DEEPDALE HALL

PATTERDALE

• THE FARM
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• ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES
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• VISITORS

DEEPDALE HALL is situated in the scenic valley of Deepdale, which is located between Ullswater and Brotherswater in the North Eastern Lake District.

This is a typical central Lake District fell farm rearing traditional breeds of hill sheep and a small number of cows.

HISTORY

The farmhouse was built in 1670 whilst under the ownership of the Duke of Norfolk who was Lord of the Manor of Deepdale.  The Manor Court was held in the farm and the owners still retain the title of Lord of the Manor.

The farm was bought by Chris Brown’s father in 1954 and has been run by the family ever since. Chris Brown and his son, Jimmy, now work full time on the farm.

SIZE OF THE FARM

The farm is 67.2ha and also has rights on a common of 809ha which is shared with two other graziers. 

LOCATION

© Copyright 2008

TERRAIN

The farm sits in the valley of Deepdale which is steep sided and leads up to Fairfield rising to nearly 3000 feet.  The fell land is craggy with white fell returning to heather in some areas. There is around 67 ha of inbye land. 

LIVESTOCK & NUMBERS

Deepdale Hall runs a traditional fell sheep flock of 600 hill ewes of which 90 are Herdwicks and the rest Swaledales. There are only a small number of cattle left on the farm following a decision to concentrate on sheep after the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001.

The lambs are mostly sold deadweight as light lambs for the export market in the October to December period.  Draft ewes and breeding sheep are sold through Penrith Auction and are also sold direct over the internet to as far afield as Peebles.  Depending on the time of year, Deepdale Hall has available for private sale draft ewes, ewe lambs, ewes in lamb or with lambs at foot. Both Herdwick and Swaledale shearling rams are also available. Enquiries about breeding sheep should be emailed to: brown@deepdalehall.freeserve.co.uk or call Chris 017684 82369

More information about breeding sales can be seen on the sales page of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association website at  www.herdwick-sheep.com. 

The Brown’s bred a shearling ram that won the Championship  at the Kirkby Stephen Swaledale ram sales in 2005.

GRAZING & CONSERVATION

Deepdale Hall is in the Lake District Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme and also has a Wildlife Enhancement Scheme agreement.  These agreements restrict the number of sheep that can be grazed on the fell land and sheep numbers during winter.  In addition, the WES agreement pays for additional shepherding to keep the sheep away from crags and to maintain the heft on the fell.

The ESA agreement also includes an area of wetland.