Vale Farm
The Syrett family acquired Vale Farm at the bottom of Trunch Hill some time ago but Neill Syrett has only recently completed some serious research on its history.
He has very kindly provided the details below for use on our Website.
The deeds to Vale Farm date to 1875 when the farm/estate was first sold out of the family. This document states both copyhold and freehold, but not to which parts. Only giving yearly payments of:
- 8/- to the Lord of the Manor, of Denton Rectory,
- 12/- to Denton Church and
- 5/4d to the Lord of The Manor of Paynes and Waites.
The estate when sold totalled 204 acres. The outlaying plots were almost immediately sold. This left Vale Farm itself, plus three fields to the immediate north of Vale Farm (with a different tenant). When sold again, Vale Farm was separated and the total area was reduced to about 150 Acres.
The following are lists of owners and tenants with dates and values gleaned from the deeds, various directories, including Kellys, land tax redemptions and mortgages. It should be noted that Women could not own land themselves prior to 1880 and land ownership was not equal until 1926 so some of the family transferring was to male in-laws.
Owners
- Ronald Thomas Wells 8th Oct 1965 Deed of Gift
Bernard George Wells,
Audrey Mary Rutheford. - Lily Wells nee Blake 31st Oct 1923 Bought for £1,550.
- George and Eliza Thompson 5th July 1915 for £2,200. George Died 13th Nov 1916, came from Lincolnshire.
- Henry Richardson of the USA and Henry Burt of Lincolnshire 22nd Nov 1905 £2,100.
- Lawence William English 9th Oct 1905 £1,800.
- William Henry Hazard 1896.
- William Martin and Mary Elizabeth Hazard 1875. Paid £6,750 for 204 acres from William Hazard, died 1876.
- Henry Praed Hartshorne of Melbourne Australia (teacher) 1872, died 1875 nephew of -
- Richard Edward Kerrich 1828 son of -
- Thomas Kerrich 1768 son of -
- Sameul Kerrich 1750 brother-in-law of -
- John Postlethwaite 1745 son of -
- Matthew Postlethwaite, Rector of Denton, 1714 - 1747, son-in-law of -
- Robert Rogerson, Rector of Denton, 1659 – 1715.
Tenants
- James Wade, who had also farmed Paynes Hill and Manor Farms, moved to Vale Farm in about 1969 when Paynes Hill and Manor Farms were sold.
- Victor Bussens in Kellys 1933-37.
- Norton Button in Kellys 1925.
- Robert Mills Johnson in Kellys 1922.
- George Merrison hired for 8 years at £195 per annum in 1915, in Kelly's 1916, Mrs Eleanor Merrison.
- George Brandrith Burt son of Henry, dealer in Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire Pigs 1905-16.
- Charles Henry Buggs in Kelly's 1888 -92.
- George Green Ward in Kelly's 1865-79-83.
- Henry Whitton in Kelly's 1864.
- Henry Whitton and Catherine Whitton in White's 1853.
- Catherine Whitton in White's 1845.
- Sarah Whitton Land tax 1825.
- John Whitton Land Tax 1799.