Spire farm development

[JoanR]

Thanks for the information about Field House Farm, Retlaw. We used to see a woman outside the house sometimes. She could have been the mother of the boys you knew.
The college on Sandy Lane wasn't built when we first lived in the area. There was a field where it stands now, and we watched haymaking in late summer. I don't know who the field belonged to.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by JoanR

Thanks for the information about Field House Farm, Retlaw. We used to see a woman outside the house sometimes. She could have been the mother of the boys you knew.
The college on Sandy Lane wasn't built when we first lived in the area. There was a field where it stands now, and we watched haymaking in late summer. I don't know who the field belonged to.

That field was rented out to Bulloughs, they used to bring the Shire horses from the stables on Scaitcliffe St, to that field every Friday evening till early Monday Morning, we used to wait for them at the bottom of Adelaide St and the drivers would pick us up and put us on their backs till we got to the field. The horses really looked forward to it, they charged round like mad once they were untethered.

[pompeylass]

My dad Clifford Holt, as a boy, lived at number 11 Washington Street. From there he had a paper round which included either Spire Farm or High Riley Farm, or both, I can't remember now.

I worked out this must have been around 1935 or 1936. His round involved the Plantation Street area.

When he got to the top of Plantation Street he would walk up to the farms, hand the farmer his paper, get on the farmers' horse and ride it bare-back down the lane to the bottom field to graze, and then finish his round before going off to school at Woodnook.

The farmer gave him special permission to do this and he was very proud of the chance to ride a horse.

[JoanR]

Horses played an important part in the life of the town at one time. We got milk from one of the farms up Sandy Lane and it was delivered by horse and small cart. The driver was a man called Jim. My mother took a jug out to the cart, and Jim used a ladle to fill it from one of the large round containers. There was a small step on the back of the cart and he let us ride along on it for a short distance. That was the closest I came to a horse.

I didn't know Bullough's rented the field where the college is now, and I don't remember the horses. There was a high stone wall around the field.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by JoanR

Horses played an important part in the life of the town at one time. We got milk from one of the farms up Sandy Lane and it was delivered by horse and small cart. The driver was a man called Jim. My mother took a jug out to the cart, and Jim used a ladle to fill it from one of the large round containers. There was a small step on the back of the cart and he let us ride along on it for a short distance. That was the closest I came to a horse.

I didn't know Bullough's rented the field where the college is now, and I don't remember the horses. There was a high stone wall around the field.

That was along time ago, before WW2. The only farmer I can recall delivering milk from up Sandy Lane was Tom Kemp from West farm, he had a proper milk float, the horse used to press its nose on our door bell, mother used to give it a carrot or an apple.

[walkinman221]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

That was along time ago, before WW2. The only farmer I can recall delivering milk from up Sandy Lane was Tom Kemp from West farm, he had a proper milk float, the horse used to press its nose on our door bell, mother used to give it a carrot or an apple.

There was one of the farmers who had Spire farm who delivered his own milk , his name was either Hardy or Leach my mum worked for him on the farm and the float.

[***Mr D***]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

People who do not put their dogs on leads when asked to do so by land owners are totally iressponsible . If they get their dogs shot for casing distress to farm animals it is their fault. They are not dog lovers.

But what if the dog come across a farm animal on a public path, could the blame be put on the dog owner or the farm owner?

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Has anyone been through Spire Farm recently. We went through at the weekend when Mr Foy had done his alterations as requested by the footpaths office. It was very muddy as could be expected with his machines and all the rain. Someday I hope that the path will be dried up and a pleasant walk again.

Was up last week, didn't seem that bad, was muddy and not as eye pleasing as I remember it. Not seen the new build at the bottom before how long has that been there?

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

But what if the dog come across a farm animal on a public path, could the blame be put on the dog owner or the farm owner?



Was up last week, didn't seem that bad, was muddy and not as eye pleasing as I remember it. Not seen the new build at the bottom before how long has that been there?

The bottom of where?

[***Mr D***]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

People who do not put their dogs on leads when asked to do so by land owners are totally iressponsible . If they get their dogs shot for casing distress to farm animals it is their fault. They are not dog lovers.

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Has anyone been through Spire Farm recently. We went through at the weekend when Mr Foy had done his alterations as requested by the footpaths office. It was very muddy as could be expected with his machines and all the rain. Someday I hope that the path will be dried up and a pleasant walk again.

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

The bottom of where?

Spire farm. Say coming up from the cobble path, stables and another building, it's a while since I have been up that way so it could have been there a while.

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

Spire farm. Say coming up from the cobble path, stables and another building, it's a while since I have been up that way so it could have been there a while.

Do you mean that on the right hand side just past were you walk up to the lodges. If so it is supposed to be a stud farm

[***Mr D***]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Do you mean that on the right hand side just past were you walk up to the lodges. If so it is supposed to be a stud farm

That's the one. Supposed to be?

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

That's the one. Supposed to be?

There never seems to be anyone around. I think it's called Blair Stud Farm

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Yes some one applied for planning permission to rebuild as a stable, but when they came to inspect, it was fitted out inside as a dwelling, then the fight started. don't know the outcome. I think you will find Sandy Lane has changed quite a lot this past few years a lot of the lane has been washed away between Higher House & Leafield no road maintainence since the bypass went in its now easier to come down Sandy Lane from the bypass than it is to go up. The bottom bit from Ascot Way to Higher house could do with some maintainence, but who will fund it. ?.

Thanks for the photo that is what it looked like before!
Oh yeh thanks - that makes sense that since the 70's that road has been washed away by rain and lack of maintenance.

[maxthecollie]

From Newhouse it is impassable unless you drive a 4 X 4

[disco]

Originally Posted by rhfoy

thank you for your comments although they are from someone who as never seen a building site in their life, the land for your information were the manure currently is is my land so you must have made up your flytipping point, we have a bigger problem with diseased dog mess all over my land and lane, and our animals being killed and attacked and the usual idiots not doing what the law states. Vandalism is another shallow quote with no substance in this remark, all the gear with no idea, again limited knowledge but i suppose you are jack of all trades and master of non, but claim you are.... Please feel free to call and see me for a tour of our great historical home and you never know you might give me some fantastic ideas, and being a working class man done well for himself, i have a great ability to listen and learn.!!!!!!!!!!!!

i totally agree with walkinman221 and everything he says about the state of spire farm and the footpath. The perfectly good dry stone wall he mentions was about 75 yds long and 6ft high. I wouldnt like to think how much it would cost to build a wall like that these days, only an idiot would knock it down and replace it with a cheap wooden fence.
As for the manure pile at the side of the footpath, what an eyesore. Maybe someone will slip on the slime that has encroached onto the footpath and maybe sue