Vachell

Horace Annesley Vachell lived on what he called the Tally-Ho Ranch from from 1882 until 1894. He was an Englishman from one of the oldest families in Britain. Horace was the oldest son of Richard Tanfield Vachell of Coptfold Hall, Essex, England and Georgina Annesley.

He turned down an Army commission in order to take up ranching near Arroyo Grande. He worked the land of his 558-acre Tally Ho! Ranch for half a dozen years - laying out neat vineyards, prune, pear, apple and apricot orchards - and engaged in stock breeding, cattle, horses and pigs.

Vachell spent a little over 15 years in California, and half of those years in San Luis Obispo County. He arrived in Arroyo Grande in 1883, eventually constructing a beautiful 14-room Victorian house.

He is said to have introduced the game of polo to Southern California.

Mr. Vachell was a fluid writer, penning some 50 fiction novels, and over 20 plays.

Vachell Street is currently being relocated to connect to south Higuera south of the Octagon Barn in order to better accommodate the residents of a new housing project being built in the area.

He died in Bath, England on January 10, 1955.