Portsea island was for many centuries largely rural in nature. There were many farms though few signs remain today. Baffins Pond was originally part of Baffins Farm.
The Portsmouth Museum and Record Service has uncovered references to Baffins Farm(e) as far back as 1194 AD .
1738 | John Moody leased Baffins Farm (200 acres) and Copnor woods (102 Acres) to William Blake. |
1764 | Leeke family acquire the manors of Portsea and Copnor. By 1764 they had mortgaged Baffins and Copnor farms three times. |
1797 | Leased by the Leeke family to George Sheldon 106 acres at Baffins. |
1798 | Split in two 106 acres farmed by William Sheldon, farmhouse and 120 acres & farmed by George Smith |
1806 | Death of Samual Leeke. His widow Sophia has to sell some of his estate to repay depts. Al though they retained the holding of Baffins it was repeatedly mortgaged. |
1806 | On lease to Andrew Nance |
The Mayor also favored saving the pond and warned that the only alternative was to pass plans previously submitted for building all round the site and enclosing the pond. The owners pointed out that the amount they would have received for the sale of the building plots around the sides of the pond was not less than £8,500, but having regard to the fact that the local authority desired to keep the whole as an open space, they were prepared to sell the whole site to the corporation for £5,500, "subject to the Corporation undertaking to preserve the site as an open space and not to erect any buildings thereon, except pavilions or similar buildings used in connection with recreation grounds
Andrew Nance was leasing Baffins farm and also Stamshaw farm from Samual Twyford. Nance and his father also owned three post inns in Portsmouth. | |
1852 | A severe fire at Baffins farm saw Andrew Nance loose most of his furniture, although the farmhouse survived. |
1867 | Andrew Nance junior held the lease |
1879 | George Harvey |
? | William Hill |
