Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Lambert's Farm

Earlier Hartwell's Farm, later Poplars Farm, Yeovil Marsh

 

The 1589 Terrier described Foxyleaze "in Mr Williams' Estate twenty-four acres of pasture". It was part of Hartwell's Farm and would later be split into Foxey (Parcel 1209), Lower Foxey (Parcel 1210) and Higher Foxey (Parcel 1211). These are the only known recorded fields forming a part of Hartwell's Farm, although there were certainly others. The farm was renamed Lambert's Farm by the end of the sixteenth century.

The Electoral Registers of 1832, 1834 and 1840 recorded that Lambert's Farm in Yeovil Marsh was owned by John James Lambert of West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, and William Dibble (b1797, West Chinnock) was the occupier. The 1846 Tithe Apportionment also recorded that Lambert's Farm was owned by John James Lambert and the occupier was still William Dibble.

In the 1851 census, William was described as a "Farmer of 60 Acres, Employing 2 Men". He lived at the farm with his wife Mary, and three servants.

Lambert's Farm was re-let in 1852 and the 1861 census recorded that Edward Indoe, originally from Baltonsborough, was the farmer of 62 acres, employing 1 man and 1 boy. 44-year-old Edward and his 39-year-old wife Sarah, together with their 5-month-old daughter Priscilla Newport Indoe, Sarah's widowed mother Priscilla Creed and a servant were all recorded living at the farm. The 1871 census recorded Edward, Sarah, Priscilla and 17-year-old daughter Ellen still at the farm. Edward Indoe died on 28 April 1883 at Lambert's Farm. He was 66 years old.

During the early twentieth-century that name of the farm had changed to become Poplars Farm and, certainly during and after the Great War, it was farmed by Henry Sims.

 

 

At the time of the 1919 sale of the six Marsh farms, Little Fore Ground (Parcel 1226 - shown here in green as part of Lambert's Farm) was part of Lower Carent's Farm.

 

Parcel	Owner	Tenant	Parcel Name
1209	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Foxey
1210	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Lower Foxey
1211	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Higher Foxey
1213	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Lower Haine's
1214	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Higher Haine's
1223	John James Lambert	William Dibble	House, Garden & Orchard
1224	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Old Orchard
1225	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Great Fore Ground
1226	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Little Fore Ground
1230	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Summerleaze
1231	John James Lambert	William Dibble	Lower Mead

 

 

The notice of letting of Lambert's Farm from the Western Flying Post's edition of 30 November 1852.

 

That the farm's orchards were productive is evidenced by the fact that Edward Indoe was able to offer 100 hogsheads of cider (about 5,400 gallons or 43,200 pints or 24,500 litres) in this advertisement for sale placed in the 27 May 1870 edition of the Western Gazette.

 

The entrance to today's Poplars Farm from Yeovil Marsh (courtesy of Mr Google).