STONETHWAITE FARM

BORROWDALE

• THE FARM
|
• ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES
|
• VISITORS

STONETHWAITE FARM is run by Nick and Tracy Gill. Nick Gill takes care of the farm and is helped by Tracy. For key tasks (especially gathering) Nick is helped by neighbouring farmers.

Tracy looks after the B&B and Nick is responsible for the campsite. 

HISTORY

Most of the land in Borrowdale was owned by Furness Abbey in the thirteenth century. But, through a series of transactions beginning in 1195, Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire also owned parts of the valley.

Stonethwaite was one of these properties and ‘between 1211 and the beginning of the fourteenth century Stonethwaite Farm developed into a thriving vaccary (dairy farm) so much so in fact that Furness regretted that it had gone to Fountains and declared that the 1211 agreement had been unfairly drawn up. A long and unchristian-like argument arose and the problem was put before one ecclesiastical authority after another until, finally, in 1304, King Edward 1 confiscated the tiny property. The Abbot of Fountains  was obviously a resourceful man – he promptly offered the king forty shillings for the holding and was successful, so that Stonethwaite remained the property of Fountains Abbey.’ (William Rollinson, History of Man in the Lake District (1967), p.78).

The National Trust  took over Stonethwaite Farm in 1963.

LOCATION

© Copyright 2008

TERRAIN

Stonethwaite Farm is a grassland hill farm, lying at the southern end of the Borrowdale Valley. The in-bye land is mainly flat flood plain land in the valley bottom, with steep intakes and the common grazing rising to around 885 metres above sea level.

SIZE OF THE FARM

The landholding extends to 251.66 hectares (just over 621 acres). The farm has access to Langstrath Common (approx 1700 hectares). The in-bye at Stonethwaite is around 12 hectares.

LIVESTOCK & NUMBERS

The holding has a stocking capacity of 529 ewes (including shearlings) and 185 hoggs on the fell. There is also capacity for an in-bye flock of 100 ewes (including shearlings) plus followers. There are 10 suckler cows (limousin & belgian blue X); and one goat.

GRAZING & CONSERVATION

The farm has fell grazing rights for 860 sheep plus followers on Langstrath Common. This is limited to a maximum of 529 ewes and shearlings plus followers due to the inclusion of Langstrath Common in the Environmentally Sensitive Scheme. This agreement runs until 2009.

The majority of the farm is within an ESA agreement which will run until 2013.