The Old Parsonage was built in 1869 by the Diocesan Architect during the time of Canon Ridley, Rector of Hambleden. The Old Parsonage is a well built Victorian red brick house having, originally, a parlour, morning room, study, kitchen, scullery and large pantry downstairs. There is a cellar below with provision for salting a side of bacon on a long wide shelf.

As well as the family bedrooms there was accommodation for two servants.

Behind the house is a separate block comprising stabling, carriage house and bread oven. There were pigsties at the bottom of the garden. Water was provided from rainwater off the slate roof first into a large cistern and thence to a hand pump over the scullery sink.

From the Tithe Map this house appears to have been built on part of the plot of land known as Ive's Platt. There is evidence of an earlier garden wall beneath the present 1869 one, at least two hundred years old between what was Ive's Platt and Pear Tree Close. The latter is the meadow referred to above as belonging to the shop/bakehouse holding. From the Tithe Map of 1845 Scott-Murray, Lord of the Manor of Hambleden, owned Ive's Platt, Elizabeth Lewis owned Pear Tree Close. However an earlier map of 1780 showed that Pear Tree Close formed part of Parmoor Estate then owned by the D'Oyly Family. [ You can find the Tithe Map under "Hambleden" on the menu bar above ]

The first curate of Frieth to occupy The Parsonage was the Rev. Slocock, son-in-law of H.W.Cripps of Parmoor (who may well have had some influence on the type and style of building). In World War I two of Rev. Slocock's sons were killed in action and are now commemorated on the memorial behind the font in Frieth Church; this was carved by Alfred Hussey who worked for the firm of West & Collier and lived at Pear Tree Cottage.

Tales of the various curates are numerous : a certain Rev. Ledbetter had a great love of elder bushes and planted them round the garden - subsequent owners have trying to get rid of them ever since.

Then there was the Rev. James who had been an army major in India, he had also been a rowing man. Henley Regatta would see him cycling across Haylesfield Henley-wards wearing his Leander cap to spend the day at the Regatta. One much loved curate during WW II was the Rev. Chandler [ some of whose reminiscences I have on file and may become a chapter of "A History of Frieth" ]

When the annual Bank Holiday Fête was first organised in aid of church and school funds, it was held in the Parsonage grounds.

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[ In the files I have found this photograph taken on the Parsonage Lawn c1930 marked "Women's Fellowship and London friends"

On the back of the photograph is written :

Mrs Tapping            Olive L               x

Mrs Culdron            Mrs Lambley      Mrs Russell

x                              x                        Mrs Atkins

Mrs Ansell               x                        x

x                              x                        x

x                              x                        x

x                              x                        Mrs Parr

Mrs Brown              x

x                              x

Miss West               x

x                              Mrs Barksfield

Mrs Shaw                x

x                              x

Miss E Barksfield     x

x                              x

                                Mrs Ireland

C. Centre Pat Tapping  ]

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