Hunt's Mill Farm, Hunts Mill — Lower Gornal & Sedgley farms, Dudley, Black Country, West Midlands

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Hunt's Mill Farm

Hunt's Mill Farm c. 1980

Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss

1911: Sale Notice: County Express, 11th March.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SALE BY AUCTION
of Valuable
LIVE AND DEAD FARMING STOCK, VEHICLES & MACHINERY
upon and about
HUNT'S MILL & FARM
PENSNETT, Nr DUDLEY

Ernest Davies has received instruction from Messrs. D and J Hickman (who are giving up Farming), to SELL BY AUCTION, upon the Premises as above, on THURSDAY, MARCH 16th, 1911, the whole of the LIVE & DEAD

FARMING STOCK

including Two valuable Milking Cows and Calf, Sow and Pigs, Yorkshire Boar, and number of strong Store Pigs; about 30 Couples Fowls, number of Aylesbury Ducks and Toulouse Geese;

FARMING IMPLEMENTS, VEHICLES,

etc. comprising Scuffles, Ploughs, Harrows, Cultivators, Heavy Land Roller, Seed Drills, Reaping and Mowing Machines, Horse Rakes, Harvesting Wagon and Thrippels, Corn Carts, 2-Ton Lorry. Block Carts, Dog Cart, Brake to carry 20, Single and Double Sets of Harness and Gears, Iron Hurdles, the Materials contained in the erections of Dutch Barn, Brake Shed, etc.; a new Tarpaulin Rick Sheet, and Dairy Utensils; also the

MACHINERY & PLANT

including a 16-H.-P. Steam Engine, Cornish and Egg-ended Boilers, a "Swift" Oat Crusher, a 6-Ton Weighbridge, Contents of Blacksmith's shop, quantity of Scrap Iron and Miscellaneous Effects.

The farm and mill predated 1780 and was located at the foot of Barrow Hill on the north side, off Coopers Bank Road.

White's Directory of 1835, lists Daniel Davis as corn miller at Hunts Mill.

The farm and mill no longer exist.

The Staffordshire/Worcestershire (Dudley) border straddles the farm; part or it lies in the Pensnett parish.

There was extensive mining activity, with Old Park and Barrow Hill Collieries in close proximity.

O/S maps between 1890 and 1910, suggests that it had a corn mill fed by the small watercourse in the valley.

After the 1920s, the mill was shown as disused, however farming continued at Hunt's Mill.

Known locally as Hickin's Farm, after Mr. Hickin, one of the tenants during the 1950s.

Hunts Mill: Emanuel Fereday age 45 miller and farmer, with sons Edward and Thomas, and wife Lucy. [1841 census]. Mr. Fereday died October 8, 1856, aged 68 years.
The farming stock was sold off in 1862 and the Fereday family left.

Jeavon Hickman aged 34, 1881, farmer of 70 Acres employing 4 men and 2 boys. [1881 census]
Hickman quit the farm in 1910 after 38 years there.

Richard Turner was tenant here in 1916, he was also a butcher.

Farming, in small scale continued at Hunt's Mill Farm until the 1970s.

The buildings were demolished in 1986.

Hunts Mill Farm c. 1980

Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss

On the slopes between Coopers Bank Farm and Hunts Mill are remains of a medieval settlement, a Scheduled Monument which has great archaeological importance.

1879: Dudley Herald, 15th February.

FEROCIOUS ATTACK BY A BOAR

On Thursday evening, a serious incident happened to Daniel Hickman, farmer of Hunt's Mill Farm, Gornal Wood. Mr. Hickman had occasion to go into a sty in which was a boar, which attacked him whilst in the act of cleansing the sty. Some men hearing the cries of the unfortunate man ran to his assistance, and found that the boar was in the act of worrying him. When released it was discovered that Hickman was seriously injured, and was partly disembowlled, At the present time he lies in a precarious condition.

1862: Sale Notice: Birmingham Journal, 29th March.

HUNT'S MILL, PENSNETT, near DUDLEY.
SALE OF FARMING STOCK, IMPLEMENTS, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, AND OTHER EFFECTS
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

By Mr. BATEMAN, on MONDAY NEXT, the 31st Day of March, upon the Premises, at Hunt's Mill. Pensnett, near Dudley - the FARMING STOCK, IMPLEMENTS, part of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, and other effects, of Mr. E. Fereday, who is removing : consisting of one Cow and Calf, one in-calf Cow, eight two- years-old Heifers, strong Cart Horse, in-pig Sow, twenty ripe fat Wethers, five fay Ewes, broad and narrow-wheeled carts, Harrows, long and thiller Gears, Turnip Cutter, Patent Mangle, Household and Chamber Furniture, and other Effects : full and descriptive particulars of which are given in catalogues, which may be had at the Place of Sale, and from the Auctioneers, Dudley.
Sale to commence at Twelve o'clock at noon precisely.

More photos of Hunt's Mill Farm just before demolition

Derelict farm buildings c. 1985	Derelict farm buildings c. 1985
Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss	Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss
Derelict farm buildings c. 1985	Derelict farm buildings c. 1985
Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss	Photo courtesy of B. Abbiss

this aye fur noggin yeds