Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Barn Close

A field of Longcroft Farm

 

Barn Close (Parcel 1107) was a field of Longcroft Farm, between Combe Street Lane and Yeovil Marsh. Barn Close is a common field name meaning by or containing a barn, from the Old English bere-ærn.

In 1816 Longcroft Farm, including Barn Close, was let to Henry Guppy, known as Harry. However, in April 1816, Harry was being held as a 'Prisoner for Debt' in the King's Bench Prison, Surrey, awaiting his case to be heard at the Guildhall, Westminster during the following month.

The 1846 Tithe Apportionment recorded that Barn Close was owned by Lord of Kingston Manor, William Jones Prowse, who had inherited huge land holdings in the area. The farm, at this time, was let to James Tucker. Barn Close was described as arable for growing crops and measured 5a 3r 35p.

During the 1860s, a Mr Sawtell was the tenant farmer. During the 1870s Robert Chard farmed Longcroft Farm, and during this period the farm was afflicted with a foot & mouth disease outbreak. In June 1879, Chard was declared a bankrupt. The next tenant farmer was William Hardy. By January 1908 Hardy had died and was followed, certainly between 1910 and 1921, by Herbert James Pearce. During the early 1920s Longcroft Farm, including Barn Close, went through a series of auction sales and sales by private treaty.

Barn Close (Parcel 1107) was bounded to the east and south by Preston Plucknett parish (detached), to the west by Higher Plaines (Parcel 1108) and to the north by Higher Great Long Croft (Parcels 1118 and 1119).

 

For details on historic land measurement (ie acres, roods and perches) click here.

 

Each farm has (or will have) its own page - click here.
Each Parcel of land has (or will have) its own page - click here.