Norton Farm (Higgs, Lower Farm, Arkell's Farm, The Elms)
In the early days the farm, like many properties, was named after its latest or original tenant. In this case it appears to have been known as ‘Higgs Farm’.
The earliest reference to the surname Higgs that I have found was on 4 April 1574 when William, son of Richard Higges, was baptised at Norton, then on 8 September 1575 Elizabeth, Richard's wife was buried. In a military survey of Gloucestershire in 1608, amongst the residents of Norton we find a Richard Hidges junior, yeoman. Richard was described as “sheweth the age of that man to bee about Twenty … sheweth the man to bee of the tallest stature fitt to make a pykeman”. The list also records several people who were servants of Richard Hidges suggesting that he was a man of standing and possibly the owner of what was then Norton Farm and the man or family that the farm came to be known after.
In the Manor of Bishops Norton Court Rolls from 21 December 1591 we find that Richard Higgs had cut down two elm trees at Bradley Hey and at Bradley Crosse for which he was ‘amerced’ – [‘A discretionary penalty or fine imposed on an offender at the discretion of the court of his or her lord, as opposed to a statutory fine’; OED].
It is believed that Mary, Lady Anderson, sold two farms in Bishop’s Norton, Higgs and Hoares, in 1661 to Peter Heylin, [see Peter Heylin for further details] a controversial theologian, whose kinsman Henry Heylin, lessee of the rectory estate, sold them in 1677 to Edmund Saunders. Their descent can be traced through Robert Tracy (1655–1735), an eminent lawyer, to his grandsons Robert Tracy and Robert Pratt, whose heir sold them in 1777 to Thomas Butt. Butt sold them in 1784 to Thomas Paytherus (1752–1828), a surgeon-apothecary from Ross, Hereford, who pioneered vaccination.
Nothing further has been identified until the time that the Inclosure Act reached Norton in 1807 when the property was still owned by a Thomas Paytherus although it is unlikely that he was actually the person who farmed here.
Working back from 1807, in the 1796 Land Tax returns we find a property owned by Thos Prothers that was occupied by William Church, and for which he paid £11. Later documents, see below, suggest that this was referring to what is now Norton Farm. The returns from 1789 record the same arrangement but neither Paytherus or Church are named in 1783.
It appears that the Church’s leased the farm from Paytherus until 1801. On 19, 28 and 31 May a number of letters and memorandum were signed by Hester Church widow of Norton, William Church yeoman of Norton, Thomas Church yeoman of Hampen, and Thomas Paytherus surgeon of Ross, Hereford, to transfer the assignment of this lease to Jonathan Arkell, the younger, yeoman of Barnwood. Once again the farm was to take on the name of a tenant and for a short time after became known as ‘Arkells Farm’.
Thomas Paytherus retained Norton Farm until 1816, when it was acquired by Edward Webb and returned to his Bishop’s Norton manor estate.
Jonathan and Giles Arkell, brothers, had been farming at Norton Farm which was known as Arkell’s Farm from the early 1800s. On 15 May 1815 Jonathan, then a 40 year old widower and farmer of Norton, swore an allegation to marry Frances Allen, a 30 year old spinster of Norton, at St Mary’s. Jonathan had a number of children from his previous marriage amongst which was son Henry. The ‘Terrier and valuation of the messuages, lands, and other hereditaments liable to poor rate in the parish of Norton’ dating from 1838 records that Part of Plot No 165, Cold Elm, was a house and garden, 0-1-12 in area, apparently owned by Fanny Arkell let to Henry Arkell, her son. The same Arkells also seem to have owned neighbouring Plots 166 and 167 from 1809. The description of this property would match the location of what became Norton Villa and maybe the Arkells had the house built on land that had already belonged to them ?
In 1827, the time of King George IV, Parliament passed an Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors and men who had been jailed for reasons of debt could apply for relief under its terms. At Gloucester in the 1830s we find a number of local men who appeared before a Court of Commissioners to apply for such relief including, on 18/19 March 1839, Jonathan Arkell, formerly of Norton, farmer. This states that Jonathan was 'formerly' of Norton and his insolvency may be the reason for his absence and why the new property wasn't in his name. It may also be that Jonathan's insolvency caused them to lose Norton Farm and move to a new property here.
In 1841 Jonathan, Fanny and Henry were all still living together at Norton and were still farmers but it is not clear where they were; Norton Villa ? Jonathan died in December 1843, Fanny in 1856 and both have a memorial at St Mary’s, Norton.
By 1838, if not earlier, the farm was occupied by Samuel Cannock and was known as ‘Norton Farm’. In 1841 Samuel was still in residence with his wife and 20 year old son, John, who was also recorded as a farmer. In March 1841 Samuel Cannock was giving up the pasture land at the farm and instructed Mr R Weaver to sell by auction on the premises on 2 April, three days previous to Gloucester Fair; "the horned cattle which are both young and useful, comprising 23 dairy cows and heifers (with calves and to calve), 8 yearling heifers, 3 yearling steers, and one martin heifer, a barren cow, a very useful bull, rising three years old, of the Hereford and short horn breed, a superior two year old bull, of the short horn breed, and a yearling ditto. The draught horses, six in number, are young and good workers. The hacknies, which are very promising, form a powerful brown gelding, rising five, two bay ditto, rising four and one rising three, which are likely to make good match horses, also a capital gig mare. The sheep consist of 24 ewes and lambs, and 9 yearling wethers. The pigs; two good sows and pigs, a hilt and four strong stores. Two hogsheads of family cider, hogshead of fine white store, and four others of best ditto, about four sacks of potatoes, ploughs, harrows, rick staddles, hair clothes, &c".
The farm was taken on by Edward Wrensford Herbert.
A document that appears to date from the 1840s, when Miss Elizabeth Frances Webb held the manor, records who occupied each of the farms on the estate and who and how many people lived in the cottages that were located on each of the farms. There are only two cottages listed in respect of ‘Mr Herbert’s farm’ and presumably they are those located almost opposite the farm house along Wainlode Lane today. In the first was Deborah Leach and two sons and the second John Hughes was living alone. In 1838 the property in the occupation of 65 year old widow, Deborah Leach, was described as being ‘nr Norton Farm’, and consisted of a “cider house, garden and orchard”.
In 1851 Norton Farm was described as being 170 acres and was occupied by Edward Wrensford Herbert, a 37 year old farmer from Barnwood, along with his wife Harriet, who was born at Norton, and 5 year old daughter Elizabeth. He was employing 7 labourers to work the land. He was still occupier in 1861 when once again the farm is referred to as ‘Arkells Farm’ and had grown to 250 acres employing 7 labourers and 5 boys.
Mr Herbert was planning on leaving the farm when the following announcement was placed in the Gloucestershire Chronicle newspaper of 24 January 1863; “Preliminary announcement. Arkell’s Farm in the parish of Norton. Bruton and Knowles have received instructions from Mr. E. W. Herbert, who is quitting the Farm, to arrange for sale by auction on Tuesday 17th of February 1863; his valuable live and dead farming stock, a large quantity of prime and family cider and perry, dairy utensils, part of the household furniture, &c”.”
The property had changed hands again by 1865 when a James Gardner was running the farm which was once again known as ‘Norton Farm’. On 17 March 1866 a Charles Gardner of Norton Farm advertised for sale; "about 36 in-season heifers and steers; also 100 sacks of prime purple potatoes".
The property must have been part of the Norton Court Estate at this time as a record of rents payable to that Estate dated 17 April 1868 records that Norton Farm was in the occupation of Charles Gardner on a 7 year lease from Michaelmas 1863. Farm was known as ‘Arkells Farm’ and ‘Norton Farm’ during this time. It is not known if Charles and James were one and the same person or relatives but they were paying £429-12-4 per annum.
The Gardners remained until 1876 when in August of that year the following advertisements were circulating; "Farm of about 155 acres, partly arable and partly pasture, with convenient house, and the usual farm buildings, situate at Norton, near Gloucester, and now in the occupation of Mr. James Chandler. - To view apply to the Tenant and for further particulars”. A document concerning Norton Court Estate rents dated 17th September 1878 records ‘Norton Farm’ being farmed by George Hone (late Gardner) on a yearly tenancy and the farm had reduced in size having an acreage of 168-3-24.
George Hone wasn't to be here very long and in December 1878 a liquidation auction was held by Philip Thomas and Sons at Norton Farm; "The valuable livestock &c comprising 5 shorthorn dairy cows and heifers in calf, 6 yearling heifers, 10 rearing calves, a yearling shorthorn bull and a bull calf; 10 cart and hackney horses and colts, 7 purebred Berkshire pigs and poultry. a general assortment of modern agricultural implements, nearly new light two wheel dog cart, harness, saddlery, casks, brewing and dairy utensils; modern and well manufactured household furniture, linen, china, glass, &c, &c".
In 1881 ‘Norton Farm’ was occupied by John Elcock. John was born at Worcs in 1840, married Hester and had a number of children including three baptised at Norton between 1879-1882 which may have been how long he was here. Indeed, in 1884 they had a daughter baptised at Treddington so had apparently left by then. By 1891 the family were at Tibberton, Worcs, where John was employed as an agricultural labourer, not farmer anymore.
The farm seems to have had a high turnover of tenants as by 1885, when it was known as ‘Norton Farm’, it had changed hands again being occupied by a John Green. [See Green Family for further details] It was still known as ‘Norton Farm’ as late as 1889 when it was run by a Henry James Green, most likely a son of John. By 1897, however, it was being referred to as ‘The Elms’ and Mrs Mary Ann Green, widow of John, was recorded as the farmer with Ernest Edward Green, son of John, recorded as running hunting stables at the farm.
On 22 September 1897, Bruton, Knowles & Co were selling at auction, the farming stock and equipment of Mrs Seddon of Willington Court Farm, Sandhurst, and with her approval included an additional item of; “6 dairy cows, 3 yearlings, 2 weaned calves, mare pony, cart gelding, pony trap, &c, the property of Mrs Green, of The Elms, Norton, who is giving farming”.
The Gloucestershire Chronicle newspaper of 17 September 1898 advertised; “Elms Farm, Norton. Within four miles from Gloucester. Bruton Knowles and Co are instructed by Mr Ernest E Green, who is leaving, to sell by auction, on Tuesday, 20th September, 1898; His valuable stud of two thoroughbred brood mares and foals, three year old chestnut gelding, 6 yearlings and two year olds, 15 well known hunters, 4 cart mares, bay gelding, and 1 sucking colt, Jersey cow and her yearling heifer, 4 two year old fresh stirks and steers, 52 young Radnor stock ewes, 18 fat lambs, Shearling Hampshire ram, 2 sows and pigs, 11 strong stores, the growing fruit on five orchards, harness, ralli cart, pony trap, dog cart, implements, dairy utensils, casks, &c. Luncheon at twelve. Sale at one o’clock”.
In 1901 Henry Bubb Chandler was living with his wife Lucy at ‘The Elms’ and he gave his profession as farmer. He was born at Haresfield in 1855 and his wife at Saul in 1861. He first appeared at Norton in 1900. A John Chandler is recorded at The Elms in 1902 but it is not known if he was a relative of Henry or if the entry was made in error and in fact this actually was Henry.
The following extract and photograph were printed in the Cheltenham Chronicle & Gloucestershire Graphic newspaper of 6th February 1904 hinting that it may have been the hunting stables that attracted Henry Chandler to the property in the first place.
“Honourary Secretary to the 6th Annual Ball of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute held at Gloucester Guildhall last night, Mr Chandler, who lives at Norton. He became local Hon Sec for the institute in 1892 and over £2000 for its benevolent purposes have passed through his hands. The first ball realised £78 15s. The next two found the Hon Sec laid up with broken ribs and a broken arm and they only realised £45 3s and £69 6s respectively. But his restored energy was reflected in the 1902 and 1903 gatherings when the profits were £92 8s and £102. Mr Chandler is also secretary to the Gloucester Shire Horse Society, a judge to leading agricultural societies and a keen sportsman”.
Henry Chandler had to give up the farm due to ill health and on 22 September 1914 Bruton, Knowles & Co held an auction on the premises to sell his stock. Luncheon was to be served here at 11 o’clock with the sale starting at 12 o’clock.
“56 exceptionally well-bred cattle including 8 young dairy cows with calves or in calf, heifer with calf at foot, 27 very fresh cross-bred Hereford and shorthorn, 2 year old heifers and steers, 2 heifers and 1 steer coming two years old, 14 yearling heifers and steers, 2 weaned calves, pure-bred Hereford bull; 10 valuable horses, including 3 capital young cart geldings, shire mare 5 years old, ditto in foal, 2 shire colt foals, thoroughbred brown mare 6 years old, dark brown half bred gelding, the entire horse ‘Markeaton Royalty’; the flock of 71 six-tooth Radnor ewes, 59 cross-bred lambs, sow and pigs, hilt, 12 strong store pigs, the crop of fruit growing on 10 acres. Agricultural implements, harness, cider and casks, dairy appliances, poultry, etc”.
As well as having an interest in shire horses Henry Chandler's name cropped up a few times as the owner of horses competing at the Boddington Harriers annual races. Knowing how much Henry Chandler thought of his horses and shires in particular, perhaps 'Markeaton Royalty' needs his own mention. I believe his full name was Markeaton Royal Harold and that he was born in 1893. In April 1912 a number of advertisements appeared in local newspapers; “Season 1912, to breeders of cart horses. To stand at Norton Farm, Gloucester, that weighty and active Shire Stallion, Markeaton Royalty. Stands 17 hands, with 13ins bone. Has been in the district five seasons and has proved himself a sure getter of sizey and valuable stock. Has Mr Weighill’s MRCVS certificate of soundness. All particulars of the owner – H B Chandler, Norton, Gloster”.
Norton Farm was to be let from 29 September 1914 and was advertised by Bruton, Knowles & Co; "Norton Farm (Norton Court Estate) 4 miles from Gloucester, comprising good house, buildings, 2 cottages and 189 acres, of which only 11 1/2 are arable, in the occupation of Mr H B Chandler".
By 1919 ‘The Elms’ is occupied by Alfred Minett and it was described as a farm in excess of 150 acres.
By 1923 the name had returned to ‘Norton Farm’ and I believe has remained as such ever since. Bruton Knowles & Co were instructed by Capt G N Walker to sell ‘Norton Farm’ by auction at The Bell Hotel, Gloucester, on Saturday July 28th 1923 at 3 o’clock punctually. Following is the detailed description that was given of Norton Farm at that time.
“Lot 1. A compact freehold dairy farm situated in the parish of Norton and intersected by the main road from Gloucester to Tewkesbury, about 4 miles from Gloucester and about 6 from Tewkesbury.
It comprises a superior farmhouse situated at a convenient distance from the main road ample and well arranged farm buildings, two modern cottages, and about 130a 0r 33p of pasture, pasture orcharding and arable land, of which the following is a schedule taken from the Second Edition of the Ordnance Survey :-
Parish of Norton
No on Map Description Area
160 Arable 17- 2-11
161 Pasture orchard 8- 0-34
193 Arable 8- 3-23
219 Two cottages, Estate Nos 4 and 5 1- 3
220 Pasture orchard 3-22
222 Norton farmhouse, buildings, yards, etc 2- 0-26
223 Pasture 6- 2-31
224 Pasture 2- 1-13
282 Pasture 13- 3-32
283 Pasture 25- 3-21
Pt 295 Lane 1- 7
296 Arable 2- 1-30
305 Pasture orchard 4- 2- 1
306 Pasture 24- 2- 8
314 Pasture 11- 2-11
130-0-33
The farmhouse faces south and occupies a pleasant situation on the road leading to Norton village. It is substantially built of brick with tiled and slated roof and contains dining room, drawing room, kitchen, back kitchen with sink and baking oven, dairy, larder, store room, wash-up shed with two furnaces and pump; on the first floor are five bedrooms, bathroom, boxroom and wc.
There is a lawn at the side of the house and an excellent kitchen garden.
The water supply is obtained from a spring and well in field No 223.
The farm buildings are situated near the centre of the farm, have direct access to the road, and are conveniently arranged. They are constructed mainly of brick with tiled roofs, and comprises cider mill house with mill and press, cider cellar both with granary over, store shed, coal house, wagon shed, cow shed for 12 with chaff house at end, 4 pigstys, wash vault and boiler house, two fold yards with timber and tiled shelter sheds, two loose boxes, 3 brick and slated pigstys, 2 barns constructed of timber with iron roofs (partitions in one barn the property of the tenant), stable containing two large loose boxes and stable for 5 horses, all with loft over, traphouse with loft over and harness room, fold yard with range of 5 brick, timber and tiled loose boxes, timber and iron shed with furnace and store shed.
In the orchard adjoining the homestead is a fold yard with timber and iron shelter shed.
In No 219 on plan are a pair of modern cottages substantially built of brick with tiled roofs, each containing living room, scullery and 3 bedrooms.
The farmhouse, buildings, and cottages are in an excellent state of repair.
The farm is very compact and has long frontages to the main road, and to the road leading to Norton village. The land is in a high state of cultivation, and is mainly pasture. The arable land, which is near the homestead, is very productive and the pasture orchards, with an area of 13a 2r 17p, are a valuable feature of the holding.
The orchard No 161 contains 152 fruit trees, including 66 perry pears, 24 dessert pears, 14 Bramley’s Seedling, 9 Blenheim Orange and 5 Cox’s Orange Pippin; Orchard No 305 contains 169 fruit trees including 51 Annie Elizabeth, 32 Bramley’s Seedling, 15 Newton Wonder, 17 Gloria Mundi, 4 Cox’s Orange pippin, 4 Warner’s King, 6 Beurre Diel, 4 Williams Bon Chretien and 12 dessert pears; Orchard No 220 contains 41 fruit trees, including 28 Bramley’s Seedling and 3 dessert pears. The young trees are well fenced and the majority of the named varieties are labelled.
The fences and gates are in good order, two drinking places to ponds have been pitched recently with stone in concrete, and generally the farm is in excellent condition and forms an exceptionally attractive holding.
The whole of the valuable growing timber is included in the sale.
Norton Farm is let to Mr A Minett on an annual Michaelmas tenancy at a rent of £335 a year, which includes a pasture field of 15 ½ acres (Lot 3) and an area of 38a 2r 27p of Meadow Land not included in the sale. The rent apportioned to Lot 1 for the purpose of the sale is £232.
The area of Meadow Land referred to is shown edged green on the plan, and is part of No 138 and Nos 139 and 158. The purchaser of Norton Farm will be offered the opportunity to lease this land for a term of 7 years as from the 29th September 1924 or such later date as the existing tenancy shall be terminated, at a rent of £80 a year, subject to the right of the Vendor to resume possession by 3 months notice to expire on the 29th September in any year of the whole or any portion of the land if required for the purpose of osier cultivation, the rent being reduced pro rata.
This lot is sold subject to the reservation in favour of the Vendor of a right of road for the purpose of hauling timber over field No 306 from Cold Elm Brake to the public road. The use of this right of road is subject to payment by the Vendor of compensation for any damage done by such user.
The purchaser of this lot shall covenant with the Vendor to maintain in good condition, to the satisfaction of the Vendor, the ditch on the western boundary of fields Nos 193 and 306 and to clear and throw this ditch at least once in every year.
The purchaser shall also undertake to grant to the Vendor the exclusive shooting and sporting rights over this lot for a term of not less than 20 years at a rent of £6 a year, the lease to be to the approval of the Vendor’s solicitiors. The farm is free of Tithe and Land Tax”.
Alfred Minett purchased the homestead and the greater part of the farm himself, the title commencing from a conveyance of sale dated 21 September 1923 and made between George Norton Walker of the first part Eric Francis Tiernay Fowler and Edward Ernest Ricketts of the second part and Alfred Minett of the third part. One field was sold to Mr Brookes and Capt Walker retained another portion that he continued to rent to Alfred Minett. After the sale Mr Minett held 130a 33p, Mr Brookes 5a 2r and Capt Walker 38a 2r 27p.
On 24 September Mr Minett lodged a claim for disturbance and unexhausted values against Messrs Walker and Brookes. Mr Brookes replied with a claim against Mr Minett for hay cut and removed that year and other dilapidations. Mr Minett claimed £45 7s and received £5 17s 6d whilst Mr Brookes claimed £25 and received 15s.
Alfred Minett remained at the farm for the rest of his life and in 1931 was recorded as having one of the first telephones in the village with the number Twigworth 4. After the Second World War he gave the land where the village hall was subsequently built and in return was made a life-member of the Village Hall Management Committee.
Alfred Minett and his gun dog Toby in the yard at Norton Farm
A Ministry of Agriculture farm survey dated 1941-3 recorded that Norton Farm was owned and farmed by Alfred Minett. It was a mixed farm and rated ‘Class A’.
Alfred Minett, died in 1953 which ultimately led to his daughter Marjorie Marston putting the farm up for sale again and Bruton, Knowles & Co were instructed to sell ‘Norton Farm’ by auction at Agriculture House, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester on Thursday 20th July 1961 at 3.0pm.
Lot 1
Norton Farm. The dairy and mixed freehold and tithe free vale farm comprising the attractive farmhouse, a good range of buildings, two cottages and the highly productive pasture and arable land the whole extending to about 162 acres of which the following is a schedule taken from the 1923 edition of the ordnance survey map :
No on map Description Acres
160 } Pasture 17.567
160a }
Pt 161 Pasture with fruit trees 7.844
Pt 193 Ditto 8.717
Pt 219 Two cottages .245
Pt 220 Pasture .848
222 Farmhouse, buildings and yards 2.175
223 Pasture 6.685
224 Ditto 2.332
282 Ditto 13.947
283 Arable 25.809
295 Road .310
296 Pasture 1.349
305 Pasture orchard 3.635
305a Ditto .869
Pt 306 Pasture 24.087
313 Ditto 17.166
314 Ditto 11.568
316 Arable 9.430
339 Ditto 7.338
161.921
The attractive farmhouse has a southern aspect and is substantially built of brick with a part slate and part tiled roof. It is in a very good state of repair and the decorations throughout are in good order. The accommodation is on two floors and comprises three reception rooms, domestic offices, 5 bedrooms and bathroom arranged as follows :-
On the ground floor :- Hall with cupboard under stairs and door to garden. Dining Room 18ft x 17ft. Sitting Room 18ft x 17ft. Breakfast Room 17ft x 12ft with cupboard.
The domestic offices consist of a kitchen with a stainless steel sink, with cupboards, and Sadia electric heater, scullery with sink (h and c) and Glowworm stove and larder. The covered back entrance communicates with the dairy.
On the first floor :- Landing, bedroom 18ft x 13ft, bedroom 13ft x 12ft, bedroom 19ft x 13ft, bedroom 14ft x 13ft 6ins, bedroom 16ft 6ins x 13ft with two cupboards, bathroom with cased-in bath and basin (h and c) and airing cupboard. WC.
Outside :- WC partly walled in garden and electrically heated greenhouse. A brick and slate cider house and workshop with bench and loft.
The farm buildings consist of :- a lean-to concrete block and asbestos sheet tractor shed and tool house. A timber and galvanised roof garage, a timber and asbestos roof shed, and a timber and asbestos sheet deep litter house for 200 birds. A brick and tiled span roof implement shed, boiler house and 4 styes. A 4-bay and a 6-bay shed with yards. A brick, galvanised front and tiled cow house with 19 standings having tubular partitions, water bowls, concrete manger and feeding gangway, fodder store and engine house, and a brick and asbestos cow house with 8 standings having tubular partitions, concrete manger and feeding gangway. A large timber and galvanised barn, a portion being partitioned off for young cattle. Three brick and tiled boxes and loft and two stores. Four brick, timber and tiled boxes, a timber and galvanised shed and yard. A 5-bay hay barn having both ends and one side enclosed, and a 4-bay shed.
The two cottages are built of brick with tiled roof. Each contains a sitting room with glazed fireplace, kitchen, lean-to scullery and three bedrooms. Garden and EC.
The land consists of 95 acres of pasture, 21 acres of pasture orcharding and 42 acres of arable. Council water is connected to troughs in Ord Nos 305 and 306 and about 71 acres on the east side of the main road adjoin a running brook. The fruit growing in the orchards is included in the sale."
With the farm sold at the July auction Bruton, Knowles & Co were instructed to hold another auction, on site, on 19 September, to sell the livestock and agricultural equipment that were on the farm at that time.
“83 dairy and store cattle comprising 36 dehorned Fresian cows in-milk and/or in-calf, 1 Guernsey and 1 Jersey, 9 served Fresian heifers, 2 served Jersey heifers, 4 barren heifers, 12 Fresian heifers (yearlings), 2 Jersey heifers (yearlings), 3 Hereford cross heifers (rising 2 years old), 12 Fresian bulling heifers and a Fresian bull.
Agricultural implements & equipment including McCormick International B45 pick-up baler, Ferguson rear-mounted mower, S/T and S/D rake, tractor and tipping trailers, Cambridge roll disc harrows, fertiliser spinner, cultivator, 2-furrow plough, dairy utensils, poultry equipment, etc”.
The following has been extracted from a book written by Mary Elizabeth (Molly) Marston entitled “Through all the Changing Scenes of Life”. Molly married Bernard Marston whose parents had lived at Norton Farm for many years through the early to mid-1900s. Bernard Marston was the son of Sidney Marston and Marjorie Minett.
“Due to his (Bernard’s) father’s heart condition we joined his parents to work on their farm, his grandfather was still alive then. We shared their house which they divided into two parts, after the birth of our second child, it was not easy sharing a kitchen once we had children.
Our first child Robert was born this year (1951), he became the first grandchild on both sides and was very spoilt by all his doting grandparents, especially his great grandfather. The old man could be seen sitting outdoors on a seat and with great patience pick up the baby’s toys as he threw them out of his pram, he was then eighty three years of age. Robert actually learned to walk with the aid of the old mans walking stick, clinging to it. He also bought his first baby walker, a truck filled with toy bricks. We all greatly missed him when he finally passed away.
Our eldest son Robert was fortunate enough to have two grandmas and grandpas, with great grandparents, when he was born. It was a busy life on the farm. I reared about three hundred chickens, three times a year, plus turkeys, ducks and geese. I kept a hundred young pullets for laying purposes, the surplus I plucked to dress for the table. There were quite often baby lams to feed on the bottle by hand, the weak ones were always brought in to keep warm, also young piglets when the winters were severe.
I joined a WI group whilst living there and we did amateur dramatics plus Scottish and folk dancing. We also had our own canning equipment to can our own produce. There were no tinned fruit or vegetables then so we did our own peaches, pears and apples. It was hard work to prepare and cook all of this but it tasted so much better then our former method of using the glass Kilner jar.
At this stage we decided to increase our family and so needed a house of our own after sharing for so many years. We had a house built next to the farm in front of the orchard facing the road. Soon after this Claire, our second daughter, was born. Robert was now aged seven and Suzanne was five. Seventeen months after our second son Christopher arrived. This kept me very busy with four small children to care for. There were no nursery schools then or playgroups to attend. When they were old enough to attend school they arrived home quite exhausted by the end of the day. It was a very lovely life for them to grow up in the country, there was so much to do. At the time of haymaking we all shared picnics with their daddy in the fields enjoying the lovely open air. This we did also at the corn harvesting of the crops of wheat. The children would help me to feed the stock also to pick up the fruit. We had a very large vegetable garden at the rear of the house this supplied us with all our needs. We were in fact the early pioneers of organic farming methods using the natural manure from horses and cattle to fertilise the land. The dung heap would stand in a pile to rot down to nature and then it was ploughed back onto the land, some we used in the garden to enrich it.
We did not own a fridge or freezer as they were not on the open market then but we always had plenty of fresh food every day. We made great use of all that was available and learnt how to make things stretch a long way. Whenever I had a bacon joint given to me, when I had my weekly grocery order delivered, I boiled it down with many vegetables then it became useful for sandwiches to use during the week. The order was given to the deliveryman for the following week this gave him time to pack it for us. Most people living in the country had to do this each week. There were no supermarkets then, these were all small grocery businesses, families would all work together to pack up the orders for outlying districts such as ours. This was the way most self-employed people worked as one unit together, each having his own responsibility, as much as the way we worked together as a team in farming families all over the country.
It was heartbreaking for us to be informed by the Post Office that Bernard’s mother had decided to sell the farm. After a lifetime of living there, he was devastated. We had spent eleven happy years there. We had actually built our house on the farm and our children had been born there. They attended school in the village when old enough and they had all been baptised at the village church. My husband had continued to farm there for about three years after his father’s death, running it on behalf of his mother.
Once again we had to move. We would like to have purchased it but did not have sufficient capital for this large amount. Mum-in-law refused to rent it to us.”
Phil Pembridge who lived at Old Lane Cottage (previously Fair View) has shared the following memories; "The water supply to the house came via a pipe from over near Mabbots pool in the field behind Cook Lane. I can remember pumping water to the back door of the house via a rotary pump there. There is still a well there if you know where to look. The poultry on the farm were continued by George Whittaker in between big poultry house. I had always wondered why there were so many big and little poultry sheds. The farm had a big walnut tree behind the poultry shed and an almond tree in the farm garden. The picture with the picket fence in the foreground of the photo of 1900 masks the farm pond that the wagons were driven into to tighten the wheel rims. The filling in of this pond is part of the cause of the drainage disruption that the entrance to Cook Lane and sewerage pump installation experience. The picture of the old man in the yard was very familiar. The shed behind him was one of two wheeled shepherds huts in the back yard. Behind that was the donkey powered cider mill with a granary over. The farm had a lot of orchards then".
[1807]
The OS 25" 1st Edition and OS 25" 3rd Edition showing how the buildings changed over the years.
At some time after this the farm passed into the hands of George Whittaker who was certainly here for many years before retiring and going to live at Stroud Roud, Gloucester.
Following George Whittaker's retirement, Norton Farm became the site of Ronsons Architectural Reclamation who operated out of the large barn.
[Advertisements from October 1992 and December 1994]
In 2002 Ronson's business proprietors, Ronald F G and Margaret Jones were living in the farmhouse.
Norton Farm [2002]
Ronsons Architectural Reclamation [2002]
Prior to 2002 a barn to the Cold Elm side of the farmhouse was developed into a home and in 2002 Lee B and Donna L Jones were resident here.
Norton Barn [2002]
In more recent times some of the land and outbuildings have been developed into housing along what is now Cook Lane.
[2019]
[2021]
