Herne Manor Farm Toddington

There have been numerous farms in Toddington called Herne Farm or some variation thereon, such as Herne Grange Farm, Herne Manor Farm, Herne Willow Farm, Herne Dairy Farm or Herne Poplar Farm. There have even been several farms simply known as Herne Farm at the same time! Herne Manor Farmhouse was listed by the former Department of Environment in September 1980 as Grade II, of special interest. It dates from the 17th century, has two storeys and is faced in stucco over a timber frame which has red brick noggin (infill between the timbers) to the rear elevation. The roof is covered in modern tiles and there is a later brick extension on the right-hand side.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The valuer visiting the farm found that it was owned and occupied by Ernest Scrivener who also owned Herne Green Farm. The farm comprised 120 acres. Water came from a well. The valuer remarked: "Very Good. Very lettable".

The house contained a reception room, a kitchen, scullery and dairy with three bedrooms above and a timber and slated earth closet outside. The homestead comprised: a timber and corrugated iron lean-to cart shed; a brick and tiled coal barn and four-bay open hovel with a manger; a three-stall stable; a brick, timber and corrugated iron loose box and two-stall stable; a cowhouse used as a barn and calf pen; two timber and corrugated iron calf pens; a timber and corrugated iron barn; a timber and corrugated iron calf pen; a large brick, timber and corrugated iron barn and a brick and tiled gig house and nag stable with a loft over. In fields were a timber and corrugated iron three-bay open hovel and a loose box and open hovel.

In 1995 Herne Manor Farms were on the market. The sale particulars [Z449/1/13] were for Herne Manor, Herne Grange, Lodge and Happy Land Farms comprising 1,461.68 acres. Herne Manor Farmhouse "lies near the centre of the holding adjacent to Park Road . The house…is listed Grade II and lies adjacent to Herne Manor Farm buildings on elevated ground with extensive views south and east. The property has been enlarged over the years, is part timber framed and part brick under a tiled roof". The ground floor contained: an entrance hall; a drawing room (23 feet by 17 feet 2 inches); a dining room (19 feet 3 inches by 12 feet 10 inches); a cloakroom; a kitchen (15 feet 10 inches by 11 feet 10 inches); a conservatory (14 feet 3 inches by 11 feet); a utility room; a rear lobby and a play room (13 feet by 12 feet). The first floor comprised four bedrooms, a landing, a bathroom and a WC. Outside was an ornamental garden, a vegetable garden, a duck pond and an outside WC. The farm buildings included: a garage block and chemical store; a storage barn; three grain stores; a weighbridge; a dryer house; a workshop; two grain silos; an implement shed; a diesel tank and a water tank.