Description

NY 14 SE BLENNERHASSET & TORPENHOW Blennerhasset

5/11A Mechi Farmhouse

GV II

Farmhouse. 1863-4 for William Lawson of Brayton. Polychrome rubble walls with
flush red-sandstone quoins, under Welsh slate roof with red standstone chimney
stacks. 2 storeys, 3 bays, with lower 2-storey, single-bay, right angle right
extension. 2 doorways and window covered by C20 glazed porch. Sash windows in
painted stone surrounds and 2 gabled dormer windows. Extension has external
stone steps to upper-floor doorway (formerly laboratory over kitchen). Sash
windows in painted stone surrounds. Part of a model co-operative farm, run
along the lines of the form established by Alderman Mechi at Tiptree Heath,
Essex and hence the name, although it was called Blennerhasset Farm for many
years. Fully documented by William Lawson in his book, Ten Years of Gentleman
Farming, 1874, describing the building of the farm, its management and accounts,
giving a unique insight into the running of a model farm, which is still
remarkably complete. William Lawson said op cit p.l9, "on the 2 February 1862
(aged 26) I came actually into occupation of the farm, which prematurely took
the name of The Model Farm as soon as the steam plough was introduced upon
it..... I determined that my farm should be a Co-operative one..... it was a
delightful time - destroying the old-fashioned work and preparing the new."
Although revolutionary in its methods and with co-operative farm shops as far
away as Newcastle and Carlisle, the farm was never a success and losses were
considerable. However Mr Lawson pointed out that if he had had the labourers
and manager who were familiar with methods he was using, then the farm could
have been a success.

Listing NGR: NY1741141172

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26437432

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]