Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Following Mary's death Frederick Greenham's land holdings were put up for sale. The details of the sale, published in the 10 May 1889 edition of the Western Gazette are so interesting they are reproduced here in full -

Important Property Sale

At the Choughs Hotel, yesterday (Thursday), Messrs Palmer submitted to public competition a valuable freehold residential property and several closes of superior accommodation land, situate in the parish of Yeovil, and a valuable freehold estate, situate in the parish of Mudford, Somerset, the whole containing 150a 3r 19p, or thereabouts, the property being offered for sale in consequence of the late Mrs Greenham, by order of the trustees of the will of the late Mr Frederick Greenham. There was a very large and influential attendance, bidding was brisk, and the sale was a remarkably successful one.

Lot 1 consisted of Hendford House, standing in its own private grounds, close to the centre of the town, situate in Hendford, and comprising the usual offices, a conservatory adjoining, pleasure grounds, tennis lawn, kitchen gardens and hothouses, stabling, &c; also farm buildings, two closes of rich pasture land, and every other necessary suitable to a gentleman's residence, the whole being of the extent of 7a 22r 13p. Bidding was started at £3,000 and ultimately reached £4,100 (about £400,000 at today's value), at which figure it was knocked down to Mr JB Paynter.

Lot 2, a valuable building site in Hendford, opposite Lot 1 (now used as a garden), together with the vinery thereon, having a frontage to the main street of 183 feet, was sold to Mr Sidney Watts for £750 (about £72,000 at today's value. This site is now occupied by the large Job Centre building).

Lot 3, the offices facing the main street in Hendford, adjoining Lot 2, now and for many years past in the occupation of the Town Surveyor, Mr Richard Vining, was bought by Mr Vining for £400 (about £38,000 at today's value. This is now occupied by the masonic hall and the southern half of Dolphin House).

Lot 4 comprised a large enclosed building and offices, having a frontage to the main street in Hendford of 45ft 4in, adjoining Lot 3, formerly used as a skating rink, but now in the occupation of Mr JB Petter. Mr H White, cabinet maker, was the purchaser of this lot for £800 (about £77,000 at today's value. This is now occupied by the northern half of Dolphin House).

Lot 5, a small piece of enclosed garden ground, situate in Hendford, immediately below the carriage entrance to Lot 1, having a frontage to the main street of 36ft 6in, was bought by Mr J Vincent for £200 (about £19,000 at today's value. Today this site is occupied by the building to the immediate south of Prestleigh House).

Lot 6, a close of rich orchard, pasture, and garden land, situate in Horsey's Lane, together with the cowstall and piggeries thereon, in the occupation of Mr Thomas Sharland, and comprising 2a 2r 18p, was knocked down to Mr Roberts, of Preston, for £680 (about £65,000 at today's value).

Lot 7, another rich close of pasture land, adjoining Lot 6, together with the cowstall thereon, also in the occupation of Mr Thos. Sharland, and of the extent of 3a 3r 24p, Mr Levi Beer was the purchaser at £810 (about £77,000 at today's value).

Lot 8, a close of rich pasture and garden land, also situate in Horsey's Lane, in the occupation of Mr Joseph Brutton, and comprising 5a 0r 25p, was bought by Mr Henry B Batten for £600 (about £57,000 at today's value).

Lot 9, a close of rich pasture land, adjoining lot 8, together with the stone shed thereon, and in the occupation of Mr JJ Brook, and for many years used as a cricket and football ground, 7a 3r 20p in extent, went to Mr J Farley for £920 (about £89,000 at today's value).

Lot 10, another close of rich pasture land, adjoining lot 9, together with the cowstall thereon, in the occupation of Dr Colmer, and comprising 3a 0r 26p, was knocked down to Mr B Rowsell for £420 (about £40,000 at today's value).

Lot 11, another close of rich pasture land, adjoining lot 10, also in the occupation of Dr Colmer, and measuring 3a 0r 32p was bought by Mr Guppy, of Halstock, for £390 (about £37,000 at today's value), who afterwards sold it to Dr Aldridge.

Lot 12 comprised the beautiful and picturesque grounds, situate on Hendford Hill, known as 'Bragg Church', comprising Swiss Cottage and garden at the entrance from the road, another cottage and farm buildings, two summerhouses, ornamental wood, and land, and of the extent of 11a 1r 34p. The bidding on this lot started at £1,200, and eventually rose to £2,120 (around £205,000 at today's value), at which figure it was purchased by Mr WN Greenham, for his own use." (Note: WN Greenham was Frederick Greenham's son, William Neal Greenham (1857-1913)).

Lot 13, copyhold property at Key (on the Dorchester Road, just south of the town), in the occupation of Mr H Woolmington, was withdrawn.

The remaining Lot 14, was described as the highly productive and valuable estate and residence known as 'West Mudford Farm', comprising a well-built modern farm house and garden, agricultural buildings with every convenience, and closes of rich meadow, pasture, and orchard, and fertile arable land, and measuring altogether 95a 1r 35p. The estate is in the occupation of Mr George Genge, at a reduced rental of £228 per annum. For this lot there was keen competition, principally between the tenant and Mr Paynter. The bidding commenced at £4,000 and proceeded by advances of £100 up to £5,900. After this the biddings varied in amount, but they ultimately reached £6,160 (in the region of £600,000 at today's value), at which the lot was bought by Mr JB Paynter, on behalf of Mr TR Guppy, of Halstock.

This concluded the sale, the total amount realised being the very good sum of £18,360 (around £1,770,000 at today's value). Messrs Mayo & Son were the solicitors acting for the vendors.

In regard to Hendford House and grounds, Mr Paynter, the purchaser of the lot, expressed to the Mayor (Dr Colmer), who was present, his willingness to sell the property to the Corporation at the same price for which he purchased it, provided it was used for public purposes and bought at once. Mr John Vincent intimated that in the event of the Corporation accepting this offer he would give £50 towards it. (Apparently the Corporation declined this offer and James Paynter soon sold the property on.)