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Village Web Site Forum
Jason
Nathan Jack Productions
Thursday, May 24, 2007 11:05 |
Springfield House
Could someone please tell me where Springfield house was. I have seen the picture on the site. I am doing a project on it at school and i am eager to know where it is?
Thank you |
paulw
webmaster
Thursday, May 24, 2007 11:18 |
Hi Jason. Springfield House was down towards the end of Sutton Lane (the road that leads from the bottom of Main Street past the cricket pitch and down towards Eastburn).
There's a turning on the right called Knott Lane and just beyond this is an electricity sub-station occupying the grounds where Springfield House once stood. A bit further down there's a lodge and gateway that was at the entrance to the grounds. This area used to be in Sutton but I don't believe it currently is. I've been told there used to be horse and trap races in the fields on the opposite side of the road.
I'm sure others can provide you with more details. |
Barbara Chapman
Thursday, May 24, 2007 13:01 |
Hello Jason, You will find other references about Springfield on the Forum under the title 'Clough Head Farm', where Diana and me (Barbara) are discussing the 'Haunted House' as we remember it from childhood. I have no idea why it was called 'Haunted'. What I can tell you about the house is that it was the home of the Bairstow family who founded T & M Bairstows Ltd., Worsted Mill, in Sutton.
In 1881 (I have the census) Matthew Bairstow aged 65 was living there with his family and servants.
At that time he was a Retired Spinner & Manufacturer. Living in the same household was his wife Hannah, Daughter Mary Maria, Son James Bairstow who was the employer of the mill at that time. He was employing 121 Men, 157 Women 71 Boys and 65 Girls. There were 3 more daughters Emily, Clara and Sarah. Also 4 servants. A Nurse to an Invalid, 2 Domestic Servants and a Cook. 11 People in all. I guess the invalid would be Mr. Matthew as he died later the same year, 1881.
You will also see the Photo on the Web Sites front page of the Maypole Dancing. This was taken in the grounds of Springfield House as far as I am aware from the person who gave us the photo.
My husband tells me that the grounds of Springfield were used during World War 2 as a training ground for the Home Guard, who practised Grenade throwing and Anti-Tank weapons ie. 'Blacker Bombard' gun. My husband had to practise assembling the gun and immitation firing. He was 17 at the time. The house was empty at the time but still intact and there used to be an Ice House beside it. In the days when fridges hadn't been invented.
We have photographs of Matthew and James Bairstow in a brochure about the Mill. If you would like to see them I will submit them to this site.
Other people may be able to tell you more. Good Luck with your School Project. |
Jason
Nathan Jack Productions
Monday, May 28, 2007 18:35 |
Thanks all for your help it is very much appreciated!
:-) |
sara oconnor
Monday, May 28, 2007 22:13 |
hi,
I have been speaking to my sister about springfield house she lived with my parents and grandparents in the knott cottages in the early fifties and she remembers the house as being derelict, and remembers collecting old coloured floor tiles with my brother from the surrounding areas and saving them as "treasure",they were told by our parents and the couple that lived at that time in the lodge that there was an underground passage from the stables to the main house which the coachman used in bad weather and spent many hours looking for it, but she does not know if it really existed they never found any evidence of it, has anyone else heard about this? they also knew it as the haunted house and only ever played near it during daylight |
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