The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Penns Rocks [a.k.a. Rowleys] Farm    Lye Green  Crowborough  

Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1902Historical Notes of Withyham, Hartfield and Ashdown Forest by C. N. Suttonp. 105
1909English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)
also published as
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Lady Hope ⇒ p. 43

Historical records

c 1700Occupation OwnerWilliam PennPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1714Occupation TenantJohn BakerPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1729Occupation TenantThomas CobhamPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1737Occupation OwnerWilliam PennPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1751Occupation TenantPhilip TurnerPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1762Occupation OwnerSpringett PennPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1768Occupation TenantCharles HookerPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1773Occupation TenantAbraham OsbornePenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1773South Front of Penn's House in the Rocks near StonelandSouth Front of Penn's House in the Rocks near Stoneland, watercolour (17.7 x 26.4 cm) painted by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artist© British Library Board - Shelfmark: Additional MS 5671, Item number: f. 5 (no. 6)

1785A South West View of Penns Pocks from the Vale on the MeadowA South West View of Penns Pocks from the Vale on the Meadow, watercolour (17.7 x 26.3 cm) painted by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artist© British Library Board - Shelfmark: Additional MS 5671, Item number: f. 6 (no. 8)

1785South View of Penns Rock taken from the side of the Hill on the South with a distant View of Farm HousesSouth View of Penns Rock taken from the side of the Hill on the South with a distant View of Farm Houses, watercolour (25.5 x 36.8 cm) painted by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artist© British Library Board - Shelfmark: Additional MS 5671, Item number: f. 7 (no. 10)

1785North East View of Penn's Rocks taken from the lower part of the MeadowNorth East View of Penn's Rocks taken from the lower part of the Meadow, watercolour (25.5 x 36.8 cm) painted by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artist© British Library Board - Shelfmark: Additional MS 5671, Item number: f. 8 (no. 11)

1785Distant View of Penn's Rocks from the field West of the Hop GroundDistant View of Penn's Rocks from the field West of the Hop Ground, watercolour (17.7 x 26.5 cm) painted by Samuel Hieronymus GrimmSamuel Hieronymus Grimm, topographical artist© British Library Board - Shelfmark: Additional MS 5671, Item number: f. 5 (no. 7)

1788Occupation TenantJohn BishopPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

c 1795Eridge, Sussex - c 1795Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas GreamRocks

1838CensusHead; occupation: gentlemanThomas Beeching, EsquirePenns Rocks Farm1838 Census
Motts Mill, Sussex

6th Jun 1841CensusLuke Godley, M, Head, age 65 to 69, born Sussex; occupation: farmerLuke Godly, farmerPenns Rocks1841 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Mary Godley, F, [Wife], age 55 to 59, born SussexMary Godly [Miles]
John Godley, M, [Son], age 25 to 29, born SussexJohn Godley
Mary Godley, F, [Daughter], age 20 to 24, born SussexMary Godley
William Godley, M, [Son], age 15 to 19, born SussexWilliam Godly
Loiza Godley, F, [Grand-daughter], age 8, born SussexLoiza Godley
William Monk, M, age 5, born SussexWilliam Monk
William Simmons, M, [Lodger], age 25 to 29, born Sussex; occupation Farm labourerWilliam Simmonds
Sophia Simmons, F, [Lodger's wife], age 20 to 24, born SussexSelina Simmonds [Godly]
William Simmons, M, [Lodger's son], age 1, born SussexWilliam Simmonds
Henry Edwards, M, age 20 to 24, born Sussex; occupation: servantHenry Edwards
Thomas Streatfield, M, age 15 to 19, born Sussex; occupation: servantThomas Streatfield, farmer

1843Occupation OwnerThomas BeechingPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1843Occupation TenantLuke GodlyPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1843Occupation TenantJames HallPenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1843Occupation OwnerJ. PrycePenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

c 1850Penns RocksPenns Rocks [a.k.a. Rowleys] FarmSutton's Historical Notes
Penn's Rocks estate, which was formerly known as the Rocks, derived its present name from William Penn, the celebrated founder and Governor of Pennsylvania, who became possessed of the property through his wife Gulielma Maria Springett, daughter of Admiral Sir William Springett, Knight, the previous owner. The iron fire-back in the old hall bears the coat of arms of the Penn family.

30th Mar 1851CensusHead, occupation: farm bailiffJno Chandler, farm bailiffPenns Rocks1851 Census
Withyham, Sussex
WifeMary Chandler

1867Directory entryPryce John, esq., J.P., Penn's rocksPenn's rocksPost Office Directory

1871Occupation OwnerA.T.A. PrycePenn's RocksSutton's Historical Notes

1874Directory entryPryce Alexander, Penn's rocksPenn's rocksPost Office Directory

c 1875Lye Green, Jockeys Wood, Parkgrove & Penns Rocks, North of Crowborough - c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveyPenns Rocks

3rd Apr 1881CensusDora Pryce, F, Head, widowed, age 67, born West IndiesDora Isabella Pryce [Beatson]Penns Rocks1881 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Alex Pryce, M, Son, single, age 39, born FrantAlexander Thomas Albert Pryce
Helena Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 36, born FrantMary Helena Oakeley Pryce
Dora Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 25, born WithyhamDora Letitia Caroline Fell Pryce
Alice Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 22, born WithyhamAlice Maud Mary Pryce
Charlotte North, F, Servant, single, age 57, born Funtington; occupation Domestic ServantCharlotte North
Naomi Slatter, F, Servant, single, age 38, born Isfield; occupation Domestic ServantNaomi Slatter
Annie Parker, F, Servant, single, age 24, born Buxted; occupation: general servantAnnie Parker
Ada Holford, F, Servant, single, age 16, born Oxfordshire; occupation: general servantAda Holford
Robert Driver, M, Servant, single, age 29; occupation: domestic servantRobert Driver

1882Directory entryPryce Alexander Thomas Albert J.P., Penn's rocksPenn's rocksKelly's Directory

5th Apr 1891CensusGeorge Martin, M, Head, married, age 53, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: farm labourerGeorge Martin, farm labourerPenns Rocks Farm1891 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Sarah Martin, F, Wife, married, age 43, born Withyham, SussexSarah Martin [Marchant]
Sarah Martin, F, Daughter, single, age 17, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: general domestic servantSarah Martin
Fanny Martin, F, Daughter, single, age 13, born Withyham, SussexFanny Martin
David Martin, M, Son, age 10, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: scholarDavid Martin, carpenter
Maria Martin, F, Daughter, age 8, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: scholarMaria Martin
Annie Martin, F, Daughter, age 9 months, born Withyham, SussexAnnie Martin

5th Apr 1891CensusDora J Pryce, F, Head, widowed, age 77, born British Subject, The Island Of St Helena; occupation: living on own meansDora J Pryce, living on own meansPenns Rocks1891 Census
Withyham, Sussex
Alexander L A Pryce, M, Son, single, age 49, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: justice of the peaceAlexander L A Pryce
M Helena A Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 46, born Frant, SussexM Helena A Pryce
Dora L G Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 36, born Withyham, SussexDora L G Pryce
Alice M M Pryce, F, Daughter, single, age 32, born Withyham, SussexAlice M M Pryce
Amelia Hussey, F, Cook, single, age 39, born Burton Bradstock, Dorset; occupation: cookAmelia Hussey
Clara Martin, F, Servant, single, age 30, born Higham, Kent; occupation: parlourmaidClara Martin
Celia Bishop, F, Servant, single, age 16, born Dorking, Surrey; occupation: housemaidCelia Bishop
Emily Avis, F, Servant, single, age 17, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: housemaidEmily Penfold [Avis]

c 1899Penn's Rocks, North of Crowborough - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyPenn's Rocks

2nd Apr 1911CensusGeorge Lorenz, M, Head, single, age 22, born London; occupation: farm managerGeorge Lorenz, farm managerPenns Rocks Farm, Withyham1911 Census
Withyham and Groombridge, Sussex
Mary Miles, F, Servant, widow, age 62, born Holtye Hartfield, Sussex; occupation: housekeeperMary Miles
Nellie Fry, F, Servant, single, age 24, born Holtye Hartfield, Sussex; occupation: housemaidNellie Fry

2nd Apr 1911CensusAlexander Pryce, M, Head, single, age 69, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: J.P. private meansAlexander Pryce, j.p. private meansPenns Rocks House, Withyham1911 Census
Withyham and Groombridge, Sussex
Helena Pryce, F, Sister, single, age 66, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: private meansHelena Pryce
Dora Pryce, F, Sister, single, age 56, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: private meansDora Pryce
Betsey Palmer, F, Servant, widow, age 53, born Tiverton, Devon; occupation: cookBetsey Palmer
Margaret Richard, F, Servant, widow, age 42, born Bally Forle, Wicklow; occupation: parlourmaidMargaret Richard
Lily Baldwin, F, Servant, single, age 23, born Withyham, Sussex; occupation: housemaidLily Baldwin
Annie Farmer, F, Servant, single, age 15, born Tonbridge, Kent; occupation: under housemaidAnnie Farmer
Alice Eldridge, F, Servant, widow, age 50, born Southborough, Kent; occupation: lady's maidAlice Eldridge

2nd Apr 1911CensusDavid Huggett, M, Head, single, age 52, born Upper Dicker, Sussex; occupation: groomDavid Huggett, groomRoom In Stables, Penns Rocks Stables, Withyham1911 Census
Withyham and Groombridge, Sussex

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