Richard and Sarah 1845 to 1880
Richard and Sarah were the first Mackereth’s to farm at Waterside Farm, and came from Lower Butterbent Farm, in New Hutton, near Kendal, Westmorland.
Since Richard was not the eldest son, it is possible that he would not have had the opportunity to take over the home farm. After the death of his father, in 1838, he looked after the Bee Hive inn for a short time. However, it is not known whether he did this in his name or for his brother Henry.
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In the approximately 1847, he became tenant farmer at Waterside Farm, owned by the Ashton Hall Estate, near Lancaster in Lancashire.
It is believed, within the family, that he may have journeyed to Lancaster by crossing Morecambe Bay from Kent’s Bank, near Grange over Sands to Hest-Bank, near Morecambe, on a well-established walk at suitable tides and times. This crossing still takes place as a guided walk with a number of crossings each year led by the Queen’s guide, Cedric Robinson, please see ‘Crossing Morecambe Bay’. Two newspaper reports of August 6, 1877, and July 26,1880, and a photo of silverware, give a good picture of a very high standard of farming at Waterside Farm |
Note that the will of his father stipulated that his estate would be shared out when the youngest surviving son/daughter became 21. This would be 1847. Thomas having died in 1842.
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ROYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW 1877
Presented by C.STARKIE Esq.MP Best Cultivated Farm won by R.Mackereth Waterside Farm, Ashton |
Agriculture Gazette July 26 1880
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At this time, all the Mackereth family lived in a 3 storey cottage at the end of the top barn (painted white in the photo)
Note, the criticism in the newspaper reports of the poor standard of accommodation for the family. This must have irked Lord Ashton (James Williamson), who owned Williamson’s linoleum factory in Lancaster, as he was considered to be quite a philanthropist and provided a number of public facilities, in Lancaster, including Williamson’s Park, the memorial to Lady Ashton and the Lancaster Town Hall, etc..
"In my time on the farm, the cottage was where the married man and his family lived, and in our case was occupied by a cowman, Lant Bell, who was well skilled in the management of the cattle, and was a first class milker". ( Maurice Mackereth)
For the story of the building of the new minor mansion house in 1895 see Brian’s Speech Unfortunately Richard never saw the new accommodation since he passed away in 1880.
Richard's Census returns, of 1861 and 1871, shows that the farm increased in size from 54 to 118 acres, and this must have been when the outbuildings known as ‘Ann Wright's’, with its land, were added to Waterside Farm.
Note, the criticism in the newspaper reports of the poor standard of accommodation for the family. This must have irked Lord Ashton (James Williamson), who owned Williamson’s linoleum factory in Lancaster, as he was considered to be quite a philanthropist and provided a number of public facilities, in Lancaster, including Williamson’s Park, the memorial to Lady Ashton and the Lancaster Town Hall, etc..
"In my time on the farm, the cottage was where the married man and his family lived, and in our case was occupied by a cowman, Lant Bell, who was well skilled in the management of the cattle, and was a first class milker". ( Maurice Mackereth)
For the story of the building of the new minor mansion house in 1895 see Brian’s Speech Unfortunately Richard never saw the new accommodation since he passed away in 1880.
Richard's Census returns, of 1861 and 1871, shows that the farm increased in size from 54 to 118 acres, and this must have been when the outbuildings known as ‘Ann Wright's’, with its land, were added to Waterside Farm.
Ann-Wright's, now known as The Barn1, in the centre, Stodday Village on right.
Taken from Waterside Farm in 2007
For further information on The Barn see Stodday village by Pamela and Dick White, who now own and live in The Barn.
Taken from Waterside Farm in 2007
For further information on The Barn see Stodday village by Pamela and Dick White, who now own and live in The Barn.
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A photo of Sarah was taken at the front door of the new Waterside Farm house circa 1895. |
Richard died on 17 February 1881 at Waterside Farm, from TB.
Maurice remembers:
"I can vaguely remember the building of a big loose box for cows being added to the side of Ann-Wrights existing buildings, in the early 1930’s when they were owned by a Mr W J Pye, cattle food millers of Lancaster. Also, the removal of the internal stable stalls, to make maximum use of the area as a barn.
"Another memory that I have of Ann Wrights was in the winter of 1939, when there was a snow storm, practically white-out conditions. I and the farm dog, called Rob, had the task of driving 60 plus sheep from the house field to Ann Wrights to be housed in the shippon, as they were starting to lamb. The task took Rob and I some two hours. I was a virtual snowman, and extremely glad afterwards, to get into the kitchen to thaw out. From memory, I think we kept the sheep inside for a month, and they had to be watered and fed twice a day.
"That winter we were snowed in at Waterside for a week because of the drifting snow. The first bad snow was on the Saturday, and as far as normal means of transport were concerned, we were unable to leave the farm for a week. On the Thursday, my brother, sister and I, walked into Lancaster, a distance of one and a half miles to go to the cinema. The drifts of snow in the roads were as high as the hedges, presumably there were snow ploughs, but Ashton Road would not be a priority.
"I have no memory of how we delivered the milk to Lancaster during that snow bound week because at that time a Mr Longton was the ‘milk kitter’(distributor) who took our milk, for his customers in Lancaster. Normally Dad delivered the mornings milk to MR Longton’s shop/dairy in Stone Well, in Lancaster, and Mr Longton collected the afternoon’s milking.
"The other memory of Ann Wrights, was my mother's, who remembered a fire there, and a good smell of roast potatoes."
"I can vaguely remember the building of a big loose box for cows being added to the side of Ann-Wrights existing buildings, in the early 1930’s when they were owned by a Mr W J Pye, cattle food millers of Lancaster. Also, the removal of the internal stable stalls, to make maximum use of the area as a barn.
"Another memory that I have of Ann Wrights was in the winter of 1939, when there was a snow storm, practically white-out conditions. I and the farm dog, called Rob, had the task of driving 60 plus sheep from the house field to Ann Wrights to be housed in the shippon, as they were starting to lamb. The task took Rob and I some two hours. I was a virtual snowman, and extremely glad afterwards, to get into the kitchen to thaw out. From memory, I think we kept the sheep inside for a month, and they had to be watered and fed twice a day.
"That winter we were snowed in at Waterside for a week because of the drifting snow. The first bad snow was on the Saturday, and as far as normal means of transport were concerned, we were unable to leave the farm for a week. On the Thursday, my brother, sister and I, walked into Lancaster, a distance of one and a half miles to go to the cinema. The drifts of snow in the roads were as high as the hedges, presumably there were snow ploughs, but Ashton Road would not be a priority.
"I have no memory of how we delivered the milk to Lancaster during that snow bound week because at that time a Mr Longton was the ‘milk kitter’(distributor) who took our milk, for his customers in Lancaster. Normally Dad delivered the mornings milk to MR Longton’s shop/dairy in Stone Well, in Lancaster, and Mr Longton collected the afternoon’s milking.
"The other memory of Ann Wrights, was my mother's, who remembered a fire there, and a good smell of roast potatoes."
