Farms In and Around Wickford during the early years of the 20th Century

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Wickford Hall, photograph by George W Olley, possibly around 1904

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Great Broomfields. A grade 2 listed building near Cranfield Park Road, originally built in the 16th century (South wing) and the 17th century

Hall’s of Wickford started trading in 1906 and the corn and seed merchant business flourished throughout much of the 20th century. In the early part of that century there were in the Wickford area many farms with which to do business but the development of the new towns of Basildon and South Woodham Ferrers resulted in the disappearance of farms and small holders and Hall’s contracted to a smaller business in a shop at Halls Corner.

Roy Hall has provided us with a list of the farms that were in Wickford and the surrounding areas in the early decades of the 20th century.  Few of the farms remain, but many of the names still feature on local maps.

Whitehouse                Bluehouse                  Pondlands                  Southlands (Runwell)

Southlands (Gardiners Lane North)                Nevendon Hall             Bromfords

Woolshots                  Barn Hall                    Rettendon Place         Wickford Hall

Bonavilles                   Shotgate                    Chichester                  Bridgehouse

Cranes                       White Lillies                Fremnells                  Giffords

Fanton Hall                 Dollymans                  Rawreth Hall              Frierns

Crows                         Barn                          Woods                      Barleylands

The Grange                 Runwell Hospital         Downham Hall           Cottswold

Brock Hill                    Sudbury                     De Beauvoirs             Jacksons

Chambers                   Muggeridge                 North Benfleet Hall     Birds

Flemmings                  South Hanningfield Hall                                Claydons

Great Wasketts           Popplars                    Church End                Mill Hill

Lynfords                      Marks                        Staceys                    Cranfields

Sappers                      Beauchamps               Does Hill

There were also poultry farms

Hallmark Hatcheries     Manzard                     Laylands                     Nettlebed