Primrose Hill

 

Source: KnightFrank & Savills. Primrose Hill. 2024 listing.

On the edge of the village of Hawkhurst is a lovely Grade II listed country house and gardens. According to the 2024 listing, the historic property of Primrose Hill was built in 1802 by William Ayerst, a miller "who also harbored brandy smugglers, an activity notorious in the area." The Ayerst family was likely well known to my Oyler line, as the village is pretty small. Primrose Hill has another connection for two daughters of Hannah Oyler.

Ancestry. 1851 England Census. Hawkhurst, Kent.

In the 1851 England Census, Caroline Chapman appears in the Ayerst household at Primrose Hill as a 25 year old house servant. There's another name on the record, William Willard, 29 year old house servant. Willard would later marry Caroline's older sister, Mary Chapman, in October 1871.

It looks like there's an earlier connection between Mary and William at Primrose Hill. In the 1841 England Census, both appear in the Ayerst household as house staff for miller Thomas Ayerst.

Ancestry. 1841 England Census. Hawkhurst, Kent.

Jumping forward in time to the 1861 England Census, Mary Chapman had returned to the Ayerst residence and was working as a cook. William is listed as a gardener, a profession he would have for the remainder of his life. William would have tended the gardens on the Primrose Hill property, and probably also took care of other handyman tasks to keep up the house.

Ancestry. 1861 England Census.

KnightFrank 2024 listing for Primrose Hill.

In the 1871 England Census, Mary and William are still listed as the cook and gardener to Francis Ayerst.

Ancestry. 1871 England Census.

By 1881, Mary and William had moved into Microstula Cottage in Hawkhurst. William is listed as a gardener and domestic servant. They enjoyed seven more years in the cottage before Mary passed away in August 1888. The couple did not have children.

William appears in the 1891 and 1901 England Census, living on Highgate in Hawkhurst. He died in May 1903. Mary's nephew William Chapman served as his executor.

One last note on the Primrose Hill house, the property sold in October 2024.