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Wyfields
Horndon-on-the-Hill
, Essex

 


Wyfields Farm was a legacy in the will of Ambrose Spitty (1716-1771). Wyfields is an old Manor House of Horndon on the Hill, but unlike the Manor Houses of Arden Hall, Malgraves and Horndon House, few records seem to have come through the intervening years. A deed dated about 1220, was witnessed by Galfridus de Wyzefeld (Geoffrey Wyzefeld) and it is probable that the former Manor is named after him. This same gentleman made a charter in which he gave to the hospital of St. Bartholomew's in London , the rent from two houses in Horndon in memory of his parents. In 1789, Wyfields Farm was sold after the death of the owner and it was bought by the Orsett Estate.

In the sale catalogue (ERO Ref  :- D/DZu 209) of the estates of the late Jasper Kingsman esq. on 19/20 Nov 1789 Wyfields is described as follows:-
"Mr. Ambrose Spitty on lease for 21 years from Michaelmas 1787 :-
A capital freehold farm, called Wyfields, situate adjoining the North side of Lot 9, in the Parish and near the town of Horndon on the Hill, consisting of a good farm house called Wyfields Manor House, two barns, stables, cow house, cart house, and other out-buildings, large farm and stock yards, garden, hopper, and sixteen enclosures of arable, meadow, and pasture land, containing altogether 224 ac 37 perches.
Yearly rent - £105
The tenant is also to deliver to his Landlord, two good fat capons yearly during his lease.
This farm is subject to the payment of £1.5s 1d yearly to the Manor of Mucking."
(NB - the farm sold for £2740).

The present farmhouse is a two storied early nineteenth century house in plastered brick and has a red plain tile hipped roof. Behind the farmhouse, there is a separate brick built bake-house with its own oven still intact. Here also is a seventeenth century Tithe barn. Beyond the farm there is a farm cottage which was reconditioned in 1926 by the Essex County Council. A friendly ghost is reputed to haunt the farmhouse.

Wyfields is a Grade II listed building.

Acknowledgments to :-
-
Essex Record Office
- Eve Webster for the photo of Wyfields Farm House.
- 'Saffron, Cider & Honey - A town trail of Horndon on the Hill' by W.M. Tinworth   Buy this book
- Old Maps

Copyright © Simon Parker-Galbreath.  Please acknowledge me if you use info from my web pages, or email me for permission to reproduce (normally given) :-