THE HISTORY OF SOUTH HALL (formerly Paglesham House)
A dwelling has stood on the site of South Hall since the 1700’s. The present house was given Grade 11 listed status in 1988 and is a Georgian country house with early 19th century features of probably older origin and an older rear wing. Notable features include Gault brick, Hipped grey slate roof, tall windows with moulded stucco surrounds and cornice and internal box sashes and shutters.
South Hall, was, at one time called Pound House and later, Paglesham House. The earlier original farm house was reoriented around 1850 and a new Georgian extension was constructed adding 4 spacious rooms and the features that were later listed.
It is not clear when the name changes took place, but there is reference to Paglesham House in records as late as 1917. Records show that in 1916 the house was owned or occupied by Mr. Henry Brown.
Many families have lived and farmed at what is now known as South Hall.
Local people have spoken of the milk and butter being sold from the roadside window to passersby in the time that George Perry farmed South Hall.
At the end of the Victorian era, farming was having a hard time nationally but the biggest farms in Paglesham survived and remained on the original 4 manors of the village at Church, West, East and South Halls.
It was not until Messrs. H C Cole and Sons acquired the Farm from Mr. George Perry that the original farm house, now known as South Hall was sold off as a private dwelling with approximately 2.25 acres, a cottage and extensive traditional outbuildings as surplus to the farms requirements.
In the early 1970’s South Hall Farm Cottages were built adjoining the Farm barns and yard.
This is where the current South Hall Farm manager now lives.
THE HISTORY OF SOUTH HALL FARM
One of the earliest recorded entry of the history of South Hall Farm can be found in a Survey of the Rochford Hundred:
On 25th August 1863 South Hall Farm and Stannets Farms were sold by Lady Olivia Bernard Sparrow for £9,500 at auction, the entry was as follows:
Comprising a Farm House, Agricultural Buildings and Labourers Cottages. 467 acres 33p of deep staple arable and good grazing marsh land including 65 acres of saltings let upon lease for 20 years from Michealmas 18 to Mr. J Coe at £430 and Oyster Pits to Mr. J Wiseman
South Hall had long absorbed the twelve acre holding of Stannets and was farmed by the Davis Family possibly until 1917.
The attached plan produced by Offin and Rumsey Surveyors, Rochford, shows South Hall for auction on September 20th 1917. The plan clearly shows Paglesham House, now known as South Hall, adjoining the farm.
It was sold at Michaelmas, 1925 to George Perry by, ’the executors of the late Mrs C D Davis.’ The sale catalogue showed that at that time the farm had ’13 Horses and colt, 85 head of cattle, 220 Head of Swine, and 280 head of poultry’ as well as running to 550 acres. The number of horses indicated the requirement for ploughing, sowing and harvesting. Mr. George Perry arrived from Cornwall in 1952 with his wife and two daughters and brought 120 Devon Curly Steers for fattening by rail to Paglesham.
Mr.Perry continued the dairy and sold milk from ‘South Hall Daries’ around the village, seven days a week. Tom Keeble and Vic Cardy were both photographed with the delivery tricycle which survived in the village for over 50 years after these first days. Milk was also collected by Howards Dairies of Southend in churns. An original milk round bike has been restored for use at Paglesham Village fund raising events.
By the 1950’s the number of men working South Hall Farm had diminished to about 10 full time men plus 2 casual labourers. This number included a foreman, 2 cowmen and a milkman to look after the livestock and about 400 acres, of which 100 acres were growing crops Wheat, Barley, Oats, plus 8 acres of Potatoes, and 8 acres of Sugar-Beet, and Kale. Livestock included sheep, cattle, a milking herd and there was a milk round. All crops were loaded onto lorries by hand. The farm has 3 tractors and a horse.
In 1964 George Perry retired to his native Cornwall, his wife had died in 1952 and is buried in Paglesham church yard. When George died in Plymouth in 1968, he was buried with her in St Peters churchyard, Paglesham.
South Hall Farm was sold to Messrs. C H Cole & Sons, large scale farmers from Orsett and West Tilbury.
The Devon cattle were also sold, and in the late 60’s all the grazing marshes, as elsewhere in Paglesham, were drained and turned over to cereal crops. Sugar beet and oil rapeseed were later.