Flaxby Village: Memories of a Yorkshire Farming Family 1904-1947

MEMORIES OF A YORKSHIRE FARMING FAMILY
1905 TO 1947
by
MARGARET INMAN (NÉE SIMPSON)

Margaret Inman

Copyright reserved 1st January 1991

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“I have a baylife as skilful as maybe; yet, remembering the old saying that the

best doung for the field is the master’s foot and the best provender for the

horse the master’s eye, I play the overseer myself.”...

Gervase Markham (1620)


Kenneth Simpson
           Written with a great deal of help

from my brother Kenneth...

Margaret Inman

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Preface
This memoir was written by Margaret Inman (née Simpson) with the help of her brother Kenneth Simpson in 1991.
Ken was born in 1915. Margaret was born in 1923. They were brought up in Flaxby Grange by their parents Fred Simpson and Helen Simpson (née Knowles).
Fred and Helen retired after the Second World War to live in Harrogate. Helen died in 1955 and Fred died in 1957.
Ken decided at an early age that farming was not for him and he became a solicitor. He married Rita Gyton on 5 June 1948 and had one daughter Ruth. She married Myke and they live in London.
Margaret married David Inman in July 1952 and had two sons (John and Nicholas) and one daughter (Katie who lives with her family in Knaresborough, not far from Flaxby). John married Stella and they live in Edinburgh and Nicholas married Clara and they live in south -western France.
Katie, John, Nicholas and Ruth thought this memoir would be of interest to the Flaxby History Group http://flaxbyvillage.blogspot.com as well as the family.
Myke has created an extensive family tree on Ancestry.co.uk which incorporates details of all the known Simpson and Knowles family relatives. Anyone interested in seeing the tree can email Myke at Myke@familyjacobs.net for permission to see it.
It has been transcribed from the original so as to be more legible.
September 2021

Note - larger versions of the images appear at the end of this document

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MEMORIES OF A YORKSHIRE FARMING FAMILY 1905 TO 1947
Having no literary ability, I write this for my own amusement and perhaps that of my closest friends.
As 1973 flows along with the exciting prospects of Ruth's wedding in March, and the usual epidemic of mumps and measles in February, I find myself relying more than ever on the delights of sound radio with its wonderful choice of concerts and talks to enthral and distract me.
Mozart's Piano Concerto No 27 has just ended, leaving me relaxed and refreshed. On tuning to another station I find myself listening to a talk on being 50. As I too share this half century birthday at the end of the year, I listen. How true are the words I hear. I have learned, albeit a little late, that material prospects are very temporary. Most important, after my very happy marriage, which grows deeper and happier with each year, are our children who have rewarded us with so much joy. I also think of my closest relations who are very dear to me and my friends. It is true that the bond between real friends is inviolate and, as one grows older, one’s circle of true friends becomes smaller. “Time is a sieve which separates the worthy from the unworthy.”
Fred Simpson
It is difficult to think of growing old when you're only 20 and equally difficult to try and pass on the fruits of one’s experience to the youth of today. In many ways, I feel that my sons already have more ideals and foresight than I ever had and perhaps they realise that great wealth cannot bring complete happiness. Katie (aged 8) has further to go in an ever-changing world. As a Mother, I wish for her true happiness and contentment.
I wish my children could have had the benefit of knowing my Mother and Father for longer in their impressionable youth. They were fine, kindly people of strong character and simple faith whose life was the farm and the land. They were contented with the satisfaction that a hard day's work brings and the simple values of country people.
Helen Simpson
“To watch the corn grow and the blossoms set, to draw hard breath over plough-share or spade, to think, to read, to love, to hope, to pray, these are the things that make men happy.”
It was a mixed farm - part arable, part grass and was about 260 acres in total. Every normal agricultural operation was performed on this farm, and Father, who had made a lifetime's of study of agriculture, was highly regarded in the farming community. Both he and my Mother were born into large Victorian farming families - grandparents Simpson at Copgrove had 10 children and grandparents Knowles at Hunsingore had 12 children. In both families, there were twins who died shortly after birth. Grandfather Henry Knowles died in 1915 aged 70 years. He was a highly respected farmer and cattle dealer - known by nearly all the farmers in Yorkshire and many in Lincolnshire, Westmoreland, Northumberland and Cumberland.Flaxby Grange was the largest farm in the small hamlet of Flaxby situated on the main road between Harrogate and York and was farmed for over a period of 40 years by my parents Fred and Helen (née Knowles) Simpson.
My Father's landlord at Flaxby was Lord Mowbray and Stourton, the premier Baron of England, whose ancestors came over with William the Conqueror. Few improvements were carried out at the farm. We existed for many years without piped water, sewerage or electric light - despite the fact that we were only 6 miles from Harrogate.
My Father and Mother came to the farm in 1907 - my brother Kenneth was born in 1915 and I was born in 1923.

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Flaxby Grange

A recent estate agent’s description of the farmhouse is... “An imposing detached farmhouse believed to originate from the 17th century...”. Our home was a red-bricked, fairly large house with six bedrooms, one maid’s bedroom, drawing room, dining room, large kitchen, back kitchen, pantry and cellars. At the front of the house was a garden surrounded by a brick wall and with two enormous beech trees in front of the drawing room window. A small white gate opened on to a short path which led to the front door under a porch covered with roses and a delightful everlasting sweetpea. On the left of the linoleum-covered passage was the drawing room (only used on Sundays or when the Vicar came to tea). The Vicar was always given scones and strawberry jam - the latter served in a special pink and white China dish in a silver basket. In this room, was a handsome, black marble fireplace surrounded by dark green tiles, a large brass fender and a mirrored firescreen, on which was painted a yellow iris with green leaves. On one side of the fireplace was Mother's China cabinet, in which were three green Wedgewood jugs, a white China two-pint pot painted with attractive red cherries and green leaves, a pair of “gold” shoes and a white China cherub flower holder - both from Mother’s wedding cake. On the top of the cabinet were two blue vases and an inlaid rosewood Grandmother clock. Next to the cabinet was a large sofa with velvet cushions and, above this, an enormous picture in a gilt frame of highland cattle. Another mahogany cabinet with a long mirror and two cupboards contained various glasses, a decanter and a bottle of Brandy (the only alcohol in the house). This was brought out when Dad, uncle Leonard, uncle Colin, Uncle Tom or Ernest Alton came to play a game of cards - Nap, Newmarket or Pontoon.

Further up the passage, and next to the drawing room, was a large pantry, and off this was the beer cellar. In the latter were placed barrels of beer for hay-time and harvest - bought from Mr France of Bentleys Yorkshire Breweries, Woodlesford near Leeds. Mr France arrived on a motorcycle dressed in leggings and wearing goggles.
The bung of the barrel had to be properly knocked in as failure to do this correctly resulted in the cellar being flooded with beer. Flies were a menace, and we had to hang long rolls of sticky yellow flypaper from the kitchen and pantry ceilings.
Across the passage was the dining room. This room was in constant use by all the family. Either by Father sitting at his roll-top desk, Mother sewing at the table or talking to one of the many visitors to the farm. The wireless set was on top of the desk with the wet and dry batteries below and my greatest joy was to listen to children's hour from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. I also remember sitting around this set on 3rd September 1939 and hearing Chamberlain tell the nation that we were at war with Germany. Also in this room was a large sideboard with two cupboards and three central drawers. The cupboards contained our games - Ludo, Halma, Snakes & Ladders, draughts etcetera, jigsaws, toys and Mother’s button box (a great fascination to me). On top of the sideboard was a silver-topped biscuit barrel and two interesting bronze figures of a young fisher boy and girl. The upright rosewood piano with brass candlesticks was played frequently by myself and Mother. I learned the piano at Highfield School and had to practise when I came home at weekends. Mother always played a few hymns on Sunday evenings. Underneath the window was a chaise longue. This enabled Father to rest his injured leg - the result of an accident at Allerton Park corner when a horse bolted and overturned the trap (or Governess cart) which he was driving. As a result of this accident, he was very lame and always walked with a stick. In the middle of the room was a large solid dining room table which could be extended with two extra leaves. This was always covered with a green fringed chenille tablecloth and, in the winter, we had a brass oil lamp in the centre.

The kitchen was the hub of the house - always people coming and going. It had a large, black-leaded kitchen range with a roaring fire - at one side was the boiler (our only means of hot water and at the other was a coal oven. If water was needed for washing in the china bowls in the bedrooms, it was taken from the boiler and put into a brass can with a long spout and lid. In front of the range was a steel fender and a wooden stool on which I spent many happy hours. A rack for drying clothes hung from the ceiling. Thursday was always baking day. The fire had to be well stoked and this was kept burning fiercely by a large piece of wood which protruded from the fire onto the hearth. Bread was risen on the hearth in the same bread tins I use today. Dozens of tea cakes, apple pies, jam pasties, and good plain cakes were baked and stored in the pantry in readiness for “drinkings” or the arrival of visitors. Above the fire on the mantlepiece were tea caddies, a string box and Dad’s pipes. Under the large kitchen clock was an enormous flour bin with a division in the middle. Periodically Mr Gill of Staveley Mill delivered 2 bulky sacks of white flour which he tipped into the bin, causing a deposit of flour all over the kitchen. Next to the bin were pegs for clothes and, above this, a rack for two guns used by Jack Thackray for shooting pigeons or rabbits. I never remember Father using a gun.

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The kitchen tables occupied the other sides of the kitchen ... one under a small inside window which, for some strange reason, looked down into the cellar - the other table was under the window looking out onto the yard and the pump. The cellar was entered by 5 wide stone steps leading off the kitchen. In it were a number of large earthenware bowls of milk - these were called pancheons. When the milk in the bowls had settled, a thick layer of rich cream was “skimmed” or “ladled” from the top of each pancheon with a cream scoop. This was used for butter making or general household use. On the floor of the cellar were hams and sides of bacon in the process of being cured i.e. covered with saltpetre.
Occasionally, heavy rain flooded the cellar and this caused panic stations as the various items on the floor had to be quickly removed to high ground for preservation.
The kitchen, back kitchen and cellar all had red- tiled floors. The two kitchens had hessian mats covering part of them and both floors were scrubbed vigorously each week by one of our maids. The back kitchen contained a shallow sink with a small pump, shelves with pans, a fireplace, clothes horses, pails and a large cupboard in which we kept the old newspapers. This was also the farm cats’ chosen maternity home as it was warm and adjacent to the basins from which they were fed. No kittens were destroyed in the hope that they would, in due course, keep down the rat and mice population.

When Kenneth was five or six years old he was given a cat by a boy at Goldsborough School. It was brought to school in a basket and on the day of its transportation to Flaxby Kenneth was met at school by Miss Lizzie Russell from Edinburgh- a girlhood friend of Mother’s. She insisted on carrying the basket thinking it was Kenneth lunch box and was unaware of the contents until it jumped out onto the farmhouse table!! The cat was a beautiful semi-Persian and a deep black colour. It was called “Goldsborough” and lived for many years.

The staircase at the Grange was polished wood and described in the 1987 sales brochure as “an attractive spindle staircase”. All I can remember is standing at the top and hurling shoes at Dr Robinson of Knaresborough because I did not want him to take my temperature!!
The bedrooms were not conveniently planned. Each pair of rooms had only one door from the landing so that, to get to my room, I had to go through my parents’ bedroom. My brother had his adjoining room made into a study because he spent a great deal of time preparing for examinations - especially when he was studying for his law exams. In his study he had a large flat-topped desk near the window and behind were bookshelves from floor to ceiling, a fireplace and our large rocking horse. It also housed sides of bacon, ham and racks of apples. During the war, Mother kept bags of sugar and tea which she had acquired from our grocer in Knaresborough.
Our parents’ room was next door, and, like all the bedrooms, had an attractive boarded ceiling. It also had a small dog-grate fireplace which always had a fire in it when I was ill. During my childhood illnesses (measles, chicken pox, etc) I was allowed to sleep in Mother’s bed, where a special treat was to be fed on “pobs” a sloppy concoction of white bread, hot milk and golden syrup. Another memory is of lying in the large bed and counting the knots in the boarded ceiling. In every bedroom was a wash- stand with a large China bowl and jug - the latter full of cold water - and in the cupboard below was a chamber pot. Adjoining this room was my smaller bedroom with a view over the village green towards the Kirby's house. All windows were sash and all the rooms were icy cold in the winter!!!

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The third pair of rooms were at the back of the house - one overlooking the yard where, sitting on the white sill, I could see the men (Alf and Jack) coming up the cobbled yard with the horses which they first took to the horse trough for a drink before putting them in the stables for the night. In this room was a white bath. I forget how it came to be there as we had no water laid on and it was hardly ever used as a bath. Imagine filling it with buckets from the boiler in the kitchen!! Our baths were taken by getting out the hip bath (tin), putting it in front of the kitchen fire, filling it with water from the side boiler and, hopefully, remembering to lock the door from the back kitchen to the main kitchen. Otherwise, someone was sure to come barging through!!
I never remember running water at the farm - electricity and the telephone arrived in 1930.
The sixth room adjoined the one with the white bath. It was always called the “men’s’ room” because we frequently had farm men sleeping in it and there was also a back staircase to the kitchen. Later on, we had an Elsan lavatory installed - to save my parents that long trek round the back of the house to the outside loo. The Elsan had to be emptied and was a smelly affair. The outside loo also had a strong odour, but this was mainly from a pink disinfectant powder which had to be scattered inside. The door did not lock very well and I usually kept my foot against it and sat there reading the Yorkshire Post which had been torn into squares! No paper thin Andrex in those days!!!!
There was one more smaller bedroom which was the maid’s room. We had a variety of maids - all very kind and helpful. The ones I remember are Nan from Northern Ireland, Violet Woolhead from Whixley and Sarah Steele from Coneythorpe. Mother also had a helper/companion called Miss Coates.
OUR LOYAL HELPERS
We had many devoted helpers at Flaxby and, among these, was Lena Kirby. Mrs Kirby was a small lady - the wife of our foreman, Alf Kirby, and she and her family lived in one of the farm cottages opposite the farm. She was a hard-working, dependable and extremely kind person who was a tremendous help to my Mother. Every Monday was wash day. This took place in the wash-house at the bottom of the yard. First, the fire had to be lit at about 7 a.m., as this heated the water for the copper boiler. The clothes were “possed” in the dolly-tub, boiled, rinsed in the stone sink, put through the big hand-operated mangle and then taken in an enormous clothes basket, through the hen run, and down to a drying ground in the Garth. This often involved tramping in Wellington boots through a sea of mud, but nothing deterred Lena. Hail, snow or ice - the washing was done and the clothes hung out.
Another good friend and helper was Violet Woolhead - now Mrs Morton. She is certainly one of the great unsung heroines of the last War. Originally helping in the running of the domestic side of Flaxby Grange, she immediately joined the Women's Land Army when war was declared, and assisted in every job on the farm from milking cows to pulling turnips for the sheep in severe wintry conditions. Always smiling and cheerful, she will long be remembered together with, Alf, Jack, Barbara Pavey-Smith (our Land Girl from Knaresborough), a bevy of Russian prisoners and many other helpers who kept the farm going during those difficult war years.
Mother’s name for Flaxby Grange was “Liberty Hall”. Everyone was welcome and callers at the house were frequent. These started at 7 a.m. sharp with Jack Dimmock from Staveley, collecting our churns of milk. Then we had: travellers of all kinds, tramps, Ministry of Agriculture experts and advisors, Yorkshire egg packers for the weekly boxes of eggs, numerous people who had run out of petrol or wanted a drink of water from our pump in the yard, and campers either wanting to put up a tent, park a caravan or buy a pint of milk.
About 3 times a year, the Nanny from Allerton Castle was sent to visit us with the Hon. Patricia and the Hon. Charles for praise and inspection.

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Jack Baker
Jack was a local rabbit catcher and provided us with many tasty meals.
Our other neighbours were:-
·         Mr and Mrs Lewis Thomas of New Inn Farm, Hopperton                    (the first person to operate a Gyrotiller).
·         Farm later occupied by Mr and Mrs Couldwell, Michael and Mary
·         Mr Sidney Cawthorne, Goldsborough,
·         Mr Fred Cawthorne (brother), Clareton.
·         Mr and Mrs Albert Heptonstall, Clareton.
·         Mr. Brown and Mr Ritson of Castle Farm, Hay-a-Park.
Billy Wilks and Family
He was mainly our cow and pig man and lived in the small “tied” cottage opposite the farm. Most of his time was spent running athletic races with Mr Plummer (fishmonger of Knaresborough)!!!
The Little Old Cottage opposite the Stack-Yard Gate
No-one seems to know the history of this old cottage. I remember Mrs. Taylor living there - a little old lady who always wore a white shawl. The house was very tiny - damp and cold - so damp, in fact, that she grew mushrooms under her sideboard. She also sold sweets and we children spent a long time choosing from penny bars of chocolate, sherbet dabs, aniseed balls, liquorice shoe laces, etc. Later, after she died, my Father used the cottage for sprouting seed potatoes - probably the dampness helped in their development. Alice Rose said that a member of her family lived here.

Flaxby Village.
Bar Cottage
On the north side of the Council houses (opposite Martins Farm Buildings) was a small, detached cottage with a little garden. This has now being demolished, but its name may be significant. The Turnpike Trust laid out a new line via Flaxby between 1752 and 1777, in place of the former long route through Ferrensby and Arkendale. The route from Knaresborough was via Long Flat Lane (now York Road), Goldsborough Fields and Flaxby. Bar Cottage could have been the toll gate. Alice Rose's Grandmother lived here.
The Pigeon Cote
The pigeon cote in Martins field, opposite the village green (now demolished), was a very popular roost for a variety of pigeons and other birds. Possibly, it was of ancient origin.
Yet another caller was Mr Neal – the teaman. Once a year, Mr Neal who lived in York and worked for MacLeod’s of Edinburgh, called to see us. Mother gave him an order for a year’s supply of tea either in packets or loose in a wooden tea chest. While my brother was at Saint Olave’s School in York, he and a friend were invited to Mr Neal’s house for Sunday lunch. It was the first time they had experienced syrup on Yorkshire pudding!!
Spring cleaning at Flaxby was a major operation. Net curtains were washed and carpets put on the line and beaten with sticks by the farm men in the adjacent grass field called the Garth. Floors were washed, all furniture moved and rooms often redecorated by Mr Tasker of Staveley.
Uncle Leonard, Uncle Tom and Fred Cawthorne (the latter farming at Clareton) were regular visitors and their main topic of conversation was always farming.

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FLAXBY FOLK
Alf Kirby and Jack Thackray. Two of the great stalwarts of the farm. Alf was our foreman. He was a quiet, gentle man whose love was his horses. He worked for my Father for 22 years and served him loyally and faithfully during all that time. Jack was his support and was equally as conscientious and hard working.
Charlie Young and his son Wilf
Charlie was the village joiner and its oldest inhabitant. He specialised in making handmade cartwheels, brightly coloured carts and ladders. He drove a horse and trap and frequently took produce from the villagers to sell in Knaresborough Market. Charlie’s house was situated at the top of the hill and was the only house with a three-seater loo - two large and one small. (Mrs Rose had a two-seater, but we only had a one!!!!!)
Charlie’s son was a great character. An incessant cigarette smoker with a droll sense of humour. He saw active service in the First World War and had a fund of stories about his experiences.
Charlie died aged 90.
Mr and Mrs Arthur Rose
Mr Rose was an ex-Navy man and he and his wife came from Plymouth. They occupied a very small holding at the station end of the village. Mr Rose had a few hens and pigs and, in return for helping in our garden, Father let him have straw and turnips. The house was set back off the road with a large garden full of produce. This is where my best friend Violet Rose lived and where I spent a good deal of my time. I thought she was lucky because she had a double-seater outside loo, and we spent quite some time in there discussing our problems and planning our games - immune to the very strong smell of Jeyes powder and the small beetles and spiders which were everywhere. Violet loved coming to our house for tea because we had baked apples with sultanas in and I liked having tea at the Roses’ house because they always had tinned peaches! Simple pleasures. Mrs Rose catered for the CTC (Cyclists Touring Club) and, every Sunday, some 20 or 30 bikes were parked in her yard, the riders having dismounted to enjoy a wonderful tea of Yorkshire current tea-cakes, homemade cakes, curd tarts and apple pies. Mrs Rose also had a “village shop” in her large pantry. She was a plump, jovial, friendly person with her South country bur. She welcomed anyone into her home. We loved to browse around her provisions... soap, flour, donkey stones for back door steps, mousetraps (a necessity), flypapers - to say nothing of butter, cheese, jams, bread... cigarettes, tobacco, bottles of “poo” and sweets.
The pump in the Rose’s yard had the date 1815 inscribed on it and, from old maps, it is known that an inn stood on this site. Alice's Grandfather drank there and then took the back way to his home through Martin’s farmyard to avoid paying the toll at Bar Cottage.
Mr and Mrs Rose had four daughters – Alice, Nancy, Violet and Gladys. Violet (or “Peta” as she later wished to be called) died on the 22nd April 1990.
Mr and Mrs Oxtoby and family
The Oxtoby’s farm was very isolated being in the middle of Flaxby Covert, but, sometime in the 1930s, they were able to move into a Council house in the village opposite the Rose's house. They had three daughters - Mary, Madge and Ruth. Mary married Sam Moreland and still lives in the village. Madge married Fred Paxton of Goldsborough and lives there in Station Rd. Ruth married...
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Mr and Mrs Wilf Jobling – Mary and Doris
At the top of the “hill”, now called Shortshill Lane, was the policeman's house and across the road and down a short path was the home of Mr and Mrs Jobling and their two daughters Mary and Doris. They were both very good friends of mine and I am pleased to say we are still very much in touch with each other. Always hospitable, Mrs Jobling provided us hungry children with jam and bread, teacakes and whatever she happened to be baking. Mr Jobling was Head Forester on the Harewood Estate, and, together with Cyril Bailey, cycled everyday to his work at Harewood or Plompton. Mary married Stan Clause and had two lovely girls - Judith and Catherine. She now lives in Goldsborough, where she is very involved in fundraising for St Mary's church. Doris married...
Mr and Mrs Tom Fall and Marjorie
The Falls were tenants of Spring Bank Farm. It was accessible by a long narrow lane from the Flaxby-Coneythorpe road. Their farm was adjacent to ours at various points and each year we acceded to their request to cross our Ten Low Field with their loads of corn from the distant harvest fields. Mr Fall drove a Riley car (priceless by present day standards) and Marjorie was totally happy riding around on her large dapple-grey pony. We had a friendly rivalry with them as to who would finish harvest first! Mr Fall and his wife invited us to supper each Autumn as a thanksgiving for crossing our land with their loads of corn. Marjorie married, late in life, Tom Rawlings - the threshing-machine owner from Minskip.
Mr Tweedy
Mr Tweedy was the local blacksmith who had a forge at Coneythorpe. He shod our horses and repaired our ploughs and other pieces of iron. Each year, he suddenly arrived with a very long and detailed bill which my Father always said was excessive but paid up, nevertheless. His son, Lewis, followed in his Father's footsteps as a blacksmith.
PERSONALITIES
Walter Briskham - Carrier
Market day at Knaresborough was on each Wednesday. Walter Briskham was a carrier who lived in Whixley and owned a wagonette drawn by two magnificent grey horses. Walter sat on a high seat on the waggon, complete with a whip, and dressed in Norfolk jacket, breeches and leggings. He had a red face, long grey sideboards and moustache. His wagonette was covered by green canvas supported by lengths of cane. Each Wednesday morning he collected eggs, butter, dressed chickens and other commodities from the various farms between Whixley and Knaresborough (including Flaxby Grange). On arrival at Knaresborough he stabled the horses at the Harts Horn Inn in the High Street and then proceeded to offer his various items for sale by standing at a stall on or near the Market Cross. Subsequently, he called at the various farms and handed over the proceeds of his sales (less Commission, etc) and the farmer’s wife showed her gratitude by supplying refreshments!!
Mrs Williamson
Arkendale is a straggling village which is some 4 or 5 miles from Flaxby. In the 1930s, a retired Indian Army Colonel and his wife (Colonel and Mrs Williamson) took up residence in a small cottage in Arkendale. They would both be about 70 years of age, and, according to Mrs. Williams then, without much money. She therefore kept chickens and rabbits and made vast quantities of horse-radish sauce from the roots which grew profusely in her garden. Each Saturday, she boarded an early bus for York Market which she caught in Flaxby. She arrived in a long flowing dress pushing a bicycle and followed by large numbers of children. Attached all parts of her bicycle were boxes of day old chickens, jars of horseradish sauce, dressed chickens, butter, jam and many other commodities. She left her bicycle in the wash-house (part of an outbuilding at our farm) and, much to the alarm of the bus conductor, boarded the bus for York (on one occasion, the chickens escaped from their boxes and caused consternation on the bus!!!) She returned to Flaxby on the last bus from York each Saturday night and cycled back to Arkendale.

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Percy Carr of Skipton
Occasionally, potatoes were difficult to sell until one day Percy Carr of Carrs Grocers in Skipton called at the farm. He agreed to take a regular supply of potatoes from us, paying cash on collection. This solved great problem and we established a firm and long lasting friendship with him. Unfortunately, he suffered from asthma and retired to California.
Major A K L Stephenson - Flak liaison officer
Allerton Castle is about 2 miles from Flaxby Grange. During the last war, it was requisitioned from Lord Mowbray and Stourton for use as HQ Canadian 6 Bomber Air Force, controlling a number of adjacent airfields such as Dishforth and Linton-on-Ouse. Night raids on Germany were planned and controlled from the Castle and the staff lived in Nissen huts adjacent to the Castle. Late one night, our household was awakened by an English (South African) army officer whose job was to fly on night raids with the Canadians over Germany. He said he was lost and exhausted after returning from a heavy raid. Mother “took him in” and gave him his food and shelter. As a result, he formed a close friendship with our parents who often waited up into the small hours for his return. Mother gave him hot drinks and brandy and he was most grateful, saying that he preferred the peace of the farmhouse to the noise of the mess. He was subsequently awarded the MC and DFC and Bar. On one occasion my brother, home on leave from the army, accompanied him to the castle where he saw the intended target for that night's raid and was shown enlarged photographs of the buildings in Berlin damaged by the bombing.
THE LOCAL CONSTABULARY
PC Charlie Woolmer was our village policeman from 1909–19. During the time he was there, my Father had an accident at Allerton Park Corner and his leg was broken. Mr Woolmer attended him and arranged for him to be taken to hospital. As a mark of gratitude for his kindness my Father presented him with a gold watch and chain.
In the 1930s, PC George Crow and family lived in the police house on the hill, a very conscientious policeman, who took an active part in all village activities. In 1932, PC Pearson took over Constabulary duties in the villages. With his wife and two daughters, Jesse and Jean, he stayed there until 1942.

OTHER WELL-KNOWN PERSONALITIES
We established a most pleasant business relationship with many local and professional people in the area – particularly…

1.      Dr George Robinson of Knaresborough, a kind, jolly man who had played rugby for Ireland. We rarely had to visit his surgery as Dr Robinson was always willing to visit the farm if needed.

2.      Dick Winn… Our one-armed postman who cycled from Knaresborough in all weathers regardless of his First World War disability. Harry Butterfield – a well-known Knaresborough tenor – was our next postman.

3.      Mr. T Walkington… our dentist in East Parade, Harrogate… Followed by Mr T Beaumont, Lindon House, Victoria Avenue, Harrogate. (I have very painful memories of my visits to these two gentlemen). Mother’s eye specialist was Mr Bowen of East Parade, Harrogate.
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4.      Marshall and Snelgrove, McDonald’s and Mr Carle of Station Bridge kept Mother supplied with “under the counter items” during the war years… All in exchange for farm produce.
5.      Mr Wox of Knaresborough repaired Father’s boots and leggings.

6.      Mr Anderson, Mr Leckonby and Mr Gawthorpe – managers of the Midland Bank Knaresborough.

7.      Mr Walker who ran a grocer’s shop opposite the bus station and where each Wednesday Mother used to go, and, sitting on a chair at the counter, gave him her order. This was duly packed and put it into the back of our car. His present to Mother at Christmas was a packet of white candles

      Other shopkeepers… Mr Plummer – the fishmonger. Mr Willey – our chemist who always kept a large bowl of Rowntree’s’ gums on his counter. Fred Thickett – Butcher.  Mr Richmond who owned the Bluebird garage where I left my bike before I caught the bus to Harewood via Harrogate. Mrs Swales who kept the sweet and ice-cream shop down the High Street. A big treat was to sit at one of the four tables in the shop and to have vanilla ice-cream covered in fresh cream!!!

8.      Mr and Mrs Donaldson… The stationmaster and his wife who looked after Goldsborough station during and after the First World War. My parents formed a close friendship with them and especially with their daughter, Mrs Dora Pallett, who was only married a few weeks before her husband was called up for the army and killed in action.

GOLDSBOROUGH CHURCH
My Father was a sidesman in 1916 and, soon after, became Churchwarden of St Mary’s Church –  a position he held until his retirement from farming in 1947. Other churchwardens were Messrs Fryer, Horner and Cawthorne – all local farmers. The conversation before and after church was wholly devoted to agricultural matters! My Mother was a devout churchgoer who battled from early rising each Sunday to get us to go to church. The arguments mounted against this weekly attendance were:-
1.      The Sunday papers which had to be brought from Knaresborough and most important…
2.      The length of the sermon not spoiling the Sunday roast. If someone was at home this calamity could be avoided… because we always had an enormous joint of at least 8 to 9lbs. Mother put it in the side oven before going to church… It tasted superb.

Other memories of church – sitting behind Rev and Mrs Pownall and their lovely daughter Tessa. I found it difficult to concentrate and my thoughts frequently drifted to the outfit Tessa was wearing and the beautiful handbags and gloves on the pew in front. Tessa married Peter Stanley-Price (Barrister and, later, a Judge) but sadly she died after the birth of her twin sons in 1948.

Vicars of Saint Mary’s Church. the Rev A Hastings Kelk, the Rev R B  McKee (who was instrumental in helping to obtain my brother’s articles of Clerkship in Leeds) and the Rev J F Dale Chapman, whose son Eric was killed in the Second World War and whose eldest son Richard was badly injured.

The rev Arthur Penton Mole – another rector of Goldsborough and who helped save the village pub at Coneythorpe!!!!

The Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe was threatened with closure by the police because it needed considerable structural alterations. Rev Mole, together with my Father, went to the Knaresborough Licensing Sessions and produced 42 signatures pleading for the pub to remain open. This was granted and made headlines in the Daily Mail and Express newspapers……
                                                            - 12 -
THE FARMING YEAR
“During the last 80 years the English countryside has changed considerably. No longer does one hear the chug of the traction engines at threshing time, nor hear the sound of the horses hoofs as the loyal and friendly cart-horses are ridden home from the fields. Machinery now does the work of these great animals. Horses used to pull the plough, the harrow and carts – the reaper at harvest time and the mower in the hayfield”
THE SEASONS… were all important and rule the lives. Spring – lambing and seed sowing. Summer – haymaking, fairs and agricultural shows. Autumn – harvest and potato gathering by Irish labourers and Knaresborough ladies. Winter – threshing, shooting and sugar-beet lifting.
The selling of fat lambs in early summer
In about June each year Father sent his best fat lambs to Knaresborough Market. These were much sought after by local butchers and one butcher bought the lot. He asked if they could be left in the field to be collected in small numbers over a period. His gratitude for this favour was demonstrated by the largest joint of lamb given to us each weekend for many weeks!
HAYMAKING ON THE CORN HARVEST
Haymaking and the gathering of the corn were the high spots of the farming year. The hay was cut by a reaper pulled by horses and then allowed to be dried by the sun. It was then pulled into “windrows“ and piled into hay-cocks and allowed to mature before being taken to the stack. In a hot sunny year, the smell of the hay was delightful, but, in a wet year, the whole operation was loss-making, smelly and arduous. The fields of golden corn (barley, wheat and oats) were cut by a self-binder (i.e. a machine pulled by two horses or a tractor) and automatically tied with binder twine into sheaves. The sheaves were leaned against each other (4 on each side and calls “stooks”) in order to mature and dry off before being put on open carts and wagons for delivery to the barn or stack in the stack yard. In a fine summer, the whole operation was straightforward, but, if the stooks got very wet, the binder twine (which was wound around each sheaf) had to be cut and the contents left to dry. This was the most time-consuming and miserable business which ended with the appearance of the combine harvester… after Father retired.
In October, the Harvest Festival was held in Goldsborough Church irrespective of the fact that (in some years) the weather had prevented the completion of the harvest. Nevertheless, the choir, villagers and farmers all sang with gusto that “all had been safely gathered in”. The church was decorated with sheaves of corn and fruits of the harvest. The pulpit was festooned with bunches of large black grapes (donated by the gardner at Goldsborough Hall) and it was mouth-watering to sit listening to the sermon with this beautiful array of fruit only a few feet from our pew, which was 3 rows away. Lord Harewood and the Princess Mary frequently attended morning service at the Goldsborough Church. Their sons George and Gerald were christened here.
THRESHING DAYS
Before the advent of combine harvesters each sheaf of corn had to be threshed in a large threshing machine which was transported to Flaxby from Minskip by Mr Tom Rawlings. This was brought over the night before and the chug-chug of the great machine could be heard two or 3 miles away. It was a fascination for us children and we loved to see it coming down the hill and into the village belching out black smoke and with its very distinctive smell. It trundled its way into the stack-yard and was put into position near the stack to be threshed. Very early the next morning, Tom began to get steam up in his engine, the drum was set ready for working, he gave a whistle on his engine, the belts began to flap and the drum started up. Extra helpers were always required on threshing days as a man was needed on the corn stack, someone to feed the machine, two men to carry away the straw, another to build the straw stack and the corn and chaff to be carried away. “Chaff” is the remnants of the wheat, barley or oats being threshed and, consequently, is extremely dusty, but this is a valuable commodity for spreading in the fold yards. Threshing days made extra work in the house as many additional meals had to be prepared and “drinkings” taking out to the thirsty men – big teacakes with cheese, tea put into a large white enamel jug, enamel pint pots…. Rats and mice kept escaping from the dismantled stacks and my Father was fond of telling the tale of the rat which ran up his trouser leg!! Most of the men tied binder twine round their trousers – just in case… Uncle Tom Knowles (1876-1960),who farmed at Ouseburn, was an expert barley grower and a good salesman. He came for lunch every Sunday (being a widower) and departed with our barley samples which had been carefully placed in blue linen sample bags. These he took, together with his own samples, to York Market on the following Saturday.

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THE POTATO GATHERING AND SUGAR-BEET HARVEST

October was usually a fairly relaxed month on the farm as the harvest was generally gathered in by the end of September, and money started to arrive from the sale of produce.
First there was the potato gathering. This was preceded by the “awarding” of the job to a gang on contract. Sometimes it was Mrs Lund (a forceful lady who lived in Briggate, Knaresborough). She enlisted a band of ladies who were accustomed to rough work. It was an impressive site to see Alf Kirby ploughing up rows of white Majestic potatoes with his two grey Shire horses, followed by a flock of seagulls and crows devouring the worms and grubs. At night, the ladies went home with as many potatoes as they could carry. Some years the contractors were Irishman – Garry Alligan and his men from County Limerick, Cork or Dublin. At night, they slept in the granary after having a “fry up“ consisting mainly of fat bacon, onions and potatoes. After supper the sound of Irish music could be heard played by the men on their mouth organs.
The sugar-beet harvest followed the “taty picking“. This was more leisurely and required the sugar-beet to “topped tailed” by hand and sent to the factory in York by lorry where payment was based on the sugar content.
In 1939, my Father won a certificate of Award from the Sugar Commission for the best cultivated crop of sugar-beet taken to the Poppleton factory from an area of 10 or more acres. He obtained 71 points out of 100.
The annual pig killing
Each November, an expert from another village killed our fatted pig in the wash-house. This required much work from the kitchen staff because he needed plenty of hot water and receptacles for the various parts of the pig. Some parts had to be eaten fairly soon – such as liver, sweetbreads and chitterlings – this was called “pig fry”. Much of the offal was given round the village, but other parts were made into pork pies, brawn. The “chaps” (or cheek pieces) of the pig were pickled and the hands were cured in saltpetre which took up to 3 weeks. Subsequently, they were hung on large hooks to mature. Unlike today’s lean pigs, these were mostly very fat and consequently extremely tasty.
During the war, rationing laws were implemented by the War Agricultural Committee and these forbade farmers to slaughter more than the set quota of their pigs, and ruled that part of each of these should go to the government. It was rumoured that some farmers covertly killed far more than their quota and sold carcasses at a profit on the Black Market.
The Buying of Cattle and Lambs for Fattening
Each “back end“ in September/October Father and Uncle Leonard (the experts) bought store cattle for fattening from Irish dealers in York Market. Father also bought lambs for fattening in the Spring from Kelso, Howick and St. Boswell’s in Scotland and Craven Arms in Shropshire. His visit to St. Boswell’s – possibly, the one time he really left the farm – made a big impression on him and he often talked about his trip.

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COUNTRY EVENTS
The Plough Stots. Each Christmas, we were visited by the Plough Stots from Arkendale. They were performing an old Celtic custom which required several men to act a play in the farmer’s house. They arrived in strange clothes and disguises performing their play in the farmhouse kitchen. Mother gave them “frumenty” which is kibbled wheat, simmered for 12 hours, and pounded. Add to this a nut of butter, mixed spices, currants, sugar, cream and rum. The name “frumenty” has various spellings, but they are all derived from the Latin frumentum, meaning corn. This is a Northern seasonal dish.
The Fox Hounds
The York and Ainsty Hunt met each year in the on the village green at Flaxby. A fine sight to see, but not always welcomed by the farmers as gates were constantly being left opened and hedges and fences broken down.
The Shooters
Pheasants and partridges could not be shot by tenant farmers as the rights to shoot these were let by Lord Mowbray to a syndicate of wealthy businessmen. Shooting parties walked over the farm at least four or five times each winter and compensated us for the disturbance by sending us a brace of pheasants and/or partridges, which made a succulent high tea.
The Hirings
It was customary for 1 or 2 young, unmarried men to live in the back room of the farmhouse. They were given substantial meals, mainly based on the bacon and ham from the pig killing. They worked long hours in the fields and, in the spring and summer, earned money from overtime.
In Yorkshire, the Hiring Fair took place around Martinmas on or about November 23rd. Our local one was held in Knaresborough High Street. The young men offered themselves for hire during the ensuing year to local farmers who had a vacancy on their farm or who offered a better wage.
Legislation fixed a national minimum wage for farm workers and this sounded the “death knell” of the Hirings. Consequently, it petered out during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
National Farmers’ Union
My Father was treasurer of the Knaresborough branch of the NFU for many years. He was chairman of District Number 6 West Riding of Yorkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee for 12 years. The “War Ag”, as it was known, could order farmers to plough up their grass land for corn growing in order to help the war effort. They were, therefore, not very popular and, on one occasion, my Father was threatened with a pitchfork.
The following is an extract which Father wrote for me when I had to give a talk in the Wrens:
“In the autumn of 1939 the Government, recognising the necessity of safeguarding the nation’s food supply, put into operation a policy which had previously been very carefully thought out and well planned. They divided the whole country into zones with a chief committee endowed with considerable legal powers for each zone. These committees, in turn, enrolled many of the prominent farmers of the area to act as a subcommittee and, as practical men, to advise on all matters arising and to tour the districts in order to map out the grass fields that were to be ploughed up and cropped according to Ministry instructions. This scheme was immediately put into operation and, with the goodwill of all parties, it worked extraordinarily well. In fact, it was one of the great surprises of the War to find such a vast amount of stored fertility in these fields that had been grass (some of them for a 100 years). A succession of three years of wonderful weather, coupled with magnificent crops of all kinds and in all parts of the country, made it appear to be almost a miracle. There is no doubt that the British farmers did their duty in the nation’s hour of need and so safeguarded the food supply at a time when the enemy submarines were at the height of their power. A form of control over crops, prices and distribution will almost certainly continue for some years after the war has ended.”
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Animals on the Farm
Apart from cows, bullocks, sheep, pigs, ducks, hens and chickens, we had a large variety of domestic animals over the years. In addition to the many cats, we had sheepdogs, whippets, fox terriers – rabbits of all breeds (chinchillas, Angoras and Dutch), Belgian hares and ferrets.
The Arrol-Johnston Car
The Arrol-Johnston Cars were manufactured in Glasgow about 1912. As a result of Father’s badly set broken leg his mobility was restricted and he therefore bought an Arrol-Johnston 15.9 horse power vehicle and was the first person in the area to own a car. It had solid tyres, spare wheel on the running board and a roof which (with difficulty) could be raised or lowered by means of solid cane supports. This model is illustrated and described in “The Scottish Motor industry” by Michael Worthington-Williams. There is also a photograph in the family album with Father sitting proudly at the wheel with Mother at his side.
After the First World War, Father replaced this car by a series of others – notably, a bull-nosed Morris Oxford, a Morris Cowley, a Lanchester, a T model Ford, a Ford saloon and others.
The Cricket Field. Goldsborough played their cricket on a permanent and well-maintained field on the edge of the village. Flaxby had no such facility and Father therefore agreed to dig up some temporary pasture in a field below the Garth and to fence off a cricket pitch. This involved transporting turves from another part of the farm. In the middle of this operation, Lord Mowbray and Stourton, our landlord, arrived on horseback, and demanded immediate cessation of the operation and reinstatement of the turves!
Goldsborough School. Miss Fairburn was the Head Teacher at Goldsborough School, followed by Miss Todd. Miss Roberts was the Junior Teacher. I started at the school in 1928. We walked in a group – both ways and in all weathers – substantially clad in good warm coats and lace-up boots. In charge of us was a lanky girl from Coneythorpe called Alice Early. On the way to school we would nip off the young green hedge shoots and eat them – this we called “bread and cheese“. We also availed ourselves of turnips from Mr Cawthorne’s field and, smashing them on the road, ate them, dirt and all…
My brother was at the school in the early 1920s and he remembers a teacher called Miss Pauline arriving at the school on a motorcycle from Whixley, wearing dashing waterproofs, gloves and goggles!!!
Each Christmas, we had a party in the in the School and the Princess Royal gave every child a present from the tree.
Christmas at the farm. This was quite a low-key affair and by no means the extravaganza it is today. We had a tree and it was decorated with a few ornaments, kept from year to year. Paper chains were hung – these were all home-made, probably one way of keeping me occupied. Presents were not very elaborate – a stocking with paints, crayons and small books – my main present was an annual – Tiger Tim, Rainbow, Film Fun, Chicks Own and, possibly, a doll. We received a small number of cards and Mother was known to say – “Oh, people have been so kind to remember us”…
After church, we had Christmas dinner – usually a goose, home-made Christmas pudding and crackers. At this time of the year, Kenneth used to send to Gammidges in London for their catalogue, because it was filled with toys, games and tricks. Apart from imitation fried eggs, nails which appeared to go through your finger, his most successful joke was a plate lifter. This had a bulbous end which was placed under the tablecloth and under the plate. He squeezed his end and the plate moved. I was fascinated with this sleight of hand and did not find out the explanation for a long time.
On either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, we motored over to Model Farm at Copgrove for tea. This was the home of Uncle Leonard Simpson (1870-1959) and my cousins (his children), Tom Simpson (1904-91), Edith Simpson (1908-96), and Marjorie Jelliffe (née Simpson, 1913-1997). I loved going, as Edith always had a good selection of games to entertain us – hide and seek, murder, sardines, etc. I also enjoyed playing with her big doll’s pram and being spoiled because I was the youngest. The difference in our ages was 15 years, but Edith has always been able to communicate with young people and I have happy memories of her kindnesses to me when I was at St. Annes.

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Lighting at the Farm
This was quite a problem and necessitated more work. We must have had about six oil lamps – brass, green glass and clear white glass, etc. The wicks needed trimming daily and filling up with paraffin. Small kelly lamps were left burning in the hall and these we took upstairs with us when we went to bed. We also had an Aladdin lamp with a gas mantle which was fragile and easily destroyed. This was used for all activities in the dining room. Lanterns were used outside if the men needed to go into the cowsheds or stables at night.
Flaxby Free School
The exact site of this school is not clear to me, but, in the book published by the Goldsborough Local History Group, they state that it was sited on the west side of Shortshill Lane at the north end of Flaxby, which would make it halfway up the hill, opposite Charlie Young’s duckpond and in Martin’s orchard. The origin of the school goes back to 1641, when Richard Hodgson bequeathed certain lands to his wife Ellen for life and, after her death, the rent to endow a “Free school which shall be kept within the Town of Flasbie”. In 1857, a National school was erected on a new site at the bottom of the hill going towards Coneythorpe and this we always knew as the “Reading Room”. My Father was treasurer of the Free School Trust for many years and numerous local children benefited from this charity by having fees paid, travelling expenses or other incidental assistance.

PREHISTORIC FLAXBY
The name “Flaxby” is derived from both Danish and Norse elements. The name “Flat” formed the first element of Flatby, later Flaxby. The term “by” signifies the abode or residence and is generally coupled with the personal name of some Danish possessor.
Coneythorpe – means Kings’ village. Coney, as in Coney Street, York, being originally Kunning King, as in the German Köenig, and Thorpe, a village, as in the German “Dorp”.
Close to Spring Bank farm, and in our Ten Low Field, was a large tumulus or hill called Ten Low Hill. Each Good Friday (in accordance with custom), we rolled hard-boiled eggs – coloured in nettle water – down this hill in ignorance of the fact that it had origins dating back at least 4,000 years. When this hill was recently excavated for sand quarrying, pottery and a number of querns were discovered. The latter are small mill stones, turned by hand, for grinding corn. They were used for this purpose over many centuries by the Romans, Bronze Age settlers and others. They are now in the possession of the Harrogate Museum.
The Mill Stones. Charlie Kendall lived in Wetherby. He was one of the few remaining craftsmen who could “dress” mill stones. Father purchased two large mill stones for grinding corn. Charlie “dressed” them annually. They were huge circular objects, which were rotated, initially by horses, but, in our case, by an electric or oil driven motor engine. Charlie ensured that the grooves of each stone were not worn down with the grinding process.
The stones were housed in the barn and were left behind after the farm sale as no one wanted them. The wheat and oats were ground to such perfection that the “flour” produced was good enough for bread, but, in our case, it was fed to the cattle. These stones and are popular as garden ornaments.

Sketch plans of the village as it was when we lived there are attached. Also a copy of the 1858 map.
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Disasters
Fortunately, no loss of life or injury resulted from our various disasters on the farm, but heavy financial loss resulted from the following: –
1.      Heavy snow caused the collapse of the fold-yard roof, killing one bullock.
2.      Heavy and unprecedented storms washed away a large field of newly sown turnips.
3.      Swine fever either killed or affected the whole of the pig herd and prevented future use of the buildings for pig breeding.
4.      A horse bolted whilst pulling a loaded cart, causing injury and damage to the driver and the cart.
5.      Abortions were a regular occurrence with both horses and cows.
6.      Lightning and electricity caused the death of cows because of their inability to withstand the shock if they were under electric wires or near a pylon.
7.      Loss of lambs due to foxes, stillbirths, etc.
The poultry were housed in several huts in the Garth and enjoyed free range in the daytime, but were locked up at night as a precaution against foxes. Sometimes, a hen would ignore the danger and produce an unexpected and unauthorised the brood of chicks from a remote part of the farmyard. Mother and I used to enjoy a walk round the farm carrying one of Father’s walking sticks, when we prodded and poked amongst the nettles collecting eggs. There were also two small nest boxes at each end of the wall in the tractor shed and it was not unusual to find two or three eggs in these. It was customary for the farmer’s wife to have the egg money.
Cats’ chorus
Milking on the farm started each morning at 5:30 am prompt. We kept a large variety of cats, all living in the buildings, and, as no kittens were destroyed, the numbers grew each year. They were fully aware that, when milking was finished, their saucers, bowls and other receptacles would be filled with warm, fresh, creamy milk at the back door of the house. As the magical hour of 6:30 am arrived, their cries of impatience were deafening as they clamoured and fought for the milk.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Wesleyan Chapel. Half way along Shortshill Lane (on the opposite side of the road to Spring Bank Farm) stood a red brick Wesleyan Chapel where services were held each Sunday night. (This building has now been demolished). Mainly because Flaxby did not offer any other attractions on Sunday night – small boys attended the services possibly being attracted by the lusty singing. The annual Harvest Festival service was very popular as many varieties of fruit and flowers were on display and disposed of after the service! My brother and his friends were in the congregation!

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FIELD NAMES
Some of the fields comprising Flaxby Grange farm had names which (according to John Fields book “English Field Names”) could have the following meanings –
GARTH… A field or land adjacent to the farm buildings.
TURF PITS (or Turpitz)… Land containing or adjoining peat beds (turf).
INTACK or INTAKE… Land taken in or enclosed. “Pieces of land newly taken into cultivation“ commonly used at time of enclosures.
LOW (as in Ten Low Field)… A mound, a hill or tumulus.
FAUCI CARR… The word “fauci” is not mentioned in Mr Field’s book, but he defines “carr” as “marshy land overgrown with brushwood“.
NEW FOUND ENGLAND… There is no reference to this field name in Mr Field’s book, but Mr Cameron states as follows – “ A considerable number named from distant countries and places are called nicknames of remoteness, for these fields are usually a good distance from the farm to which they belong, or are situated close to a parish boundary”.
WOOD FIELD… Immediately adjacent to Flaxby Cover.
TATE’S PLANTATION… Origin of this is not known at present.
MILL HILL… Windmill for grinding corn or operating a well??
LODGE… The field nearest the lodge at Allerton Park Gate on the A1.
FOSSE… Long narrow excavation, canal, ditch, trench, especially fortification.

ORIGINS OF FLAXBY GRANGE
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a Grange as: –
·         “An establishment where farming is carried on”.
·         “An outlying farmhouse with barns etc, belonging to a religious establishment or a feudal lord, where crops and tithes in kind were stored”.
·         “A country house with farm buildings attached, usually the residence of a gentleman farmer”.
·         “A repository for grain, a granary barn”.

The Fountains Abbey Lease Book included many places owned by Fountains Abbey and let to farmers who presumably paid them rent or goods.
“Old Thornville and Cattal” are specifically mentioned in “the Fountains Abbey Lease Book” under the heading “Little Cattal and Old Thornville“ (Green Hammerton is also mentioned).
“Flaxby Grange” is not specifically mentioned in this book, but it is a reasonable presumption that it was controlled by Fountains Abbey under a lease.

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Flaxby Grange farm as rented from Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton from 1905 to 1947.

Flaxby Grange Farm

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Flaxby Village

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Fred Simpson

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Helen (Nellie) Simpson (née Knowles)

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Helen (Nellie) Simpson (née Knowles)

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Fred and Nellie’s Wedding 1907

Fred and Nellie’s Wedding 1907

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Kenneth Simpson 1915-97

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Kenneth Simpson 1915-97

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Margaret Inman (née Simpson) 1923-2007

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Flaxby Village

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Memories of a Yorkshire Farming Family 1904-1947

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