Highfield Farm

High Field Farm


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Highfield Farm formerly known as High Field Farm does not appear to have been known by that name until around the year 1890.  However it was a farm before that and certainly in 1871.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm house and the land.  It was part of his Whaley Estate.

1861.  Research has failed to identify either this farm or it's occupants on the 1861 census, hence I conclude that at that time the farm did not exist.  A farm occupied by John Armstrong which was in a location that in later years became known as Scotland yard exsited and comprised of 607 acres.  The next location was an unnamed farm occupied by William Godber, which we know became known as Hall Farm.  It is most likely, but without documentary evidence at present that when the aforementioned John Armstrong died (he left a "will"), part of this property became what is now known as Highfield Farm.

1871.  The census, dated 2 April 1871 reveals that Henry W. Grimes and his family were residing at a farm in Palterton that was later to become known as Highfield Farm.  The address on the census records Palterton, Scarcliff (sic), Nottinghamshire.  The village was in the Mansfield Registration district, sub district of Pleasley in the parish of Scarcliff (sic)
Census Ref: RG10. Piece 3466. Folio 65. page 25.

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Name Status M or S Sex Age Birth
year		 Occupation Place of birth.
Grimes, Henry W. Head Marr M 43 1828 Farmer 270 acres Wilsick, Yorkshire.
Grimes, Rebecca A. Wife Marr. F 31 1840 Farmers wife Beighton. Derbyshire.
Grimes, Joseph Son - M 6 1865 Farmers son Duckmanton, Derbyshire.
Grimes, Henry Cor? Son - M 5 1866 - Palterton, Derbyshire.
Grimes, John W. Son - M 2 1869 - Duckmanton, Derbyshire.
Grimes, Sydney G. Son - M 02 mos. 1871 - Palterton, Derbyshire.
Kirkman. Eliza Servant Unm. F 17 1854 Domestic servant Flintham, Nottinghamshire.
Smith, Ann Servant Unm. F 13 1858 Domestic servant Pleasley, Derbys.
Marriott, Robert Servant Unm. M 31 1840 Farm servant Old Dalby, Leicestershire
Cutts, William Servant Unm. M 18 1853 Farm servant Bolsover, Derbyshire,
Sills, Samuel Servant Unm. M 16 1855 Farm servant Scarrington, Nottinghamshire.
Smith, George Servant Unm. M 20 1851 Farm servant East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire

1891.  The census dated 5 April 1891 reveals that Sydney Grimes a single man and a farmers son was living at Highfield Farm, Palterton, Scarcliff (sic) Palterton in the parish of Scarcliff (sic), County of Nottinghamshire.  Regn. district of Mansfield, sub district Pleasley.   Ecclesiastical district of St. Leonard, Scarcliffe (sic)..  (Ref.: RG12. Piece 2649, folio 78, page 30.)

Name Status M or S Sex Age Birth
year.		 Occupn. Place of birth.
Grimes Sydney Head Single M 25 1866 Farmers son Palterton, Derbyshire.
Pipes, Mary A. Servant Single F 44 1847 Housekeeper
Domestic servant		 Littleover, Derbyshire.
Cook, John Servant Marr. M 22 1869 Farm servant North Tyne, Lincolnshire.
Stanton, Tom Servant Marr. M 18 1873 Farm servant Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

This image of rear of a postcard dated 31 Aug. 1903 second class was sent to Miss Marjorie Grimes daughter of the occupier of Highfield Farm by a person who signed herself Nancie

1901.  The census dated Sunday, 31 March reveals that Joseph Grimes and his family were living at Highfield Farm, Palterton, Scarcliff (sic) (Derby), Hamlet in the parish of Scarcliff (Derby) in the Regn. district of Mansfield, sub district Pleasley.   Ecclesiastical district of St. Leonard, Scarcliffe (sic)..  (Ref.: RG13. Piece 3133, folio 58, page 17.)

Name Status M or S Sex Age Birth
year.		 Occupn. Place of birth.
Grimes Joseph Head Marr. M 36 1865 Farmer Sutton Scarsdale, Derbyshire.
Grimes, Elizabeth N. Wife Marr. F 28 1873 - Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Grimes, Joseph Hy. Son S M 2 1899 - Palterton, Derbyshire.
Grimes, Eunice My. Dau. S F 0 (8mos) 1901 - Palterton, Derbyshire.
Laughton, John Servant S M 24 1877 Horse man on farm Halthorpe, Lincs.
Andiss, Henry Servant S M 22 1879 Cowman of farm Saxilby, Lincolnshire.
Chappell, Walter Servant S M 15 1866 Horseman Epworth, Lincs.
Floyde, Sarah Eth. Servant S F 15 1886 Servant (Domestic) Morton, Derbyshire.

1901.  Joseph Grimes occupied Highfield farm at the time of the census but who was he?  He was born 1865 at Longcourse Farm, Sutton Scarsdale (Duckmanton), the son of Henry W. Grimes and Rebecca Grimes.  The latter Henry Grimes was born circa 1828 at Willsic, Yorkshire.

1905.  A Grimes family occupied the farm as farmers.  Joseph Grimes born c.1865 at Sutton Scarsdale farmed Highfield Farm for several years.  His two children Joseph Henry Grimes was born c.1899 at Palterton and Eunice Mary b.1900 at Palterton.

1907.  Eleanor Agnes Grimes the daughter of Joseph Grimes and his wife Elizabeth Newton Grimes was born at Palterton.

The Grimes family c.1905

1911.  The census dated 2 April 1911 reveals that William Simpson and his family were living at Highfield Farm, Palterton in the parish of Scarcliffe..  This village was in the Mansfield Regn. district and Shirebrook sub district.  This census stated that Palterton was in the county of Nottinghamshire.  Census Ref: RG14, Piece 1216.
This 1911 census does not specifically mention Highfield Farm nor does it name other farms in the village but local knowledge and following the route of the Enumerator is is 100% correct that this was Highfield Farm.

Name Status M or S Sex Age Birth
year.		 Occupn. Place of birth.
Simpson, William Head Marr. M 34 1877 Foreman on farm Park Springs, Licolnshire,
Simpson, Gertrude Wife Marr. 12 yrs F 34 1877 - Worksop, Notts.
Simpson, William Adwick Son Single M 12 1899 School Lincoln, Lincs.
Simpson, Kate Evelyn Dau. Single F 10 1901 School Tuxford, Notts.
Simpson, Henry Frederick Son S M 8 1903 School Waddington, Lincs.
Simpson, Arthur Ernest Son S M 6 1905 School Waddington, Lincs
Taylor, Alfred Servant S M 20 1891 Horseman on farm Eagle, Lincs.
Chambers, Walter Servant S M 17 1894 Horseman on farm Kirton, Notts.

So William Simpson was stated to be the foreman on the farm, which was in effect he was the farm bailiff.  We know that Earl Bathurst owned the farm and land and suspect that a member of the Grimes family rented Highfield farm but lived and had a farm elsewhere.  Trade directories reveal that to be correct and he was employed by Sydney G. Grimes. Esq. farmer of Scarcliffe Grange Farm.

Where was Joseph Grimes and his family who had occupied the farm at the time of the 1911 census?  We discover that he was now a horse dealer and that on the night of the census (2 April 1911) he was lodging at the Prince of Wales Inn, Drury Lane, Rugby, Warwickshire.  At that time, his wife Elizabeth Newton Grimes and family were living at number 1, Belmont Terrace, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.  She completed the census document and stated she was head of the household, aged 38 years and had been married 15 years and was of private means.  Her four children Elizabeth Marjorie Grimes (14), Joseph Henry Grimes (12), Eunice Mary Grimes (10) and Eleanor Agnes Grimes (4) were all school children and all born Palterton, Derbyshire.

1916.  William Simpson, a Farm Bailiff occupied the farm house.  He was employed by Sydney G. Grimes. Esq. farmer of Scarcliffe Grange Farm.  (Trade Directory info.) Earl Bathurst owned the farm.

1922.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm.  Simpson family still tenants.

1928.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm.  Arthur Roland Grimes occupied. (Trade Directory).

1932.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm.  Arthur Roland Grimes occupied. (Trade Directory).

1934.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm. 

1936.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm.  Capt. Houldsworth occupied occupied the farm house but Thomas Turner farmed the land.

1941.  Earl Bathurst owned the farm.  Capt. Houldsworth occupied it, but Thomas Turner farmed it.  Kelly's Directory Derbyshire 1941 states that Thos. Turner, a farmer at Elm Farm and Highfield Farm.

1942.  Earl Bathurst sold the property to the Duke of Devonshire Estate.  Capt. Houldsworth occupied the farm house but Thomas Turner farmed the land.

My research note states: 300 acres sold in the Bolsover and Scarcliffe area - 250 years to be severed in the Scarcliffe area dating back to 1693 - Earl Bathurst family estates.

1943.  25 March.  The McDonald family moved to Palterton and took up occupancy of the farm.  There were three generations, father, son and grandson.

1970.  The farmhouse was rebuilt on the site of the previous house.

2013.  The McDonald family still occupy this farm and a great grandson of the first McDonald has followed family tradition.  A second great grandson previously occupied and farmed a Chatsworth Estate farm in the Bakewell area of Derbyshire, but I believe that several years ago, he moved abroad to farm in Canada.  My research into this farm is incomplete but on going.

Highfield Farm

High Field Farm

Email: ronstan@richardsbygonetimes.co.uk

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Created 2 December 2001
Last updated: 3 October 2013