Hawksley Farm

Hawksley Farm, c.1907. Taken from a post card of this date. Ended up being owned by Austin Family and was demolished in late 50's. The lake is the moat that had surrounded it from medieval times, but this building was built around 1885.

1950's Ordinance Survey view of the Farm and moat. The area is now council bungalows and high rise flats, the restored moat has now sadly drained, at one time it was full of large fish, like pike and bream.

Hawksley Farm

When the Roundheads came to Hawkesley,
And the Middlemores were fled,
There score foot and two score horsemen
Held the stead.
And the words came forth to Rupert,
"Seize the stead."

O, when Rupert rode to Hawkesley,
To the leaguer or the house,
Then Lord Astley's gallant footman
Held carouse.
It was, "Footman, to the breach,"
At Hawksey House.

When the King rode out to Hawksley,
To the leaguer in the field,
Then the Roundhead, captain Gouge,
Sought to yield.
"An they leave us unmolested
We will yield."

O, Lord Astley laughed at Hawksley,
as he rode amid his men.
"Hawksley's yours to fire and pillage,
Let the Roundheads come again."
And they cheered at Hawksley House,
Astley's men.

E.M. Rudland: Ballads of Old Birmingham

Photo: Site of Hawksley Farm/Manor. Timber frame building demolished in 1850 and 10 metre wide moat filled in and a new house built, this was later lived in by the Austin family and demolished in 1971. Photo here shows pool that later developed in moat site. It's behind an electricity sub station on Turves Green (Road). Sadly today the pool has a leak and has run dry.