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Old Barn, Wiggins Hill Road, Wishaw

Isn't that him selling the farm and cottages on Bulls Lane?
I can't see any reference to Wiggins Hill there.
Unless he sold that to buy Wiggins Hill Farm.
 
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That seems to be the sale of Old Barn (a half timbered cottage - remember the 2 had been knocked into one) and the tithe barn plus land.
Why does it baffle you?
 
Baffled might not be quite the right word, more surprised. Francis bought the properties in 1938, carried out the alterations to knock them into one cottage, only to be sold in 1945 ? Seems a short stay for all that effort, especially at the time. But if they did emigrate, that could explain, and immediately after WW2 would make sense too. A better life on offer, especially as post-war Britain had a long recovery ahead. And more so in rural areas.
 
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this is certainly an interesting thread mary and its keeps a few of us out of trouble ...dont think we are finished with this one just yet though...i am just doing a bit more digging myself

lyn
 
Hi! Viv
This may help to clear your baffles:
Frank was in a senior position with Dunlop at the time that he purchased the Old Barn.
In the mid 1940's Dunlop were setting up a tyre manufacturing plant near Christchurch New Zealand.
Maybe an offer too good to refuse Frank went out to New Zealand to help establish the plant.
I have a record of Blanche his wife following Frank out to New Zealand alone and aboard RMS Rangitiki sailing from London on 30th May 1946.
As I can't find a passenger record for Frank it is likely that Dunlop sent him by air
 
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Absolutely - an offer that couldn't be turned down!! And thanks for the background.

So I take it that means the cottage and barn were mainly domestic premises (with a smallholding) and not intended for any contuinuing agricultural production use, presumably right from when Francis bought the buildings in 1938. Perhaps that backs up (I think mentioned earlier) speculation about the disposal of excess agricultural premises going back to when Francis bought the place.
 
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Yes just domestic and a small holding.
Another thing that I am lucky enough to have is a book written by Frank's son Graham entitled ' The Life and Times of Graham Armstrong'
Below is a quote from Graham:
Scan_20240811.png
 
I'll have another look but i don't think so he was only about twelve when he moved into Old Barn, after working for a while he went into the army and became a Tankie.
He followed his parents out to NZ in 1947 after marrying my aunt
 
Lovely ! It's always good to read memories of people who lived in places being researched.

With regards to Mr Terry., here he is looking for a milking farm hand and offering accommodation and electricity free. Wonder why it was free when good wages were offered. Maybe difficulty finding labour. Could it be Old Barn Cottage ? If so, this was only 2 years before it was sold.

Source: British Newspaper Archive Screenshot_20240811_190052_Chrome.jpg
 
Do you know if the cottage(s) were actually habitable when he bought the site? I expect the barn wasn't, of course.I ask this as it might have been empty for some time, and perhaps giving a reason for it's sale.
 
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In your original post, Mary, you said you wanted to know more about the cottage(s)/barn. Do you have any particular aspects you want us to look at or focus on ?

Its been lovely exploring connections and the surrounding area, but I'm having trouble focusing because I find it all fascinating, especially in the context of the area it sits in and it's very rich history.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Lovely ! It's always good to read memories of people who lived in places being researched.

With regards to Mr Terry., here he is looking for a milking farm hand and offering accommodation and electricity free. Wonder why it was free when good wages were offered. Maybe difficulty finding labour. Could it be Old Barn Cottage ? If so, this was only 2 years before it was sold.

Source: British Newspaper Archive View attachment 193899
Click to expand...
I misread that. Bricklyn is not in the same place as Old Barn.
So my comment in post $73 doesn't make sense
 
Yes but it's not that far away. My thinking was they might well have had farm buildings in different places, away from the main farmhouse, positioned closer to certain fields. I was working on the basis that Mr Terry was at Bricklyn Farm but might have his worker cottage(s) furtther away.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Yes but it's not that far away. My thinking was they might well have had farm buildings in different places, away from the main farmhouse, positioned closer to certain fields. I was working on the info that Mr Terry was at Bricklyn Farm but his cottage(s) werefurtger away.
Click to expand...


that is also possible viv...think bricklyn farm is now bricklyn cottages


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Bricklyn Farm and Bricklyn Cottages are separate properties in Bulls Lane. Bricklyn Farm entrance is opposite Wishaw Lane. Bricklyn Cottages is actually one property on the opposite side of Bulls Lane around 100 yards down from Bricklyn Farm entrance. I was the rural postman in Bulls Lane for some years.
 
For info. Frederick Terry was "Councillor" Terry in 1937, obviously must have been a man of some influence in the area,. Bricklyn Farm was substantial (in acreage) - over 100 acres.
 
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Apparently marriages were carried out at the Quaker House It was fashionable for Birmingham Quaker couples to be married there. Spot on Richard !! Thanks.
 
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