Mr. Sowerby’s farm workers, Beelsby 1916.

The original photograph by an unknown photographer. The location is given as Mr. E. Sowerby’s farm at Beelsby. (Ernest?)

The Sowerby family had links with Beelsby House Farm from 1820 until 1940. Francis Sowerby (died 1939) leased the farm from General James Whorwood Adeane of Babraham, Cambridgeshire in 1820. John Sowerby Jr. bought the farm in 1871 for £59,578.

Mr. John Ernest Sowerby (1853-1939) lived at the farm for many years then moved into Cuxwold Hall. Mr. John Philip Sowerby (1883-1976) lived at Beelsby House until 1931. After 1931, the farm was in the hands of trustees until it was purchased in 1940 by Mr. E. B. Sharpley of Stoke-on-Tent who had family links to the Sowerbys.

Mr. L. A. Fenwick took on the farm in 1945 and later bought it. He purchased Beelsby Hall Farm in November 1946. Beelsby House Farm and Beelsby Hall Farm were run as the Beelsby Estate.

Notes: John Philip Sowerby died in Yeovilton, Somerset in 1976 (buried Cuxwold, Lincs.). Sadly, four of his seven children died at the age of 12 or under. One son moved to the USA and one to Canada. Dr J. Dennis Sowerby died in North York Hospital, Canada in 1998. **See Beelsby House photograph for more details.**