Farfield House, Cleckheaton

Located at Moor End, between Farfield Street and Exchange Street. 

In the late 1860's the house was occupied by Richard Francis Brooke who was from a well-known family who were in the tanning business located at Crow Trees, Cleckheaton. 

National Probate Calendar - 2 Sep 1869
Letters of Administration of the personal estate and effects of Richard Francis BROOKE, late of Farfield House, Cleckheaton in the County of York, gentleman, a widower deceased who died 7 Aug 1869 at Farfield House aforesaid were granted at Wakefield to Edward Brooke of Cleckheaton aforesaid, tanner, the nephew and one of the next of kin of the said deceased, he having been first sworn. Effects under £6000.

The house was then lived in by his nephew, Thomas Kaye Brooke who lived there until the early 1880s:

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Hunsworth Moor, Cleckheaton
Thomas Kaye BROOK  Head  Wid  36  Flannel manufacturer  Allerton
Edward Jennings BROOK  Son  3  Scholar
Elizabeth Mary BROOK  Sister  U  46  Annuitant
Harriet Ann BROOK  Sister  U  44  Annuitant
Jane BROOK  Sister  U  38  Annuitant
Henry WOLFENDEN  Visitor  M  43  Bank manager  Manchester
Sarah WOLFENDEN  Visitor  M  42  Birstall
Edward WOLFENDEN  Visitor  5  Scholar  Manchester

3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Farfield House, Cleckheaton
Thomas K BROOKE  Head  M  47  Flannel merchant  Cleckheaton
Mary A BROOKE  Wife  M  47  Belton, Lincs
Marian BROOKE  Dau  4  Cleckheaton
John S BAILEY  Step Son  U  20  Architect  Pinchbeck, Lincs
Mary SANDER  Mother-in-law  Wid  87  Kinlet, Worcs
Anna M EDDISON  Serv  U  20  General servant domestic  Lancashire

In 1883 it was offered for sale and described as having: a stable, coach house, piggeries, garden, outbuildings and conveniences as well as spare adjoining land.

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Farfield House, Cleckheaton
George STEAD  Head  M  55  Commission agent (malt)  Cleckheaton
Sarah STEAD  Wife  M  55  Cleckheaton
Leonard STEAD  Son  U  34  Manager for machine maker & bicycle agent  Cleckheaton
Ben STEAD  Son  U  32  Malster & commission agent  Cleckheaton

31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - Farfield House, Cleckheaton
William B LIVERMORE  Head  M  38  Medical practitioner  Cul....?, Scotland
Mary B LIVERMORE  Wife  M  35  Accrington
William C LIVERMORE  Son  10  Fulham
Catherine S LIVERMORE  Dau  8  Northampton
Lily ELLIS  Serv  U  20  Servant domestic  Hightown

Dr. Livermore was resident here for most part of the decade and then we see a rather complicated story unfolding, starting with this entry from 1911:

 2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Farfield House, Cleckheaton
Arthur BENTLEY  Head  M  37  Grounds dealer  Scholes
Edith A BENTLEY  Wife  M  37  (17y, 2/2)  Morley
Sarah E BENTLEY  Dau  U  17  Cleckheaton
George Niven BENTLEY  Son  10  School  Cleckheaton

Arthur Bentley was the son of Aquila & Elizabeth (nee Heaton), and in the 1921 Census for Farfield House, we see it divided into three separate households.

The first shows the widow Emma Bentley residing here. She is the second wife of the above mentioned Aquila Bentley. Frank Bentley is the brother of the above Arthur and is in fact the step son, as well as son-in-law of Emma, as he married Elizabeth Bartle, Emma Bentley's daughter to her first husband!

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Farfield House (3 rooms)
Emma BENTLEY  Head  Wid  71y 11m, Liversedge,  Grounds dealer  (E), At home
Frank BENTLEY  Son-in-law  M  41y 9m, Scholes,  Teamer, for head at home
Elizabeth BENTLEY  Dau  M  41y 11m, Wyke,  Home duties
Clarice BENTLEY  GrDau  3y 10m, Cleckheaton
Herbert BENTLEY  Son  U  29y 4m, Cleckheaton,  Wire temperer (steel), Messrs, Critchley, Sharp & Tetloe, Prospect Mills, Cleckheaton

The next two entries are also sons of the above Emma Bentley by her first marriage, so it is quite a family affair!

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Farfield House (7 rooms)
Solomon BARTLE  Head  M  44y 5m, Wyke, Wire drawer, Samuel Law & Sons, Card manu., Cleckheaton
Mary Eliza BARTLE  wife  M  46y 1m, Liversedge,  Housewife
Evelyn BARTLE  Dau  U  22y 8m, Cleckheaton,  Belt picker, Scandinavia Mills, Cleckheaton
Mary BARTLE  Dau  6y 6m, Cleckheaton,  School whole time

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Farfield House (2 rooms)
Willie BARTLE  Head  M  46y 11m, Wyke,  Small wire drawer, Charles Hirst & Sons Ltd, Exchange Mills, Cleckheaton
Sarah Ann BARTLE  Wife  M  49y 5m, East Bierley,  Home duties
Annie BARTLE  Dau  16y 6m, Cleckheaton,  Law clerk, Clough & Crabtree, Solicitors, 1 Northgate, Cleckheaton

Into the 1920's and early 1930's we see several different names appear in the electoral registers associated with Farfield House:

From 1923 to 1925 - Charles & Annie Louisa Archer.

From 1926 to 1928 - Charles Archer along with George, Mary Ann & Walter Abbott (George Abbott was a chauffeur for Charles Hirst's and was earlier residing in the Lodge at Carlton House).

From 1929 to 1931 - The Abbotts again, along with John, Ada, Harry & Albert Cooper

From 1932 to 1935 - The Abbotts and Walter & Sarah Ackroyd

From 1936 to 1939 - As above, plus John William & Maggie Triffitt (Maggie is George Abbott's dau)

Farfield House is not named in the 1939 Register, but 13 & 15 Farfield Street have the above occupants:

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - 13 Farfield Street
Walter ACKROYD  b. 25 Apr 1888  M  Foreman wire galvanizer
Sarah ACKROYD  b. 6 May 1885  M  Unpaid domestic duties
(plus 3 closed records)

29 Sep 1939 - !939 Register entry - 15 Farfield Street
George ABBOTT  b. 16 Sep 1871  W  Chauffeur retired
John W TRIFFITT  b. 18 May 1900  M  Wire tinner
Maggie TRIFFITT  B. 30 Dec 1903  M  Unpaid domestic duties

In the 1945 electoral register, the house is not named again. There is no number 13 but at 15 we have George Abbott, the Triffitts and Albert & Joan Clarke

More properties on the home page