At the turn of the second millennium the future was looking bleak for the abandoned Groundwell Farmhouse. Left to stand empty for several years, it
looked as if time was up for the Grade II listed building, which had once served
as both farmhouse and arts centre.
Elements of the
coursed rubble stone house date from 1660 and during a survey made by the
Wiltshire Buildings Record in the 1980s a 17th century fireplace was
still in situ in the west bedroom. The
building was then described as typical of a late 16th or early 17th century Wiltshire Manor House. But
records for the Groundwell estate go back much further.
This des res was already
on the up and up in 1086, appreciating from 40s to 70s at the time of the
Domesday survey where it was recorded that ‘Hugh and Girald hold Grendewell
from Humphrey. Ordulf held it before
1066.’
However, even
earlier than this, the Romans had appreciated the sheltered aspect of Goundwell
Ridge and excavations made during 2004 revealed a second century Romano British
farm in the area.
Local landowner
Simon Wayte brought his new wife Catherine home to Groundwell House following
their marriage in around 1770 and immediately began work on a major rebuild.
At the end of the
19th century the farmhouse was said to have served as a parsonage
for the Blunsdon St Andrew clergy, although other sources place farmer William
Lush at Groundwell in 1899.
But by 1911 the
property had returned to use as a farmhouse with Evan James Hoddinott, his wife
and their young family in residence.
Farming has always
been a family affair and in the 1930s the Wilkins brothers rented
Groundwell. Charlie Wilkins raised his
own large family there and his brother Noel is remembered for riding his horse up
the staircase.
Norman Painter was
the farmer at Groundwell at the outbreak of war in 1939. The harvest the following year was described
as having been one of the easiest since 1921 and without the need to call on
voluntary help as had been anticipated, according to the Evening
Advertiser. A photograph of stooking
the corn at Groundwell Farm was published in the edition of August 10, with the
farmhouse visible in the distance.
In the mid 1970s,
with the vast area of north Swindon ear marked for development, Thamesdown
Borough Council purchased the farm and the farmhouse was let to the Groundwell
Arts Group.
However by 2004 the
property was empty and Robert Stredder, street entertainer and former
Groundwell Arts Group resident highlighted the predicament of the building as
dentist Patrick Holmes awaited the outcome of complicated planning
approval. The Seven Fields Dental and
Health Care Centre eventually opened in 2007 and modern street names such as
Farmer Crescent, Thresher Drive and Haywain Close recall the rural history of
Groundwell Farm.
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| ghostly outline of former farm building |
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| coach house |
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| Wartime harvest - stooking the corn at Groundwell Farm |
I was born in that farmhouse in 1965. Norman Painter was my grandfather. Nice to see some photos.
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