Life in the Big House

In his “Historic Notes on Froyle”, Tom Knight, the Headmaster of Froyle School from 1922 to 1946, gives us a glimpse of life at Froyle Place in the 1920s.

In 1922 Froyle Place was a “Hive of Industry”. In the house itself there was a butler, footman and quite a number of maids. Seven in the gardens, three chauffeurs and four keepers. The old ex-coachman attended to the dogs and poultry. If anyone threw a matchstick down in the yard he walked along and picked it up. The Racquet Court was fitted with a stage, scenery and footlights. Concerts and weekly dances were held here, with the old coachman in close attendance to see that everything was in order.

The photograph below shows one such dance in 1919

In 1851 the Census records the occupants of Froyle Place as follows (Servants in red text):-

			Age	Occupation	Place of birth
Miller	Sir Thomas Combe	Head	72	Baronet Landed proprietor & Vicar of Froyle	Marylebone Middlesex
Miller	Martha	Wife	50		Ditchingham Norfolk
Miller	Marianne	Daughter	24		Froyle
Miller	Frances M	Daughter	23		Froyle
Miller	Georgina E	Daughter	12	Scholar at home	Froyle
Miller	Richard C	Son	9	Scholar at home	Froyle
Thurkettle	Ann	Servant	48	Cook & Housekeeper	Lympenhoe Norfolk
Grimwood	Harriott	Servant	49	Nurse	Stoneham-Asple Norfolk
Stroud	Elizabeth	Servant	35	Laundrymaid	Beaminster Dorset
Burt	Sarah	Servant	25	Housemaid	Bideford Wilts
Faulkner	Esther	Servant	20	Housemaid	Bentley
Smith	Mary	Servant	23	Kitchen Maid	Binsted
Stacey	Charlotte	Servant	20	Dairy Maid	South Warnborough
Hankin	Harriott	Servant	21	Laundry Maid	Bentley
Walker	Sarah	Servant	13	Scullery Maid	Froyle
Mancey	James	Servant	43	Gardener	Winchfield Hants
Lock	James	Servant	29	Footman	South Warnborough
Kemp	Richard	Servant	20	Footman	Froyle

Upper Froyle Map