Rushden Research Group: Court Estate

Eastfields Farm

Court Estate

Old Eastfield Farm in Newton Road

In 1872 the farm was under the care of Robert Wyldes of Yelden, a single man employing 9 men and 2 boys, and tending 300 acres, which then included Eastfields Farm.

Robert Mortimer, moved here from Ravenstone, BKM, when his brother Bailey Mortimer was living at Newton Bromswold.

Rushden Echo, 3rd July 1914, transcribed by Kay Collins

Newton Bromshold

The death took place at Eastfields Farm on July 2nd of Mr. Robert Mortimer, late of Ravenstone, Bucks, only brother of Bailey Mortimer, of Newton Bromshold, at whose residence he passed away. The deceased gentleman, who was 69 years of age, had been ill for 21 weeks, death finally resulting from heart failure. He leaves a widow, two sons, and one daughter to mourn their loss. The funeral will take place at Newton on Monday.

In the 1940s the farm was owned by the Cook family.

Peggy Strickland owned a shop on the High Causeway, Rushden, where they had first settled in 1942 after leaving London during the blitz. Peggy and her parents ran the shop together. Peggy had married Edward Henry Strickland in London in 1938, and he had been a butcher for Dewhurst's there, and he soon started his own business here in Rushden.

Eastfields Farm to Manor Lodge Farm - Court Estate
Map produced in 1951 when renumbering of the
houses and plots took place.

By the 1960s the farm was owned by Edward and Peggy Strickland who were living at St Rolands. At the time Fred Carr and Matthew Graham managed the farm. Matthew married Fred's daughter Dinah.

When Fred Carr bought the farm he also bought Peacehaven, home of Walter Graham and family. Fred's daughter Dinah worked for a time at the shop.

At a later date Matthew Graham bought the farm with its 7 acres, and also bought "Peacehaven" where his parents and brothers and sister lived.

St Roland's was a smallholding where the Stricklands had an orchard and kept hens and a pig. Here they brought up their two sons.

One of the sons of the Strickland family, driving pigs along Newton Road in the 1950s.

One of the Strickland boys in the 1950s

About 1960 they sold off part of the smallholding for housing, and another portion in 1964.

1964 was also the year Peggy started a children's nursery in the bungalow, with her friend and neighbour, Susan (nee Jones) who had started the Housemartins for older people.

After just four years the nursery outgrew the bungalow and was moved to a larger building at Manor Lodge Farm.

Newton Road Court Estate c1970 - Photo taken from a Beagle Pup Aircraft
Showing Manor Farm (bottom left) Eastfields Farm (centre) and
Rectory Farm (far right). Peacehaven (extreem left)

John Collins in a Beagle Pup c1970 flying from Sywell
resident of 286 Newton Road for 50 years
John was born at Rectory Farm - 285 Newton Road!