Poplar Farm / Starlings

Until 100 years ago, just about every house in the village, no matter how large or small, was owned by the Draycot Estate. All the houses and all the farms were rented from the Lord of the Manor. There used to be six main farms in and around the village, and most villagers worked on a farm or on the Draycot Estate itself. One of the farms was Poplar Farm, which was basically all land south of the High Street.

The farmhouse for Poplar Farm was, until the 1930s, the large house on the south side of the main road now divided between the two houses known as ‘East Starlings’ and 'Clock House'. The gateway from the High Street between 'East Starlings' and today's 'Starlings' is the same as the original driveway into the farmyard. Poplar Farm was merged with Manor Farm in about 1930; the farmer used Manor Farm as his only farmhouse.

The Poplar Farm buildings were sold, originally as one substantial property with large gardens. The house was known as 'Stradone' at first, and was rented to a 'breeder of cocker spaniels' in the 1930s. It then became known as 'Starlings' and was leased to various people, including (for a couple of years) Eric Gardener, of French Gardens.

Lady Maureen Margaret Methuen, the aunt of Lord Methuen of Corsham Court, used to live in the house 50 years ago.

Wheelers End was one of the first houses to be built in the redevelopment on the south of the village in the 1960s. The photo shows the Poplar Farm buildings in the background.

Opposite Starlings, on the north side of the road, are three pairs of estate cottages; two are dated 1889, while the third building (28/30 High Street) is probably older. The three buildings can be seen on the left in the postcard view of the High Street from the early 1900s.

The other photograph, from the Draycot Estate Sale Catalogue of 1920, shows 36/38 High Street.

200 years ago there were three or four inns in the village, providing food and drink and overnight accommodation for people travelling through the village; There were also several smaller 'malthouses' and 'beerhouses' which mainly catered for the villagers. One of the inns was called The Cross Keys. It was probably opposite Poplar Farm, on the north side of the High Street, but was replaced when the estate cottages were built in the later 1800s.

Can you help? Cany you provide an accurate date for the photo of The High Street, perhaps from the cars on the road?

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