Fifield Farm Bickenhill

[jmadone]

Some pics and stuff....Any one got a pic or info on it's neighbour, HURDLE HALL, that was demolished for the Airport ..

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Interesting to see the advertisement for the sale of various farms etc. I would love to know the date of this advert as one of the farms listed, Fifield Farm belonged to my brother in law's family and he lived there as a boy before the 2nd WW. When I met my wife she was living in the farmhouse on the other side of the Chester Road, opposite Fifield, in Brickfield Farm.
Fifield was sold for development in the late 70s early 80s and I think it's now called Birmingham Business Park.

 

[Vivienne14]

I can’t find the exact advertisement but this same sale featured in the Coventry Standard on 11 July 1919. Major Wingfield Digby was instructing agents to sell off many of his sizeable properties and land (in other parts of the country) into the 1920s.

Viv.

 

[jmadone]

I can’t find the exact advertisement but this same sale featured in the Coventry Standard on 11 July 1919. Major Wingfield Digby was instructing agents to sell off many of his sizeable properties and land (in other parts of the country) into the 1920s.

Viv.

Viv , that's great, but strangely Fifield Farm isn't one of the farms listed in this advertisement. I'll have to ask my brother in law when his father bought the farm, prior to this advert or at a later date.

 

[Vivienne14]

It’s mentioned lower down in the advert under 50 - 100 acres. Would have been one of the smaller farms as the ones above are 100+ acres. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

This Birmingham Post article, primarily about the Shrewsbury Show, but gives a little history of Fifield too.

I think a new thread is needed so shall set one up for you, Viv.

 

[jmadone]

Viv, thank you for searching this article out. I'm not sure about a new thread as I can't really add much to what I've already posted but as moderator the decision of course is yours.
Jim

 

[Vivienne14]

Jim, I think a new thread is useful, as over time, others might have things to add. You never know what might turn up on this forum ! Viv

 

[carolina]

When I was researching my gt gt grandad who owned land in Bickenhill/Yardley the library were fantastic and sorted out maps for me so I could pinpoint what he owned.

 

[jmadone]

It’s mentioned lower down in the advert under 50 - 100 acres. Would have been one of the smaller farms as the ones above are 100+ acres. Viv.

I spoke to my brother in law last night and he informed he had the original auction catalogue for the sale and would dig it out. Another phone call this morning and it turns out that it is exactly 100 years ago today that his family bought the farm, the first land ever owned by his father. What a coincidence.

 

[Pedrocut]

This Birmingham Post article, primarily about the Shrewsbury Show, but gives a little history of Fifield too.

I think a new thread is needed so shall set one up for you, Viv.

In this advert of 1971 the ownership seems to be Seymour Smith and Sons. This can be stretched back to at least 1939 for a prize colt shire horse.

 

[Pedrocut]

OS Map published 1887...

 

[Pedrocut]

Side by side with present Google Earth...

 

[jmadone]

In this advert of 1971 the ownership seems to be Seymour Smith and Sons. This can be stretched back to at least 1939 for a prize colt shire horse.

Pedrocut, is it possible for you to post a copy of the adverts you're referring to, I'm sure my Brother in law would be interested. He is still involved in Shire Horse breeding and showing.

 

[Edifi]

Just thought I'd butt in but my name is FIFIELD.And I was told as a youngster that my Gr Gr Grandad owned many acres of land aroundColeshill & Marston Green .They lived on the hill in Coleshill just Down the hill from the church.Dont know if this helps

 

[Vivienne14]

Jim. Pedrocut is referring to the newspaper cutting in post #5. Viv.

 

[Pedrocut]

From the Midland Daily Telegraph 7th August 1939. Reporting from the Walsgrave show...

 

[Vivienne14]

For general info, these are cuttings about the farm when Seymour Smith ran it. They had great success with their Friesian herds. The farm buildings and equipment seem to have been sold off in 1986 but there’s no mention of a farmhouse. Would a cubicle house be stables or for milking perhaps ? Viv.

 

[Pedrocut]

Major FJB Wingfield Digby (1885-1952) came from a long line of the Digby family, said to have been for 4 Centuries Lords paramount of the ancient town of Coleshill. But his main pad was Sherbourne Castle in Dorset, part of a 15,000 acre estate. When he died, around 1952, his estate was valued at around £1.2 m.

 

[Edifi]

Pedrocut.Isnt it strange my name being Fifield,and I bought the Digby Hotel in Margate.Some coincidence.

 

[Alberta]

Fifield farm 1939
Seymour Smith b 1897
Florence May 1904 they married in 1931 (May Florence Bartlett)
there are 3 names blacked out (this sometimes happens when people are still living or their death cannot be found.)
2 are possibly their sons Seymour John Smith 1933 and Clive W Smith 1938 (who are named on the probate papers) when
Seymour snr died in 1961 address given as Fifield farm, Coleshill.

 

[jmadone]

Further to my reply #9 in the post last week I received a copy of the original auction catalogue. My Brother in Law kindly had his original copied and bound for me. Below is the front of the catalogue and the entry for Fifield Farm. There are other pictures that will be of interest to forum members but need to go on different threads. Unfortunately my scanner isn't working so the following have been photographed from the catalogue and the perspecstive may not be brilliant.

Sorr

 

[cookie273uk]

Jim to reduce size, Right click on selected Pic, click 'Open With', click 'Paint' from Menu, press Ctrl and W together a box will appear showing 100% change to (say) 50% or 30% (its trial and error), click 'OK', click red X top RH corner, click save'. Its simpler than its sounds Like you I am not very PC wise but even I can manage this ! Eric

 

[Pedrocut]

It may be possible to reduce the size by emailing the picture to yourself. When you receive it back, it has usually been reduced, and you can then save it to your photos. You can then upload the one with reduced size.

 

[jmadone]

Thank you cookie and Pedrocut. Will try again tomorrow when my head's a bit clearer.

 

[Morturn]

Further to my reply #9 in the post last week I received a copy of the original auction catalogue. My Brother in Law kindly had his original copied and bound for me. Below is the front of the catalogue and the entry for Fifield Farm. There are other pictures that will be of interest to forum members but need to go on different threads. Unfortunately my scanner isn't working so the following have been photographed from the catalogue and the perspecstive may not be brilliant.

Sorry I have been trying for ages to post these pics but they're too big. Normally in such cases I use Tinypics to reduce them but unfortunately this site is closing down and will not allow me to use it. Bearing in mind I am not computer savvy, can anyone advise me as to how I can reduce them and therefore post them to the forum? Thanks. Jim

Jim, if you email the images to me, I will sort out the prospective and size, then send them back to you for posting.

 

[jmadone]

Jim, if you email the images to me, I will sort out the prospective and size, then send them back to you for posting.

Hi Morturn thank you for replying. Using cookie's tip I've managed to edit my post and add the pictures. If you think you can sort out the perspective then I'll gladly e mail them to you. See what you think. Jim

 

[Astoness]

well done jim....another little tip from me is to write down how to resize photos until you get used to it...thats what i did...

lyn

 

[Morturn]

Hi Morturn thank you for replying. Using cookie's tip I've managed to edit my post and add the pictures. If you think you can sort out the perspective then I'll gladly e mail them to you. See what you think. Jim

Jim, just send me a private message with your email address and I give you an email address to send them to and return them

 

[Dave89]

Hi,

I remember when Fifield farm was still there, and I believe someone once told me that
they held Barn Dances there, but that would need confirmation.

The only trace of the farm (if it's still there) is the entrance way on the right of the Chester
Road just before the NEC island coming from Chelmsley Wood consisting of a dropped kerb,
but of course the old entrance is blocked by the boundary fence and trees of the Business Park.

I would like to think that small reminder of the farm is still there, but as I now live on the
Norfolk coast, I would be very surprised if I ever saw it again!

Kind regards
Dave

 

[jmadone]

Hi,

I remember when Fifield farm was still there, and I believe someone once told me that
they held Barn Dances there, but that would need confirmation.

The only trace of the farm (if it's still there) is the entrance way on the right of the Chester
Road just before the NEC island coming from Chelmsley Wood consisting of a dropped kerb,
but of course the old entrance is blocked by the boundary fence and trees of the Business Park.

I would like to think that small reminder of the farm is still there, but as I now live on the
Norfolk coast, I would be very surprised if I ever saw it again!

Kind regards
Dave

Unfortunately the farm is no longer there. It was sold and became the Birmingham Business Park. As far as the Barn dances were concerned I can confirm that several were held there. I remember my sister in law saying she was approached by some officers from Coleshill Police Station (The one on the island) as to the viability of holding such an event there as part of their social calendar. After much thought and organisation it went ahead and was a great success. This led to a few further events and I attended a couple and had a great time.