Detail    Late C17 House, altered probably mainly mid C18, but by degrees. Stone-dressed brown brick with grey slate roofs. The entrance front (C18) of 3 storeys and 3 windows is symmetrical in form but with varied detailing: slightly projecting stone bands 1st and 2nd floors; rusticated stone quoins; cyma stone cornice, probably with upper parapet removed. Stone plinth with moulded cap has 2 former window openings to cellar left of probably late C19 gabled brick porch. Lower 2 storeys are of irregular bond; upper storey is in imperfect Flemish bond. Window to each side of porch is of 3 flush sashes: 4-pane: 12-pane: 4-pane, with stone cills; left window has gauged brick flat arch, right window a rougher camber arch. 2nd storey has 12-pane flush sashes; that at centre under repaired gauged brick flat arch, those to sides under camber arches. 3rd storey has low 6-pane flush sashes under camber arches, the central opening blocked. Stone cills. The right corner of probably C17 roof shows, offset, behind the facade.

Rear elevation (rendered) has band and 2 gables with kneelers.

Interior: 2 and 3 panel oak doors. Cellar has stone and bedrock walls, and a reused slotted chamfered beam. Front parlour, left has altered inglenook and roughly chamfered oak main beam; rear left room has stop-chamfered beam system and oak panelling inscribed John Leech 1729, RMRB Esq 1741, IW 1756 (repositioned), RB Esq 1724, TH 1771 (repositioned), WBAP 174; diagonal fireplace with hollow corbel for hearth above. Rear right room has roughly chamfered beams. Kitchen (rear wing, right) has ceiling frame with 2 roughly chamfered beams and 1 C17 moulded beam with housings or open mortices on rear side. Moulded oak bressumer across corner of outhouse behind kitchen, C17 or earlier. Stair of 6 flights and 2 landings has dropped square newels and 2 barleysugar balusters per step. Bar-stopped chamfered oak beam in front bedroom, left. Oak purlins.

Farndon: The History of a Cheshire Village, Frank A. Latham (Ed.)

Page 76; (When the house was in use as a school)

In 1870 the Holly Bank School for Young Ladies had eight boarders—girls between the ages of eight and 14 years. Two were local children; Mary Holland, born in Farndon; and Mary Brown, born in Churton. The school was run by Mrs. Caroline Burman who was assisted by her four daughters, one of whom specialised in music. At this time the master at the Parish School was Robert Roberts who was also choirmaster and secretary of the Reading Room.
The 1891 census names just two schools—that at Holly Bank and another run by George Brown.

Page 104;

The other house in the village which has pure seventeenth century features, such as the gable coping and a stone dressed facade, is Holly Bank, which was the doctors house for many years. The high listing of the building (Grade II) results from the Stuart period staircase, with spiral turned balusters, and the good panel doors hung on 'H' hinges. Until recently the whole building was overgrown with ivy. The house at present is the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. Tilston. Mr. Tilston is an auctioneer in Chester.

Page 55;

Dr. William Parker, physician, councillor and churchwarden, was much loved by all and cared for the sick in the parish for over 50 years. He would visit them on foot, on a bicycle, in a gig, and latterly by car. If nursing was required, however, the call would go out for Mary Ellen Jones of Church Lane, or Jane Partington of the Rock. The farmers themselves were helpful with gifts of milk, eggs and butter. They would even lay straw on the roadway to minimise the noise of passing carts and lorries. Two sisters of the Barnston family would call at any home with baby clothes when there was a new addition to the family.

Frank A. Latham (Ed.), Farndon: The History of a Cheshire Village, (1981)

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The Burman Family of Hollybank

The Burman family lived at Hollybank and are mentioned in the account of the Thelwall family (to whom they were related by marriage). The article is taken from the Farndon War Memorial pages on this site.

Reginald (Robert) Thelwall 47th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) Tracing Reginald has been quite a puzzle. Although he is on the War Memorial, he is not on the Commonwealth War Graves Register. This is not unusual, but it has hampered research. Yet there is a Robert Thelwall on the CWGC register. His father was Dr Thelwall - Same as Reginald's father, so clearly they must be brothers. But the age given at death fits Reginald, not Robert. Could Robert have taken Reginald's identity to get into the army? Dr Thelwall was William Thelwall M.R.C.S., L.S.A., a surgeon who was born in Farndon and lived at Bridge House, near the end of the bridge over the Dee. Read more about the family and what happened to the the sons of William Thelwall, and their military service. Read too about how Thelwalls, and their relatives from the village, were pioneer settlers in New Zealand, and left a little bit of Farndon behind - but in New Zealand, not here.