By Stuart Tyler.
Introduction:
As with many of the lodges in the areas of Hempton & Patchway, they may also be referred to as cottages. Most were (like Turner's Lodge) tied to a farm. In this case, Turner's Lodge was a lodge owned by Hempton Court Farm.
Location:
The location of this lodge is at the rear entrance to Patchway Community College (also known as the Annexe). It would have faced towards the A38. Between the petrol station and the Jackie Beard footbridge on the A38 is a bungalow. The bungalow is in the grounds of Turner's Lodge, but not exactly in its footprint.
The hedge (running roughly east/west) which today separates the two large fields of Patchway Community College (land purchased from Hempton Court Farm) used to be a farm track, from the A38 (Turner's Lodge) to Hempton Court Farm. Today's hedge runs (for the most part) true to the line of the former track.
Turner's Lodge or Halls Lodge?
Both are equally acceptable names for this lodge. The name Hall's Lodge appears on few ordnance survey maps, whereas the name Turner's Lodge did not appear on any ordnance survey maps. Details on maps will be added at a later date.
I have not been able to ascertain when this lodge was built. The names HALL and TURNER are the names of the last two families to live and farm at Hempton Court Farm,. I will discuss the names in more detail at a later date.
As Hempton Court Farm was last owned by the Turner family prior to the time of the demolition of the farm - Hall's Lodge was known locally as Turner's Lodge. Hempton Court Farm was known to some locally as Turner's Farm.
Construction:
I have not been able to locate a photograph of this lodge. I have seen one of nearby Callicroft Lodge (report at a later date) and i suspect they would have been very similar. It would likely have been small, stone built cottage with a well, a tiled roof, ground and first floor, and a garden.
To the best of my knowledge, this building was demolished unrecorded.
Living Landmark Plaque:
Today, a plaque can be seen on one of the pillars of the footbridge on the side of the A38 where Turner's Lodge stood (see below image). It gives passers by a description of the lodge and is accompanied by a drawing. The drawing, which shows the lodge (far right) was done from memory (by R T Willmott) and i been unable to locate any photographs in existence of this lodge.
