Hilly Farm, High Street
Hilly Farm and outbuildings viewed from the High Street, 1950, prior to housing development
Hilly Farm and outbuildings viewed from the north east, 1950
Hilly Farm and outbuildings viewed from the west in 1950
Hillly Farm was situated off the High Street and stretched to the east of the town.
The following announcement of a farm sale is taken from the Kettering Leader newspaper dated 29 August 1895.
The 18th century house, c1900 was the home of Mr & Mrs Jesse Fox who farmed the land. Mr Jesse Fox had previously been landlord at the Horse and Groom Inn and returned there after his spell in farming.
Mr and Mrs Jesse Fox, early 1900s. The view across their fields looking towards the Wold
Mr Jesse Fox and family outside their farmhouse
In later years Mr W D Evans took over the farm and eventually developed a chicken hatchery on the premises providing day-old chicks for a wide area in the county and surrounding counties. A further property, a wooden bungalow, was provided at the rear of the farmyard for the farm manager, Mr Fred Blanchard. Following this, a house, White Lodge, and further hatcheries were built in Higham Road on part of the farm and Mr & Mrs Blanchard moved to this property.
Cottages fronting the High Street adjoining Hilly Farm 1965 – later demolished
Whilst digging a silage pit in a field off Higham Road in 1954 a hoard of 120 Roman coins and a quantity of Roman pottery was revealed by Mr Cyril Desborough.
Cyril Desborough getting the feel of a Ferguson tractor
In the 1990s the area around the farm was developed and a number of houses were built, some converted from farm barns, leading on to a larger housing estate at the rear of the farm.
Click the button below for further information about the original Yards on the north side of the farm.
