TOWN HEAD FARM
GRASMERE
TOWN HEAD FARM is run by Donald and Jackie Hodgson with support from contractors for walling, silage and sheep clipping. Donald and Jackie have held the tenancy since 1989.
HISTORY
Town Head farmhouse dates from the very late 17th or early 18th centuries. The house has a fine collection of moulded oak woodwork and a spice cupboard dated 1702.
There were two families living in the Town Head grouping the 17th century; the Hirds and the Haukriggs. The earliest known owner of Town Head Farm is William Haukrigg who died in 1669.
By the early years of the 19th century Town Head Farm had been acquired by John Myers of Po House Millom. John Myers was a friend of William Wordsworth who offered to help manage the property for his daughter Juliam when John died in 1821. The Myers family sold the farm (date unknown; after 1878).
LOCATION
© Copyright 2008
In 1853, the property was owned by John Noel Taylor; his son, John Frederick of Hale Cheshire sold it to the National Trust in 1981.Information drawn from the National Trust Survey, T J Whittaker and JD Martin, August 1988.
TERRAIN
Traditional Lakeland Fell Farm. Rough terrain; rocks and bracken.
SIZE OF THE FARM
There is inbye of 220 acres, with grazing rights to Grasmere Common (6000+ acres) for 1000 sheep and their followers and 30 cattle.
LIVESTOCK & NUMBERS
The Livestock is made up of:
Herdwick Ewes: 370
Swaledales: 100
Texel Ewes: 60
Beef Cattle: 15-20 stores (Limousin X’s)
GRAZING & CONSERVATION
Sheep numbers are limited to 1000 on the common.
The farm operates within the ESA scheme
Inbye land is in Tier 1
Hay Meadows are in Tier 2
The Cumbria Fells and Dales Leader + programme is based at Voluntary Action Cumbria and is part-financed by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund of the European Union and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. This project is part of a trans-national project with Gévaudan Leader + Programme, Lozère, France.
© Copyright 2008 Cumbria Hill Farms