I'm having trouble finding any info/pics of Manor Farm, Upton. There's plenty of stuff on the manor itself, particularly the Inman connection, and I seem to remember reading that he built a model farm in the 1850s but can't find any details about it or even where it was. Can anyone help?
I don't own a copy myself but know they have it in most local reference libraries. It's probably the only detailed book on Upton that's been written as far as I know.
Failing that, you might find something in one of the Wirral Journals.
There used to be a web site about the history of Upton but it's a while since I tried to use it, I did have the url but that got lost on a hard drive failure.
There used to be a web site about the history of Upton but it's a while since I tried to use it, I did have the url but that got lost on a hard drive failure.
Something in the memory banks tells me Manor farm was previously Home farm.
That's interesting Bert, because that's one of the things that's confusing me. The reason for my interest is that my Great grandfather died there in 1902. His death cert clearly shows place of death as Manor Farm, Upton. He was living with his son-in-law, Frank Lee who appears on both the 1901 and 1911 censuses as living at Manor Farm (in the 1891 census he is recorded as a Farmer in "The Village"). However, in the trade directories of the time (1896, 1902, 1908) Lee is shown as living at Home Farm. Surely it's unlikely that a farm could be known by two names at the same time?
If you look on the Cheshire County Council web-site there's a link allowing you to look at Cheshire directories throughout the 19th century. Maybe if you look back at some of the earlier directories (say between 1850 - 1880) you may find some more clues?
(Search on 'cheshiredirectories'). Think it's Cheshire East, not West.
Manor Farm was located within the village between Stonehouse Farm and Red House, it was built before 1834 as it appears on the 1834 Tithe map. This is before the existance of Upton Manor, which was built as Harefield House 1n 1858/9 and not called Upton Manor until 1865.
The farmer for almost 25 years was Frank Lee. Manor Farm was demolished in 1926 and replaced with a block of 5 shops
Home Farm was next to Upton Manor and was re-built about the same time as Harefield House was built. This farm was renamed Upton Park Farm in the 1920s
In the picture below, the three storey sandstone building is Stone House Farm, and the two storey building beyond is Manor Farm.