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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: atropica on Tuesday 03 May 22 16:35 BST (UK)

Title: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: atropica on Tuesday 03 May 22 16:35 BST (UK)
I would like to know a little about a place called Hillhouse in the parish of Bradfield. It crops up in the Bradfield parish records in the mid 18th century as the abode of a Fern/Fearn family.
Would it have just been a farmstead or was it more substantial than that. Any information would be gratefully received.
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: PaulineJ on Tuesday 03 May 22 16:51 BST (UK)
Have you looked at old maps?
Then you might try skimming addresses in census to see if the areaname/ address persists?

High & low Bradfield is not far from Sheffield, vaguely in the direction of Penistone?
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: atropica on Wednesday 04 May 22 08:38 BST (UK)
Thank you Pauline, I should have thought of looking at the Census information. I found mention of Hill House in the 1841 Census for Bradfield district 7. It appears to have been a farmstead.
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: Marmalady on Wednesday 04 May 22 10:02 BST (UK)
Estate Agent's details:

https://media.onthemarket.com/properties/4815546/782132425/document-0.pdf

Looks a stunning place!
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: atropica on Wednesday 04 May 22 13:24 BST (UK)
It does now. I don't think it would have looked that good when my ancestor lived there as a tenant farmer in the 1770's
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: Claire64 on Thursday 12 May 22 14:31 BST (UK)
This site might have some information, but the search facility isn't great https://bradfieldarchives.co.uk/
There would be more at Sheffield archives.
A Frank Fearn was hung in 1782 at York for the murder of local watchmaker.  Any relation?! The murder took place at Kirk Edge Road, not that far from where I live.
Though I wasn't there at the time...
EDIT.  I just checked my notes and Francis Fearn was arrested at his lodgings in Sheffield.  He was a journeyman filesmith, and his father lived at Bradfield.  Fearn was 22 years old.
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: atropica on Thursday 12 May 22 16:18 BST (UK)
Thank you so much Claire, that is a great piece of information to add to my records (another skeleton for the closet).
Francis Fearn was baptised at St Nicholas, Bradfield in May 1760, father: Henry Fearn/Fern of Hill House, Bradfield. Henry is my 6x gt grandfather through his daughter Martha (bap. 1762).
Title: Re: Hillhouse, Bradfield
Post by: Claire64 on Thursday 12 May 22 18:43 BST (UK)
Got to love a black sheep!  It was reported nationwide in the newspapers at the time.