Wick Farm, sometimes simply called the Wick, was built in the 17th century. It was a Manor in its own right until it was bought by the owner of Wickford Hall Manor making it the largest farm in Wickford.
Over the years it changed hands many times and along with many other early farm houses it should have had a preservation order on it. By the 1950s some buildings in the area were recognised and listed. Wick Farm was not one of the lucky ones. In the late 1960s it was empty and beginning to be run down. Vandals used it as a meeting place, destroying some of it and it was boarded up with corrugated iron sheets. In the early 1970s Mr Brian Bassett lead the fight to preserve it and turn it into a pub, library or community centre.
On the 1st February 1974 there was a big fire in the house causing the roofs to collapse and destroying the interior fittings. The owners, Carter and Ward of Wickford, said the building was beyond repair and had applied for permission to build a new housing estate there.
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I kept my pony at Wick Farm for several years up until 1965 when my Father died, I was 15 yrs old. I used to cycle over the level crossing after school daily regardless of weather, dark evenings, summer or winter. Dear Bert (Everitt) had fed him for me daily and turned him out into the little paddock behind the dairy. Miss Nelson always had a cup of tea and cake for me in the farmhouse kitchen. I clearly remember watching the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill on the black and white television in the kitchen.
Tom Dooley was then stabled nearer to home at Chichester Hall Farm, then farmed by the late Johnny Thorpe of Walfords Farm, now a golf course on the Hullbridge Road.
I remember visiting the farm in the early 60s with my mum and dad. We were visiting dad’s brother, Albert (Bertie) Everitt. Bertie allegedly used to walk around the farm and if a model plane from the Kiel Kraft factory came flying over, he would shoot it down!!
Mrs Nelson (Flo) used to play the piano, and, as I recall, she was excellent. She used to play with arthritis in her hands, and fingerless gloves.
I have a Bible given to Sidney Nelson from father and mother on his 14th birthday, September 9th, 1907.
Editor.
In late April 2018, Les came back with another comment.
“After discussing the dates with relations yesterday, it is likely that the farm may have been lived in up until about 1972!
My Mother in law seems to remember her husband (Florence Beatrice Nelson was his aunt) visited the farm about three to four weeks before Florence died, in August 1972. The Probate Register dated 1973 page 6276 also states:
“Nelson, Florence Beatrice, of Wick Farm, Wickford, Essex, died 12 August 1972. Probate Ipswich 10 April”
I have been looking for photos of this farm for a long time.
My wife’s Aunts and Uncles lived at Wick Farm from at least 1939 until 1972.
They were on the farm on the Electoral Register in 1939 and when they died the Probate Register shows all three were formerly residing at Wick Farm, Wickford.
Their names were:
Montague James Nelson, died 1955,
with sisters:
Florence Beatrice Nelson, died 1972,
and
Ethel Millicent Nelson, died 1949.
My wife visited the farm from about 1958 to 1963 and recalls that there was a pond at the front and a ‘mad goose’ named Joey!
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