Farming
Passenham, Deanshanger and Puxley have been rural economies for many centuries. Passenham Mill ceased operations as a water-driven flour mill around 1918. Today many of the former farmhouses of the three villages have become residential homes with only a few independent farms remaining in the area. Much of the farmland in Passenham is now owned by The Parks Trust.
Villagers were seasonally employed as labourers on the local farms and census details from 1841 onwards show people working in many related industries such as corn, horse and feed merchants and making beer from home as small breweries.
Farms in Deanshanger have been owner occupied for many years thanks to the village's heritage as an open field structure. Evidence of ridge and furrow, a medieval system of farming that existed well into the 17th century, can still be seen in the Deanshanger Pocket Park. The three main fields of North Field, South Field and Denshanger Field to the west form the basis of the village farms.
Dove House Farm, recorded as the Manor House held by Sir Philip Winwood in 15th century, is the oldest surviving farmhouse and was last farmed by Olive and Jack Smith up to the 1960s (???). Dove House Farmhouse gets its name from Duffus meaning Food House was built in the shape of a cross and once the Deanshanger Monastery reported to have been visited by Thomas a Becket
Home Farm, High Street, has been a private residence since ???? and its stone and slate built Barn that backs onto the High Street was converted to apartments in 20??
Manor Farm which faces The Green boasts stewardship on behalf of the village of The Cricket Field and parts of The Green as integral elements of its landholding.
Northfields Manor Farm (demolished ????) can be traced back to 1600s.
Other farms have come and gone in more recent years; Brayfields Farm was a small farm sited in front of the old Oxide Works. Mr Brayfield kept a small dairy herd and a little market garden. Villagers would walk down to collect milk straight from the churns and carry it home in jugs.
Dagnall Farm or Dagnal Farm (Dragons's Hold) was a bigger operation in the 1900s and legend has it the farmhouse has an escape tunnel running from it.
Panters Farm is now The Beeches housing area
