Gowles Farm is situated in the north-east corner of the parish, at the very far end of the lane which starts by the sports field at the top of Perry Lane. The photos are from the 1950's.
6th June 1957 - Peter Watts
1841 - 1911
The trade directories published between 1891 and 1911, together with the censuses from 1841 to 1901, provide some details of the Farmers and their families at Gowles Farm over this period.
| Farmer | Date (Data source) | Notes |
| George Westley | 1841 (Census) 1851 (Census) | 1841 Census: Westley 1851 Census: George Westley, age 35, Farmer of 55 acres, employing 2 men and 1 boy, born Hardingstone, Northants Wife: Harriott age 48, born Piddington, Northants Daughter: Elizabeth, age 22, born Piddington, Northants Son: William, age 16, born Piddington, Northants Daughter: Ann, age 14, scholar, born Piddington, Northants Son: George, age 10, scholar, born Sherington 1861 (Census): George Westly is a retired farmer, age 60, in Church End, born Newport Pagnell, and wife Harriett, age 60, born Hardingstone, Northants, whilst William Westley, age 23 is a boilermaker living at an unrecorded address with wife Jane and daughter Elizabeth 1871 (Census): George and Harriet Westley are now age 72 and 71 and in the High Street, whilst William Westly is age 36 and an agricultural labourer in Calves End with wife Jane |
| Richard Coleman | 1861 (Census) | 1861 Census: Richard Coleman, Agricultural labourer, age 49, born Sherington Wife: Isabella, age 48, lacemaker, born Sherington Son: James, age 22, Agricultural labourer, born Sherington Daughter: Louisa, age 20, lacemaker, born Sherington Son: Thomas, age 18 Agricultural labourer, born Sherington Son: George, age 14, Agricultural labourer, born Sherington Son: Daniel, age 12, Agricultural labourer, born Sherington Son: Matthew, age 9, Agricultural labourer, born Sherington Daughter: Elizabeth, age 4, born Sherington |
| ? | 1871 (Census) | Gowles Farm is not mentioned by name |
| Edwin Umney | 1881 (Census) | 1881 Census: Edwin Umney, 58, farmer, born Gt Horwood, Bucks Wife: Alice, 54, born Gt Horwood, Bucks Also: Joseph Petts, 36, farm labourer, born Sherington Wife: Elizabeth Petts, age 36, born Newport Pagnell Son: Arthur Henry Petts, age 3, born Sherington Niece: Florence Leech, age 5, born Gt Linford In the 1871 Census, Edwin Umney is recorded at Chicheley Road, age 48, Farmer of 14 acres, employing 1 man,born Sherington, with wife Alice, age 45, born Gt Horwood, Bucks In 1891 Edwin Umney is a butcher, age 66, born Sherington, in Church End |
| William Aldred | 1891 (Census) 1891/5 (Kelly) | 1891 Census: son: William Aldred, 30, Farmer, born GPassenham, Norfolk daughter: Sarah, 54, Housekeeper, born Bramfield Suffolk 1891 and 1895 (Kelly): William Aldred, Farmer, Gowells Farm |
| Joseph Clark | 1899 (Kelly) | Farmer, Gowells Farm |
| John Henry Simco | 1901 (Census) to 1911 (Kelly) | 1901 Census: John Henry Simco, 56, Farmer, born Mears Ashby, Northants Wife: Jane, 57, born Hemingford Grey, Hants Son: John Dexter, age 27, born Mears Ashby, Northants Son: Thomas Valentine, age 21, born Mears Ashby, Northants Daughter: Barbara Hewnes (?), age 19, born Mears Ashby, Northants 1903 , 1907, 1911 (Kelly): farmer, Gowells Farm |
Note: there are some inconsistencies in the census data. At present, it is not known if some of these may just be transcription errors, due to difficulties in reading the handwriting, or if they were in the original.
1796 Enclosure Map
There is no farmhouse on the 1796 Enclosure map, but several of the fields have 'Gowls' in their name (Plots 118 to 122 and 124 to 126, all owned by Richard Higgins, see map below). These fields were old enclosures, which in the Middle ages had been part of the desmesne belonging to the lord of the manor. The current location of the farmhouse is shown by the red circle.
| Plot No. | New/Old Enclosure | Owner | Description |
| 118 | O | Richard Higgins | Part of Wood Gowls for Tithes |
| 118 | O | Richard Higgins | Wood Gowls Remains |
| 119 | O | Richard Higgins | Upper Middle Gowls |
| 120 | O | Richard Higgins | Great Gowls |
| 121 | O | Richard Higgins | Hardings Upper Gowls |
| 122 | O | Richard Higgins | Hardings Lower Gowls |
| 124 | O | Richard Higgins | Gowls by Burges |
| 125 | O | Richard Higgins | Lower Middle Gowls |
| 126 | O | Richard Higgins | Gowls Corner |