Welcome (Home)
UK Family Origins
Introduction
In The Beginning
Penn Parish Records
Manorial Records
Stonehouse
Watercroft
Grove Graves in the UK
Sir George Grove
Letter Extracts
Family Tree
Groves in America
Introduction to America
The American Adventure
Groves in Australia
Introduction to Australia
The Australian Family
Acknowledgements
Author and Researchers
Technical
Stonehouse in 2003
The farmhouse and lands known as Stonehouse were owned by the Grove family for six centuries. It was traditionally inherited by the eldest son of the family, who was frequently called Edmund. An original map shows the fields that once belonged to 'Mr Grove's farm'. Reputed in 2003 to be over 500 years old, it is on the B474 road from Beaconsfield to Hazelmere, on the same side of the road as Holy Trinity Church. Anecdotal evidence is that Stonehouse was originally known as Grove's Place or Platt (meaning freehold) and is mentioned in the Manorial rolls of Penn.
Stonehouse is now a large private house with a beautiful garden of about two acres. From the back of Stonehouse there is a panoramic view over countryside which slopes gently down and then rises again, giving a view of Windsor Castle, which is about ten miles away. The adjacent building, Grove's Barn, which was undoubtedly once part of the farm buildings, is now an attractive private house.
The last Grove to live in Stonehouse was Sheila (Keenie) Grove, widow of Edmund (Eddie) Grove (1890-1940), whose father Julius Charles (1859-1937) was the 2nd son of Sir George Grove. This Edmund Grove was killed in the Second World War; there is a memorial plaque in Holy Trinity Church, Penn. After the death of her husband Sheila Grove continued to live at Stonehouse until 1953 when it was sold. Sadly, local hearsay has it that before leaving the property the family papers were destroyed on a bonfire.
Stonehouse was sold to the Gomme family, manufacturers of G-Plan furniture, who did much to restore it to its present elegance. The house was then owned by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. Stonehouse changed hands again in 2003.