Brick Kiln Farm
(Hildene Farm)
The Article below was discovered in some old papers. I am uncertain as to whether it has been published previously or the present whereabouts of the author but obviously his parents lived in Straight Rd near Stanwyck Gardens......
At the foot of the page is the account of Lot 5 from the catalogue of the 1919 auction.
BRICK KILN FARM later known as HILLDENE FARM
G. J. Clements, Chelmsford. 24th. January, 1961..
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This farm of about 120 acres was situated at the end of Straight Road. Most of the land was on the eastern side. The house and buildings were also on the eastern side but stood well back from the road. They were approached by a chase just south of where Hailsham Road now enters Straight Road, The farm house, of red brick and tile, was probably Georgian (circa.1720). There were two floors and attics. As the roof descended to ground floor level at the rear, all the principal rooms faced west. The front door opened upon a rather narrow passage with stairs concealed at the far end. The drawing room was to the left and the dining room to the right of the passage. The kitchen, with a window facing south, was behind the dining room and the dairy behind that. On the first floor the three main bedrooms were in line and on the second were the two large attics. The substantial buildings of red brick and timber were probably of a somewhat later date than the house. (1) The farm was originally known as Brick-Kiln Farm. Thus the site's former use is denoted . Brick making was a localised rural industry and many similar kilns were to be found in Essex up to the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. (2) Very little is known of the farm's early history, probably it was part of the Neave family's estate of Dagnam Park for most of its existence. In 1919, Brick-Kiln Farm was purchased by Mr.A.S. Goodwin of Hollowdene, Wanstead who, doubtless with his old home in mind, renamed it Hilldene Farm. Mr. Goodwin handed the farm over to his two nephews who farmed it under the style 'Goodwin Brothers. After a few years the partnership was broken up and the farm sold to a Mr.Goodchild but Mr. S.J.Goodwin stayed on as tenant until 1949, (3). In 1946 the farm was taken over by the London County Council in connection with the development of Harold Hill and late one night during the December of the following year, a fire occurred which left the house a mere shell. The occupants, Mr. and Mrs.S.J. Goodwin and their younger daughter, escaped unhurt and for the remainder of their tenancy resided in one of the two farm cottages. This pair of cottages was situated in Straight Road approximately where Hilldene Avenue now joins it. They were solid mid Victorian constructions of plum coloured brick with gables and slate roofs. The house was finally demolished in January 1950 and the farm buildings and cottages followed about a year later. In 1951 most of the land belonging to the farm on the eastern side of Straight Road was developed for residential purposes. About four years later, Harold Hill Grammar School was built near to the Straight Road - Noak Hill Road Cross Roads. Apart from the school grounds with a frontage to Noak Hill Road, the only part of the farm not built over at the present time is a large field on the western side of Straight Road which also has a frontage to Lower Bedfords Road. This continues under cultivation. Although the farm has ceased to exist, the London County Council have perpetuated its memory by naming a main thoroughfare "Hilldene Avenue."
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1. The writer's parents lived opposite the farm for ten years and this description is from their recollections.
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2. Confirmed by Mr. H.W.Farman after he had given a paper on "Early Essex Brickwork" before the Romford & District Historical Society on the 26th September, 1960.
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3. Mr. S. J. Goodwin, now of Great Dunmow, was interviewed during November, 1960.
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The Earlier History of Brick Kiln Farm but obviously incorporating some of the above. Taken from Ernie Herbert's Farms of Harold Hill and Noak Hill.
"Hilldene Farm" has been in existence since the 17th century, and straddled the Noak Hill Road at its junction with Straight Road. It had originally been part of Gooshays Farm, and was called Brick Kiln Farm from the brick kiln used in the farms early history. (John Heaton had set up this kiln illegally in ca. 1775).
In 1848 when it came up for auction it was 116 acres, and Sir Digby Neave bought the 43 acres on the Harold Hill side of the Noak Hill Road, which contained, pasture, meadow, arable land, and a house and garden, and Robert Field Esquire bought the 73 acres on the Havering side of the Noak Hill Road, which contained allotments, pasture, meadow and arable land. The tenant at that time was Mr. Gardener who had a 14 year lease started in 1845, at a yearly rent of £135, and the estate was subject to a land tax of £4:17:8d. That part of the estate formally called Gores or Lewins was subject to two ancient quit rents to the manor of Havering of £4 and £3:4s per annum and the Brick Kiln Farm to fee farm or other rents of £2:10s and 3s per annum. The timber on the land was valued at £63:13s. Sir Digby added the lands of Hungerdown Farm, which had also been part of the manor of Gooshays until 1829, and stood near to where the present Hilldene Avenue joins Straight Road, bringing the total up to 112 acres. At the time of the 1919 sale the tenants were Mr. J. Quilter, who had 104 acres, and Mr. C. Brooks, who had 8 acres. It was sold to a Mr. Alfred Goodwin who paid £5000 + £500 for 12 acres of accommodation land on the other side of Straight Road (in the Stanwick Gardens area). Mr. Goodwin came from Hallowdene, The Drive, Snaresbrook, and he changed the name to Hilldene Farm, no doubt with his other address in mind. The chase leading to the farmhouse (which stood well back off Straight Road) was just south of where Hailsham Road comes out into Straight Road. Mr. Alfred Goodwin passed the farm to his two nephews, who farmed as the Goodwin Brothers, but the partnership ended a few years later and the farm was sold to a Mr. Goodchild; but Mr. S.J. Goodwin stayed on as a tenant until 1949
The photograph to the right is of Hilldene Farm it may have been taken during the freezing winter of 1946/7. It is taken from within the front garden of a house on the opposite side of Straight Rd, quite possibly from the front garden of the author G J Clements parents.
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On the left is a cutting describing the following year's fire The farmhouse was destroyed by fire in December 1947.
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Below is an enlargement of the site taken from the 1919 auction map.
LOT 5. BRICK KILN FARM. (Renamed as Hilldene Farm after the 1919 auction)
With long road frontage and TWO HOMESTEADS, comprising :-
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THE FARM HOUSE.
Containing : Five Bed Rooms, Two Sitting Rooms, Kitchen with Larder and Detached Wash House and Coal Shed.
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THE FARM BUILDINGS.
Comprising : Four-stall Stable, Chaff Room and lofr over. Granary, Bam forming Mixing, Fodder and Cooling Rooms, Cart Sheds and Grain Pit, Cow Stall for 17, Calf Pens, Piggeries, Loose Boxes Open Shed and Implement Shed ; also
HOMESTEAD.
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Containing : Range of Closed Loose Boxes and Cattle Sheds, Large Implement Shed and Cart Shed, with Two-stall Nag Shed and Harness Room ; also a
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PAIR OF GOOD COTTAGES.
Each containing Three Bed Rooms, Living Room, Kitchen, Pantry, Coal Shed and detached Wash-house.
The whole Farm comprising : 112a. Ir. 27p. of Arable and Pasture Land.
Let at Rent apportioned for the purpose of this Sale as follows :-
Mr. J. Quilter : 104a. or. 15p. at £135 per annum on a Yearly Tenancy.
Mr. C. Brooks : 8a. Ir. 12p. at £10 per annum on a Yearly Tenancy.
G.P.O. acknowledgment rent for Telegraph Pole at Is. Yearly.
Total Rent of £145. per annum.
Outgoings : Tithe Rent Charge (commuted amount) £15. Is. 4d.
Land Tax (on 55 acres): £3 10s Od.
The occupiers were Mr. J. Quilter and Mr. C. Brooks.
The Purchaser was Mr. Alfred Goodwin, who paid £5,000 for Lots 5&6.
