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Village Web Site Forum
David Lowdell
Sutton
Sunday, December 30, 2018 19:44 |
The history of Holmefield Farm
Hello I am hoping to get some help from the local historians on here. Eighteen months ago me and my family moved into Holmefield Farm on Holme Lane. We love the house and living in the village and I am now trying to look into the history of the house, farm and it’s origins. I understand that the Thompson family were the last to live and work the farm. From a page from the 1911 census I think the Whitaker family worked the farm then. It has been suggested that the farm was built as part of Bairstows mill but I have not found any evidence to support this. Any information and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
David Lowdell |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 22:13 |
All the houses in Holmefield were built by the Bairstow family, who owned Sutton Mill. The first properties in Holme Lane and Jackson Street (16 in total) were probably built towards the close of the 1890's, 8 cottages were built in Wighill Street 1905/6, a further nine cottages were built in Wighill Street 1907/8 and nine cottages were built in Walton Street in 1910.
The farm was established by Bairstows in the 1890's, it is not shown on the 1891 OS sheet. In 1901 the farm was occupied by Charles Spencer and his family, but the end house, later occupied as the farm house, was then in the occupation of Alexander Kemp, headmaster at the National School and his extensive family and a servant. Spencer, the farmer, lived at the smaller house next door, however, by 1911 the new farming tenant, John Whitaker, had replaced Kemp at the end house (1 Holme Lane) and this became the farmhouse.
The Bairstow Papers at the West Yorkshire Archive Service in Bradford and copy deeds held at the West Riding Deeds Registry (now part of West Yorkshire Archive Service) in Wakefield may provide further information.
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Alan Smith
Sutton
Thursday, January 3, 2019 08:56 |
Mr Lowell the current occupant of Holme Farm must look out across Holme Lane onto what is now an area of utter neglect of what was once one of of the finest meadow fields in this area, this was the opinion of my grandfather a dairy farmer in the Lake District visiting us here in Sutton.
The sooner the present owner of this eyesore is made to make some effort to tidy up what is presently giving our lovely village a very bad image the better. |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Friday, January 4, 2019 08:16 |
Holmefield was one of Suttons Medieval fields, the others were the Townfield, Westfield, Eastfield and Aden (upland pasture). Before Holme Beck was straightened and deepened it had been subject to regular flooding, hence the name holme (old Norse for low lying land next to a river). The beck was probably altered during the late Tudor period, following which the enclosure of the Holmefield began. Parts still remained unenclosed in 1616 when a survey of Copley land holdings was done. The last piece of the field held as common land by the township was the Bull Field, this had been retained as a paddock for a 'community bull' to serve the farms in the village. The Bull Field was in the area of the former wood turners and sold by the township in the late 1770's.
The enclosed fields were owned by different farmers until the Bairstow family gradually bought them. When they had acquired a sufficient landholding they were able to establish Holme Farm. |
David Lowdell
Sutton
Saturday, January 5, 2019 13:28 |
Thank you for your replies which are interesting and informative.
Robin you have confirmed the suggestion that the House had connections to the mill and added new information.
Alan I would love to look out over a beautiful meadow, mabye one day.
Thanks again. David |
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