27 October, 2011 Close Farm


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Tetbury Families

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Close Farm

The tithe map drawn up around 1839 shows several fields of pasture scattered on the outskirts of the town. The main farm is situated between Tetbury and Doughton, on the Bath Road.

Close Farm was owned by Col E F Morrison Bell in 1941. He estimated that the rental value of the farm was £300 per annum, and had held the farm for 20 years.

On a farm survey carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture on 17 May 1942 it was described as follows:

    “With no farm house, two cottages, one of which was let on service tenancy. There were farm buildings, a well and stream and ponds which supplied water. Problems were caused by moles, insects, dandylions and buttercups. It was reported to be a good mixed farm, but labour was seasonally short. At the time of the report there was none listed.  Machinery was adequate except for a tractor which was on order. 'Motive power' was one oil/petrol engine of 2½ horsepower. There was a converted Ford lorry, and a wheel tractor for field work. A strip of clay land crossed the farm, this land lies wet, but there was no serious flooding. There was no rough grazing land. The following grass fields had been ploughed up (OS field no's) 700, 706, 740, 703, 736. 

    In 1941 they grew the following crops and had the livestock as listed:
    14 acres wheat
    7½ acres barley
    10 acres oats
    3½ acres main crop potatoes
    1½ acres kale for fodder
    50 acres grass for mowing
    49½ acres for grazing
    They had the following livestock:
     

    CATTLE
    8 cows
    1 cow in calf
    13 heifers in calf
    1 bull
    2 x 2 years+ male cattle for service
    22 x 2 years+ female cattle for service
    2 x 1 year+ male cattle
    3 x 1 year+ female cattle
    11 x under 1 year for rearing
    TOTAL 63
     

    PIGS
    3 sows
    2 x 2-5 months old
    TOTAL 5
     

    HORSES
    2 x mares
    2 x others
    TOTAL 4

     
SOURCES:

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

Ministry of Food: National Farm Survey, Individual Farm Records MAF 32/108/272-3

 

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