The GARDENS, HESTON, MIDDLESEX COLLECTION

Contains: Farm account books of The Gardens [Farm], Heston, Middlesex 1888-1897; sale catalogue of cottage and land at Sutton, Heston, Middlesex 1874; lease of property in Heston, Middlesex 1877

Frederick Gray, the donor's grandfather bought the Gardens in 1874. He leased it for the last three years of his tenure until his son, Ebenezer Gray, was able to take it over. Ebenezer Gray was born at Longford, Middlesex about 1860 and lived at The Gardens for almost the whole of his working life. Shortly before his marriage, he tended 11 acres of fruit trees and subsequently expanded this holding to about 100 acres of fruit and vegetables, of which he owned 40 acres. His eldest son, E.F. Gray (the donor) was born at the Gardens in 1889. He was a market gardener there with his brothers until 1926, when he moved to Runnymede Farm, Hayes, Middlesex. In 1939 he returned to the Gardens, where his holding gradually contracted until in 1967 it amounted to no more than 11 acres

Farm size: Probably 20 - 40 acres; brick earth; owner occupier

• BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
• CATALOGUES
• LEASES

Open for consultation

Presented on temporary loan 28 February 1967 by E.F. Gray (Farm Records Accession Number 317)

Compiled by Caroline Gould, 28 April 2003

A detailed catalogue is available at the Museum of English Rural Life

Please contact the Archivist