|
BROADFIELD FARM is situated midway between Colly Farm to the north and Highfield Farm to the south.
It was farmed by the Titchcomb family in-between 1851 and 1871. In 1860 the property was owned by R. Holford and occupied by John. [source: Tetbury Poor Rates; P328a OV1/32]
John came from Oxfordshire, and his wife, Mary, from Tetbury. In 1851 John was farming 106 acres with the help of one live in servant, David Hassell, 19 years old from Quenington, GLS. There was a live in female servant, 18 year old Ann Lewis, from Poole, GLS.
In 1861 his two grandsons, William and Edward were living there, with two servants: Ann Hawker was the general servant, and Thomas Ayres, the farm servant. John was farming 68 acres and employing just one man.
In 1871 the farm size had reduced to 60 acres and John was employing one man. John died in 1873 aged 79 and Mary in 1875 aged 74.
By 1881 Solomon Rawlins was farming the land, which was now listed as 65 acres. He was living there with his wife Mary and two sons, George and William. William was born in Tetbury, which would indicate that the family moved into the parish c1865. Solomon died in 1896 aged 62. After his death George and William continued to farm the land until at least 1901.
By 1985 Broadfield Farm was part of the Duchy Home Farm. The following item was extracted from a web site page [http://www.efrc.com] but is no longer online.
"Duchy Home Farm has been established since 1985 and comprises three blocks of land around Tetbury. David Wilson (Farm Manager) has been responsible for the conversion to organic farming which started in 1985. Initial costs of the conversion were high as the previously arable parts of the farm had no fencing or water supply for stock. The dairy was converted by 1993, yields have improved and economic performance has been acceptable, even when premium prices were not available. The sheep flock was converted by 1991.
Duchy Home Farm consists of separate land blocks – Broadfield Farm to the northeast of Tetbury, land at Doughton to the southwest, and a Westonbirt parcel. The first land was bought in 1980 with Broadfield Farm added in 1985 to form the home farm for Highgrove. Agronomic and environmental research is carried out on the farm by several universities and research institutes, and demonstration work has been expanded to promote understanding of food, farming, wildlife and health links."
|
