Vicarage Farm, Pilling by H. Sherdley

South from the shore to the west of Fluke Hall a cart track leads to the site of Kennedy's Ridge, later known as Ridge Cottages. Beyond Ridge Cottages, about two thirds of a mile from the shore the track ended at Vicarage Farm, sometimes known as 'the Old Vicarage'. This name gave rise to speculation that at an early period this was Pilling Vicarage; this was never the case, although for almost two hundred years the farm did belong to Pilling Church, the rent providing part of the stipend of the incumbent.

The known history of the farm begins in 1683 when George Addison of neighbouring Carr House held a mortgage on the property. In the same year Mary Kirkham, who was living at the farm drew up her last will and testament.

"In the name of God, Amen. I Mary Kirkham of Pilling in the County of Lancaster, Widdow being Sick of Body but sound and perfect memory praised be to God for the same doe constitute ordain and make this my last Will and Testament this Twentyfourth day of May in the year of our Lord 1683. First and principly I give and bequeath my soul to the merciful hands of Jesus Christ my only saviour and Redeemer which shed his precious blood for my sins hoping that I shall become one of those who inherit the blessed Kingdom of Heaven and my body to be buried in the parochial Chappell Yard of Stalmine at the discresion of my ffriends and all my worldly goods as followeth.

First and principally it is my Will and Mind that Thomas Kirkham my Son shall have all my goods at after my decease to make all of to pay my Debts with all onely one Cupboard ffire irons one Tester bed excepted as far as they will extend and if there be any over plush to give it to my Daughters Issaball and Mary Kirkham Item It is my will and mind that Issaball Kirkham my Daughter and Mary Kirkham shall have all my whole Estate of Land lyinge at the other house for their ***** Left by their father Deceased until such times as my son Ater Kirkham shall ataine to the age of twenty one years and when he my son Ater Kirkham ataines to the age of twentyone years he shall pay to Issaball my daughter the sum of forty pounds and to Mary my Daughter the sum of fforty pounds and the said sums to be paid by him my son Ater Kirkham then he my son Ater shall have all my whole estate forever.

It is my will and mind that if Ater my son Ater do fortune to dye before he ataines to the age before mentioned that then Thomas Kirkham my son shall have all the whole Estate paying unto Issaball Kirkham my Daughter the sume of three score pounds and unto Mary Kirkham my Daughter the sume of three score pounds and to Edward Walker my Grand child the sume of Ten Pounds Item it is my will and mind that if my Goods will not pay my Debts that my son Thomas Kirkham shall have one ffield or two one year or two until they be satisfyed and it is my will and mind that Ater Kirkham shall have the Cupboard and Tester Stocks with ffire Iron and to this my last Will and Testament I nominate and apoint my son Thomas Kirkham and Ater Kirkham my son to be my sole Exerters hoping that they will see the same performed as my Trust is reposed in them In witness hereof I set my hand and seal the day and year above written."
(No seal and signature)

John Bell
Edward Braide

Ater (Arthur) Kirkham subsequently inherited the property and in his will dated 11th March, 1710 he bequeathed it to his widow Ellen, 'provided she kept a chaste widowhood'.

"In the name of God Amen March the 11th day Anno Domi 1710 according to the Computation of the Church of England I Arther Kirkham of Pilling in the County of Lancaster being sick and weak of body but of sound and perfect. mind and Memory praised be God for the same do make Constitute and ordain and declare this and only this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and fform as follows. It is my Will and Mind that my wife Ellen shall have and enjoy all the benefit and profit of all my Houses and Lands for to maintain and bring up my Children upon and untill my Son Henry shall attain to the age of twentyone years, always provided she keep her chaste widowhood but if she fortune to marry third or miscarry it is my Will and Mind in such a Cause she shall have but a part of the lands only for her life There after I give devise and bequeath all and Every my Houses and Lands in Pilling with the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my son Henry Kirkham ***** of two parts when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years and the other third part at after the marriage or Decease of his mother whether shall happen sooner upon the Conditions herein mentioned and hereafter set down that is to say paying unto my two daughters Mary Kirkham and Ellen the sum of forty pounds equally betwixt them at two equal payments that is to say twenty pounds at the first years end at after he attains age of twentyone years and the other twenty pounds at the second years end as aforesaid but if either of these my two daughters depart this life before they attain the age of twenty one years or otherwise be married It is my Will and Mind the Survivor of them shall have and enjoy the others part hereafter I give and bequeath all and every my Goods and Chattels of what Degree Soever moveable and immoveable after my funeral expenses have been paid equally betwixt my two daughters aforesaid Mary Kirkham and Ellen but if either of them depart this life before they attain the age of twenty one years or otherwise be married the other is to Enjoy the whole and I nominate and appoint my loving wife Ellen and my most affectionate brother Thomas Kirkham to be Exors. of this my last Will and Testament hoping they will see the same performed as my trust in them is reposed In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and the year first above written.

Wm. Clarke
James Cumpstye
William Bell
Arthur ** Kirkham

Arthur Kirkham's widow was a signatory to the Petition to the Bishop of Chester in 1716 pleading for the building of a new chapel at Pilling on a site more convenient for the parishioners. Arthur Kirkham's daughter married Richard Dickinson who described himself as a "Marriner". Richard must have spent much of his time at sea for he gave his son Arthur Dickinson power of attorney to receive money due to him earned by his service at sea.

In 1741 Richard Dickinson appears to have been having financial troubles and he arranged a mortgage with Richard Goad a mariner from Flookborough on the northern side of Morecambe Bay. The loan was to be repaid before February 2nd 1742 but Dickinson was unable to repay by that date so he obtained another loan from John Burn or Bourne of Singleton. During the next three years the farm was the subject of much litigation and actions in court at Lancaster. Richard Dickinson probably died during this period as in 1745 his son Arthur sold the farm to Johnathan Singleton of Poulton le Fylde.

Memorandum for purchase of an estate in Pilling
29th August 1745

Arthur Dickinson to Mr. Singleton

Be it remembered that it agreed Between Arthur Dickinson of Pilling in the County of Lancaster Yeoman of the one part and Johnathan Singleton of Poulton in the said County Woolendraper of the other part that the said Arthur Dickinson and or his heirs Shall and Will on or before the second day of ffebruary next for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Pounds of Lawful British Money grant and convey to the said Johnathan Singleton and his heirs or to such other uses as he or they shall direct All his full half part of two equal parts to be divided of an estate in Pilling aforesaid commonly called Old Arthurs containing fourteen acres of Land or thereabouts be the same more or less free from Incumbrances And the said Johnathan Singleton in Consideration of the promises doth Covenant and promise to pay to the said Arthur Dickinson his heirs and assignes the said sum of One Hundred and Sixty Pounds on the execution of the Conveyance or Conveyances aforesaid And it is the further agreement of the said parties that the said Arthur Dickinson and his heirs shall and will on the second day of ffebruary next seal and execute to the said Johnathan Singleton and his heirs a good and sufficient Release of his equity of Redemption in the other half of the said Estate or Such other Deed or Conveyance Deeds or Conveyances in Law as shall be advised necessary for making the said Johnathan Singleton's Title thereto absolute and Lastly the said parties for the Performance of the above agreement to bind themselves each to other in the sum of One Hundred Pounds a piece of Lawful British Money as witness their hands the day and year above mentioned.

Signed in the Presence of
Sarah Wilson
Rich. Wilson
Arthur Dickinson
Jona Singleton

In 1759 William Hornby of Poulton-le-Fylde and Sarah Wilson who witnessed the above Memorandum had acquired a financial interest in the farm with Johnathan Singleton and in that same year they sold the property to the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, the rent to be used to augment the stipend of the incumbent of Pilling Chapel.

According to the Memorandum of Sale drawn up by Arthur Dickinson and Johnathan Singleton in 1745 the farm was known as "Old Arthur's", probably after Arthur Kirkham, a former owner. It very likely acquired the name "Vicarage Farm" after it was sold to the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty.

Extracts from Bargin and Sale of Holding later known as "Vicarage Farm" Pilling dated 4th day of August 1759.

This Indenture of four parts made the twelth day of July in the Thirty Third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain and ffrance and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith and so forth and in Between Sarah the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ffifty Nine. Wilson of Poolton in the County of Lancaster Spinster and William Hornby of the same place Gentleman of the ffirst part Johnathan Singleton of the same place Woolen Draper of the second part. The Governors of the Bounty of Queen Anne for the Augmentation of the Maintenance of the poor Clergy of the Third part And the Reverend George Holden Clerk Curate of the Curacy of Pilling in the County of Lancaster and Diocese of Chester of the ffourth part Whereas the Said Governors did in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ffifty Seven agree to augment the said Curacy of Pilling with the sum of Two Hundred Pounds out of the Revenues in Conjunction with Roger Hesketh and Edmund Hornby Esquires who gave the sum of Two Hundred Pounds (One Hundred Pounds of which was money arising from the Estate of the late Doctor Stratford Deceased) for that purpose and have paid the same into the Revenue of the said Governors And whereeas the said Governors Hath Granted Bargined Sold and Released Ratified and Confirmed and by these presents Doth Grant Bargin Sell Release Ratify and Confirm unto the said George Holden and his Successors Curates of the Curacy of Pilling aforesaid All that Messuage and Tenement with the appurtenances situate standing and being in Pilling aforesaid together with the several Closes and parcels of Land thereto belonging and hereafter mentioned (That is to say) All that Close or parcel of Land called and known by the name of the South ffield in two parts abutting on the Stubble ffields and part of the Barnfield towards the North on Mr. George Addisons Land towards the South on William Nores Land towards the East part of the Barnfield towards the West And also all that Close or parcel of Land and on called and known by the name of the Stubble ffield abutting on William Nores Land towards the North on the Southfield towards the South on the said William Nores Land towards the East and on the Barnfield and part of the Banksteelfield towards the west And also all that Close or parcel of Land called and known by the name of the Barnfield abutting on the Banksteelfield towards the North Mr. George Addisons Land and part of the Southfield twoards the South on the Stubblefield and part of the Southfield towards the East and on Mr. William Corless Land toward the West And also all that Close or parcel of Land called and known by the name of the Bank steelfield in four parts abutting on the Widdow Kennedys Land towards the North on the Barnfield towards the South on William Nores Land and part of the Stubblefield towards the East and on William Corless Land towards the West All which several Closes are situate lying being in Pilling aforesaid and containing together by estimation ffourteen roods and upwards (be the same more or less) or by whatsoever other name or names the said premises have been or may be called or known or howsoever acres two otherwise Described abutted or bounded together with all and Singular Houses Outhouses Buildings Barns Stables Orchards Gardens Ways Paths Passages Waters Watercourses Timber and Trees Woods Underwoods Gates Lodges Ditches Commons Common of Pasture and Turbary Messuages Privileges Emoluments Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises.

Sarah Wilson
William Hornby
Jona Singleton
George Holden

Received the day and year first written within of the within named Governors the sum of One Hundred and ffifty Pounds being so much of the Consideration Money and within Mentioned to be paid by them to me and is in full for all principal Money and Interest due to me on the within mentioned Mortgage and for which have also signed a receipt upon another part of this Indenture.
Wm. Hornby

Witnesses
John Hull at Poolton Surgeon
Richard Wilkinson of the same place Gentleman

Received the day and year first within written of the within named Governors the sum of Two Hundred and ffifty Pounds being so much of the Consideration Money as is within mentioned to be paid by them to me and for which I have also signed a receipt upon another part of this Indenture and which together with the sum of One Hundred and ffifty Pounds paid by them to William Hornby as above is mentioned makes the full Consideration Money to be paid by the said Governors for the purchase of the premises within Described.

Witnesses
John Hull at Poolton Surgeon
Richard Wilkinson of the same place Gentleman
Jona Singleton

The farm remained in the ownership of the Church until the incumbency of the Rev. T. Pearson in the early 20th Century when it was sold into private ownership eventually coming into possession of the Holden family of Chestnut House, Pilling. During the Second World War the ancient house and farm buildings were demolished and the land incorporated into the Chestnut House estate.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Mr. Arthur Holden, Beech House, Pilling, for information and loan of Documents.