CHILTON ESTATE: HUNGERFORD: CO. BERKS; GREAT SHEFFORD: CO. BERKS; CHILTON FOLIAT: CO. WILTS

FR BER 36

1552-1965

The Chilton Estate lies in the parishes of Great Shefford, co. Berks, Hungerford, co. Berks and Chilton Foliat, co. Wilts. For many years, it was held by the Whitelocke family, one of whom, Bulstrode Whitelocke (1605-1675), played an active part in politics during the period of the Civil War and Commonwealth. He died at Chilton Lodge in 1675 (see Dictionary of national biography, v. 61, p. 110 ff). In the 18th century, the estate was sold to John Zephaniah Holwell (1711-1798) one of the survivors of the Black Hole of Calcutta, who subsequently became Governor of Bengal, (see Dictionary of national biography, v. 27, p. 212 ff). Early in the 19th century, it became the property of John Pearse, who demolished the old mansion and built the present one from designs by Pilkington. The mansion was enlarged and almost completely reconstructed between 1890 and 1892 by Sir William George Pearce, who bought the estate in 1890. Since 1908 it has been held by members of the Ward family In 1908 the estate comprised about 2,332 acres, and included eight farms: Old Hayward Farm (432 acres), New Hayward Farm (380 acres), Little Hidden Farm (171 acres), North Hidden Farm (364 acres), Chilton Park Farm (182 acres), Folly Farm (184 acres), Upper Eddington Farm (66 acres) and Eddington Farm. Of these, Little Hidden Farm, New Hayward Farm and Old Hayward Farm were cultivated in 1908 by the owner; the remainder were leased. Soil: chiefly loam with chalk subsoil

Records relating to the Chilton Estate Hungerford, Berkshire

17 series

fonds

Great Shefford [West Berkshire [unitary authority]], Chilton Foliat, Hungerford

1 CORRESPONDENCE 2 BOOKS OF ACCOUNT 3 CATALOGUES 4 CERTIFICATES 5 DEEDS 6 HERD BOOKS 7 INVENTORIES 8 LABOUR BOOKS 9 MAPS 10 REGISTERS 11 REPORTS 12 RETURNS 13 TERRIERS 14 VALUATIONS 15 WILLS 16 SUNDRY PAPERS 17 PRINTED MATERIAL