By Stuart Tyler
*Page in progress - much to be added and corrections will be made to existing material*
Introduction:
Hempton Court Farm was located on the southern leg of the old Hempton Lane, now underneath Aztec West). It was the only farm reached by this section of Hempton Lane. It had cottages tied to it (to be detailed at a later date).
Location:
Hempton Lane, southern leg. A track once led from this farm to the A38. Today the hedge between the two fields of Patchway Community College stands in the area of the original track. Both these fields once belonged to Hempton Court Farm. Today, ponds, Willow trees and a Cedar tree within the locality are still visible.
Name:
When the farm was named ordnance survey maps, it began as Hempton Farm and the name of Hempton Court Farm appears later. More on maps at a later date). Locally, it was last named Turner's Farm, owing the Turner family who worked and lived at the farm.
Remains:
Farmhouse, Cottages and Outbuildings:
The farmhouse, outbuildings and cottages were all demolished unrecorded. I have yet to see a photo of this farm, or its outbuildings, but old ordnance survey maps give the former location of the farmhouse and these buildings.
Whilst the buildings are gone, Hempton Court Farm has the most of the "non-building remains" of the four Hempton farms. These remains come in the form of two ponds, one mature Cedar and a series of pollarded Willow trees within Aztec West and the Tumps.
Ponds:
One of the ponds is known today as Turner Pond, the other has been changed in shape and overall size. It is fed by the same source and it feeds the water features and ponds now seen in the Waterside Drive area of Aztec West. I will discuss these ponds in further detail later.
Fields:
The grounds of Patchway Community College were purchased from Hempton Court farm. This was essentially the purchase of two large fields.
The first field is where the Community College stands. Its borders are as follows:
- North - Hempton Lane, from the A38 to the boundary of Aztec West
- South - The hedge which runs from Aztec West towards the Annexe entrance of Patchway Community College
- East - The A38
- West - The fence/ visible point where Patchway Community College grounds end and Aztec West begins
- North - The hedge which runs from Aztec West towards the Annexe entrance of Patchway Community College
- South - The Railway Line
- East - The A38
- West - The fence/ visible point where Patchway Community College grounds end and Aztec West begins.
