Notes for: Richard Rowley Holben
Lessee of "Holben's Farmhouse" i.e. Glebe / Vicarage Farm in Shelford Road, Trumpington.
Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 2 Apr 1859 has: The annual show of horses . . . took place at Mr Bland's "Green Man" inn, Trumpington, on Thursday the 31st ult.. . There was also a very good brown horse from Mr Holben, jun., Trumpington . . .
Cambridge Independent Press 11 Sep 1880:
TRUMPINGTON, - On Sunday afternoon about 3.20 a fire, of a somewhat serious nature, broke out on the Rectory Farm, situate in the parish of Trumpington. The farm, which is the property of Trinity College, Cambridge, is in the occupation of Mr. Richard Holben, and it is supposed that the fire was accidently caused by a child, who was seen running away from the place upon the first appearance of a conflagration. The fire broke out on the south side of the farm, and a breeze blowing, it gradually spread over the whole premises. The supply of water was very limited, the well not holding above a cart load, so that it was utterly impossible to extinguish the fire which was burning all day on Monday. The fire engine of the Norwich Union was speedily on the spot, but was unable to render any assistance in consequence of the scarcity of water. The property destroyed including two wheat straw stacks, the produce of 23½ acres; a barley stack, the produce of 14½ acres; a pea stack, the produce of 7½ acres; two stacks clover hay, the produce of 17½ acres, one granary board and pantile built, size, 14 feet by 11 feet; one open cart shed, 18 feet by 14 feet; one barn 46 feet by 19 feet, containing about thirty coombs of wheat and a large quantity of new chaff; one pigstye, 19 feet by 10 feet; one stable and chaff house 22 feet by 14 feet, the chaff house containing a small quantity of chaff; two sets of harness; one cart and several farming implements, also the foreman's cottage, part of which was plaster built and part brick and slate, was destroyed, only one side, the two ends and the chimney being left standing. The furniture was fortunately saved plenty of time elapsing, between the breaking out of the fire and its reaching the house, to remove it. We understand that Mr. Holben's property was insured in the Sun Fire Office. Police-constable Everitt was on the spot immediately after hearing the cry of fire, and with the help of Sergt. Levitt and of police-constables Plum, Ding, Gray and Waters who arrived shortly afterwards, rendered some valuable assistance. It is estimated that the damage amounts to £1,000.
and Herts and Cambs Reporter: 10 Sep 1880:
TRUMPINGTON
A fire broke out last Sunday afternoon upon the Rectory Farm, Trumpington, and destroyed, it appears, about a thousand pounds worth of property. The farm is situate upon the Shelford-road, about half-a-mile from Trumpington, and the fire was seen to burst out at one of the corn stacks. The material being dry and a rather strong wind blowing across the farm, the stacks and buildings were speedily consumed, as was also the cottage in which the foreman and his family lived. A messenger was speedily despatched to Cambridge for an engine; one from the Norwich Union Office was speedily there, but was of no use as no water could be procured. There were consumed - two wheat stacks, one straw stack, a barley stack, a pea stack, two stack of clover-hay; and the buildings included a granary, open shed, a cart shed, a barn containing a quantity of wheat and chaff, a pig stye, stable and chaff-house, and a number of farming implements. The furniture that was in the cottage was saved. The occupier of the farm is Mr. Richard Holben, who is insured in the Sun Fire Office.
Cambridge Independent Press 23 Jul 1887:
WEDNESDAY NEXT,
Glebe Farm, Trumpington.
EXCELLENT GROWING CROPS OF CORN, WITH THE STRAW.
Messrs. WRIGHT & SCRUBY are favoured with instructions from R. R. Holben, Esq., TO SELL BY AUCTION, at the above Farm, in convenient lots, on WEDNESDAY, July 27th, 1887, at Seven p.m.,
18½ ACRES OF WHEAT, and 15 ACRES OF BARLEY.
The Auctioneers desire to call special attention to the value of the above crops on account of their situation, they being adjacent to good roads and within a short distance of the town.
In the Cambridgeshire Archives (R58/9/12/1) under "The Holben family of Barton" is "Account Book for Trumpington. Note: Mainly farm accounts"