Spring Close Farm, Carlton
This page was contributed by Pamela Hider.
So called because of the springs to be found in the landscape around the farmland, a photograph of Bronze Age cropmarks by the river at Spring Close can be seen on our page entitled Prehistoric and Roman Carlton. Such marks reflect a busy agricultural landscape defining settlements and field boundaries. And today this is still agricultural land.
Much of the land in Carlton had been owned by the Lucas Estate, but by 1913 the Lucas family sold its estates in Carlton, Harrold and Turvey, including land associated with Stayesmore Manor and the former Carlton Hall Manor, to Bedfordshire County Council.This land was then split up into several Council smallholdings. All this happened during the final years of the Battams' occupancy of Stayesmore Manor.
Stayesmore Manor
Two of the smallholdings were Home Farm (adjacent to and spreading west of Stayesmore Manor House)and Spring Close Farm, south west of Stayesmore Manor House. It was Mr. Battams who was responsible for putting the bridge over the river at Spring Close to enable his workmen to cross.The bridge was washed away during flooding in the 1930s.
Foot-bridge over the River Great Ouse near to Spring Close Farm (ref: Z1130/25/17).
Windmills at Spring Close meadow were used to supply water. There was one on the bank near the river which had an iron frame about 12 to 14ft. high, and a second windmill stood further up. Water was supplied to Church Farm and Carlton Hall Farm through underground pipes.
The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 (ref: DV1/H18) specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value.This was done at Spring Close on 11/3/1927 - its situation being described as "pt (part of) Home Farm". The Owner was Beds.Co.Council and the surname of the Occupier was Lord. There was "No House" but the "Homestead" (in this case the outbuildings) consisted of " brick & slate open hovel, 2 loose boxes, stable for 3 & 2 cow boxes. Buildings quite new. Fairly good but hardly sufficient". Remarks: "quite a good smallholding. Very compact". Valuer's Notes: "Useful land".
William Taylor took over the smallholding in the 1930s, moving into the newly built farmhouse. His friend Ransome BLiss was another smallholder who moved into the farmhouse across the road at Carlton Hall Farm.
In January 1958, Mr. Bliss (aged 77) saved the life of Mr. Taylor when he was gored by a bull at Spring Close Farm. For this act of bravery he was presented with an award by the Duke of Gloucester at the Bedfordshire Agriculture Show of 1959.
The following photo shows Harvesters at Spring Close Farm
1st & 2nd left are Messrs. Bliss & Taylor
Courtesy of Carlton & Chellington Historical Society
Spring Close Farm, 2024
Reference: Unpublished memoir of Carlton & Chellington Historical Society.
List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:
- Z1130/25/17: Postcard of Footbridge over the River Great Ouse near to Spring Close Farm, c.1920-1930
- DV1/H18: 1925 Valuation rating Book - Odell, Chellington, Carlton, Pavenham, 1924-1940
- PY/E1/96: County Farms tenancy file, Spring Close Farm, 1962-1976
- CA10/156: County Architects maintenance contracts - Renewal of electrical services at Spring Close Farm, 1983