THURLBEAR DWELLINGS - A brief History.

Internet link to TDBC Listed Buildings - Thurlbear

Source: R.A.Sixsmith, A History of Thurlbear, 1957. Today, Thurlbear is divided into six farms and four small holdings. The old manor farm, now called Church Farm, has been rented by Mr Garland since 1932. It is a mixed farm, dairy, stock-raising, crops and poultry, as are all the other five farms. There are 112 acres and the farm is worked by Mr and Mrs Garland and their two sons. The largest farm is Greenway. There are about 400 acres in Thurlbear, 50 in Stoke St. Mary and 38 acres of grazing land at Ham and North Curry. Mr and Mrs Callow have farmed 'Netherclay', which used to be called 'Mullins', since 1938. They took it over from Mr Edmund Aplin, whose brother Albert was Mr Callow's great uncle. It is a farm of 136 acres, 46 being in Shoreditch and 76 in Thurlbear except two fields which are over the stream in Orchard Portman. In 1947 Mr and Mrs Coles took over Hill Farm from Walter Quick. This farm is 67 acres. The farmhouse at Badger Street is let separately from the farm. The farm has been let to Mr Grabham of Staple Fitzpaine since 1937. There are 108 acres in Thurlbear and 48.5 lie in Staple Fitzpaine. Mr and Mrs Somers leased Frost Street Farm in 1955. There are 71 acres of which 40 are in Thurlbear and 31 in Staple Fitzpaine. Of the four holdings Mr Harding owns Winterwell which has 15 acres. Opposite Winterwell is Bower House where Mrs Shire has been since 1903; about 18 years before that it ceased to be Lime Kiln Inn. The holding is 16 acres. Mr Pearse the milkman rents Court Garden (now called The Poplars) and 2.5 acres. the old farmhouse, which used to be called Netherclay, has been divided in two. Mr Woodman owns one half and 1.75 acres. Mr Bowditch the other half and the orchard.

Source: R.A.Sixsmith, A History of Thurlbear, 1957.