Harefield: Other estates

OTHER ESTATES.

Large non-manorial holdings in Harefield do not seem to have developed until after the Middle Ages. Breakspears, the largest of the estates, developed partly from a 13th-century manor and partly from other lands in the estate which had originated in grants from the Swanlonds, lords of the manor of Harefield. (fn. 1) This estate is described above. (fn. 2) Part of the Breakspears estate in 1625 was a house called Belhammonds, (fn. 3) which eventually gave its name to another estate in the north-west of the parish. This estate was created by George Cooke, prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in the early 18th century. (fn. 4) He bought a house which was probably Belhammonds and 126 acres in 1713. (fn. 5) In the mid-18th century about 400 acres were added by his son, (fn. 6) and the Cookes continued to hold the estate at least until 1820. (fn. 7) At about this time the name of the estate was changed to Harefield Park. (fn. 8) After this time the estate fell to ruin but in 1862 William Frederick Vernon bought it and restored the property. In 1871 it amounted to 872 acres. (fn. 9) After Vernon's death the estate was acquired by Charles Billyard-Leake who, being in Australia during the First World War, gave Harefield Park for use as an Australian hospital. (fn. 10) The park and house were bought by the county council immediately after the war, and the house was opened as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1921. (fn. 11)

According to Vernon, the house, Belhammonds, was rebuilt by George Cooke. (fn. 12) This is confirmed by the rainwater heads, which bear his arms and the dates 1710 and 1718. The house, which was used in 1959 as living quarters for the medical staff of the hospital, stands on the north-west side of Harefield village and is a substantial brick building of three stories, with a seven-bay entrance front. In 1959 the walls were cement-rendered and the windows had been much altered. Internally the house retains an original staircase, panelling, and other fittings. Flanking the entrance drive are two contemporary stable blocks in the same style as the house. A sundial is incorporated in one and a dated clock in the other. (fn. 13) The roofs are surmounted by small cupolas, one now incomplete, and supporting coroneted displayed eagles.

The manor of Swakeleys, in Ickenham, held a farm-house and a considerable amount of land in the south-east corner of Harefield. The estate probably dates from the holding of Robert de Swalcliffe in the early 14th century. (fn. 14) At the end of the 15th century Swakeleys Park was declared to be within Harefield and to be held of John Newdigate; (fn. 15) at that time it was also known as Lewsall's Park. (fn. 16) In 1636 it was held freely of the manor of Harefield and comprised 77 acres, which had been lately divided into thirteen closes. (fn. 17) The holding was increased later and the land remained part of the Swakeleys estate until 1922 when 121½ acres of the estate in Harefield were sold. (fn. 18) The land in 1636 included a new-built house with two barns and a stable. (fn. 19) The house was rebuilt in or about 1709, and in 1959 was a three-story, whitewashed, brick farm-house. It had modern brick additions on the north side. There were also two 17th-century timber-framed and weather-boarded barns. (fn. 20)

Another neighbouring manor that held considerable property in Harefield was Denham Durdent manor (Bucks.). (fn. 21) In the 14th century 80 acres of meadow in Harefield were part of the manor. (fn. 22) In 1553 the manor, part of the former Savoy Hospital estates, was sold to St. Thomas's Hospital. (fn. 23) In 1553 the land in Harefield was reckoned at over 105 acres, but by the mid-19th century the Charity Commission could only account for 65 acres. (fn. 24)

There were at various times other small estates in Harefield, but little is known of them. In the 15th century Southcote manor, in Ruislip, held land in the parish, (fn. 25) and in addition there are a few earlier references to other holdings. (fn. 26) In the late 19th century the Harefield Grove estate was reckoned to comprise some 254 acres, (fn. 27) but almost nothing has been dis covered about this. It was said to have been a copyhold farm in the late 17th century, and to have changed hands frequently. (fn. 28)