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William Sewell was a local lad who went away
to college and became a well qualified teacher. After a successful career he
returned to Cowling for his retirement.
He was a respected forager of local history and when he died in 1960s he
bequeathed his notes to Cowling Parish Council. It is now intended to put
relevant data on this website. As a taster we begin with his thoughts and
gleanings on Town End Farm and its, environment.
Credits to Malcolm Smith for supplying this information.
*****
CLICK TO ENLARGE VIEW
Town End Farms, Cowling 1787
Map shows "Town End Farms" in possession of Wm Wainman in 1787.
Name "Town End" simply means "on the outskirts of town or village". Compare
"Town End Fields" at Cowling Hill, now part of Dairy House.
The map shows position in 1787 - one large farm and a small holding. (But
records show that prior to 1787 the land shown on map was divided into two
farms of almost equal size.)
About 1813 the land was divided again into its two original parts and a
decreased small holding.
Scarboro Lathe formed farm buildings for the second farm. About 1813 the
barn (Scarboro' Lathe) was repaired and at the same time "the cottage or
farm house belonging to the land" was repaired. This would be H. on map. R
was extent of small holding and another house had been provided (Starkie
House). About 1843 two farms were re-united and have remained together ever
since. (1846 Tithe Map gives exact extent of Town End and Scarboro'Ing
Farms, showing that though farmed together they were regarded as two farms.)
Road through Town End Farms, by Wood House;
Road not marked on map but stiles and gates give an indication of its route.
It was an old "corpse road" from Ickornshaw to Kildwick as following record
shows: To - and - making drains in the Ing Side to hinder slip into the Wood
below the Corse Road in Hollow." This would be the hollow in the road near
present Vicarage.
(Note limit of Toad Holes at this period. "Cornshaw Bridge" was built in
1780 and cost £20.7.5d
Road (continued) is spoken of as a "Corpse Road" in Church Deeds.
Evidently there were certain public rights over road (a mere track) from
early times. It would be one of routes to old mill.
With the building of the New Road, this road would lose its importance as a
public road and became an Estate Road with a public footpath. The "made"
road was completed about 1850.
An interesting point about "Town End" is that it had a "drying house". This
was built in 1803. No other mention of a "drying house" in Cowling has been
found.
Up to 1792 most of fences on the farms were hedges. After that year most of
the present stone walls were built.
Interesting points in connection with Town End:
(1) Corpse Road
(2) Drying House
(3) Church (1845) Board School (1874) built in Scarboro Ing: National School
and School House built in Stomacher about 1850
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