Farming was the backbone of the Lilleshall Estate from before the time of the Abbey‘s ownership until after the Estate was sold off in 1912, 1914, and 1917. As well as the Estate’s records preserved in Shropshire Archives, the farms are briefly described in the three sale catalogues. The majority of farms had been rented out, often for many generations of the same family. James Loch’s 1820 book “An account of the improvements on the estates of the Marquess of Stafford, in the counties of Stafford and Salop, and on the estate of Sutherland, with remarks” provides a detailed description of land drainage, road building, and other work done by the future 1st Duke of Sutherland and his tenants to improve the properties of the Estate. For example:
“The Abbey Farm. Mr. Edward Wilde, from near Trentham. The soil of this farm is of a better quality than the last , but more exhausted by the lease-tenant. Upon this farm there has been much done in draining, stocking old fences, and converting old lanes into arable land. There is a small water-meadow, and the tenant has lately turned the water over more land ; much has been done by the present tenant in under-ground draining, and he is getting it gradually into better order: he had an allowance of lime for two years on condition of his laying on an equal quantity at his own expence. The house is half-timbered, and not convenient. The buildings are brick, and tiled, and new.”
This list only includes farms over 200 acres in size. There were many more properties in the three sales which were smaller. For each farm, the year of sale and area in acres are given in brackets.
- Abbey Farm (1917, 222)
- Burlington Farm (1917, 379)
- The Buttery Farm (1914, 296)
- Cherrington Manor Farm (1912, 532)
- Cheswell Grange Farm (1914, 380)
- Crudgington Leasowes (1912, 289)
- Crudgington Manor Farm (1912, 272
- Donnington Farm (1914, 375)
- Donnington Wood Farm (1914, 276)
- Day House Farm (1912, 288)
- Grange Farm (1917, 213)
- The Green Farm (1912, 275)
- Heathill Farm (1917, 297)
- Hilton Bank Farm (1917, 241)
- The Hincks Farm (1914, 337)
- Honnington Grange Farm (1914, 320)
- King Street Grange (1917, 290)
- Kinnersley House Farm (1912, 231)
- Kinnersley Manor Farm (1912, 409)
- Leegomery House Farm (1912, 243)
- Lilleshall Home Farm (1917, 291)
- Longswood Farm (1912, 258)
- Lubstree Park Farm (1914, 400)
- Manor Farm (1917, 276)
- New Lodge Farm (1917, 329)
- Red Hill Farm (1917, 326)
- Red House Farm (1912, 200)
- Sidney House Farm (1912, 413)
- Sleap Farm (1912, 346)
- Tern Farm (1912, 488)
- Tibberton Grange Farm (1912, 493)
- Tibberton Manor Farm (1912, 451)
- Watling Street Grange (1917, 202)
- Woodhouse Farm (1917, 271)