Post date: Jul 30, 2020 2:24:3 PM

Although about a farm in Mereworth this has been included because of the farm's probable association with George Orwell.

Hasted records in relation to Mereworth

THE FAMILY OF BREWER resided in this parish for many generations, before they removed in the reign of king Henry VI. to Smith's hall, in West Farleigh; their seat here, being called from them, Brewer'splace.

Newspaper extracts

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser - Saturday 30 October 1858

BREWER’S HALL, MEREWORTH. TO BE LET,

BREWER’S HALL FARM, MEREWORTH, comprising Gentleman’s Residence, capital Buildings, and about 200 Acres of choice Arable, Hop, and Fruit Land. For particulars apply to Messrs. King & Hughes, Solicitors, Maidstone.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser - Monday 27 May 1867

CIDER FOR SALE. J. TAYLOR. BREWERS HALL, MEREWORTH, BEGS to say his CIDER is now in fine condition and the best of superior quality. Price 1s. 6d.;1s. 3d.; 1s.; and 9d. per Gallon, according to quality.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser - Saturday 22 October 1870

BREWER’S HALL FARM, MEREWORTH NEAR MAIDSTONE.

MR. G. LANGRIDGE has received instructions from the Executors of the late John Taylor, Esq., to SELL BY AUCTION, the above premises, on WEDNESDAY, the 26th of October, at 11 o’clock precisely, all the valuable LIVE and DEAD FARMING STOCK, part of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, the Dairy and Brewing Utensils, Wine, and other Effects.

The Live Stock comprises useful cart horses, nag horse, handsome cows and heifers in calf or profit; 3 breeding sows, pigs, a quantity of poultry and bees.

The Implements, etc., include 2 capital wagons with iron arms, double and single rods, and good dung carts with iron arms, market cart, light truck, sulphurator by Weekes and Son, scarifier, ox drag, single and hop harrows, capital horse rake by Howard of Bedford, cider mill and moveable cider press, 2 pipes of cider, several cider pipes, casks and pails, brewing tubs, mash tun, beer coolers, stalders, small wine press, cheese press and vats, bean brakes, hop nidgets, Kent and other ploughs, nine-share brake, Gardner’s turnip cutter, cleaning machine, scales and weights, 15 qrs. of sacks, about 45 qrs. of capital oats, quantity of potatoes, carrots and parsnips, faggots. etc.; forks, rakes, spuds, and other tools, and garden rollers; quoiler, plough, plated, and brass-mounted harnesses; saddle and bridle, 2 capital four-wheel phaetons with cushions, lamps etc. gig, light cart, and capital sociable with fittings complete.

The Furniture comprises Turkey and other carpets, mahogany sideboards, library tables and bookcase, brass mounted and other fenders and fire-irons, suites of drawing room and dining room chairs, mahogany hall chairs, cases of stuffed birds, several vols. of books, mahogany drawing room table, carved mahogany bedsteads and wardrobe, painted and other washstands and tables, bedroom chairs, hip bath, etc.; a quantity of kitchen and dairy utensils; and small cellar of choice wine.

A luncheon will be provided.

May viewed the day preceding and morning of Sale and catalogues, obtained from the principal Hotels and Inns in the neighbourhood; and Mr. G. Langridge, Estate Agent and Valuer, Lansdowne-place, Tunbridge Wells and Mereworth. Kent.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser- Saturday 27 July 1872

LUCAS V. KULLAGAK

This was action to recover possession of Brewer’s Hall Farm, Mereworth.

Mr. Kingsford appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. F. J. Smith for defendant.

The question arose whether possession should be given a Midsummer or Michaelmas valuation, in consequence of there being some valuable crops on the farm. His Lordship, after attempting in vain to make an arrangement which should satisfy both parties, directed the jury to return verdict for plaintiff.

Extract from Kent & Sussex Courier-Friday 16 May 1958

FROM LONDON TO The village she calls her 'home'

MEREWORTH is home from home for Londoner Mrs. Ellen Wigley, who lives in the City Road area. Every Spring for the past 36 years Mrs. Wigley, who is 63, has come to Mereworth for the hopping. She, like many other Londoners, begins with the stringing in Spring and ends with the picking in September—with a liberal rest in between.

But for Mrs. Wigley, Mereworth holds much more than just a seasonal interest. In the churchyard lies her husband, the late Mr. John Wigley. He was killed at Hadlow 14 years ago by a bus.

Mrs. Wigley's happy events have been a birth and two marriages in the village she loves. Her daughter, Merrie, now aged 25, was born while she was down on Brewer’s Hall Farm for the season. Mrs. Wigley so loves the village that she named her daughter after it.

Merrie has been down this year but not on the farm where she was born. No longer will the Londoner's pick hops on Brewer's Hall Farm, for a machine will do the work this year.

Now the families are working to make their huts neat and comfort on Bull Farm, a few hundred from Brewer's Hall. They bring their own beds and furniture and even paper the walls of the huts.

Mrs. Wigley has three sons and six daughters and two of the daughters, Doris, aged 31, and Rosina, 30, have been married to two local brothers, George and Michael Foley, in Mereworth Church.