Old Rowney Farm

Old Rowney Farm March 2008

In 1927 Southill was valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; every piece of land and building in the country was assessed to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer visiting the farm [DV1/H50/4] noted that it was owned by the Whitbread Estate and tenanted by J.Clarke. In 1927 the rent was £750 per annum, having only been £420 per annum in 1914. The farm comprised 561 acres.

The valuer commented: "Good farm, handy to road. Excellent Buildings and good house (telephone). Good water from well, Some poor potato land. Standing high". Another hand commented: "Touches Southill Station. Well roaded. Can garden some - plenty of stock - flock - farms well - well roaded. Don't think rent with cottages unreasonable. Big fields little waste. Game round woods may be a nuisance".

The farmhouse was built of plaster and tile and the valuer reckoned it was a: "Good large House and in fair repair". It comprised a hall, three reception rooms, a kitchen, scullery, pantry, larder, dairy and cellars; upstairs were six bedrooms, a dressing room, a bathroom and wc "Water laid on from well and windmill". On 23rd August 1945 a note was added: "Kitchen now converted to Dining Room, window altered to door way. Range constructed in open dog grate. Scullery now used as kitchen".

Old Rowney Farm on 1927 valuation map

The homestead contained a wood and tile pig house, stable for three horses, large barn and six bay open shed. The valuer then listed the main blocks:

• The west block comprised a wood and tile stable for ten horses, a barn and granary, brick and tile, wood and corrugated iron piggeries, an open shed and cart shed;
• The centre block "part burnt down but rebuilt", had a small wood and corrugated iron double shed in the yard, a mixing house with a concrete floor, a loose box, a stable for six horses with a concrete floor, a chaff house and a harness room;
• The east block had two good loose boxes with tiled floors, a wood and timber harness room, a garage and oil store.
• The rickyard contained an eight bay implement shed and a wood and tile store house with concrete floor.

A partial list of tenants of Old Rowney Farm can be pieced together using directories - the dates are those the tenants are known to have been there rather than the full dates of their tenure:

• Norman Taylor: 1869-1885;
• John Taylor: 1890;
• George A.Gray: 1903-1920;
• Harry Quenby: 1924;
• James Clark: 1927-1928;
• Alexander Murdoch: 1936;
• Allingham Brothers: 1940.