THORNHOLME FARM

CALDERBRIDGE

• THE FARM
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• ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES
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• VISITORS

THORNHOLME FARM is run by George Crayston and his son George Jr who divides his time between his home farm and other neighbouring farms.

HISTORY

Thornholme was once part of Calder Abbey. At the time of the dissolution in 1536 the then abbot, Richard Ponsonby,  was ‘compelled to yield up the abbey’ into the hands of the Commissioners of Henry VIII headed by Thomas Leigh, later made a knight. Thomas Leigh was then given all the lands of Calder Abbey and its farmsteads, including Thornholme, in 1538.

Calder Abbey was founded in 1134; so Thornholme Farm is rooted in the early evolution of medieval society in Cumbria. ‘1616 LR’ is inscribed in stone on the main barn of the farm.

In one of the sheepfolds is a stone bearing in relief the letter ‘G’ with a cross fleury; the ‘G’ possibly refers to Goldsborow in Yorkshire, one time owner of the abbey and lands.

LOCATION

© Copyright 2008

The farm passed into the ownership of the Senhouse Family who sold it in 1885 to Calder Abbey Estates. Between the World Wars the farm was renowed for producing ponies for the pits. When the estates were broken up in the late 1960’s, Thornholme went into private ownership. George Crayston purchased the farm and moved into with his family in 1985.

TERRAIN

This is a classic hill farm in the Western Fells. Cold Fell is part of a massif that divides Ennerdale from Wasdale and Kinniside from Stockdale Moors.

SIZE OF THE FARM

The total area of the farm is 234 hectares; 96 of which are moorland, and the rest are fields and intakes linked to the farm.

LIVESTOCK & NUMBERS

The Livestock is made up of:

450 Herdwicks; 50 Swaledales
Inside: 200 Cheviot X.s;
150 Herdwicks put to Cheviots
500 breeding sheep to fell rams
350 to Cheviot rams

34 beef-breeding cattle ; angus/limousine crosses for the majority.

GRAZING & CONSERVATION

Thornholme Farm has been in an ESA scheme  since its origin.

It holds rights of access to two commons; 400 sheep on Kinniside Common; 400 on Stockdale Moor. Both moors are in an ESA agreement, and both have  Commoners Associations.

The three agreements are of all of ten years duration and are coming to an end at different times.

Currently, negotiations are under way  for Entry Level Stewardship for Stockdale Moor.