Testimony — Mary (Nancy) Williams (Mrs Mary Doreen Buckler, 1913–1983)
Page type: Testimony · Person: Mary (Nancy) Williams · Version: 1.0.0 (19 Oct 2026) · Editing Protocol
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Mary (Nancy) Williams (married name Mrs Mary Doreen Buckler) was born at Great House Farm in 1913 and lived there until her death in March 1983. This page lists only her own recorded statements: her witness statement, her court pleading and the newspaper reports that quote her. See also her biography page Mary (Nancy) Williams.
Recorded statements (5)
| Date | Record | What it says | Source / ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.1974 (undated; after 1967, before 1983) | Witness statement (typescript, 3 pages, unsigned copy; original held privately) | “My family have lived and farmed at Great House Farm since 1667.” “It was also provided that when the quarrying ceased the freehold should belong to my grandfather.” “I have never had any doubt that I was entitled to do so nor have I ever paid rent to or acknowledged the title of anyone as landlord.” | Full transcription (GHF-E196-01) |
| 3 Jul 1974 | Plea of ownership in BP Pension Trust’s county-court action (court record) | She pleaded that she owned the house. Her exact words are not held. | EV-0049 · GHF-E135 (pleadings not yet obtained) |
| 1955–1962 (date unknown) | “Previous statement” on the 1955 and 1962 possession applications | Not held. Known only from her c.1974 statement, which refers to “my previous statement”. | EV-0033 · GHF-E127 (missing) |
| 7 May 1958 (inquiry of 6 May 1958) | Western Mail, p.7: Leckwith Common inquiry (press report; OCR, page image not yet seen) | “Mrs. Mary Doreen Buckler, of Great House Farm, Llandough, said she did not oppose the proposal so long as it applied only to playing fields. About 130 years ago Lord Bute allowed her family “a slice of land” which was now Leckwith Common.” | EV-0035 |
| 20 Nov 1958 (meeting of 19 Nov 1958) | Western Mail, p.7: “It’s a Crichel Down, says woman farmer” (press report; OCR, page image not yet seen) | “Mrs. M D. Buckler was objecting to further industrial development in the vicinity of her farm, Ty Mawr, Penarth Road, Llandough.” The report says land farmed by her family since 1667 had been “wrongfully appropriated”. | EV-0037 |
Notes
- Her husband was Frederick Buckler (died 1967). Her children included William (Billy) Buckler and Janet Harris.