LOWER KEYFORD – a little history
Lower Keyford is a very special, old, secluded part of the ancient town of Frome. For centuries a separate village in its own right, it was gradually subsumed within the town, gaining conservation status.
Several of Lower Keyford’s older houses have names indicative of their original roles and functions. The oldest property is believed to be the Nunnery, located towards the southern end of the lane. Its name comes from the religious house founded by a devout lady who met a grisly end because of her faith. It contains medieval wall paintings and other architectural evidence of its 14th Century origins. 17th Century, Grade II-listed Monks Farm (No. 47) (was originally called Lower Keyford Farmhouse), a working farm - derelict for some 20 years until the mid 1970s. It was then converted to two houses during the 70s and restored to one property in 1988, with the occupants keeping the name of Monks Farm which for ten years was the name of the left hand side of the house. This name was chosen because a monastry was allegedly sited on some of the adjacent land; however there are many differing thoughts on this and it has never been proven. Next door is No. 43 which is Victorian and 43a behind which was a printing works until converted in 1985 to a house. The Old Dairy (No. 22), which goes back to early Tudor times or beyond, has cruck beams in its roof and the remains of one of Lower Keyford’s old orchards to the rear. The classic Georgian structure of the Old Tannery (No. 41) with its paved delivery and loading yard was indeed operating as a tannery, complete with tall brick chimney, until the 50’s when it then became a scrap metal yard until purchased in the 1980s by the current owners. The terrace of three cottages facing the ‘square’ were probably built in the mid-19th Century, possibly as accommodation for workers at Keyford Asylum. They were originally known as Woodbine Cottages, and Woodbine Cottage (No. 28), between Corner Cottage (No. 26) and No. 30 (which really IS on a corner!) has revived the use of this name. The terrace formed a frontwards and sideways extension to an older house – possibly 17th Century, name as yet unknown – the outlines of which can still be seen in the stonework of the side wall of Corner Cottage and (adjoining to its rear) Jasmine Cottage (No. 24). Grade II-listed Stonewall Manor, dating from Tudor times and formerly known as Austin’s House, was the subject of a hard-fought and successful campaign by residents from all parts of Frome and beyond who were determined to protect it from unsympathetic development in an adjacent plot of land. The cottage (No. 32) between the terrace and the Manor were part of the Manor demesne until last year when the estate was split up.
For almost a century the hamlet of Lower Keyford was dominated by the imposing early Victorian building known as Keyford Asylum (or Stevens’ Asylum after the local benefactor whose money founded it). This was situated on Culverhill at the junction of what is now Stevens Lane, formerly Asylum Lane until somebody somewhere decided that such a road name was no longer relevant, let alone p.c. It housed ‘old men beyond labour and young girls preparing for [domestic] service’. The asylum was demolished in the 50s. Lower Keyford’s more recent houses, including a pair of Victorian brick-built cottages and Hillside, were built on the rising ground of Stevens Lane, at the foot of which is the early Victorian / late Georgian Fern Cottage, rescued from near dereliction in 2001.
Until c1950 a large stone cross stood in the centre of the Lower Keyford ‘square’. Beyond this unmarked spot there now lies a row of concrete ‘tank traps’ that protect this unique little hamlet from through traffic and help preserve its very special atmosphere of seclusion and tranquillity.
