The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Snape      Wadhurst  
Snape - Very old upper part projected far above the lower: three large gable ends, with barge boards highly ornamented but now almost lost: building of different periods, partly stone, partly timber: chimneys massive: an amazing quantity of oak timber runs through the house sufficient for a score of present day fabrics: in the room on the right of the entrance, oak panelled, is a finely carved mantelpiece in five compartments, each separated from the other by a dwarf column surmounted by a figure . . habited in the style of James I. On the stone above the fireplaces are initials and date D.B. 1617
extract from Wace's Wadhurst


Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1923The Story of Wadhurst by Alfred A. Wace ⇒ p. 64; p. 97
1931Wealden Iron by Ernest Straker ⇒ p. 289

Historical records

c 1175HistorySnapeWace's Wadhurst
The Registers show that in the reign of Henry II. a grant of the property was confirmed by Geoffrey de Glynde to Henry Chaplain of Wadhurst - not much of a "living" perhaps, for Snape in old English means "poor and boggy land."

16th centuryHistorySnapeWace's Wadhurst
In the 16th Century, if not before, Snape was in the hands of the Barham family, one of whom, John, married Mary Courthope of Whiligh

1617HistoryDavid Barham built the older portion of the present house at SnapeDavid Barham, of SnapeSnapeBarhams of Shoesmiths

1646HistorySnapeWace's Wadhurst
Another David Barham succeeded as a minor in 1646, and his guardian, Holland, with license from the Lord (of the Manor) mortgaged the property in seven portions. When of age David alienated it (1680) to his cousin William at Scragoak

1720HistorySnapeWace's Wadhurst
William Barham succeeding still further reduced the property, mortgaged it to Baker of Mayfield: and in 1720 sold it to John Dunmoll, the last male descendant of a family long holding much property in Wadhurst. He died without issue in 1764. His nephew, Nicholas Barham, became a wheelwright and descendants are now in Wadhurst.

1784HistorySnape WoodWace's Wadhurst
John Newington died in 1784, and left … the Wadhurst property of Hightown, then 300 A., including Church Settle and Snape Wood, to another nephew John, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by Mary, wife of John Baker of Newhaven …

c 1795Wadhurst, Sussex - c 1795Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1795 by William Gardner and Thomas GreamSnapes Farm

c 1825Wadhurst, Sussex - c 1825Part of the 1 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1825 by Christopher and John GreenwoodSnape Farm

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; widowed; employs 11 people; occupation: farmerJohn Vinall, farmerSnape1851 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
DaughterEsther Vinall
SonSamuel Vinall, corn merchant and farmer
SonJacob Vinall
DaughterMary Ann Vinall
SonJoseph Vinall
DaughterMercy Vinall
DaughterMartha Elizabeth Vinall
DaughterRuth Vinall
SonJabez Vinall
Lodger; occupation: farm labourerGeorge Foster
Servant; occupation: farm labourerHenry Hubard
Servant; widowed; occupation: farm labourerEdward Jeffry
Servant; occupation Farm labourerThomas Weekes

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; occupation Farm labourerJohn WickhamLittle Snape1851 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
WifePhebe Wickham
Son; occupation Farm labourerDavid Wickham
Son; occupation Farm labourerLevi Wickham
Mother; widowedHannah Wickham
Lodger; occupation Farm labourerThomas Wickham

30th Mar 1851CensusHead; employs 1 person; occupation BLACKSMITHFrederick TillLittle Snape1851 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
WifeMary Till
SonJohn Till
SonGeorge Till
SonFrederick Till
SonAlbert Till
SonJabez Till
SonSimeon Till
SonThomas Till
DaughterUnnamed Female Till
Servant; occupation: blacksmith journeymanFrederick Stapley

c 1875Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance SurveySnape

3rd Apr 1881CensusFrederick Parks, M, Head, married, age 30, born Mayfield; occupation Farm labourerFrederick ParksSnape Wood Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Louisa Parks, F, Wife, married, age 27, born TicehurstLouisa Parks
Frederick Parks, M, Son, age 6, born Wadhurst; occupation ScholarFrederick Parks
Ellen L. Parks, F, Daughter, age 4, born WadhurstEllen L. Parks
Charles W. Parks, M, Son, age 2, born WadhurstCharles W. Parks

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Armstrong, M, Head, single, age 36, born Northumberland, employs 2 men and 1 boy; occupation farmerJohn Armstrong, farmerSnape Farm1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Ann Armstrong, F, Sister, single, age 38, born NorthumberlandAnn Armstrong

3rd Apr 1881CensusJames Weeks, M, Head, married, age 42, born Ticehurst; occupation Farm labourerJames WeeksSnape Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Mary Weeks, F, Wife, married, age 42, born WadhurstMary Weeks
Maria Weeks, F, Daughter, single, age 15, born TicehurstMaria Weeks

3rd Apr 1881CensusRichard Godley, M, Head, married, age 42, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerRichard Godley, farm labourerSnape Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Ester Godley, F, Wife, married, age 34, born TicehurstEster Godley
George Godley, M, Son, single, age 13, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerGeorge Godley
Thomas D. Godley, M, Son, age 11, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarDavid Thomas Godley
Richard Godley, M, Son, age 10, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarRichard Godley
Elizabeth A. Godley, F, Daughter, age 6, born Ticehurst; occupation: scholarElizabeth A. Godley
Edith Godley, F, Daughter, age 4, born Ticehurst; occupation: scholarEdith Godley
Ada E. Godley, F, Daughter, age 1, born WadhurstAda E. Godley

3rd Apr 1881CensusWilliam Richardson, M, Head, married, age 28, born Wadhurst; occupation Farm labourerWilliam RichardsonSnape Wood Cottage1881 Census
Wadhurst, Sussex
Mary Ann Richardson, F, Wife, married, age 28, born MayfieldMary Ann Richardson
Edger Playsted, M, Lodger, widowed, age 67, born Wadhurst; occupation Farm labourerEdgar Playsted

1885HistorySnapeWace's Wadhurst
Snape came back to the Barham family in 1885, when it was bought by George Barham, who traced connection with the parent stock of Wadhurst through the Barhams of Mountfield and Battle.

The Weald is at  Database version 14.05 which has ongoing updates to the 395,000 people; 9,000 places; 613 maps; 3,308 pictures, engravings and photographs; and 248 books loaded in the previous version

ODNB  
British Libarary  
High Weald  
Sussex Record Society  
Sussex Archaeological Society  
Kent Archaeological Society  
Mid Kent Marriages  
Ancestry  
Genes Reunited  
International Genealogical Index  
National Archives  

Top
of the
page