Question from Pauline Wilson from Hemsworth January 2009
I am researching my Husbands Family History
and find his ancestors moved to Brierley from Shafton around 1860ish
(The Wilson's) On the 1871 census they are living at
Folly Hall Farm. In
1891, the son has moved to Folly Hall Cottages leaving his Father at the
farm. I am wondering if there was a Folly Hall, where the landlord of
the Farm and cottages would have lived. Do you know of one. I would
appreciate any pointers on how to go about getting that sort of
information, ie where to look. Hope you can help.
Regards Pauline Wilson Hemsworth
Reply from Richard
Thank you
for your enquiry about Folly Hall Brierley Pauline.
On the 1840
Tithe Award survey Septimus Dobson was the tennant of Folly Hall
Brierley with about 10 acres of land the owner was a widdow called Ann
Smith.
There is a
note on Folly Hall in my booklet 'Brereley a history of Brierley' on my
web site at
http://www.brierleyyorkshireengland.net
in the chapter 'Brierley Manor Court' please see this
extract;
"These fines
also show that there was another, lesser-known manor in Brierley, the
manor of Folly Hall. In a fine dated 1584 Trinity Term, we find Robert
Swift as plaintiff and Robert Lee, esquire, as deforciant, the lands in
question being this time, the Manor of Follyatt Halle and six messuages
and three cottages with lands in Balne, Pollington, Campsall, Snaith,
Norton, Kirk-Sandal and Strisethorpe. Folly Hall stands a quarter of a
mile to the northwest of the road to Hemsworth. As with all farms in the
area, re-building has been carried out throughout the centuries
resulting in a mixture of building styles. In Balne there is a piece of
woodland called Folly Hall Wood. As the lands mentioned above are all
close to Balne and not Brierley it is possible that they belonged to
Folly Hall Balne. "
The 'Foliot'
family were given land in Fenwick, a hamlet in the Balne area by the de
Lacy's of Pontefract. The area of Balne in the lowlands east of the A19
between the rivers Air and Don, marked in the north by the hamlet of
Balne and in the south by Thorpe in Balne, could take its name from the
ancient spa at Askern which was known to the Romans. The name comes from
the Latin 'balneum' meaning bath.
I see from the
1881 census that Richard Wilson a farmer aged 62, and his wife Charlot
62, with their children John a butcher aged 25, and Elizabeth A? 20 all
born in Felkirk parish were living at Folly Hall at that time.
Folly Hall stands well back off the left of the road
to Hemsworth on its own private lane just before the Brierley roundabout
at the start of the Hemsworth By pass. It is possible that the name
derives from the family name Foliot. To help you locate it I have
attached three photographs, it was a dull day today so the photos are
not my best. Two show the notice at the Farm entrance on the road side
on the way to Hemsworth. The one of the Farm was taken from Robin Lane
near South Hiendley which is the best angle but a long way from the
buildings.
Regards
Richard
