By Stuart Tyler
Introduction:
Patchway Farm was the only one of the four Hempton farms not accessed via Hempton Lane. It was also the only one of the four Hempton farms not to have "Hempton" in its name. Furthermore and the most important to history -its farmhouse is the only farmhouse to have survived the transition from rural landscape to the Aztec West and Patchway we see today.
Location:
Starbucks Coffee, Aztec West. Formerly a farm track ran from the A38 to the front of this farmhouse. The track now lies underneath Aztec Hotel.
The front entrance to the farmhouse is the front entrance to Starbucks, facing towards Aztec Hotel. The current day facade is a few meters shorter (on the left hand side as you face the front door) than when it was a farmhouse. All the outbuildings have gone.
Name:
Patchway Farm is named on ordnance survey maps by this name only. It was however known locally as "Foot's Farm". The Foot family being one of the former owners of the farm. Details on the Foot family will appear at a later date.
Before Starbucks, the farmhouse was the Black Sheep Public House. Further details of this farm will follow.
Construction:
Stone built, ground floor, first floor, tiled roof. Date of construction unknown.
Living Landmark Plaque:
Outside the front entrance of Starbucks, on a boulder is a plaque detailing the four Hempton farms - see below. The photograph on the plaque is of Upper Hempton Farm.
