Springhill Landmarks #2

Whilst not exactly a landmark as such, Springhill House is the most prominent building in Springhill and described by estate agents as the 'principle building' in the area. It is not the oldest - Polefield Cottage being dated 1642 - but is the largest and most obvious, being described in newspaper reports as 'handsome and commodious'.

It was probably built in the late 1830s. It is present on an OS map surveyed in 1840 and enumerated by name (thank you!) in the 1841 census. There is a conveyance between Charlotte Ann Hargreaves and John Ashworth for land in Springhill in 1834 but that may have been for other reasons.

The original house was extended in the 1850s, it is thought when the spinster lady who lived there married and the household acquired a larger number of servants. The extension is a different type of stone to the original. Part of the extension, now Lawn House, can be seen here with Springhill House to the right.



Lawn house


The driveway originally swept round a front lawn to come to the front of the house. The lawn was removed and turned into a car park in the 1960s when Springhill House was used as a Nursing Home. To the right of Springhill House is an arched passage under the first floor of the building, this would have led through to the stabling.


to back of the cot

Springhill Landmarks

The Society of One-Place Studies, with which this website is registered, is hosting a series of blogging prompts in 2021. Thankfully this is one prompt per month, not per week like the '52 residents' from last year. The January prompt is 'Landmarks'. Springhill isn't over-endowed with landmarks, being a cluster of about a dozen houses.

On the tops behind Springhill lies Windy Willows (formerly Physic Hall Farm), on Saunder Height Lane. The owners are committed Christians and about 10 years ago erected a cross on the edge of the field overlooking the valley. It is clearly visible for about two miles in good weather.

cross autumn

(Picture courtesy of Suzie Elkington)

Each Good Friday the parishioners of St Nicholas, Newchurch (the parish in which Springhill is located) erect a cross in Newchurch village on Good Friday which stays there until Ascension Day. Originally this was carried up Seat Naze, the hill outside Newchurch. However there isn't a right of way up Seat Naze and the landowner withdrew permission about 20 years ago. It was alleged that this was when the new vicar arrived in St Nicks and cancelled the previous incumbent's milk order. However the farmer is a tenant farmer so this may be hearsay.

cross Newchurch

Both crosses are well respected and have not been vandalised. Long may it continue.

Other local crosses are the pilgrim cross on Scout Moor about 5 miles south,


pilgrim cross 600

and Compston's cross about 4 miles north.


Compstons cross

Made in RapidWeaver