History of a farm house

[lozadkins]

Hi, I am trying to build a history of a farmhouse in Horndon on the hill called Cholleys. I have found some names of those who may have lived there or owned it. One of the names I have even found in the 1841 census. The name of the farm is on the maps but I seem to have hit a brick wall.
Can anyone give me any pointers on where to go next?
The names I have are William Austin,
A. P. Mee (who retired to thorpe bay and was from 4 generations of farmers in Essex.
Lawson Holmes,
James Byas (1841 Census).
 The building on the Historic Buildings site states it has 16th century origins with a Victorian addition. I also have found an advertisement of an auction of the farm on 15/12/1845.
Thank you.

[GrahamSimons]

You could strike lucky in the county archives once they reopen. Solicitors' records, tithes, enclosures, permission for this and that (I found permission to buy cement during postwar rationing), business records, estate records. Also other local newspapers not yet online, parish magazines, local histories. Need time, patience, help from archivist, and luck!
If I remember there was a ww2 survey of farms, now at Kew. Not sure when the annual farm census began, but it's records could be interesting (census of livestock and crops, not of people).
Could always be worth writing to the current owners: I got back 250 years by ringing one doorbell!).
Another thought: look for records of the manor via the Manorial Documents Register.

[Comberton]

Have you seen the 1848 report of a fire there? It is quite detailed and includes the farm being the property of the Dean & Chapter of St Paul's, leased to Z Button Esq. and underlet to Mr Lawson Holmes.
Chelmsford Chronicle 15-12-1848