THOMAS' (now WOODBURY) FARM, Little Witley

Old House Farm, the last tenant of which was John White, was incorporated in to Thomas’ Farm in the mid 1790s. The latter is now known as Woodbury Farm.

The farm may have been named after George Thomas, for he is the first known tenant. He married Martha Beard in Little Witley church in 1765 and subsequently fathered ten children. The family had their own pew in church (number 3). Thomas served as churchwarden between 1777 and 1779 and again in 1784. In 1780 he witnessed a letter written by the rector complaining of the blocking of rights of way by John White of Great Witley.

The whole of the farm buildings and house were described as newly built in 1793. The 175 acres had a newly calculated annual rent of £l40. This was nearly double the previous rent of £79. George Thomas died between 1805 and 1810, after which date his widow managed the farm.

By 1816 John Hatton was farming Thomas’. William Hatton succeeded him in 1833. The tithe of 1839 states that William was farming 169 acres. His wife, three children, mother and brother were all living at Thomas’ Farm in 1841. By 1851 only the two youngest children remained at home, in addition to his wife and servant. He employed four labourers on the 166-acre holding.

By 1881 an 18 years old Frederick Greaves, who originated in Ombersley, was farming 188 acres with the help of three men and two boys. A housekeeper and William Cocum, a cowman, were living-in. Ten years later Edward Mytton, formerly of Bank Farm, was farming at Thomas’, assisted by three of his four sons.

Richard Crane had the farm 1904, followed shortly later by Richard Poladore Colebatch. The latter retained the farm it failed to sell at the 1920 auction, finally purchasing it in the 1925 sa1e. Colebatch died in 1933, his widow, Edith, survived until June 1977, by which time the farm had passed through Norcott and Phillips hands, being sold by them in 1956 and 1965 respectively. On those occasions the property, known then as Woodbury Farm, was 180 acres in extent.

The traditional farm buildings were converted in to residential dwellings in the 1980s.

The House is a grade II listed building. The listing reads 'Woodbury Farmhouse. c1800. Red brick Flemish stretcher bond, sandstone plinth, - tiled roofs. Main east/west range faces south, lower range at rear form- ing L-plan. Two storeys, gable-lit attic and partially on cellar, modillion eaves cornice and raised verges. Three windows: 2- and 3-light casements under segmental heads, central 6-panelled door with transom light under wooden bracketed pediment. Small central window below cornice lights attic. Tall window to rear lights stairs. Interior: oak door surrounds and dog-leg staircase. C20 conservatory extends from north gable of lower end. A Great Witley Estate farmhouse.