The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-16
FARMS OF CARROLL.
LEIGH CASTLE.
The Residence of Pinkney j. Bennett
Written for the Democratic Advocate.

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This property is located in New Windsor
district, about five miles from the thriving
and growing town of New Windsor, and is
composed partly of two tracts of land known
as Leigh Castle and Roberts Care. The
name or title of Leigh Castle is derived
from the name of Leigh Master, who came
to this country from Lancashire, England,
and acquired large landed estates in this
part of Western Maryland. He died on
the 22nd day of March, 1876, and his re-
mains now repose in the cemetery of As
cension P. Il. Church, Westminster.
Leigh Master owned five or six thousand
acres of land, about New Windsor, Lin
wood, Pipe Creek and Avondale, the resi-
dence of the late Thomas. E. VanBibber,
where an iron furnace was established by
Leigh Master about 1862, then known as
Furnace Hill. Among these parcels of
land was tract of 1855 acres, known as
Leigh Castle, part of which is comprised
in the farm of Mr.. Bennett, along with an
other parcel of land known as Roberts
Care.
The farm contains 220 acres, and was
purchased by the late Robert Bennett,
father of Major B. w. Bennett, of West
minister, in 1915. Father and son, subse-
quently, were joint owners of the estate,
until few years before the death of Mr..
Robert Bennett, in March, 1854, who gave
a deed of his interest to his son, Major B.
W. Bennett. He, in turn, conveyed it to
his son, Pinkney J. Bennett, the present
proprietor and occupant. The brick dwell
ling was built in 1852 by Major Bennett
1t is two stories high, AZ feet front, run
ming back 30 feet, with bodybuilding 20 by
% feet, same height. 1t contains ten
rooms besides the basement. The house
was planned by Major Bennett himself, and
is remarkable for Its convenience. The
stairway is spiral in form, coming down in
the hall near the front door, There are
several doors opening into the dining room
from every part of the house. The brick
are of good red color and were burned upon
the farm. There is fine lawn in front of
the dwelling, comprising about one acre
enclosed by wire fence, with abundance Of
shade trees, without which no property is
complete. The lawn is ornamented by
mounds and parterres of flowers. The land
is of very productive quality, being COM
posed of limestone soil Since the present
proprietor has occupied the farm he has
improved it by the application of lime, by
new fencing, &c. He also built two diaries,
two ice houses, and two tenant houses.
Tlak Po,- kbo fa,-,,, oft tive
structure, 20 by % feet, with Gothic front
three and half stories high, presenting o
very ornate appearance.
That portion of Sans Greek on which
the dairy is located, ten years ago was a
wilderness of green briers, wild grape vines
scrubby oaks, &C. Now it is the busy
scene of active industry, where daily the
thrifty farmer can be seen plying his voca-
ton. The steam, putting forth from the
creamery, tells the story of thrift and enter
prise, and lightens the burden of many a
farmers wife in the neighborhood. The
German carp disporting in the capacious
pond delights the eye of the passer-by, and
delights the palate of the proprietor and
his family, when, nicely Drowned, they
temptingly adorn his table.
Major Bennett moved to Westminster in
1868, giving up the farm to his son, who
was married in that year. Wheat, corn
and oats, with clover and timothy, are the
regular crops grown upon the farm. The
produce is fed to the stock on the place,
with the exception of the wheat crop,
which is sent to market From twenty to
twenty-five head of mich cows are fed reg
ularIy on the farm, the milk from which is
sent to the creamery, as also the milk from
an equal number of COWS from another farm
of Mr. Bennett, purchased of the late
David w. Nall, of Frederick county, about
one mile distant, situated in that county.
Major Bennett paid s13, 900 for this farm,
which is considered one of the best in that
part Of Frederick county.
The creamery was commenced in 1876.
At the start the enterprising proprietor
labored under the disadvantage of mex
perience, and the business was new one