Gorse Hill Farm

Gorse Hill Farm, also known as Nancy Holt's Farm, was built in the 18th century and stood on the west side of Humphrey Lane, on the site now occupied by houses at the beginning of Mount Drive and Humphrey Crescent. The grounds covered some 23 acres. There were three ponds in the grounds of Gorse Hill Farm close to the point where the community centre stands today. 

William Allen purchased land in the area in 1765, but he became bankrupt and in 1790 this part of his land was sold to Josiah Johnson Smith.

In 1870, the Cheshire Lines Committee began work on an extension to its railway network. The new line, approximately 55% of which lay in Lancashire, opened in 1873 and ran for 34 miles from Manchester to Liverpool via Warrington, cutting straight through Gorsey Brow. As a result, a special crossing of the railway (placed near the end of what is now Hilrose Avenue) had to be built solely to provide access to the farm. To access the crossing, a small track was built running westwards near the railway from Humphrey Lane to the new crossing about 200 yards away. The 1845 boundary of Gorse Hill Farm, and the railway line and farm track, are shown in these maps dated 1846 and 1888 respectively.

In the other direction from Humphrey Lane, a narrow path led across the fields to Stretford.

A sign would often be placed at the boundary of the farm to advertise potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables for sale.

Residents of Gorse Hill Farm:

• 1790 - John Beswick.

• 1825 - John Timperley, an attorney.

• 1876 - William Holt and his wife Nancy, who were market gardeners, resided at the farm. There was an orchard fronting Humphrey Lane, and near to the farm gates was always a sign advertising potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables for sale. Following her husband's death, Nancy Holt managed the farm herself, and from around 1900 it became known locally as "Nancy Holt's Farm".

• 1920 - Stuart Bancroft.

• 1925 - John Twigg, the last person to live at Gorse Hill Farm.

During the 1930s, Messrs Longworth and Taylor bought several plots of land in the area for building purposes, including Gorse Hill Farm in 1934. The farm was demolished in 1937. The farmland now forms part of Mount Drive, Southbourne Avenue, most of Humphrey Crescent, the northern end of Humphrey Lane and Firwood Avenue, the nearby section of Bradfield Road (formerly Chadwick Lane), and, on the opposite side of the railway line, Abbey Close and the end of Foxdenton Drive.