A framed photograph of
Ellerton Lodge (c1870?)
- courtesy of Judith Brown
Ellerton Lodge (with the extended Ellerton Lodge Cottage to the right) in September 2007
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A framed photograph of
Ellerton Lodge (c1870?) |
Ellerton Lodge (with the extended Ellerton Lodge Cottage to the right) in September 2007 |
Ellerton Lodge lies about 1 mile NNW of
Downholme village, and only 200 yards south of the River Swale. Researcher Judith
Brown, a descendant of Richard Ellerton (1678-1743), believes that Ellerton Lodge was
"probably a long house (as many farmhouses are in Swaledale) when originally
built, and was extended early in the 18th century.
There is a stone step in the hall which could have been the original front
doorstep and I am told there is an interesting door in the stable - could this
be the original front door? The two front rooms, entrance porch and hall of the
larger part of the Lodge are a forward extension from these steps, the unextended
portion becoming a separate dwelling".
The 1778 will of
Edward Ellerton (1714-1780) states: "I give and devise unto
my dear wife Ann Ellerton the old house adjoining to the Messuage Tenement or
Dwelling House situate in Downholme aforesaid wherein I now live". Presumably
the "old house" refers to the unextended part now called Ellerton Lodge Cottage,
as seen on the right in the c1870 photo above.
After Richard's death in 1873 Ellerton Lodge and the farms he owned were bought by Timothy Hutton of Hutton Hall (Marske) and his brother Matthew Hutton of Walburn Hall. The Huttons were a very prosperous family and it seems unlikely that they actually lived at the Lodge, preferring perhaps to rent it out with the farms. However, an advert in a June 1878 edition of the Leeds Mercury might imply otherwise: " wanted, thoroughly good cook for the country, who understands soups, entrees, &c. liberal wges to competent person. Small dairy. No kitchen-maid, milking, or washing. Character indispensable. Family samll, Mrs H., Ellerton Lodge, Richmond, Yorks."
At the time of the 1881 census William Preston (a "farmer of 27 acres" born at Askrigg, Yks), his wife Elizabeth and daughter Jane were living at Ellerton Lodge. Jane was shown as aged only 18 months and born at Askrigg, indicating that the family had not lived at the Lodge for very long. The household record (RG11/4880/18/5) also included "visitor" Anthony Thwaite, a "general servant" with the delightful name of Maggie Mudd, and "boarder/farmer" George Halliday - possibly residing in the "Cottage" part of the building.
Subsequent tenants/owners of Ellerton Lodge include:
● 1890 John Brown, farmer (per Bulmer's
Directory of 1890; no relation to researcher Judith Brown)
● 1893 John Ralph Brown, farmer (Kelly's Directory of 1893)
● 1897 Edwin Umpleby, agent to J T D'Arcy-Hutton
● 1911 James Slinger, farmer (Cookes'
Almanack of 1911)
● 1913 Samuel Musgrave (Kelly's Directory of
1913)
● 1920 onwards - Mrs Clarkson (schoolteacher), Mr Blenkiron (retired farmer), Mrs
Lonsdale (d. of Mr Blenkiron), Mrs Roma Brass (d. of Mrs Lonsdale)
If anyone can advise me who was living there at the time of the 1891 (John Brown?) and 1901 censuses (Edwin Umpleby?) I would be much obliged!
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Ellerton Lodge viewed from the A6108 road leading south to Downholme (September 2007) |
An aerial view taken on a snowy day in
November 2006 |
Another photograph of the Lodge (taken by Hugh Mortimer in April 2006) along with an OS map of the area, can be seen at the excellent Geograph website - click here.
I would welcome any more information on Ellerton Lodge - or photographs - from anyone stumbling upon this webpage!
Page last updated: March 2008
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