Greenacre is a substantial Queen Anne/early Georgian house and was given a Grade II listing on 18th July 1963
Dating to the early to mid-1700’s it is built of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern with defined storey layers. Course clunch rubble with brick dressings to the side and rear walls. Plain tiled roof with brick gable stacks. It has two storeys plus attics. The property has a symmetrical front with five windows and a central door, with flat canopy. The windows are 12-pane sashes with architrave frames and gauged-brick flat arches. There are two small dormers in the front. The rear of the house is accessed through the side building and retains one leaded wood-framed cross window. There are some 20th Century extensions to the rear and the interior has an 18th Century quarter-turn stair with turned balusters.
The Quarter-turn stair
Records indicate that Shillingford Brewery was once on the land now known as Greenacre. ‘An assumption has been made that the “Master Brewer” lived in that house rather than in the much smaller Vintner’s Cottage’.
We know that Sarah Anna, the daughter of James and Anne Green died at Greenacre in 1916. The Green family were practising Quakers, but both James & his grandfather, Stephen, married in St Laurence Church Warborough. Stephen Green married Mary Ashby in 1756. James was born in 1804 in Shillingford and he married his wife Ann in St Laurence Church, Warborough in 1826. Their three children, Robert, Sarah and Mary’s births were registered at the Reading and Warborough Monthly meeting and they were living in Preston Crowmarsh at the time.
The Green family are listed on the census as living in Shillingford but due to the vagaries of the early censuses we cannot confirm for sure that the house now known as Greenacre was their only residence there.
Rev. Thomas William Rollings Lee then bought Greenacre but died before occupying it. His widow, Mary moved to Shillingford where she lived for just 4 years before she died in August 1926. They had two daughters, Margaret Lucy and Dora Charlotte.
The back wing of the house was added shortly after the Lee’s purchased Greenacre, probably around 1921
‘back of Greenacre before extension in 1921’
Back of house now
Dora continued living at Greenacre with May Lyon, a cousin. Miss Batty a former teacher and a subsequent colleague of Margaret’s retired here in her last long illness until her death in 1934. Margaret Lucy, her elder sister visited at weekends and during holidays but her main residence was 77 Banbury Road, Oxford. Margaret was a popular teacher and respected lecturer in Oxford and London and more about her can be found at
When the Lees first came to Shillingford, the house had no name and according to Margaret’s memoirs Margaret and Dora racked their brains for weeks trying to think of one, until one morning Margaret awoke after a dream and announced that ‘it was to be called Greenacre’. It was to be a reminder of the Greens, the two old Quaker ladies who had lived and died there. She obtained photographs of them and hung them up and always remembered them and loved them though she had never actually known them.
Dora was a certified Masseuse, she took an active part in village life, being President of the Women’s Institute for some years.
Reading Mercury – June 1939
Greenacre was used as a refuge and place of refreshment for all kinds of people, students, German and Russian refugees. Mr. Eden Paul, a socialist activist, physician, writer and translator of Jung’s books and his wife, were there for some time and a wonderful saintly German, Professor Ewald, formerly a lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Vienna and author of many philosophical works, who had escaped from Dachau concentration camp, spent the last years of his shattered life at Greenacre. One summer the house was let by Margaret, as always for a trifling rent, to Evelyn Underhill, a very appreciative tenant.
Margaret Lucy Lee in 1926
The 1939 register shows Dora C Lee, Certified Masseuse and an ARP First Aider with Juliet Lyon, a retired headmistress, Nancy Robinson, a chauffeur and unpaid domestic, and Nora Broad, the cook. Margaret Lucy Lee was recorded as Principal of Girls School at 77 Banbury Road, Oxford.
In September 1940, Norman Belcher records Dora & Marjorie Lee, and Miss Lyon.
Dora died on 1st January 1951 at Greenacre.
The Quince Lawn
With its secluded little garden within the garden, Greenacre became more and more a place of peace and refreshment to Margaret though she frequently returned to ’77’ to be in touch with the school, even after giving up teaching.
Margaret died in 1955 having spent her time between Shillingford & Banbury Road, Oxford leaving an estate of £57025.12s 6d (£2,113,498 – today)
After Margaret’s death Greenacre was sold to Charles Neville Ward Perkins who lived there until his death in 1960.
Charles Neville Ward-Perkins was a Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford lecturing in economics with a particular interest in economic history. He was an energetic and practical all-rounder with a wide range of interests. In addition to his university work, Neville helped to establish the Oxford Business Summer School, he was the Oxford correspondent for the Times and part of the Home Office Committee for the employment of prisoners. He was a convinced Liberal in politics and organised the Oxford Liberal group to give practical help to Liberalism in the region. Neville was an enthusiastic gardener, growing a wide range of vegetables at Greenacre for his family and friends. He was married with four young children when he died in May 1960 at the age of 43.
In 1961, his widow, Bridget sold the house to the William Chislett family who only lived there for a short time before work took them to the North of England.
They sold to Alfred ‘Freddie’ Beesley who lived there for at least 50 years until his death in 2019, and his widow, Jean, sold the house in 2020
Compiled by Lynda Raynor
With thanks to Dimity Woodhall, nee Ward-Perkins for sharing her personal research.