New Postcard added to website
A new postcard has been added to the Alton's Farms page, in the other places in Alton section of the website.
Will Hall, Alton c1905
This image of Will Hall farm was taken c1905 by William Varney, he took at least two pictures of Will Hall on the day of his visit. I shared one to the page in 2024, this is the second.
Will Hall has been farmed for centuries and was even listed in the Domesday Book where it was recorded as being a small settlement of 6 households. The Farmhouse is of course not that old with Historic England listing it as being early 18th Century.
The land was farmed by the Gunner family for many years, with the 1851 census recording the farmer as William Gunner (1801-1869), employing 42 labourers, farming 450 acres. The land farmed by the Gunner family increased over the years, in 1871 the land farmed by William Gunner (1826-1880) was recorded as 630 acres, this appears to have been the peak.
The 1881 Census records Emma Gunner (1829-1902) as head of the household, farming 500 acres, employing 20 men & 5 boys, as well as being assisted by her sons William (1858-1917) & Edward (1860-?).
The Gunner family had moved on by the 1901 census, which recorded the head of the household as Julius Boyd (1838-1919) a former Major who served in India. The Military connection continues in 1911, as the head of the household is George Gott (1858-1926) a former Colonel who also served in India.
I do not know when the Boyd household left and the Gott household took over. I did, however, find a several references to a Miss / Mrs Violet Fane living there between 1904-1907?
You can see Will Hall’s entry in the Domesday Book here:
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