The land being sold was originally purchased in 1874 by brewers Philip Meyer and Arthur Hugh Meyer, of the "Hardwicke Arms" in Arrington. The main house, the brewery buildings, the workman's cottages, and the foreman's villa were built shortly afterwards.

"The Meyerses at the "Hardwicke Arms" used to brew their own beer; and rattling good beer it was. We used to say that the water from their horsepond brewed the best beer in the county...  ...The brewery at New Wimpole was not built until after 1873. It was built, so it is said, because my uncle [the 4th Earl of Hardwicke] had rowed with them for using the "Hardwicke Arms" as a private residence and not as an Inn."  From 'Wimpole As I Knew It' by Alexander Campbell Yorke (1851-1925).

Freehold title to the property was purchased from the Meyer's in December 1897 by John Phillips and Joseph Edward John Phillips (as J. & J. E. Phillips Ltd).

An earlier plan of "Oatlands" drawn in 1908. Click on the plan for a full screen image.

For a period around 1909, the factory was producing paper folding machinery (Cundall's), by 1915 the factory had become a Government controlled facility producing military webbing, harnesses and parachutes for the war effort. It is understood J. & J. E. Phillips Ltd sold the freehold on to Charles Townley Esq. in 1917.

So for several years, Charles Townley owned the freehold to most of the property in New Orwell on the South side of Cambridge Road, opposite the estate cottages in New Wimpole. After he died in 1920, the freehold was ordered to be Sold by Auction to meet the outstanding mortgage liabilities of £3000.00 plus interest. The Sale, held on Tuesday 27 September 1921, included "Oatlands" (also variously known as "The Grange" or "Orwell Grange"), the empty Brewery/Cundall's Factory building, a Forge/Smithy, a thirty acre field, and ten domestic properties fronting Cambridge Road. Most of the information on this page is taken from the 1921 Particulars of Sale Document.

Aerial view of "Oatlands" and the village of Wimpole.

This aerial photograph, taken some years after the sale, clearly shows the extent of the "Oatlands" property. Lots 'A' to 'C' all lie within the area between the road to Cambridge and the encircling boundary of trees. Lot 'D' is the field at the bottom of the photograph.

Incidentally, the name "Oatlands" is taken from the old name of the large agricultural field that stretches between Wimpole and Orwell villages (top right in the aerial view).

Although not relevant to the sale, it might be of interest that during the second world war, MI6 used "Oatlands" as a top secret SIS training centre for agents to deployed into France and Belgium as part of Operation Sussex. Originally earmarked to provide dispersal for MI6 Headquarters, "Oatlands" was fully furnished and staffed to accommodate 90 officers. The property was subsequently used as a holding house and training centre. The agents were French nationals, and the training staff were British and American. Training started in mid to late 1943, and seems to have finished around June 1944 (the month of the D-Day landings), and the last agents would have been deployed into France by October of that year.

It should also be noted that all properties listed in the sale are now within the Parish of Wimpole, following a boundary change in 1999 . In 1921, the year of the auction, all the buildings and land were situated within the Parish of Orwell.

Over the years, the property has been named "Oatlands" and "The Grange". Today it is called "Orwell Grange" and a small private hospital has been built in the grounds.

Note: The property will first be offered as a whole in one Lot, and if not so sold, then in four lots as set out hereafter. The extensive FREEHOLD PROPERTIES in extent about Forty-Three Acres, and Situate and having about 1200 feet frontage to the Main Road in the village of ORWELL in the County of Cambridgeshire. About 9 miles from Cambridge, 7 miles from Royston Station (G.N.R.) And 4 miles from Lords Bridge Station.

Comprising:

(Lot A)

"Oatlands" Residence

The substantially built, well appointed County Residence known as "Oatlands" or "The Grange", Orwell, Cambridgeshire. Pleasantly situated, well retired from the Road, surrounded by Gardens, Lawns and Shrubberies, and approached by Carriage Drive.

"Oatlands" (circa 1908)

The Residence is modern, built of brick with tiled roof and the accommodation is as follows:-

ON THE GROUND FLOOR:

Vestibule and pair of inner doors opening to

LARGE HALL paved with encaustic tiles, giving access to the garden at the back by a glazed door.

DRAWING ROOM 25 feet x 17 feet (including bay) with three lofty French windows and fitted with Mahogany and Marble Mantel.

CONSERVATORY

DINING ROOM 24 feet x 16 feet (including bay) well lighted, with square bay window and glazed door leading to Conservatory. It has an oak and marble mantle and modern Combustion Stove. Wide passage from Hall leads to

BREAKFAST ROOM with oak mantle, cupboard etc.

THE DOMESTIC OFFICES COMPRISE:-

HOUSEMAID'S PANTRY provided with set of cupboards with sliding doors about 10 feet long

KITCHEN with tiled floor, range, enamel sink with water supply and large china and glass cupboard

SECOND KITCHEN with enamel sink, shelving etc.

SCULLERY with enamel sink, shelving and cupboards,

HOUSEMAID ROOM with marble mantel and cupboards

There is a separate back entrance to the Domestic Offices by a passage close to which is a WC and Lavatory basin.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR:

approached from the Hall by a wide and well lighted Stairway, and also a Stairway in the rear. There is a central landing, near which are ranged

FOUR PRINCIPAL BEDROOMS all fitted with enamel lavatory basins, hot and cold supply

THREE OTHER BEDROOMS

TWO DRESSING ROOMS

BATHROOM fitted with enamel Bath and Lavatory Basin.

BILLIARD ROOM, LINEN ROOM, STORE ROOM & WC

ON THE SECOND FLOOR

TWO SERVANTS BEDROOMS and STORE ROOM

The Hot Water Supply is arranged by a Beeston Boiler, which supplies two radiators in the Hall and two in the Conservatory.

The House is fitted for electric light.

The Conservatory is well constructed, lofty, and a pleasing adjunct to the two best reception rooms.

The Lawns, Flower Beds and Shrubberies are well planned and effectually screen and render private the whole of the Grounds.

Near the house are outbuildings consisting of Garage, a well built brick and slated LAUNDRY with oven, and Upper Floor adaptable for a Man-Servant.

Adjoining this Building is a range comprising COAL STORE, WORK SHOP, FRUIT STORE with shelving etc.

Behind the last described building is a

Large Kitchen Garden

with high walls, well stocked with Fruit Trees, and a CAPITAL VINERY about 45 feet x 16 feet with two divisions, heating apparatus etc.

Near the roadway is a brick and tiled GARAGE.

In the rear of the Pleasure Garden is an

Excellent Paddock

nearly surrounded by good belts of trees. The total area is estimated from the Ordnance Survey to be 9 acres 0 roods 35 poles.

Near the Residence and included therewith is the LARGE BLOCK of substantial and lofty

Modern Buildings

Formerly a Brewery, converted during the War into a Government Controlled FACTORY at great expense.

The former brewery building around 1909. This two-part panorama was taken from elevated positions near Cambridge Road looking south. The photograph was then doctored to make the Cundall's factory (particularly the building on the left) look far bigger than it actually was.

The Floor space is about 20,000 feet super. There are iron escape staircases and Teak doors from 1st floor. Basement suitable for Storage.

2 GOODS LIFTS

The Upper Floor is heated on the Plenun System, the apparatus being supplied by the Buffalo Forge Co Ltd.

A complete Electrical Plant is installed, two dynamos, motor, Steam Engine Plant with 12 foot Fly Wheel, Accumulator Room, two sets approximately 120 cells, Switch board, Poulton Boiler 28 foot long, all suitably housed.

All these valuable fittings, Hot Water Apparatus, Installations etc., and also the Sewing machines and Benches etc. now on the premises will be included in the purchase.

There are Garages, Wash-houses, Small Office and sundry outbuildings in connection with the Factory.

[Explanatory note: It is believed the main factory buildings were demolished the year following the sale. See also: Cundall's Factory 1909. For additional photographs of the Cundall's factory, see: Cundall's Works.]