The oldest building in Crewe hidden away on a 'normal' residential street
The oldest building in Crewe by some distance, dating all the way back to the early 16th-century, is hidden away on a residential street, with Nub News taking a look.
The Old Farm, Holland Street, which was built around 1520, during King Henry VIII's reign, was last sold for £247,500 in July 2016.
This former farmhouse, previously named 'Free Green Farm,' was converted into a cottage centuries ago, with the building itself predating the town of Crewe by over 350 years.
The current owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has recently carried out a number of "minor" projects on the Tudor-era building to maintain it.
He told Nub News: "I have lived here for almost eight years. This house has had a long renovation fixing lots of the problems and rotting timbers.
"The Old Farm really appealed to me, it is a really interesting house. I am originally from Lichfield and lived in Middlewich before finding this gem.
"I have looked at this property's history, with it originally being called 'Free Green Farm.'
"The first mention of it I can find is from 1545. A solicitor's letter dates the house back to around 1520.
"Of the previous owners I have managed to find, a George Steele, of Church Coppenhall, lived here just before 1700.
"Peter Holland, who this street is named after, lived in the house just before 1800.
"A man called Richard Shaw lived in the house around 1830. It is believed he paid for or partly paid for the construction of St Michael's Church, Coppenhall, on Ford Lane."
As a former farmhouse and school, the old property wasn't grade II-listed until 1984.
With a T-shaped plan, The Old Farm has two storeys with an attic, as well as a front of four bays.
The timber-framed building, now mainly in rendered brick, has a slate roof.
All of its windows are casements, with its Tudor-era gables each having bargeboards. There are also two inglenooks.
The current owner said: "Since moving here, I have replaced rotten joists and put a new kitchen in. When doing this we realised some of the ceiling joists weren't attached.
"It has been relatively minor work. We haven't actually modified anything.
"Underneath gravel at the front of the property are concrete paths. These need to come out as the house doesn't have any foundations.
"We would like to replace the concrete with cobbles around the front and the back of the cottage. I want to do that at some point.
"This is a great house. It is a listed building, but the listing for it isn't very detailed. It mentions it having a Jacobean era staircase, which is under the actual staircase we use.
"To stop the walls bowing, a concrete wall was built at the front of property around 30 years ago. It seems to have done the job."
Neighbour to The Old Farm, David Bridge, 90, who has lived in Crewe for most of his life, has been heavily involved with work at the historic home.
Around 50 years ago, the former construction worker built bungalows on old farm land ('The Backlands') to the rear of the property.
Mr Bridge told Nub News: "I have lived in Crewe for the past 70 years. This building is absolutely beautiful and sits on a normal street. You wouldn't think it was here.
"I have known several owners of this property and done a lot of work on it for them.
"At the back of the home, used to be an old school house. This building fell down when tree branches got in-between the bricks and pushed them out.
"The first man I knew who owned this home was a Mr Crossley. His family were candlewick and lamp and sponge manufacturers.
"When Mr Crossley retired, he moved to The Old Farm as it was very cheap. His wife was an artist and actually died in the house many years ago.
"When I was building the bungalows, I once had an Australian man who came here looking for The Old Farm as his grandfather owned it. Mr Challinor he was called.
"He came over all the way to England to see it and had searched the Cheshire countryside for days, eventually finding it in Crewe.
"The current owner has carried out good restoration work on the property. You have to be extremely what you do as it can wipe money off its value.
"This is the most nostalgic building in Crewe. All the scars on my head are from doing work on the property over the years.
"In my opinion, The Old Farm should be more than just grade II-listed. This building deserves more protection and appreciation than it currently gets."
READ MORE: The Crewe company delivering 'top-quality' facilities management services across Cheshire.
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