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Lents Green
Varian Tye and Alan Payne July 2025 Photos Above & Left courtesy Varian Tye You would be forgiven if you do not know the precise location of Lents Green as it lies on the very south-east borders of Box parish beyond Lower Wadswick on the road to Longleaze Cottages. The area was traditionally very rural with farm labourers’ cottages and a long, unchanging stability. |
However, no area is without history even if this has been little recorded and this is true of Lents Green, as illustrated by this walled up doorway at Chapel Cottage and a post box offering a postal service to just a handful of residents.
This building is clearly marked on the 1840 Tithe Apportionment map (reference 682). It is called a cottage and garden owned by the Northey family as landlord, tenanted by William Brown and occupied by John Griffin. William Brown was a very wealthy farmer who lived at Hazelbury Manor and farmed a large area around Wadswick and Rudloe.
This building is clearly marked on the 1840 Tithe Apportionment map (reference 682). It is called a cottage and garden owned by the Northey family as landlord, tenanted by William Brown and occupied by John Griffin. William Brown was a very wealthy farmer who lived at Hazelbury Manor and farmed a large area around Wadswick and Rudloe.
William Brown, Yeomen Farmer to Gentlemen
There were several generations of the Brown family all of whom called themselves William J Brown. The family was well connected in the Georgian period and inherited much property in Rudloe from the Jeffreys family in 1765. They worked hard, acquired more land and made a lot of money at a times when farming was lucrative before the Corn Laws were abolished in 1849, lowering the price of corn for English farmers because of cheaper, imported goods from the Empire. By the mid-19th century, the Browns were sufficiently wealthy to call themselves gentlemen, entitled to have a coat-of-arms, distinguished from lower orders by their clothes, manners and education. They were marked out by the company they kept and the families into which they married. It was a considerable achievement in a rural, agricultural society to have risen from active farmers in the 1760s to a status of landlord by the 1860s.
Having distanced themselves from getting their hands dirty, the Browns needed farm labourers on their estate to undertake the work, particularly where the husbandry was mostly arable as in the case of Rudloe and Wadswick. The Browns also needed many labourers’ cottages for their workers and their families.
There were several generations of the Brown family all of whom called themselves William J Brown. The family was well connected in the Georgian period and inherited much property in Rudloe from the Jeffreys family in 1765. They worked hard, acquired more land and made a lot of money at a times when farming was lucrative before the Corn Laws were abolished in 1849, lowering the price of corn for English farmers because of cheaper, imported goods from the Empire. By the mid-19th century, the Browns were sufficiently wealthy to call themselves gentlemen, entitled to have a coat-of-arms, distinguished from lower orders by their clothes, manners and education. They were marked out by the company they kept and the families into which they married. It was a considerable achievement in a rural, agricultural society to have risen from active farmers in the 1760s to a status of landlord by the 1860s.
Having distanced themselves from getting their hands dirty, the Browns needed farm labourers on their estate to undertake the work, particularly where the husbandry was mostly arable as in the case of Rudloe and Wadswick. The Browns also needed many labourers’ cottages for their workers and their families.
Map of the Brown farmland in Rudloe and Wadswick shown brown (courtesy Pam and Chris Ward)
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Above: Map of the farmland owned by WJ Brown in Rudloe and Wadswick shown brown (courtesy Pam and Chris Ward) Below and Right: Text included on the above map (courtesy Pam and Chris Ward) 
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Farm Labourers
Unfortunately, it is really difficult to trace the stories of the men and women who worked on the Browns’ landholdings. Most of the workers were illiterate and there was no day school or Sunday school within easy reach of residents. John Griffin mentioned in 1840 was elderly by that time. He had been born in 1786 and was married to Elizabeth (1791-). They were living in Chapel Cottage with two of the children Mary (1820-) and John junior (1826-). Both John senior and 15-year-old John junior were agricultural labourers. At this point, this branch of the Griffin family fall out of the recorded information.
Their immediate neighbours were John Newman (1766-), agricultural labourer aged 75 and his daughter Jane Newman (1792-) and other family members Sarah Edwards (1776-) and 8-year-old Emily Newman (1833-). John appears to have died by 1851 and Jane had taken over the tenancy, describing herself as blind, unmarried, parochial - in other words, surviving on handouts from the parish authorities because of her disability. With them were another Jane (1833-) 18-years-old also unmarried and farm servant agricultural labourer and James Newman (1831-), nephew, agricultural labourer. The survival of farm labourers who were unable to work for any reason was difficult and the money earnt by family insufficient to maintain others in the household. Jane senior still held the tenancy of the cottage in 1861 but there is no sign of her family. Instead, she let the house to tenants, the family of George and Emily Helps from Corsham and their four children under ten years. Presumably Jane kept a room for herself. It must have been extremely difficult for her, still registered blind and then approaching 70. Needless to say, the adult males were farm labourers.
As the Victorian period developed, farm work diminshed and more young men took to quarrying. George Helps and his son became quarry journeymen, fitting intricate stone masonry into repair work needed on damaged buildings, often churches. The family left Wadswick to be closer to the stone quarrying centres in Box and their higher wages allowed them to take better quality houses in the centre of the village, which were more convenient to shops and schools, some newer ones even with internal plumbing and bathroom facilities.
Unfortunately, it is really difficult to trace the stories of the men and women who worked on the Browns’ landholdings. Most of the workers were illiterate and there was no day school or Sunday school within easy reach of residents. John Griffin mentioned in 1840 was elderly by that time. He had been born in 1786 and was married to Elizabeth (1791-). They were living in Chapel Cottage with two of the children Mary (1820-) and John junior (1826-). Both John senior and 15-year-old John junior were agricultural labourers. At this point, this branch of the Griffin family fall out of the recorded information.
Their immediate neighbours were John Newman (1766-), agricultural labourer aged 75 and his daughter Jane Newman (1792-) and other family members Sarah Edwards (1776-) and 8-year-old Emily Newman (1833-). John appears to have died by 1851 and Jane had taken over the tenancy, describing herself as blind, unmarried, parochial - in other words, surviving on handouts from the parish authorities because of her disability. With them were another Jane (1833-) 18-years-old also unmarried and farm servant agricultural labourer and James Newman (1831-), nephew, agricultural labourer. The survival of farm labourers who were unable to work for any reason was difficult and the money earnt by family insufficient to maintain others in the household. Jane senior still held the tenancy of the cottage in 1861 but there is no sign of her family. Instead, she let the house to tenants, the family of George and Emily Helps from Corsham and their four children under ten years. Presumably Jane kept a room for herself. It must have been extremely difficult for her, still registered blind and then approaching 70. Needless to say, the adult males were farm labourers.
As the Victorian period developed, farm work diminshed and more young men took to quarrying. George Helps and his son became quarry journeymen, fitting intricate stone masonry into repair work needed on damaged buildings, often churches. The family left Wadswick to be closer to the stone quarrying centres in Box and their higher wages allowed them to take better quality houses in the centre of the village, which were more convenient to shops and schools, some newer ones even with internal plumbing and bathroom facilities.
Ordnance Survey map of 1889 (courtesy Va; Wilson)
John Hanning Speke
Arguably, the most famous visitor to the hamlet of Wadswick was John Hanning Speke, the explorer of Africa hinterlands, who died in 1864, crossing a stile whilst on a shooting expedition visiting relatives, the Fuller family at Neston Park. His death has become significant because it was immediately prior to a debate at Bath to decide if he or Sir Richard Burton discovered the origin of the Nile River. It was an issue that captured the imagination of Victorian minds. The manner of his death (accident or suicide) has continued to intrigue people until modern times, although his connection with the Speke family, lords of the manor of Box and Hazelbury, has fallen out of notice. The monument to him in Wadswick is at Grid Reference ST 84320 67389.
Arguably, the most famous visitor to the hamlet of Wadswick was John Hanning Speke, the explorer of Africa hinterlands, who died in 1864, crossing a stile whilst on a shooting expedition visiting relatives, the Fuller family at Neston Park. His death has become significant because it was immediately prior to a debate at Bath to decide if he or Sir Richard Burton discovered the origin of the Nile River. It was an issue that captured the imagination of Victorian minds. The manner of his death (accident or suicide) has continued to intrigue people until modern times, although his connection with the Speke family, lords of the manor of Box and Hazelbury, has fallen out of notice. The monument to him in Wadswick is at Grid Reference ST 84320 67389.
Soeke's memorial stone (photo courtesy Carol Payne)
The Speke monument of 1865 is recorded as a Grade II Historic Listed Building: Ashlar with pyramid cap and iron railings closely surrounding. Inscribed 'Here the distinguished and enterprising African Traveller Captain John Hanning Speke lost his life by the accidental explosion of his gun September 15th 1864'. J. H. Speke discovered the source of the Nile in 1858, confirmed in his subsequent expedition of 1860-3, but the discoveries were challenged by Sir R.Burton, and the two were to have publicly debated the issue at the meeting of the British Association in Bath, 16th September 1864.[1]
Lents Green seen from the junction of Box footpath 56 and 58 (courtesy Varian Tye)
Lents Green
Until the end of the 19th century, the story of the hamlet at Lents Green was obscured by its rural location and the fact that the area was not named. The houses were small cottages, mostly unmodernised, all tenanted. Residents tended to move quickly seeking better wages and the area dropped out of the records for long periods until a surprising development at a property called Chapel Cottage.
Until the end of the 19th century, the story of the hamlet at Lents Green was obscured by its rural location and the fact that the area was not named. The houses were small cottages, mostly unmodernised, all tenanted. Residents tended to move quickly seeking better wages and the area dropped out of the records for long periods until a surprising development at a property called Chapel Cottage.
Chapel Cottage (courtesy Carol Payne)
Chapel Cottage
Chapel cottage is an attractive building of natural limestone with an artificial stone tiled roof laid to diminishing courses. The original cottage, with the stone stacks on the ridge, may have been that to the right of the photograph. The building on the left with the dormer windows is noted as the chapel on the map of 1894 to 1903. It appears to have been altered since first constructed. A letter box (L B) is noted on the 1894 to 1903 map and a historic letter box, shown in the headline photo, is still present on the building but located in the blocked-up doorway. The letter box has a Queen Victoria insignia. There are few letter boxes in the parish with the same insignia, one such being that found in the wall at Kingsdown House. So, the Lents Green letter box is a rare historic feature.[2]
But this description hides an intriguing history for the house, involving the name Chapel and the post box seen in the headline photo. We can date both: the post box was in place before 1888 and the first reference to a chapel is in the map of 1894-1903.
Chapel cottage is an attractive building of natural limestone with an artificial stone tiled roof laid to diminishing courses. The original cottage, with the stone stacks on the ridge, may have been that to the right of the photograph. The building on the left with the dormer windows is noted as the chapel on the map of 1894 to 1903. It appears to have been altered since first constructed. A letter box (L B) is noted on the 1894 to 1903 map and a historic letter box, shown in the headline photo, is still present on the building but located in the blocked-up doorway. The letter box has a Queen Victoria insignia. There are few letter boxes in the parish with the same insignia, one such being that found in the wall at Kingsdown House. So, the Lents Green letter box is a rare historic feature.[2]
But this description hides an intriguing history for the house, involving the name Chapel and the post box seen in the headline photo. We can date both: the post box was in place before 1888 and the first reference to a chapel is in the map of 1894-1903.
Map dated 1894-1903 showing the Chapel also shows historic footpath BOX56 (now public rights of way) courtesy Know Your Place
The need for a local place of worship at the end of the 19th century is evident from its isolated location, compounded because the nearest place of worship, Chapel Plaister, was still an unconsecrated workshop until 1893. The Lents Green area was attractive to the teachings of the Plymouth Brethren which offered exclusivity to God’s Assembly through the practice of separation from non-Brethren and the certitude of belief in studying God’s Word as set out in the King James Bible. Their preaching stressed the need for community harmony (called by its founder John Nelson Darby the Power of Unity and of Gathering) and members were expected to follow the Bible’s principles in every part of their lives. It is unclear who founded the Brethren Chapel.
The Brethren put great emphasis on education for children and it is probable that the chapel had facilities for a Sunday School. The religious use of the cottage only appears in a single map and it seems probable that it was short-lived. The Brethren movement came under great pressure with conscientious objectors citing their religious beliefs to avoid being called up to serve in the Great War.
Modernisation of the Hamlet
In 1939 Charles E Canning (24 October 1882-) lived at Laurel Cottage. He was 57 years old, a sewage works attendant, married but living with the Hunt family including Bessie Hunt (6 January 1894-) and her children Florence L Hunt (19 March 1919), Herbert JE Hunt (18 June 1920-) – both of whom probably worked for the Avon Rubber Company at Melksham; and the rest of her children at school including Constance O (25 October 1927-).
It is little wonder that such an isolated community would be late to have supplies of facilities and services. In March 1947, the Public Health Committee of the Rural District Council highlighted the lack of water facilities, having regard to the (lack of) quantity and purity of present supplies and proposed to take supplies from Bradford or Melksham Urban District Councils.[3] The area was not singled out and many rural locations had similar problems but supplies in Lents Green were hampered by the lack of natural spring water. In May 1947 the Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council agreed to offer 10,000 gallons of water per day for Wadswick, Chapel Plaiter Lents Green and Longleaze.[4]
The Brethren put great emphasis on education for children and it is probable that the chapel had facilities for a Sunday School. The religious use of the cottage only appears in a single map and it seems probable that it was short-lived. The Brethren movement came under great pressure with conscientious objectors citing their religious beliefs to avoid being called up to serve in the Great War.
Modernisation of the Hamlet
In 1939 Charles E Canning (24 October 1882-) lived at Laurel Cottage. He was 57 years old, a sewage works attendant, married but living with the Hunt family including Bessie Hunt (6 January 1894-) and her children Florence L Hunt (19 March 1919), Herbert JE Hunt (18 June 1920-) – both of whom probably worked for the Avon Rubber Company at Melksham; and the rest of her children at school including Constance O (25 October 1927-).
It is little wonder that such an isolated community would be late to have supplies of facilities and services. In March 1947, the Public Health Committee of the Rural District Council highlighted the lack of water facilities, having regard to the (lack of) quantity and purity of present supplies and proposed to take supplies from Bradford or Melksham Urban District Councils.[3] The area was not singled out and many rural locations had similar problems but supplies in Lents Green were hampered by the lack of natural spring water. In May 1947 the Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council agreed to offer 10,000 gallons of water per day for Wadswick, Chapel Plaiter Lents Green and Longleaze.[4]
The name “Lents Green” only appears mid-way through the 20th century, a curious addition to the area. It seems to derive from the Plymouth Brethren Chapel and a very small green space nearby. Its story has almost been lost in historic records. Chapel Cottage is a most attractive building, charmingly rural and with a fascinating history. It would be unrecognizable to the agricultural labourers who tenanted it and to the Plymouth Brethren who briefly occupied it for its simplicity and isolation. That is why it is so important to preserve its history.
References
[1] There are more details in the Comments section of: J H SPEKE MONUMENT ON FOOTPATH TO LENTS GREEN, ABOUT 250 METRES NORTH NORTH WEST OF WORMWOOD FARMHOUSE, Box - 1022769 | Historic England
[2] http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/phone-and-post-boxes.html
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 29 March 1947
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 3 May 1947
[1] There are more details in the Comments section of: J H SPEKE MONUMENT ON FOOTPATH TO LENTS GREEN, ABOUT 250 METRES NORTH NORTH WEST OF WORMWOOD FARMHOUSE, Box - 1022769 | Historic England
[2] http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/phone-and-post-boxes.html
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 29 March 1947
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 3 May 1947