Nuns so interesting as delving into farm’s past
CASUAL mention recently of Nuns Farm at the junction of Bargate and the road to Scartho proved a search of my files. The result will fascinate you. Nuns Farm, built on the site of St Leonards Nunnery of which no vestige remains, was a mile away from Grimsby in 1800.
It was farmed and owned by Joseph Fletcher, born in the 1780s, a well known man, on the council and mayor in 1822 and again in 1825 and 1828. He died in 1855 and was said to be the last man buried in St James’ churchyard.
He had a daughter, Mary Ann, who was born in 1817 and in the fullness of time married a Mr Williams. They had no children and he died in 1882. But Mary Ann carried on living at Lion House, Wrawby accompanied by an old friend, a Mrs Pearson. Mary Ann lived to be 103, dying in March 1920 having lived under six monarchs.
Now I have a feeling that she had owned Nuns Farm since her husband’s death. For it can surely be no coincidence that five months after she was buried at Wrawby, the farm then run by managers, was in the news. The tenants were on tenterhooks.
Apparently, there was a need for a convalescent home for Grimsby Hospital, and a special meeting was held to consider converting the farm at a cost of £100 and running it with a staff of two at £300 a year.
But solicitor Mr Ben Chapman (he of Wilkin & Chapman) thought the estimates far too low. Conversion would easily cost £200 and the annual running cost £600. A trained nurse would have to be appointed. There was much discussion, and nothing came of it all.
But it’s an interesting thing. A “what if?”
Though Fred Lloyd moved into the big barn in about 1930, it continued being farmed throughout the war. And as we all can see we know what became of it.