Object number
52/115
Description
Reaccessioned in MERL Archives as document. This is an inventory covering 2 foolscap pages, of the good and stock of Robert Chaundler, of Crondall, taken on July 5th 1748 by Charles Bonham and James Froud. It records not only his domestic goods, but also the stock of his farm. Chaundler had two farms, one attached to the house and the other, and smaller, nearby at Ewshott. The total value of his possessions, together with a lease granted by him in 1746 rank him as a yeoman farmer.
Physical description
deaccessioned
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘ One interesting aspect of this Inventory is that it gives a complete description of a house and its furnishings in the mid 18th century. Chaundler's house had a large Hall, used as the living room, which was approached by a passage; a kitchen, a bakehouse and dairy on the ground floor. On the first floor there was a best chamber, with a fireplace, another room over the Hall, well furnished, and two smaller rooms, one above the passage and another over the kitchens. The second floor was of two garrets, one used as a box-room, the other as a guest room; and a hop loft. // The house was furnished to accomodate a large family, there being seven besdteads in all, and their style of living was comfortable. Coffee was occasionally drunk, there was a valuable clock, books in the Hall, looking glasses in the bedrooms and curtains at most of the windows. // Another aspect of value is the type of crop that was grown on a medium sized Hampshire farm in the mid-eighteenth century and the values put upon them. Chaundler grew fodder crops of vetch, bent and clover, as well as hops in considerable quantity. His stock was considerable, as well as his farm machinery. Some idea of his harvesting and threshing methods can be gathered from the mention of fan sieves and ridders, and that he had 2 1/2 loads of wheat still unsheathed at the beginning of July. The state of the farms suggest that Chaundler was a propserous farmer. //
Production date
1748-07-05 - 1748-07-05
Object name
Associated subject
