RANDELL, James
Lived in Hayes 1795 – 1823
Malt factor from Queenhithe
In 1795 James Randell paid £2000 for part of the Baston estate sold by the executors of John Luxford. He purchased 53 acres and ‘a part brick and part plaister and tiled house’ (Baston House), coachhouse, stable, two barns, outhouses, gardens and orchards. He was a bachelor when he moved in employing four resident servants.
In 1801 he also bought Mary Lander’s cottage on the Common and received agreement to an exchange of land in 1804 as he wished to erect a fence and straighten up the boundary of his garden.
He married Anne Lucy and between 1806 and 1819 had seven children who were baptised in Hayes Church. He contributed to the support of the local school but his main efforts were directed to improving his property which saw major changes.
In the course of these improvements in 1813 some very ancient wood panels, painted in oil and said to date from about 1460, were found lining a cupboard. These panels are now held by the Society of Antiquaries. His improvements were reflected in the rates he was expected to pay. The rateable value increased from £57 to £65 in 1809 and in 1813 he successfully appealed against an increase to £120. It was reduced to £85 for the remainder of his ownership.
The family left Hayes when he sold Baston to Samuel Nevil Ward in 1823.