West Farm
West Farm
A very small dairy farm in Yeovil Marsh
West Farm, occasionally called West's Farm, was a very small dairy farm in Yeovil Marsh. The 1846 Tithe Apportionment recorded that West Farm was owned by Rev. John Jenkins Mathews and was let to James Pope. Mathews owned many other land parcels in Yeovil Marsh and Pope farmed even more.
A couple of later owners/tenants are known from newspaper cuttings, etc. such as William Conway who farmed West Farm as a tenant from at least 1874 until 1884 when he gave up farming (he died in Kingston-on-Thames in December 1897, aged 84). His son, SM Conway carried on the farm, but repeatedly tried to let his small herd of 25 cows for the next few years.
He was followed by J Gothard who, apparently, only lasted a few months before "declining the dairy business" at the start of 1889. West Farm was sold in May 1889 for £3,200 (around £360,000 at today's value) to George Troyte-Bullock of North Coker House. SM Conway gave up farming West Farm in 1890 "quitting in consequence of the farm having been sold" - there followed several sales of farm implements, hay, etc.
By 1891, a Mr G Richards was the tenant farmer of West Farm. However in February 1892 most of Richards' "nearly new" farm implements and some household furniture were sold - "the property of Mr G Richards, sold under distraint for rent." The next tenant farmer was William Warren (1859-1915) and his family, until at least 1919.
During the summer of 1919 a number of small farms in Yeovil Marsh, including West Farm, at the time owned by the Messiter family, were sold by auction. At the time of the 1919 sale, the total acreage of West Farm was 28a 1r 27p and is shown shaded green on the plan below.
The sale particulars described the farm as follows: "The highly desirable small Dairy Farm, known as West Farm... comprising an exceptionally well-built Superior Farm House, substantially constructed of stone and slate, with mullioned windows, and having a pleasant elevation, and containing the following accommodation :- 5 bedrooms, small Attic, Landing and Stairs, Cheese Room, Entrance Porch and Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Larder, 2 Dairies, Back Kitchen with Pump, Stone Sink and Water laid on, Secondary Staircase, 2 Outdoors E.C.s. Small Flower Lawn and a good Kitchen Garden.
The Water Supply is of excellent quality and ample quantity and is laid on to the House and Yard from a reservoir in [Summerleaze - Parcel 1363], fed by a spring.
The Farm Buildings are substantially erected, mostly of stone and slate, and comprise Trap House, Calf House, Cow Stall for 6 with Forebay and Hay House, large Store House with Granary over and Cider Cellar adjoining, range of 3 Piggeries and Mixing House. In the Farm Yard is a Galvanised Iron Drinking Trough with water laid on from the same source as the house. There is a large pond adjoining the yard and field.
Adjoining the
Homestead is a
Well Stocked
Orchard of about
1½
For details on historic land measurement (ie acres, roods and perches) click here.
Map
