History
Green Arbour Farm
The Cade family were farming at Green Arbour Farm from as early as 1789.
Although officially Green Arbour Farm, it is known locally as Shepards farm because nobody local would ever think of it being farmed by any other family, but in the 1841 census, the farm was in the hands of Mary Cade, the widow of William Cade.
Mary was the head of the family, living with her were her three sons, one grandson and three servants. The Cades occupation of the farm goes back to at least 1789 when their son was recorded as being born on the farm.
Mary Cade was still farming in 1851 aged about 87 she was recorded as a Farmer employing three labourers, living with her was her son James and several live in servants.
In 1861 Mary Cades Daughter Mary, aged 68, born on the farm in about 1793 was the head of the farm, living with her were four servants.
The farm passed into the hands of Shepards in 1864, the start of a new chapter in the farms history.
In 1871 Hannah Shepard (Nee Limb) aged 75, was farming 150 acres, employing one labourer, three servants were also recorded on the census.
By 1881, Emma, wife of Thomas Shepard and now a widow was running the farm employing two men and her two sons, also living on the farm were her two daughters and two servants.
By 1891, her son William was helping on the farm.
William tragically died following an accident whilst skating on Thurcroft Hall ponds, he refused medical help and died of Pneumonia, on 8/4/1897 aged 36. He is buried in Laughton Church Yard.
In 1891 there was another dwelling on Green Arbour, occupied by Robert Lamb and his family. Robert was an agricultural labourer and most likely one the employees of the Shepards.
Back to the farm house itself, Emma Shepard was still in occupation and still head in 1901, the only other occupant was Charles Sayles 19 born Whiston, his job was Houseman on farm.
Green Arbour still thrives in the present day 2007 as a working farm.
Up until recently there was a patch of grassed land just outside the farm yard, facing onto the main road, which has recently been developed, but many years ago when traffic was much less frequent, this grassed area was a well known area to sit and rest whilst out walking or even having a picnic, it was then and still is known locally as 'Shepards corner'.