Mill Farm (1945)

Post date: Feb 15, 2018 12:33:1 PM

In the Wateringbury Local History society library (ref 93) is a auction catalogue for Mill Farm for an auction at The Royal Star Hotel Maidstone on 25th January 1945. It is headlined as a "Valuable Hop and Fruit Farm" of 101 acres with a hop quota of 375 cwts. The main farm is Lot 1 which included Swiss Cottage (The Thatched House). The Vendor is not specified but the wills of Richard Fremlin (d. 1916) and Helen Fremlin (d.1939) are specified as the origin of his title. There is a map of the farm to which the numerical references in the description refer. 119 A is the detached former oasts on the right of the byway past Brooms Down. 89B may be Mill Lane House. 119 E are the cottages on Old Road . 88 C are cottages on the north bank of the Mill Pond- note the house (Eagle Lodge) is not included. 119 D are at bottom of Love Lane which does not appear to link to Mill Lane.

Lot One

(Coloured Pink on Plan)

"MILL FARM"

A valuable Hop (24 acres) and Fruit (61 acres) Farm

COVERING A TOTAL AREA OF

101a. 2r. 28p.

Situate adjoining the Village of Wateringbury, between the Couny Town of

Maidstone and Tonbridge, which are distant 5 miles and 15 miles respectively,

within a few minutes of Wateringbury Station on the Southern Railway, and

immediately adjoining two Bus Routes.

The Residence

Known as

"SWISS COTTAGE"

With picturesque thatched roof, and provides the following accommodation:-

Entrance Hall, Dinning Room, Drawing Room, Study, Kitchen, Scullery

and Pantry, Six Bedrooms, Two Dressing Rooms, Bathroom, W.C., and

Two Attics.

OUTSIDE.-Attractive Garden, substantially built range of Stabling,

Harness room, Garage and Store.

Company's Water and Electricity laid on.

The house has recently been de-requisitioned from occupation by the County

Council, and the Purchaser will have the benefit of any sum due for expenditure

on repairs as per Record prepared on entry, and which can be seen at the offices

of the Solicitors previously to the Sale. The Purchaser will also be entitled to

any claim for bomb damage that has arisen or will arise.

The Farm Homestead comprises:-

3-Horse Stable, Store Shed, Cattle Lodge and Yard, Dutch Barn, 2 Ranges

of Cattle Sheds and Ragstone Built Yard. The 4-kiln Oast is fitted

with Davidson's "Sirocco" Hot Air Drying Plant with electrically driven

fans, and the Kilns are fitted with roller Hairs (2, 20ft. by 17ft.,20ft.

by 19ft. and 20ft. by 15 ft.), Cooling Room with 2 Presses and Storage

under. Under the same roof is 4-Horse Stable, Store shed and Tool Shed.

At the rear of the Oast House is a Boiler and Tangye Engine, forming an

auxiliary Drying Plant. Range of Stores and disused Water Mill used as a

Store and Granary. 4 Range of Hopper Huts (51) with Cook Houses and

Latrines.

Company's Electric Light is installed in Homestead.

In No. 119 A is a secondary 3-kiln Oast (20ft.) with Cooling Floor and

Storage used as Fruit Store.

The Cottages provide the following accommodation:-

On No 89 B One Cottage. Five Rooms. Let to Mrs. Peacewood at

15/- a week inclusive.

On No. 119 E. A Pair of Cottages containing 5 and 4 rooms respectively,

the former let on a service tenancy, and the latter let to Mr. Grigsby at

3/- per week inclusive.

On No. Pt. 88 C Three cottages each containing 5 Rooms, 2 being let

on service tenancies, and the third vacant.

On No. 119 d. A Pair of Cottages each containing 4 rooms, let on

service tenancies.

Company's Water and Electricity are laid on to all Cottages.

The Hops covering an area of 24 acres are planted with Old Goldings,

Bramleys, Cobbs and Tutsham, and a quota of 375 cwts. has been alloted

to the farm, and the benefit of the well-known Trade Mark of R.H.

Fremlin's Successors will be included in the Purchase.

Washing Mains are laid.

The Fruit Plantation and Orchards covering an area of 64 acres are planted

with Apples, Pears, Plums and Cherries, all of well-known market varie-

ties, and are either of full bearing age or recently planted.

[There is a schedule detailing by area the areas of different usages]

[There is a description of Lots 2 and 3 -Pair of villas and 3 cottages, both detached from the farm]