Catalogue description Upper Bemzells Farm, purchased by RJDK Heal in 1966

Bemzells Farm incorporated a freehold tenement of the manor of Herstmonceux, described as land (50a), part of Bemsells, late Crowhurst, before Vine, before Ward, before Barton and formerly Luxford, rent 3s. On 29 Mar 1888 Herbert Mascall Curteis of Windmill Hill Place, Wartling, Lord of the manor of Herstmonceux, released seigniory of the tenement for £19 10s to John James Crowhurst, Albert Bertram Crowhurst, Charles Crowhurst, James Crowhurst, Ann Crowhurst and Eusebius Gustavus Crowhurst, who had become entitled as tenants in common on the death of Jane Crowhurst on 21 Jan 1875. By 1902 EG Crowhurst had purchased all the other shares in the estate. His will of 19 Dec 1913 was proved on 25 Aug 1914 by his daughter Ann, wife of William Alfred Dyer of Putney and his sons JJ Crowhurst and AB Crowhurst, who on 8 Feb 1916 sold Upper Bemzells (house and 18.969a, occupied by Edwin Wood), Lower Bemzells (cottage and 18.887a occupied by Edwin Pelling) and Bemzells Wood (11.806a) to Frederick Mepham of Sandy Cross, Heathfield, miller, for £1,100 (4/1; plan)

For the sale of Lower Bemzells to James Waltho in 1921, see AMS6116/5

On 16 May 1924, Frederick Mepham sold Upper Bemzells and Bemzells Wood to Harold Waltho of Cromwell Road, Kensington, chauffeur, for £800, half of which was raised by a mortgage to the vendor. Mepham retained Bemzells Cottage and an adjoining field (4/2,3). When Mepham sold Bemzells Cottage to Guy Arnold Hardinge of Atherstone, naval pensioner, on 17 Mar 1932, the right of the owner of Bemzells Farm to use the well at Bemzells Cottage was reserved (4/5)

On 3 July 1947 Harold Waltho of Studdings Farm, agricultural engineer, who the previous day had paid off the mortgage to Frederick Mepham's surviving personal representatives, sold Upper Bemzells, then known as Bemzells Farm (plan), to Harold Wilfred Keeley of Beards Farm for £1,900 (4/4-7). Mr Keeley mortgaged the property for £800 to the trustees of the Herstmonceux Castle Court Number 5989 of the Ancient Order of Foresters on 9 Jan 1954, which mortgage was paid off on 27 Sep 1966, two days before the sale of the property to RJDK Heal for £8,500, of which £3,500 was raised by mortgage to the vendor (4/8-11)

On 12 Apr 1972 Mr Heal sold a small piece of land west of Upper Bemzells farmhouse (plan) to Dennis Roy Beeney and Frances Mary Beeney for £250 (4/12)