A Little Bit of Local History

Now at this moment in time Mr J and myself live at Hope Farm, Clive. It was originally the Home Farm to Sansaw Hall I believe. It is still owned by Sansaw.

Front of the house (but it’s actually around the back so not sure if there was ever another access road to the farmhouse)

Rear of the house, which is actually the front. :-0

On one of the barns there is the date 1884 so I am assuming that’s the date the farm was built.

Sansaw Hall was built in 1773. The park around it was present by at least 1786, and was probably contemporary with the house. The grounds were well developed in 1851 and the house was rebuilt in 1888 for J.J. Bibby, the Liverpool cattle feed and shipping magnate.

Sansaw Hall in the snow.

Now recently I have been given some old photos of the farm by a gentleman whose father was actually born in this house in 1911. Some of the photos are of the house and some of the farm workers doing there thing and working the land.

Early 1900s

Clive Church in the background – right.

This must be later as they have a tractor. 1940s maybe.

This is a view of the farm, the Old Vicarage – bottom right and the surrounding area. It’s interesting to note that the road/track that runs from the farm to the Hall (middle of picture) is no longer there although when the field is dry you can sort of see where it’s been and there is still the gate at the other end.

Other photos mostly of the Bishop family who lived here in the early 1900s.

   

Taken in the 1960s, interesting to note that the trees on the left aren’t there anymore either.

 

The side of the house, taken 2010

     

AND……………. finally, some photos taken of Hardwicke Grange at Hadnall before it was demolished in 1931 due to lack of funds. Home to Rowland Hill. The stable block is still standing and belongs also to Sansaw Hall and it’s in these stables that the estate have their offices as well as being home to Sansaw Business Park and other small businesses.

Such a shame that such a beautiful, historic building was ever allowed to be demolished.

And really finally, under the road that goes from Grinshill to Yorton past the farm there is an underpass, not a modern one but one built, I’m guessing, around the time of the Big House. It was called the church walk and it’s where the servants would have walked from the Hall up to Clive church. There are still remnants of the old track but it’s now very overgrown. The underpass is still very much passable.

The entrance, Sansaw Hall side of the road.

The exit path Clive side of the road

The entrance/exit Sansaw side of the road. It’s worth noting that the tunnel is kinked and not straight.

    

Remnants of the old path to the church.

Entrance/exit Clive side of the road. (Above and below)

    

Apparently there is another underpass like this up near the church, I shall have to go looking for it.

Bet you never thought an underpass could be soooo exciting did ya?