MOSS LANE
In many ways Moss Lane hasn't changed much in 200 years. The tithe maps of the 1830s are easily recognisable both in many of the dwellings and the field layouts. It's not easy to interpret the cesnus records from 1841 through to 1911. Only in a few cases are house or farm names recorded and it is more common for the entries just to be sequential along Moss Lane. it is also clear when comparing the census records that in some years, and in particular 1861 the enumerator took an unusual route. The other oddity is that until 1936 the initial section of Moss Lane (running from the main road) up to the first few properties (Moss Barn, Moss Cottage and Greenacres) was part of Warford. Putting that to one side and attempting to interpret the maps and census records what follows is a resonably accurate view of the Lane from tyhe 1830s through to the 1911 census. Starts with Coppock House Farm at the end of the Lane.Coppock HouseAlong with most of the fields on either side down to the footpath to Graveyard Lane this was in the hands of th Warburtons until the end of the 19th century when it passed to the Warburtons. Oak Bank Farm/Oak Bank Barn/Sugar Brook Barn
This was presumably one farm. It wasn't there in the 1830s and is built on a field (called Ousal) that was part of Sophia Warburton's land and occupied by the family through to 1911. The side of what is now Oak Bank Barn has stone marked SW (Sophia Warburton) 1846.
Oak Lea and Lea Cottage and Ivy House Farm
Both of these aren't named in any of the census records but appear to have had a succession of tenants. Lea Cottage appears to have been part of what is now Ivy House Farm which was in the hands of Charles Lownds and then his son in law Ralph Hatton and hiis descendents through to the current day. Oak Lea, across the road was owned by James Brown in 1836.
Graveyard
The path through to Graveyard Lane is nearly opposite Ivy House Farm and is occasionally mentioned by name. The two properties (farm and cottage) had a number of tenants. In 1836 the tenant was Jeffrey Bray (who was there until at least 1861) and the executors of the late John Bray were the owners.
Moss Farm and Mount Pleasant Farm
Both now occupied by the Egerton Breakdown company. James Piers was t Mount Pleasant through to 1871 and beyond. It's not clear who precisely lived at Moss Farm but the occupation changed on a fairly regular basis
The Belan
A relatively new property built on a field that was originally owned by Cragg Watkinson and farmed by James Piers
Moss House Farm and Moss Croft
On the left where what used to be a 'driving' lane runs down to Moss Mount Farm. Moss House Farm was controlled by the Devisees in trust of the late Thomas Wright and occupied by William Aldcroft and his family right through until the 1911 census.
Yew Tree Farm
This is easier to track as it is occasionally named. In 1841 and 1851 Samuel Hewitt and his family lived and farmed there. Then John and Martha Holt lived there until 1911 and beyond
Annapurna and numbers 1 & 2 Moss Bank
Annapurna is a new property perhaps built on an older one. Moss Bank is dated to 1855 and the two adjoining cottages appear to have had a number of occupiers. In 1841 this part of what is now Moss Lane was called Summery Lane and the properties may have been rebuilt on original plots as William Blackshaw and his son also William Blackshaw lived ion the plots until around the time the current cottages were built. the land was also controlled by the Devisees in trust of the late Thomas Wright.
Moss Barn/Moss Cottage and Greenacres
These three properties sit on land that was originall part of Great Warford and owned by Sir Thomas Massey Stanley. The land was farmed by James Bracegirdle. In 1841 they are part of the Alderley Census District 5 but after 1851 Great Warford District 9b. No properties are named although it is clear that the enumerator starts from here in 1841. In 1851 it is page 5 before these properties are reached.
This was presumably one farm. It wasn't there in the 1830s and is built on a field (called Ousal) that was part of Sophia Warburton's land and occupied by the family through to 1911. The side of what is now Oak Bank Barn has stone marked SW (Sophia Warburton) 1846.
Oak Lea and Lea Cottage and Ivy House Farm
Both of these aren't named in any of the census records but appear to have had a succession of tenants. Lea Cottage appears to have been part of what is now Ivy House Farm which was in the hands of Charles Lownds and then his son in law Ralph Hatton and hiis descendents through to the current day. Oak Lea, across the road was owned by James Brown in 1836.
Graveyard
The path through to Graveyard Lane is nearly opposite Ivy House Farm and is occasionally mentioned by name. The two properties (farm and cottage) had a number of tenants. In 1836 the tenant was Jeffrey Bray (who was there until at least 1861) and the executors of the late John Bray were the owners.
Moss Farm and Mount Pleasant Farm
Both now occupied by the Egerton Breakdown company. James Piers was t Mount Pleasant through to 1871 and beyond. It's not clear who precisely lived at Moss Farm but the occupation changed on a fairly regular basis
The Belan
A relatively new property built on a field that was originally owned by Cragg Watkinson and farmed by James Piers
Moss House Farm and Moss Croft
On the left where what used to be a 'driving' lane runs down to Moss Mount Farm. Moss House Farm was controlled by the Devisees in trust of the late Thomas Wright and occupied by William Aldcroft and his family right through until the 1911 census.
Yew Tree Farm
This is easier to track as it is occasionally named. In 1841 and 1851 Samuel Hewitt and his family lived and farmed there. Then John and Martha Holt lived there until 1911 and beyond
Annapurna and numbers 1 & 2 Moss Bank
Annapurna is a new property perhaps built on an older one. Moss Bank is dated to 1855 and the two adjoining cottages appear to have had a number of occupiers. In 1841 this part of what is now Moss Lane was called Summery Lane and the properties may have been rebuilt on original plots as William Blackshaw and his son also William Blackshaw lived ion the plots until around the time the current cottages were built. the land was also controlled by the Devisees in trust of the late Thomas Wright.
Moss Barn/Moss Cottage and Greenacres
These three properties sit on land that was originall part of Great Warford and owned by Sir Thomas Massey Stanley. The land was farmed by James Bracegirdle. In 1841 they are part of the Alderley Census District 5 but after 1851 Great Warford District 9b. No properties are named although it is clear that the enumerator starts from here in 1841. In 1851 it is page 5 before these properties are reached.
