Farms of Sprowston

Farms of Sprowston

A number of farms in Sprowston have been known by alternative names and this is reflected below.

Boar Farm

All the early Ordnance Survey Maps show the farm as Boar Farm but the name had been changed to Home Farm by the 1947 OS map. In the early 21st century Blue Boar Lane was rerouted and the remaining farm buildings demolished to make way for housing developments.

Breck Farm

Much of the land associated with Breck Farm had already been allocated for housing prior to the Second World War. The farm buildings however were to be utilised my Nurdin & Peacock as an egg packing station. When this usage ceased the site was purchased and became used as a motor parts and tyre depot. While many of the buildings have been upgraded there are still traces of the original farm buildings still visible at the business now trading as Willco Motor Parts.

Church Farm

The first mention of this farm in a directory is Kelly's 1896 where the farmers were quoted as Thrower and Dawson. However by the 1904 directory it was just Jacob Dawson. The next mention is in 1929 when Church Farm was being run as the Norfolk Agricultural Station and Norfolk Experimental Station. A photographic survey by the Gurney Estate includes this farm which would suggest that the various farmers were only tenants. The whole farm area has been subject to a housing development, although the original farmhouse was renovated and is now a dwelling.

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  1929 0S farm location map.
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  Church Farm, the farmhouse
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  The barn and outbuildings of Church Farm

Denmark Farm

This farm appears in only two directories. In 1877 the farmer being Walter W Butcher but by the 1883 directory it was Joshua Mayor. Apart from sketches and a newspaper article, little is known about this farm. As it was at the city end of Sprowston, maps show the farm was soon overtaken by housing developments and brickfields.

Dixons Farm Farm

Despite the official name of the farm being Stonehouse Farm, many locals simply referred to it as Dixons Farm as the Dixon family, who were both farmers and dairymen, ran a milk supply business from the premises. Full details of this business appear under a separate heading for Stonehouse Farm.

Grange Farm

As the name would suggest the farm was attached or adjacent to Sprowston Grange on Salhouse Road. It is suggested that much of the site is now John Faircloth car sales. There is no mention of Grange farm until the 1912 Kelly's directory the farmer being listed was George Miller (bailiff to Isaac Cannell). By the 1929 directory the farmer is shown as Charles Kemp, the same name appearing in the 1933 issue.

Home Farm/Boar Farm

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  Barn now demolished
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  Farmer Yellop outside his farmhouse door.
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  Farmer Yellop and his wife 1890s

Stonehouse Farm/Dixons Farm

For a full article on this farm follow to Stonehouse Farm.

Wilks Farm

The farm stood at the junction of Church and Barkers Lanes with Church Farm on the opposite side of the junction. The farmhouse, outbuildings and cottages were demolished, the site now being occupied by modern dwellings.

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  1929 OS map of farm location.
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  Wilks Farm viewed from across the fields prior to demolishion.
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  The barn and outbuildings – Alan Notley playing in the area 1930s
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  The semidetached cottages behind the Notley family group.

Wood Farm/Seppings Farm

Only the farm house and some outbuildings remain of what had once been a sizeable farm. As with many of the other Sprowston Farms the land was sold for housing development with the houses in Merlin Avenue, Merlin Mews and Sparhawk Avenue and adjacent roads. As with the developments in Cannerby Lane the farm pond proved problematical being fed by an underground spring. As with other farms many referred to the farm as Seppings Farm who farmed the area.

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  1929 OS Location map of Wood Farm and Seppings Farm.
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  The farmhouse today now in use as a residence and Nursery School.