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Cross Oak, Berkhampsted
(Sometimes spelt Berkhampstead)
The object of this project is to explore the history of Cross Oak and to connect GENi profiles of people known to have lived there.
Hertfordshire, England
Image Right - Cross Oak, Berkhampsted (Courtesy Berkhamsted Local History Society)
Type of Building: Large House
- Condition:
- Location: Berkhampsted, Hertfordshire
- Coordinates
- OS Grid Coordinates:
- When Built: 1875/ late 1875 although the farmhouse and estate c. 1800
- Plans Archiseek 1875 Archiseek
- Architect: Frank E. Thicke
- Built for/by: designed for for A. Keyser esq.
- Owned by: (see below)
- Demolished in the1970s
Description
Cross Oak was a large house with extensive grounds - as can be seen by the plans at Archiseek. The households so far found (1901 and 1911) illustrate the extensive number of servants for the house and grounds. In 1891 and 1901 there was a coachman; in 1911 a Chauffeur.
In 1881 it appears to be un-inhabited although there was a gardener.
History
Today only photographs and plans remain of the original house, garden and grounds. Cross Oak was originally built in about 1800 with some extensions around 1875. The farmhouse and outbuildings on the estate were much older and dated from the seventeenth century. According to Jennifer Sherwood of the [www.berkhamsted-history.org.uk Berkhamsted Local History Society] in her article on Julius Berlein in 2011 the farmhouse may have been built on an earlier site, which provided a home for Robert de Cruce, who is mentioned in local documents dated 1307. Cross Oak may also be associated with the long-standing belief that the name comes from a large oak tree at the corner of Gilham’s Lane (now Cross Oak Road) and Shootersway. According to local legend this tree was reported to have magical powers, which could cure ague.
The above image of Cross Oak, Berkhampsted is presented courtesy of Archiseek - Paul Clerkin)
Known Occupants
1881 Census
Cross Oak - I Uninhabited
Gradens Cross Oak
- William Lush Head M 49, Gardener - born Dorset Compton Abbas
- Elizabeth Wife M 50 - born Dorset Sutton Waldron
1891 Census
- Hanbury Barclay Head M 54 - Retired Colonel R.V. & Justice of the Peace - born Clapham Surrey
- Adeline H Barclay, wife M 45 - born Norbury Surrey
- Frederick K Barclay, Brother-in-law Widower 49 - born Norbury, Surrey
- Adeline R Barclay daur S 18 - born Staffordshire, Handsworth
- Eliza Grantham servant, S 51 Housekeeper - born Buckinghamshire, Slough
- Clara Loynes Servant S 31 Lady's Maid - born Norfolk, Topcroft
- Lucy Holt servant S 31 House Maid - born Staffordshire Weston under Lizzard
- Gertrude S Attwood servant S 20 Kitchen Maid - born Buckinghamshire, Sherringiton
- Mary Gudgin servant S 17 Under House Maid born Berkshire Windsor
- John Simmons servant 20 Footman - born Norfolk, Ellingham
- Phillip Burnham servant S 18 Footman - born Hertfordshire Potton End
- Arthur Wells servant S 21 Under Gardener born Kent Lewisham Cross Oak (Stable Yard)
- Harry Lawrence Head M 33 Coachman (Domestic service) - born Norfolk Norwich
- Ellen M Lawrence Wife M 22 - born Surrey Dorking
- Edward W L Lawrence son 9m - born Bedfordshire Linslade
- George W Oglesby Boarder S 23 Groom (Domestic Service) - born Staffordshire Aldridge Cross Oak (Gardeners)
- George Harris Head M 30 Head Gardener - born Hampshire, Aldershot
- Elizabeth K Harris wife m 28 - born Kent Bromley
- Edith M Harris daur 3m - born Hertfordshire Berkhampsted
- Ann Harris Mother Widow 68 born ~Montgomery Berriew
1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Cross Oak, Great Berkhampsted Rural, Berkhampsted, Hertfordshire. RG13 Piece number 1328 Folio 65 Page 39
- George E Darroch Head Widower Male 54 1847 Civil Service Retired Local Government Board - born Scotland
- 'Emily Violet Darroch Daughter Single Female 25 1876 - born Kensington, Middlesex,
- Millicent Darroch Daughter Single Female 23 1878 - born Kensington, Middlesex,
- Christabel May Darroch Daughter Single Female 8 1893 - born Bedford, Bedfordshire
- Katie B Clark Governess Single Female 33 1868 - born Governess Lambeth, Surrey
- Susannah Yale Servant Single Female 43 1858 Cook (Domestic) - born Dorking, Surrey
- Mary Ann White Servant Single Female 29 1872 Lady's Maid (Domestic) - born Surrey
- Nanny Wilford Servant Single Female 25 1876 Lady's Maid (Domestic) - born Wandsworth, Surrey
- Ida Rufmacht Servant Single Female 30 1871 Parlour Maid (Domestic) -
- Frances E Duncan Servant Single Female 17 1884 Parlour Maid (Domestic)- born Scotland n
- Mary Neah Servant Single Female 38 1863 Housemaid (Domestic) - born Colkirk, Norfolk
- Annie B Simmonds Servant Single Female 23 1878 Kitchen Maid (Domestic) - born Aldbury, Hertfordshire Cross Oak Garden
- Albert J'anson Head M 32 Gardener - born Yorkshire Brantingham
- Jane Wife M 34 - born Berkshire Ecchingswell
- William B son 8 - born Hampshire, Emsworth
- Bertha Daur 5 - born Hampshire, Emsworth
- Walter son 3 - born Hertfordshire Cross Oak
- Cathleen Daur 1 - born Hertfordshire Cross Oak //
- Charles M Jones head 26 Gardener - born Norfolk Strumpshaw
- Henry Tomlin 29 Cowman - born Buckinghamshire Lee Common
Cross Oak Stable
- Samuel T Butcher Head M 34 Coachman - born Buckinghamshire Stoney Stratford
- Annie Butcher wife M 32 - born Hertfordshire Wigginton
- William C Butcher Son 8 - born Hertfordshire Wigginton
- Constance M daur 6 - born born Warwickshire Stratford on Avon
- Leonard J son 5 - born Warwickshire Stratford on Avon
- Reginald C Butcher son 1 - born Hertfordshire, Beckhamsted
1911 Census
Class: RG14; Piece: 7769; Schedule Number: 1 - Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
- Civil Parish: Northchurch
- County/Island: Hertfordshire
- Country: England
- Street address: Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, Herts
- Julius Berlein Image right Courtesy Berkhamsted Local History Society
- Elizabeth Berlein Wife 50 Married 24 years - 4 living children - born Monaghan
- Charles Berlein Son 22, Chemistry student, born S. Africa Griqualand West
- Walter Berlein Son 20, born London
- Renée Berlein Daur 9, born London
- Blanche Watson 42 Nursery Governess - born Essex Great Easton
- Anna Lielich 31 Cook - born Germany
- Ada Norwood 23 Kitchen maid born - Hertfordshire Berkhampsted
- Florence Willis 32 Housemaid born - Hertfordshire Hatfield
- Edith Cox 21 Housemaid born - Gloucestershire Chippenham
- Florence Dennis 26 Parlourmaid - born Essex Dagenham
- Thomas Floyd 20 Footman - born Essex Walthamstow Cross Oak Gardens
- Charles Ernest Carman head m Gardener - born Northamptonshire Brixworth
- Ada Alice Carman wife 28 married 1 year no children - born Somerset Somertomn
- Caroline Howe sister-in-law 22 single - born Somerset Somerton //
- George Ashmead Servant/Head 26 single Gardeneing - born Gloucestershire, Stroud
- Arthur Etchell Servant 21 single - Gardener born Cheshire Macclesfield
- Harry Tomlin, servant 39 Gardener - born Buckinghamshire Great Missenden The Garage Cross Oaks
- George William Cox head M Chauffeur and Mechanic - born London
- Harriet Naomi Cox wife M 3 years 2 living children - born Cambridgeshire Cotten Ram
- Leonard George Stuart Cox son 3 - born Warwickshire Coventry
- Ellen Naomi Louisa Cox Daughter 7m born - Hertfordshire Berkhampsted
- Olive Martha Randall sister-in-law 15 single Assistant Envelope Clerk, Paper Mills, - born Cambridgeshire Swaffham Bullock //
- Charles Arthur Butler , 18 single Motor Cleaner born - London
1836
- Captain Hallam and his wife 1836
- Alice Alexandra Patience Lamb Cook
Cross Oak was host to a number of evacuees and German POWs during the war
1939
- Edward J Mitchell 1908
- Esme C Wingfield-Stratford
- Barbara E Wingfield-Stratford
Cross Oak Farm
1841 Census
Class: HO107; Piece: 440; Book: 4; Civil Parish: Great Berkhampstead; County: Hertfordshire; Enumeration District: 10; Folio: 34; Page: 1; Line: 1; GSU roll: 288828
- William Geary 55 Farmer - Y
- Ann Geary 55 - Y
- Mary Geary 25, Dressmaker - No not born in the county
- Joseph Geary 20, Wheelwright - Y
- John Anderson 20, Ag. Lab Y
- Daniel Axhill 15, Ag. Lab - Y
1851 Census
Cross Oak Farm, Berkhamsted/Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England
- William Geary Head Married 69, Farmer of 109 Acres - 4 Labourers, Born c.1782 Northchurch, Hertfordshire
- Ann Geary Wife Married, 67, Born c.1784 Northchurch, Hertfordshire
- Ann Geary Daughter Unmarried, 35 Born c.1816 Chesham, Buckinghamshire
- Emma Geary Daughter Unmarried, 31 Born c.1820 Hertfordshire
- Martin R Batchelor Grand Son, 9Scholar, Born c.1842 Hertfordshire
- Charles H Batchelor Servant, 13 Agri Laborer Born c.1838 Hertfordshire,
References and Sources
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