HOLLINGSHEAD MILL & FARM, Holt

This is probably the mill that was referred to as Wyrkins Mill when Sir John Bourne leased it to Martin Croft for three lives from May 1557.

From at least 1769 until his death in 1810 Thomas Stephens farmed the 94 acres Hollingshead Farm. He was proceeded by John Stephen, presumably his father, who was farming in the 1750s. Hollingshead Farm is mentioned in the rent book of 1793, when it was 94 acres in extent, but the mill is not. Stephens had an estate valued at less than £200 when he died in 1810. He left moneys to his three daughters and the remainder of his lease to his son-in-law William Ford. By the time the Holt Enclosure Act was passed later in the same year William Stephens and Benjamin Ford had joint stewardship of the farm. William Ford was farming the land at Hollingshead from at least 1818 until 1827. Thomas Tombs followed Ford. There may have been a transition period in the 1820s when Tombs and Ford had a farm partnership. Thomas Tombs was born in Ombersley. His sister married Michael Ashmore of Hurst Farm

James Hatfield was milling in Holt during the period 1818 to 1841. He may have worked under the Goodwins, or have been milling at Hollingshead Mill. James and Ann Hatfield had children, Henry, Robert, Harriet and Eliza, with possibly Charles and James.

When John Goodwin left Holt he left his second son, Daniel in charge of the mill. Daniel worked the mill with the help of Thomas Farmer, and two house servants, James Hatfield and Mary Dipper. James was probably the youngest son of James and Ann Hatfield of neighbouring Hollingshead Mill. An aged couple, namely William and Mary Farmer, also lived with the Hatfield's were probably the parents of the aforementioned Thomas. That the Farmer's were agricultural labourers, and James Hatfield a servant indicates that the Hatfields were probably employed by the Goodwins, rather than milling in their own-right.

Samuel Goodwin of Rowe Farm in the 1820's was John's younger brother. He later moved to the Three Tuns on Holt Heath. Samuel too was a miller by the 1840's, either in partnership with John or in his own right at Hollingshead Mill.By 1839 Hollingshead Farm had increased to 126 acres under Thomas Tombs. He farmed 225 acres and employed four men in 1851. A family teacher lived-in, as did a house servant and two farm labourers. Tombs also had Shrawley and Borley Farms by 1855.

Thomas and his wife had four children before his death in l862. Upon his death his son, Thomas Jun. took over. Thomas Jun. had two children whilst at the farm. By 1868 Thomas Jun. was also farming the land at Holt Mill and milling, at Holt and/or Hollingshead Mill. By 1871 the farm had contracted to l36 acres but Tombs still employed four men. He had one servant and one labourer living-in at that time.

Henry Overton took the farm and mill in 1872 and kept it until Thomas Dorrell, of Bentley, took it and Holt Mill at the end of the decade. Farm labourers, including George Monk, then occupied the farmhouse for a time.John Slater, who was born in Warwickshire, held the farm from early 1880s unti1 the end of the century, when again the house appears to have been let off separately from the farm. Thomas Pitt, of the Red Lion Public House, had Hollingshead Farm and Holt Mill, totaling 178 acres, in 1920. The former was sold in 1920 as a 110-acre lot.

The house and a barn are grade II listed buildings. The listing for the house reads 'Two of the barns have been converted to create private residences, known as The Old Granary and Brook House. Hollingshead Farmhouse GV II Farmhouse. Probably C17, with C19 alterations. Part brick, part coursed sandstone rubble, some timber-framing in evidence from exterior, tiled roofs, external sandstone stack to right side and rear with paired brick shafts having cogged brickwork course at base and projecting vertical header bands to each shaft face. Hall and cross-wing type plan. Two storeys and attic. Front elevation: main part is of sandstone to just below eaves level; irregular fenestration, ground floor casement with cambered head and 2 C20 casements at eaves level; planked door adjacent to cross-wing with tiled porch on timber uprights set across angle. Cross-wing gable end is of C19 brickwork and has a ground floor casement with cambered head and attic light; in angle with main part is a ground and first floor casement both with cambered heads. Queen strut truss with double collar exposed to rear cross-wing and also some framing in right side elevation. Interior not inspected. C19 outshuts to rear.'

The listing for the barn reads 'Barn about 18 yards south of Hollingshead Farmhouse GV II Barn. Mid-C17. Timber-framed, part painted, part rendered brick infill, sandstone rubble and brick plinth, tiled roofs. Five framed bays; central wagon bay having opposed cart entries and midstrey to main north-west elevation. Two panels from sill to wall-plate, lower rectangular and upper square panels, long straight braces in lower corners, trusses have queen struts to collar and king-post above collar in gable ends. Brick plinth at gable ends has ventilation slits. Double planked doors to midstrey; also planked door to right side, and timber-framed outshut to left side with planked door and rectangular light. Interior: roof has 4 intermediate raking strut trusses; double, trenched purlins. Floored throughout. Two lean-to extensions at rear.'