126 WESTFIELD FARM (HOUSE)
On Westfield Lane, close to the Great Central Railway, sold early in 2008 as a private house
OS REF:SK57091235
This survey started in 2002 and, sadly, Kathleen Hyman died suddenly on Friday March 10th 2006 aged 67 years.
This proved to be the end of an era for Westfield Farm as the owners, Rothley Temple Estates, put the farmhouse and surrounding land up for sale. It has been converted to a private house and makes our recording even more part of the history of Rothley.
Westfield Farm from The Ridgeway overlooking Home Field Site 101. Sheep grazing in the field. August 2002
2002
Date: 24th October 2001
In 2001 this 'Landscape of Rothley' project started at Westfield Farm when I met Kathleen Hyman, a tenant farmer of Rothley Temple Estates. This is a mixed farm with sheep on the pastures and arable fields.
One of the most important items of note on this farm, apart from the farming, is the existence of a Roman Villa buried under Home Field, Site 101, extending under The Ridgeway and into Office Field, Site 102. Brian Verity, the Archaeological Warden for Rothley is very involved with this villa and has written a booklet.
For more information about this villa please click on the following link:
Kathleen gave me the names of the fields, not necessarily the ancient names, but the ones used by the family. Site numbers used in this Landscape of Rothley are given:
Home Field Site 101
Office Field Site 102
The Slang Site 103
Sand Pit Field Site 104
Six-Acre Field Site 105
Bowlers Field Site 106
Barnes' Field Site 107
12-Acre Field Site 108
Roadside Field Site 109
Twelve Acre Field Site 110
Railway Field Site 111
Temple Paddock Site 112
The Paddock Site 113
To find out more about the sites that made up Westfield Farm in 2002 please click on the following links:
Wednesday 24th October 2001
My first visit was made on this date when I walked every field of Westfield Farm with Kathleen but no written notes were made. It was very muddy in parts due to the wet conditions over the past week. Kathleen gave me permission to go back to any field at any time for recording purposes.
Many visits have been made and details recorded in the sites detailed above.
Date: 17th April 2002
Brian Verity, the Archaeological Warden for Rothley, visited the courtyard entrance to the farmhouse to look for evidence of possible re-use of Roman brick from the Roman Villa in the adjoining field.
There is a mud wall and a pump over a well.
There is an interesting large slab and slate pathway to the front of the farmhouse.
The late Mr Hyman talked about a concrete ceiling in the main barn but no evidence was found.
Stone posts supporting the brickwork to the stable definitely looked superior masonry to the rest of the structure and may be re-cycled stone. (Roman villa stone?).
Stones close to the barn wall had no explanation.
Westfield Farm side elevation from Westfield Lane. March 2007
Westfield Farm from the entrance on Westfield Lane. March 2007
Westfield Farm side elevation over Home Field Site 101 from Westfield Lane. March 2007
Looking into the courtyard of Westfield Farm from Westfield Lane. July 2007
Looking into the courtyard of Westfield Farm from Westfield Lane. July 2007
Left-hand side of Westfield Farm courtyard. July 2007
1881 shown in the brickwork of the apex of the above picture. July 2007
The courtyard of Westfield Farm. July 2007
Top left-hand corner of the courtyard of Westfield Farm. July 2007
Brickwork features in the courtyard of Westfield Farm. July 2007
Buildings at the top of the courtyard. The entrance to the farmhouse is the path to the right. July 2007
Buildings to the right of the courtyard. Westfield Farmhouse to the rear. July 2007
Brickwork feature to the wall of the above courtyard buildings. July 2007
Building to the right of the courtyard of Westfield Farm. July 2007
Side elevation Westfield Farm from track between Westfield Lane and The Ridgeway. July 2007
Side elevation to Westfield Farm from the track between Westfield Lane and The Ridgeway. July 2007
Side elevation Westfield Farm from the track from Westfield Lane to The Ridgeway. July 2007
Side elevation to Westfield Farm from the track between Westfield Lane and The Ridgeway. July 2007
Barn door on side elevation to Westfield Farm from the track from Westfield Lane to The Ridgeway. July 2007
The barn accessed from the track from Westfield Lane to The Ridgeway. July 2007
Barn buttress, the barn, Westfield Farm, on the track from Westfield Lane to The Ridgeway. July 2007
Side elevation from the track between Westfield Lane and The Ridgeway. July 2007
The original window to the cottage on the side elevation between Westfield Lane and The Ridgeway. July 2007
Looking along the side elevation from the track from Westfield Lane to The Ridgeway into the farmhouse garden. July 2007
Rear elevation of Westfield Farm from The Ridgeway. July 2007
Rear elevation of Westfield Farm. July 2007
In the garden of Westfield Farm. The privy? July 2007
Westfield Farm in winter from The Ridgeway. February 2008
Westfield Farm from Westfield Lane looking over Home Field Site 101. December 2009
Westfield Farm from The Ridgeway. December 2009
There was a farmyard pond but only the site remains. It was on the boundary with Westfield Lane and the site is shown above inside the entrance to the farmyard. This is recorded as Pond 42 (site) July 2007
Site of Pond 42 just the other side of the hedge on Westfield Lane. July 2007
Lime Tree recorded as Tree 591 with a girth of 2.3m standing at the farm entrance on Westfield Lane. July 2007
Lime Tree recorded as Tree 592 with a girth of 2.5m just a short distance from Tree 591 on Westfield Lane. July 2007
The hedgerow in the above photograph was grubbed out in February 2008 despite being an original farm hedgerow.
Tree planting has forged ahead around the perimeter and within the surrounding fields.
The price guide in July 2007 for the sale of the farmhouse with two cottages, dairy parlour and cow stores around a cobbled courtyard in 5.7 acres of land was £1,500,000
To return to the Landscape of Rothley and all the sites please click on the following link: