Buildwas Park dwellings and inhabitants

Oldest dwelling on the estate

The small holding known as Woodfarm was owned by Mr and Mrs Rhodes who they bought the farm in the sale of 1928. They later passed it on to their two children.

The house is of brick and timber construction with a slate roof and must be one of the oldest buildings on the estate, as part of the rear wall is of wattle and daub.

The outbuildings were small and mainly used for milking a small herd of cows by hand. Also on the land was a large orchard with over fifty fruit trees.

After Mr Carder bought the propert, the land was put on Seven Springs but the house lay derelict.

Occupants

Mr and Mrs Rhodes. Son Bertram, Daughter Elizabeth.
Bertram and Elizabeth Rhodes. After Bert’s Death Liz moved to Rookery Cottages. Liz was the gaffer in the so called partnership. Bert had been in the first world war and he returned suffering from the effects of conditions in the trenches known as trench foot. This made him walk on the outside edges of his feet. Liz had no sympathy.

Poor Bert was bullied and they had frequent arguments. Liz would not let him smoke, so he would hobble down the lane to a quiet spot to have a fag. Pops was working there one day when Liz asked him if he would like a cup of tea. In the main room was a black iron range that had been fitted in an old inglenook fireplace. On the top of the range was a large white enamel basin covered over with a piece of washed hessian sack. The cloth had sagged in the middle and sunk into the contents - it was a rice pudding for Bert's tea.

When Bert died he was buried at Shrewsbury, but when Liz died they buried her at Sheinton. This - everybody said - was to keep them apart and stop her bullying him.

Later when the estate was sold the cottage was renovated and became the home to the estate gamekeepers.



Mike Guy
Buildwas Park