middlesex 1903). Harrod's Field and Middle Field were given up in 1886 and Bell Farm in 1892. The Government selected Barns Elms Farm during the Fashoda crisis of 1898 as a site for waterworks to supply London in case of war with France. A series of misfortunes affected the Lobjoit family in 1894 : meningitis, typhoid, and consumption carried off various members of the family and trade was poor. Lord Jersey heard of these troubles and offered part of Heston Farm to W.G.Lobjoit. Heston Farm and Osterley Park Gardens were occupied until 1923, a year after the death of W. J. Lobjoit junior. 'Park Fields and Collis were relinquished in 1903 and Worton Farm in 1930. Other farms held by the family include Ryvers Farm Langley, co. Bucks (1924-1953), Raymond House Langley (1930-1953) and Mungells Farm, Winnersh, co. Berks (1946-1958). Priory Farm, Burnham, co. Bucks was still in occupation at the date of the presentation of the records

Farm size etc.

The farms were invariably held on lease until 1924-1925; Ryvers Farm and Mungells Farm were both owner-occupied