Hardwick Court Farm
51°23′06″N 0°31′55″W / 51.385°N 0.532°W
Hardwick Court Farm, Hardwick Court when a
History
Court in the name refers to the
Its land at the time of the
The farm remained in royal family overall ownership until the Georgian period, when it was sold.[1]
Modern History
During World War II the farm was hit by three Luftwaffe bombs in 1940. One landed on the East side of Cockcrow Hill, leaving a crater that was not filled-in until late 2019. Another hit one end of the farmhouse and destroyed the kitchen, part of the dining room, a bedroom and part of the attic. The house survived and but was not rebuilt in its original form and size. A third bomb damaged the South end of the tithe barn which was later repaired.
In 1963 the farm came up for sale and was bought by veterinarian Dr Carl Boyde. The farm was divided up and a portion of the farm had an impressive miniature railway built on it called 'the Great Cockcrow Railway', which opened in 1968 and survives to this day. A leading local historian, the late Bernard Pardoe, researched the history of the farm in detail (and apparently published his findings circa 1964) and journalist Howard Johnson also featured the history of the farm in an unidentified local newspaper in the 1980s.
A fire broke out at the south end in 1978 but the damage was repaired and this example of medieval building remains in agricultural use today.
During the 1970s the farm was reduced in size, similarly to its earlier loss on land on earlier sales, when the M25 motorway was routed through two of its fields and separated the farm from Chertsey, though a tunnel bridge exists to the southeast of the farm allowing the A320[n 1] to access Chertsey.[2]
In 2007 the farm was at the front line in the fight against
Architecture
While the farmhouse has been rebuilt several times, the barn is a rare survivor of its kind,[3] was listed in 1952[3] and was dated in 2009 by the University of London using dendrochronology to 1445.[4][5][6]
Hardwick Court farmhouse dates to the 16th century (Tudor period) with substantial other parts 17th century, with two great gables, three chimneys, made of red brick. Mullion transom (architecture) windows form some of the windows and the right hand portion of the house damaged by enemy action and was rebuilt on rather different lines from the original.[7]
Neighbouring site
Miniature railway, Great Cockcrow Railway is adjoining the farm.[2]
Notes and references
- Notes
- AOD
- References
- ^ a b c d H.E. Malden, ed. (1911). "Parishes: Chertsey". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ a b Map created by Ordnance Survey, courtesy of English Heritage (Archived 2012-04-24 at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ a b Hardwick Court Barn on Hardwick Lane Grade II listing Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1178262)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ Tree Ring company dating of wood
- ^ "Surrey Archaeology Document on the Barn" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ Surrey Dendrochronology Project List of ancient structures in Surrey dating using Lottery Funding
- ^ Hardwick Court Farmhouse Grade II listing Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1377904)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 November 2012.