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
Watercroft was a farm when occupied by Thomas Blades Grove (see letter below), the elder brother of Sir George Grove, both grandsons of Yeoman Grove, at the end of the 19th century. Twenty-eight years earlier John Grove, Yeoman Grove's fifth son, the fishmonger of New Bond Street, died there in l868. It is a large house in the same road as Stonehouse, but further on towards Hazelmere coming from Beaconsfield. Thought to be a Queen Anne (1665-1741) house, the interior has not been greatly altered (2003) and still has the original front door and interior panelling. The upper storey has wrought iron balconies to the windows. It has a large beautiful garden surrounded by a high wall. The present dovecot (2003) was originally a brewery.
Watercroft in 2003
In a letter to George Dodd Grove dated 18 October 1896, Thomas wrote: "I thought that perhaps I might have seen John (Edmund) and you at our Root Show at Wycombe on Friday but it was a bad day. My mangold were about the largest there but not quite so clean grown. I shall be glad to see you or John when ever you care to come. I can always find a bed and a stall. Corn seems inclined to go up in price. I was offered 33/- a quarter on Friday for wheat - but I fancy it will go higher". Thomas Blades Grove died there on 9th November l897 and the house was afterwards owned by Sir George Grove.
During World War II, a Mr Kann wanted to buy Watercroft from Sheila Grove of Stonehouse, the widow of Edmund Grove (killed in World War II, 1940) but she would only lease it to him. Mr Kann and his wife Joycie succeeded in buying it from her in 1953. The current owners are Mary and Paul Hunnings. She is the celebrated cookery author Mary Berry, who runs Aga cookery courses at Watercroft. Amongst her many recipes are Watercroft Flaky Cheese Biscuits and Watercroft Whipped Potatoes.