Plot Number 207 in Southworth with Croft

In 2024, Croft Parish Council were asked if the bushes could be trimmed back on a plot of land next to the General Elliot on Lord Street in Croft. We were unsure exactly who owned it and so I took on the task of finding out.
The plot had never been listed with Land Registry, so I went back to the 1832 tithe map. Mary Sumner was shown as the owner, with Enoch Sankey the tenant.

William and Mary Sumner owned multiple plots of land in Croft. There was a total of 34 acres that they lived in and about 50 acres let to Enoch Sankey and family.
William Sumner died in 1822 and their only daughter, Mary-Ann died in 1823. Their son Thomas died in 1847.
Upon her death on 8th May 1848, the estate was left to her sons William, James and George.
​I ordered her original will to confirm this.

A section of the will of Mary Sumner

In 1861, the leased out land is put up for auction 

NORTHWICH GUARDIAN 21ST SEPTEMBER 1861
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION At the LION HOTEL, in WARRINGTON,
On Wednesday, the 2nd day of October, 1861,
At Five for Six o'clock in the Evening precisely, subject to such conditions as will be then produced,
The FREEHOLD and INHERITANCE of and in
Lot 1
All that substantial and commodious FARM HOUSE, with the Farm Buildings, Yards, Garden, and Appurtenances there to belonging, situate in the township of Southworth-with Croft, in the parish of Winwick, in the County of Lancaster, and on the southerly side of the road leading from Warrington to Leigh. And also, all those Closes, Fields, or Parcels of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, adjoining or near thereto, known by the names, and containing the several quantities (acres, roods, perches) following, namely:-

​189                       Sandy Harnicroft            Arable                  6             2             34
200                       Lower Harnicroft            Pasture                6             3             1
204                       Lane                                    Roadway             0             2             15
207                       Croft                                   Arable                  0             1             8
532                       Garden                               Arable                  0             1             12
533                       Yard and Site                    Arable                  0             0             12
534                       Barn and Yard                  Arable                  0             0             15
535                       Big Meadow                      Meadow              2             2             26
536                       Little Meadow                  Meadow              1             3             17
537                       Deadmans Lane             Roadway                0             1             39
538                       Crook Hill                          Arable                  2             0             24
544                       Bradshaw Hey                 Pasture                 4             0             38
589                       Little Hall Field                Arable                  2             0             29
590                       Near Hall Field                Arable                   3             3             11
591                       Further Hall Field           Arable                  3             0             16
759                       Further Whistler             Arable                  1             3             33
760                       Nearer Whistler              Arable                  1             2             34
764                       Croft Heath Field            Arable                  4             1             28
777                       Nearer Heath Field        Pasture                 1             3             10
778                       Farther Heath Field        Meadow              1             3             39

The whole of the above premises are in the occupation of Mr. Enoch Sankey.
Lot 2
All that FIELD or Close of Land, situate in the township of Southworth-with-Croft aforesaid, on the south side of the highway there leading to Warrington, being No. 296 on the Tithe Commutation Plan of the Township, called the "Birch Field," and containing 4a. 0r. 1p, statute measure, also in the occupation of Mr. Enoch Sankey.

An old map showing all the land sold in Lot 1 and 2

So, plot 207 is sold as part of Lot1 along with all the other plots which are separate geographically.

There is no further mention of this plot until 5th February 1982 when Warrington Borough Council signs a Tree Preservation Order on the whole plot. By this time there are multiple sycamore trees, showing that they have been growing freely on the land for decades.
The TPO is renewed with updated legislation in August 2000, with an accurate count of 42 sycamore trees among others.

Warrington Borough Council has confirmed it is not the landowner, and they have no record of who is. It has never been logged with Land Registry and so the only conclusion I come to is that when this plot was bought in 1861 as part of the large estate, it was forgotten about. 
Somebody may have deeds somewhere and come forward in the future. Until then, the trees will remain protected and the area full of wildlife.

The Sumner family grave is at St. Oswald's Church, and is one of the large ledger stones on the paved area.

The Sumner family grave

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