The Woodoaks Association is based on Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth.
Since John Findlay took over the farm in 1922 Woodoaks has undergone some big changes. The farm has created a real community spirit. In the 1930s boxing matches and vegetable competitions were held on the farm and this community feeling is an essential part of the farm today.
Woodoaks Farm is a dairy, mixed arable farm with 15 residents. There are a number of animals on the farm including the herd of cows which are a mixture of Friesian and Swedish Red cows. The milk from the farm is distributed in the West London area. There are also two Border collie puppies called Blue and Fin. A group of unlikely friends can also be found on the farm: a donkey, pony and a goat that all live together are best friends.
Presently at the farm The Woodoaks Association is starting to bring back the community feel of Woodoaks Farm. We aim to bring people outside and get them to be creative, active and to explore what the beautiful farm of Woodoaks has to offer.
Since John Findlay took over the farm in 1922 Woodoaks has undergone some big changes. The farm has created a real community spirit. In the 1930s boxing matches and vegetable competitions were held on the farm and this community feeling is an essential part of the farm today.
Woodoaks Farm is a dairy, mixed arable farm with 15 residents. There are a number of animals on the farm including the herd of cows which are a mixture of Friesian and Swedish Red cows. The milk from the farm is distributed in the West London area. There are also two Border collie puppies called Blue and Fin. A group of unlikely friends can also be found on the farm: a donkey, pony and a goat that all live together are best friends.
Presently at the farm The Woodoaks Association is starting to bring back the community feel of Woodoaks Farm. We aim to bring people outside and get them to be creative, active and to explore what the beautiful farm of Woodoaks has to offer.
Brief Overview
The farm was created in late Saxon times, which makes the farm nearly 10 centuries old. As the farm is so old it has a long and rich history and is linked to many interesting characters. The farm has been owned by knights, auctioneers, lords, parliamentarians and royalists, lawyers and a mayor of London.
Originally Woodoaks farm was called Woodwick or Woodwicks and was under the jurisdiction of St Albans Abbey. It became the Manor of Woodwick in the twelfth century when it became a Knight’s Fee. St Albans Abbey had six knights and gave out land that it owned to these knights in the form of a Knight’s Fee. Woodwicks counted as 1/7 of a Knight’s Fee and went to support Richard de Fonte.
The first time the freeholder of Woodwick was named was in 1166 and was William de Woodwick. His family owned the farm until the mid-15th century. William was followed by Richard de Woodwick. Then John, then another Richard then two Williams. It lasted until William de Woodwyke died with no heir.
Woodwick was then leased out to William White a Rickmansworth clothier in the 1490s. However he didn’t hold it for long because in the 1520s Woodwicks was leased to Margaret and John Longe. John was a successful slater and joined the Salters Company. Woodwicks stayed in their family from the 1520s until 1760 when their descendant, Frances Tichborne died without an heir. The property was then put up for sale.
It was brought by Samuel Leightonhouse but he didn’t live on the farm and leased it to the Sedgwick family who had run the farm for Frances Tichborne. The Sedgwicks stayed on the farm until 1847 when they left.
Samuel Leightonhouse’s son, who had the same name, sold the property in 1815 to the Trustees of the will of Robert Williams. However they ran into finical troubles and had to sell the property to the Trustees of the will of Peter Thellusson. The Trustees then found a tenant for the farm called John Procter who ran the farm until the 1880s.
During this time the farm was inherited by Lord Rendlesham who made big changes to the farm. He decided to rebuild the farmhouse and in honour of this work he renamed the farm Woodoaks.
The farm was then lived in by Charles Curry who became prominent in local affairs working on Rickmansworth Rural Parish council. He left however around 1906 to become a wine merchant and was replaced by Samuel Young who came from Ayrshire, Scotland.
In 1922 John Findlay took over the tenancy and not long afterwards he bought the farm.He too was from Ayrshire, Scotland. He passed the farm over to his son also called John Findlay who runs the farm today with his wife.
The farm was created in late Saxon times, which makes the farm nearly 10 centuries old. As the farm is so old it has a long and rich history and is linked to many interesting characters. The farm has been owned by knights, auctioneers, lords, parliamentarians and royalists, lawyers and a mayor of London.
Originally Woodoaks farm was called Woodwick or Woodwicks and was under the jurisdiction of St Albans Abbey. It became the Manor of Woodwick in the twelfth century when it became a Knight’s Fee. St Albans Abbey had six knights and gave out land that it owned to these knights in the form of a Knight’s Fee. Woodwicks counted as 1/7 of a Knight’s Fee and went to support Richard de Fonte.
The first time the freeholder of Woodwick was named was in 1166 and was William de Woodwick. His family owned the farm until the mid-15th century. William was followed by Richard de Woodwick. Then John, then another Richard then two Williams. It lasted until William de Woodwyke died with no heir.
Woodwick was then leased out to William White a Rickmansworth clothier in the 1490s. However he didn’t hold it for long because in the 1520s Woodwicks was leased to Margaret and John Longe. John was a successful slater and joined the Salters Company. Woodwicks stayed in their family from the 1520s until 1760 when their descendant, Frances Tichborne died without an heir. The property was then put up for sale.
It was brought by Samuel Leightonhouse but he didn’t live on the farm and leased it to the Sedgwick family who had run the farm for Frances Tichborne. The Sedgwicks stayed on the farm until 1847 when they left.
Samuel Leightonhouse’s son, who had the same name, sold the property in 1815 to the Trustees of the will of Robert Williams. However they ran into finical troubles and had to sell the property to the Trustees of the will of Peter Thellusson. The Trustees then found a tenant for the farm called John Procter who ran the farm until the 1880s.
During this time the farm was inherited by Lord Rendlesham who made big changes to the farm. He decided to rebuild the farmhouse and in honour of this work he renamed the farm Woodoaks.
The farm was then lived in by Charles Curry who became prominent in local affairs working on Rickmansworth Rural Parish council. He left however around 1906 to become a wine merchant and was replaced by Samuel Young who came from Ayrshire, Scotland.
In 1922 John Findlay took over the tenancy and not long afterwards he bought the farm.He too was from Ayrshire, Scotland. He passed the farm over to his son also called John Findlay who runs the farm today with his wife.
Brief Overview
The farm was created in late Saxon times, which makes the farm nearly 10 centuries old. As the farm is so old it has a long and rich history and is linked to many interesting characters. The farm has been owned by knights, auctioneers, lords, parliamentarians and royalists, lawyers and a mayor of London.
Originally Woodoaks farm was called Woodwick or Woodwicks and was under the jurisdiction of St Albans Abbey. It became the Manor of Woodwick in the twelfth century when it became a Knight’s Fee. St Albans Abbey had six knights and gave out land that it owned to these knights in the form of a Knight’s Fee. Woodwicks counted as 1/7 of a Knight’s Fee and went to support Richard de Fonte.
The first time the freeholder of Woodwick was named was in 1166 and was William de Woodwick. His family owned the farm until the mid-15th century. William was followed by Richard de Woodwick. Then John, then another Richard then two Williams. It lasted until William de Woodwyke died with no heir.
Woodwick was then leased out to William White a Rickmansworth clothier in the 1490s. However he didn’t hold it for long because in the 1520s Woodwicks was leased to Margaret and John Longe. John was a successful slater and joined the Salters Company. Woodwicks stayed in their family from the 1520s until 1760 when their descendant, Frances Tichborne died without an heir. The property was then put up for sale.
It was brought by Samuel Leightonhouse but he didn’t live on the farm and leased it to the Sedgwick family who had run the farm for Frances Tichborne. The Sedgwicks stayed on the farm until 1847 when they left.
Samuel Leightonhouse’s son, who had the same name, sold the property in 1815 to the Trustees of the will of Robert Williams. However they ran into finical troubles and had to sell the property to the Trustees of the will of Peter Thellusson. The Trustees then found a tenant for the farm called John Procter who ran the farm until the 1880s.
During this time the farm was inherited by Lord Rendlesham who made big changes to the farm. He decided to rebuild the farmhouse and in honour of this work he renamed the farm Woodoaks.
The farm was then lived in by Charles Curry who became prominent in local affairs working on Rickmansworth Rural Parish council. He left however around 1906 to become a wine merchant and was replaced by Samuel Young who came from Ayrshire, Scotland.
In 1922 John Findlay took over the tenancy and not long afterwards he bought the farm.He too was from Ayrshire, Scotland. He passed the farm over to his son also called John Findlay who runs the farm today with his wife.
The farm was created in late Saxon times, which makes the farm nearly 10 centuries old. As the farm is so old it has a long and rich history and is linked to many interesting characters. The farm has been owned by knights, auctioneers, lords, parliamentarians and royalists, lawyers and a mayor of London.
Originally Woodoaks farm was called Woodwick or Woodwicks and was under the jurisdiction of St Albans Abbey. It became the Manor of Woodwick in the twelfth century when it became a Knight’s Fee. St Albans Abbey had six knights and gave out land that it owned to these knights in the form of a Knight’s Fee. Woodwicks counted as 1/7 of a Knight’s Fee and went to support Richard de Fonte.
The first time the freeholder of Woodwick was named was in 1166 and was William de Woodwick. His family owned the farm until the mid-15th century. William was followed by Richard de Woodwick. Then John, then another Richard then two Williams. It lasted until William de Woodwyke died with no heir.
Woodwick was then leased out to William White a Rickmansworth clothier in the 1490s. However he didn’t hold it for long because in the 1520s Woodwicks was leased to Margaret and John Longe. John was a successful slater and joined the Salters Company. Woodwicks stayed in their family from the 1520s until 1760 when their descendant, Frances Tichborne died without an heir. The property was then put up for sale.
It was brought by Samuel Leightonhouse but he didn’t live on the farm and leased it to the Sedgwick family who had run the farm for Frances Tichborne. The Sedgwicks stayed on the farm until 1847 when they left.
Samuel Leightonhouse’s son, who had the same name, sold the property in 1815 to the Trustees of the will of Robert Williams. However they ran into finical troubles and had to sell the property to the Trustees of the will of Peter Thellusson. The Trustees then found a tenant for the farm called John Procter who ran the farm until the 1880s.
During this time the farm was inherited by Lord Rendlesham who made big changes to the farm. He decided to rebuild the farmhouse and in honour of this work he renamed the farm Woodoaks.
The farm was then lived in by Charles Curry who became prominent in local affairs working on Rickmansworth Rural Parish council. He left however around 1906 to become a wine merchant and was replaced by Samuel Young who came from Ayrshire, Scotland.
In 1922 John Findlay took over the tenancy and not long afterwards he bought the farm.He too was from Ayrshire, Scotland. He passed the farm over to his son also called John Findlay who runs the farm today with his wife.
Key Figures
The farm has been home to both interesting and important characters. Here are some of them:
Knights- The farm used to be owned by knights who would be summoned by the King to go off and fight for England. In fact Richard de Woodwick fought in the Welsh Campaign of 1257 under Edward I.
William White and his son Thomas White- Leased the farm in the 1490s. William White was a Rickmansworth Clothier. His son Thomas however is of more importance and he may have been born on the farm. Thomas was Lord Mayor of London in 1533. He also founded St John’s college, Oxford and had a hand in founding Merchant Taylor’s school.
William Roche-He became Margaret Longe’s third husband. William became Lord Mayor of London and Margaret became Lady Margaret Roche.
John Colte- John Colte was approached to join the Trained Bands as a captain which were a local fighting force. He was buried in Rickmansworth and a monument of his family can still be seen in the church. He is wearing armour suggesting he did join the Trained Bands.
Sir John Colte- Charles I issued a Distraint of Knighthood which meant that all men with landed income worth more than £40 p.a. should present themselves for knighthood. Charles fined those that didn’t in an effort to make money in 1603. John Colte however took up the challenge and became knighted in 1633.
Sir John Colte was also affected by the English Civil War. Although John was a loyal subject of the King many contributing factors pushed him into supporting the Parliamentary cause. He lost his position in London and it became a difficult time for the family. It was made more difficult because his eldest son, John, was a royalist and therefore joined the King, being a captain of a troop of horses in the King’s Army. However, as the Parliamentarians won this meant when Sir John Colte died his son couldn’t inherit the Manor of Woodwicks. Instead he had to share the ownership with his mother until 1660 when the monarchy was restored and Charles II got the crown.
Sir Benjamin Tichborne- Benjamin Tichborne was knighted because his family had been loyal to the royalist cause. He became involved in local affairs becoming a churchwarden at the Parish Church and became a subscriber for the Rickmansworth Charity School. He was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King William and Queen Mary around 1689. He would wait on the King and convey his commands to public officials such as Ministers of the Crown. He would also have attended all the public ceremonies. Interestingly he was one of the ten men who held a canopy over Queen Anne’s coffin in 1714. This was probably his last courtly duty.
The Sedgwicks- The Sedgwicks held a range of jobs and spanned many generations. William and his son John Sedgwick set up an Auctioneering and Timber business which they ran from the farm and William became a churchwarden of St Mary’s church in Rickmansworth. A John Sedgwick was a solicitor and founded a Watford firm of solicitors which is still around today called Sedgwick Kelly. The family have more than one tie in today’s Watford. They are also linked to the charted surveyors and Estate Agents, Rumball Sedgwick who is a descendant of William Sedgwick whose business it was. William also leased much of the Watford brewery from George Whittingstall and it was in the Sedgwick family until 1923 when it was sold to Benskins. In line with the brewery, Frederick James Sedgwick set up the Watford Brewery Fire Brigade. Some of the engines are still around today and on their sides in golden letters it says ‘SEDGWICK’S WATFORD BREWERY’.
The farm has been home to both interesting and important characters. Here are some of them:
Knights- The farm used to be owned by knights who would be summoned by the King to go off and fight for England. In fact Richard de Woodwick fought in the Welsh Campaign of 1257 under Edward I.
William White and his son Thomas White- Leased the farm in the 1490s. William White was a Rickmansworth Clothier. His son Thomas however is of more importance and he may have been born on the farm. Thomas was Lord Mayor of London in 1533. He also founded St John’s college, Oxford and had a hand in founding Merchant Taylor’s school.
William Roche-He became Margaret Longe’s third husband. William became Lord Mayor of London and Margaret became Lady Margaret Roche.
John Colte- John Colte was approached to join the Trained Bands as a captain which were a local fighting force. He was buried in Rickmansworth and a monument of his family can still be seen in the church. He is wearing armour suggesting he did join the Trained Bands.
Sir John Colte- Charles I issued a Distraint of Knighthood which meant that all men with landed income worth more than £40 p.a. should present themselves for knighthood. Charles fined those that didn’t in an effort to make money in 1603. John Colte however took up the challenge and became knighted in 1633.
Sir John Colte was also affected by the English Civil War. Although John was a loyal subject of the King many contributing factors pushed him into supporting the Parliamentary cause. He lost his position in London and it became a difficult time for the family. It was made more difficult because his eldest son, John, was a royalist and therefore joined the King, being a captain of a troop of horses in the King’s Army. However, as the Parliamentarians won this meant when Sir John Colte died his son couldn’t inherit the Manor of Woodwicks. Instead he had to share the ownership with his mother until 1660 when the monarchy was restored and Charles II got the crown.
Sir Benjamin Tichborne- Benjamin Tichborne was knighted because his family had been loyal to the royalist cause. He became involved in local affairs becoming a churchwarden at the Parish Church and became a subscriber for the Rickmansworth Charity School. He was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King William and Queen Mary around 1689. He would wait on the King and convey his commands to public officials such as Ministers of the Crown. He would also have attended all the public ceremonies. Interestingly he was one of the ten men who held a canopy over Queen Anne’s coffin in 1714. This was probably his last courtly duty.
The Sedgwicks- The Sedgwicks held a range of jobs and spanned many generations. William and his son John Sedgwick set up an Auctioneering and Timber business which they ran from the farm and William became a churchwarden of St Mary’s church in Rickmansworth. A John Sedgwick was a solicitor and founded a Watford firm of solicitors which is still around today called Sedgwick Kelly. The family have more than one tie in today’s Watford. They are also linked to the charted surveyors and Estate Agents, Rumball Sedgwick who is a descendant of William Sedgwick whose business it was. William also leased much of the Watford brewery from George Whittingstall and it was in the Sedgwick family until 1923 when it was sold to Benskins. In line with the brewery, Frederick James Sedgwick set up the Watford Brewery Fire Brigade. Some of the engines are still around today and on their sides in golden letters it says ‘SEDGWICK’S WATFORD BREWERY’.
