SE6195 : Elm Houses, Bransdale West side
taken 1 year ago, 3 km from Cockayne, North Yorkshire, England
Low and High Elm Houses seem to have been farmed separately until some time in the early 19th century when both came into possession of the Duncombe/Feversham estate, although a 17th-century reference to “Helm House” is believed to refer to High Elm House which has a date stone of 1666, considered to have been reused1. The lintel over the door to the byre has the inscription “Mr Thos Chapman//1780”.
The interesting thing about Low Elm House is that it was a corn mill. This really surprised me, being the strangest of locations for a water mill not adjacent to a stream. I found out later that the supply had to be culverted a distance of 450 metres. The remains of the mill pond is extant behind the house. By 1867, when High Helm House was put up for sale the mill was described as “formerly in full operation” and “might be restored“.
In the late 18th-century, Low Elm House was owned by a George Petch, who sold it in 1780 to Isaac Scarth who farmed the property until the early 19th century5. Isaac Scarth was the father of John Scarth who was one of Bransdale’s most colourful characters, I have posted about him before, see Link .
Also in 1780, High Elm House was sold by Richard Wood to Thomas Chapman, the name inscribed on the brye lintel.
Between 1814 and 1828, both farms were bought by the Duncombe/Feversham estate, which amalgamated them into a single 48 acre unit.
The 1851 census records John Richardson living at Low Helm House and farming 48 acres with John Garbutt at High Helm House, 30 acres.
Mrs Garbutt, presumably a widow, occupied High Helm House when it was sold in 1867 but the size had decreased to 26 acres. The inclusion of the Low Elm mill in the 1867 sale implies that the two farms were by then re-joined but the acreages don’t seem to tally. Elm House Farm was again listed for sale in 1892 this time occupied by Joseph Knaggs.
However Low Elm appears to have again been a seperate working farm in 1913.
The discovery that another corn mill existed in the dale is intriguing. It must have been in direct competition with Bransdale Mill, which seems to have been a far superior construction. I understand though the this track along the west side of Bransdale up to Stork House was at once the major access in and out of the dale. Perhaps this gave it some benefit.
For sources see my blog post Link