{"id":12821,"date":"2020-10-11T21:14:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T20:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marthamnorfolk.co.uk\/?page_id=12821"},"modified":"2026-08-18T17:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:35:59","slug":"clarkes-farm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marthamnorfolk.co.uk\/?page_id=12821","title":{"rendered":"Clarkes Farm, Staithe Road, Martham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Clarkes Farm<\/strong>, Staithe Road, Martham<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Sometimes historically recorded as Clark Farm or Clarks Farm or Clarke\u2019s Farm but mostly Clarkes Farm, I have used the latter spelling throughout for consistency. Throughout its history Clarkes Farm has been closely linked with Moregrove<\/a><\/em> and you may like to read the pages about Moregrove<\/a><\/em> as well as these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The source of the name of the house and farm probably refers to the original builder\/owner. There is a very early 15th<\/sup> century reference to a Roger Clarke who was an important contributor to the cost of a stained-glass window at the north aisle of St Mary\u2019s<\/a><\/em> in 1449 that is undoubtably linked with Clarkes Farmhouse. There are also early records listing Land Tax payments made by a John Clarke in 1782, 1784, 1798 and 1800. Land Tax records list payments made but not the property they were made for. John Clarke was married to Sarah Cadge at Scottow in 1791 and they had eight children who were all baptised at St Mary\u2019s<\/a><\/em> between 1792 to 1802.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarkes Farmhouse is an Historic England grade II listed building (ref No 1372911). It was listed on 4th<\/sup> December 1987 and described as follows: Early circa 16th<\/sup> century farmhouse which was greatly altered in the 18th<\/sup> century when the timber framed structure was re-fronted, brick skinned and whitewashed. It has a thatched roof. Lobby entrance.  South facing front of one storey and dormer attic. There is a circa 20th<\/sup> century brick timber and glazed porch and a bay window to the left of a similar date. To the right is a 3-light 18th century casement window.  A small glazed lower addition of 20th<\/sup> century date has been added to the right fa\u00e7ade. It has a gabled roof, hipped to the west. There are two through-eave dormers under eyebrow thatching, both with 3-light casements. Over the door is a triple diamond flue ridge chimney stack on a rectangular plinth, the flues have been rebuilt. There is an internal chimney stack to the east gable end. The rear has a full length 20th<\/sup> century pantiled small addition plus two dormers under eyebrow thatching.  Inside there are close studded heavy timber beam cross sections. The lounge has a 16th<\/sup> century multiple rolled bridging beam. There is a winding staircase by the chimney stack. There is a blocked up mullioned window remaining under the eaves to the rear and an original Queen post remains in the roof but otherwise it has all been renewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1812 Inclosure Award<\/a><\/em> map shows the farmhouse plus three other cottages, \u00a0barns and outbuildings all within the farm complex. \u00a0The farmhouse, yard and cottages were at the south corner of an estate amounting to about 130 acres which was owned by Benjamin Rising<\/a><\/em>. Benjamin <\/a><\/em>was part of the Rising family dynasty of farmers and landowners of Martham and West Somerton. In 1807<\/a><\/em> he also farmed from Clarkes Farm.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1812 Martham Inclosure Award map<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Benjamin Rising<\/a><\/em> was also married to Mary Clementina who came from a family called Garnham of Itteringham. She was one of seven children of Richard Garnham & Mary, nee Cubitt. One of her brothers was William Henry Garnham (1797-1862). Benjamin & Mary<\/a><\/em> did not have any children; she died in 1832 and when he died in 1835 his Will made it clear that his brother-in-law William Henry Garnham was to be his main heir. William therefore became the owner of Clarkes Farm (and Moregrove<\/a><\/em>) and is listed as such in the 1842 Martham Tithe Award<\/a><\/em>. The change of ownership from Benjamin Rising <\/a><\/em>to William Henry Garnham happened in 1835 and included both Clarkes Farm and Moregrove<\/a><\/em>. The owner of Moregrove<\/a><\/em> remained William Henry Garnham in 1841<\/a><\/em> who was a very successful silk merchant and draper living at 30 Red Lion Square, London where his business was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There then followed a confusing period of owner, annuity holder and occupier. From 1840 to 1853 the Registers of Electors<\/a><\/em> tell us that a Robert Parker of Camberwell had an annuity out of land at Clarke\u2019s Farm whilst William Henry Garnham was the owner. The same situation prevailed in 1854 and 1855 after Rev. George Pearse<\/a><\/em> became the owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When owner William Henry Garnham lived in London, Clarkes Farm was occupied by a tenant and the associated cottages had farm workers living in them. In census returns all four are often referred to simply as Clarkes Farm which can make identification of those occupying the main house difficult. This was the situation in 1841<\/a><\/em> when the actual farmhouse was occupied by Robert Reeve and his wife Ann, nee Webster plus their five children. Robert was described in the census return for that year as a farmer. Robert died later that year in October 1841 and Ann moved to Cess<\/a><\/em>, Martham. Three other families lived in the cottages and were all farm labourers, they were: <\/p>\n\n\n\n