Longhope Bakery, the Green's Bakery at Huntley and Ivy Cotta (General)

by hawkyboy, Sunday, July 26, 2015, 11:36 (3409 days ago) @ dink999

Hello dink999 and thank you for this helpful addition to my mysteries and musings.

Joseph leaving different sums to Herbert and Annie ties in with vague recollections- there was to be a settlement agreed between them.

My recollection of the land is slightly out - I had recollections of 49 acres attached to the business. But this is the first evidence that I have seen that any land at all did exist. I have often dismissed this thought because it is an unusual add on to a bakery and grocery business.

Indeed, the other 9 acres may have existed and been purchased after Joseph's death. I believe that the farm prospered through WW2. I have been told that an orchard existed just inside Grange Court Lane opposite the bakery. There are memories of the Greens having this in around 1947. Perhaps this was the 9 acres?

The Ley Lane reference is, I assume, to what we currently know as Grange Court Lane? Or might it be off this? If so the buildings were along on the left of Grange Court Lane when turning in off the A40. This would then be the stone building referred to in the will. There was no farm house on this land even though it was run as a farm. So I assume that Joseph purchased fields when they became available. The eldest son, Herbert, subsequently became the farmer - perhaps he always had an interest in farming rather than baking and groceries. Perhaps Joseph bought the land with the intention of his son farming it? Herbert's farm house was, I believe, the house on the main road. I have responded to the kind postings from Mike regarding the ivy clad house. I think this was, or became, the farm house. However the Will says this was left to the other sons.

Another grey area might be the Head Baker, John Phillips. I wonder if he came from an orphanage and Joseph was recognizing this in his Will. My intuition is that John lived on the premises and might have had any other home. I never heard of any family, but there may be good people on this Forum who can guide me further on this.

Thanks again for your reply.