Act 25

Tidkinhow

Tidkinhow Farm, near Guisborough in about 1900

The remarkable story of the Farndales of Tidkinhow and the adventures of twelve siblings

Martin and Catherine farmed at Tidkinhow from 1885 and brought up their family of twelve there, before they dispersed across the world

The Tidkinhow Podcast

This is a new experiment. Using Google’s Notebook LM, listen to an AI powered podcast summarising this page. This should only be treated as an introduction, and the AI generation sometimes gets the nuance a bit wrong. However it does provide an introduction to the themes of this page, which are dealt with in more depth below. Listen to the podcast for an overview, but it doesn’t replace the text below, which provides the accurate historical record.

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Arrival

On 28 November 1885 there was an offer for the tenancy of Aysdalegate and Tidkinhow Farms at Slapewath, near Guisborough. The Trustees of the late Wm Barningham are prepared to receive tenants for the letting of the whole of these valuable Old Grass Land Farms, comprising together about 300 acres, with all their buildings. A grand opportunity either for sheep farmers or dairy keepers. Immediate possession can be given. For particulars apply to John Woodfield, Springfield, Darlington.

Soon afterwards Martin and Catherine Farndale, and their family of five moved to Tidkinhow from their moorland farm at Tranmire. The eldest son John Farndale recalled driving sheep from Tranmire to Tidkinhow when he was about seven years old. By the time the future US Senator, James Farndale was born on 22 December 1885, the family had moved to Tidkinhow farm on Stranghow Moor near Guisborough. The young family were brought up at Tidkinhow and the other seven children were born there.

Martin and Catherine Farndale The parents of a family of twelve born on a moorland farm, who soon spread across Britain and North America

The Lindsays The story of the Scottish Lindsays, Catherine Lindsay’s family

Tidkinhow The moorland farm where a family of twelve grew up

James Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on 22 December 1885. William Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on September 1887, but died only two years later on 19 July 1889. Mary Francis Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on 22 January 1889. William Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on 29 January 1892. Grace Alice Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, on 21 April 1893. She was named after her mother's sister and her mother's mother, Alice Lindsay. Dorothy Annie Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm in June 1895. Alfred Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on 5 July 1897.

The 1891 Census recorded the family at Red Lion Howe, Stanghow. Tidkinhow was within the ambit of nearby Stanghow, which lies midway between Tidkinhow and Kilton. Martin Farndale, 46, was recorded as a farmer and ironstone miner. Catherine Farndale was 35; John Farndale was 12; Elizabeth Lindsay Farndale, always known as Lynn, was 11; Martin Farndale was 9; the shy George Farndale was 8; Catherine Jane Farndale was 6; James Farndale was 5; Mary Francis Farndale was 2; and William Farndale was still a baby.

In September 1891, the first of what is intended to be an annual sale of sheep at Kildale in Cleveland was held yesterday afternoon, and proved a great success. The farmers of this important sheep breeding district have hitherto sent their sheep to Goathland, near Whitby, but, owing to the great distance between the two places, it was decided at a meeting of farmers two months ago to start a sheep sale at Kildale. No fewer than 1,200 sheep were entered, the drafts being from farmers including Farndale, Tidkinhow.

At the Loftus in Cleveland Agricultural Show in July 1892 Martin won third prize in the carting colt or filly foal category, beaten by his uncle Charles Farndale who was farming at Kilton Hall. In April 1897 there were eight Scotch Ewes in lamb to a Leicester Tup for sale from Mr M Farndale.

A new century dawns

Tidkinhow Farm, 1900. Kate, Catherine, Alfred and Elizabeth (Lynn)

By the turn of the century Martin Farndale was 52 and Catherine Farndale still only 43. They continued to work the farm at Tidkinhow and the eldest sons and daughters were starting to work and were helping to look after the youngest who were going to school at Boosbeck.

The 1901 Census for Tidkinhow Farm, Stanghow listed Martin Farndale, head of the household, 55, a farmer; Elizabeth L Farndale, 21; Martin Farndale, 19, an ironstone miner underground; Mary Farndale, 12; William Farndale, 10; Grace A Farndale. 7; Dorothy A Farndale, 6.

At the same time, the 1901 Census listed Kate Farndale at 105 Stanhope Street, Westgate, Newcastle with the Heslop family from Alnwick , together with the young Alfred Farndale aged 3. Alfred was recorded as the nephew of Ralph Heslop who was a tobacco spinner, so Catherine (Kate) was with Alfred on Census day, visiting her Alnwick relatives.

In December 1902 the farm stock of the Hutton hall, Bonsdale and Highcliffe farms, belonging to Sir Joseph Pease, Bart, MP, was sold by auction on the Hutton Hall Farm. The weather was fine, and there was a large attendance of buyers from various parts of North Yorkshire and South Durham. The catalogue comprised 14 horses, 40 beasts, 550 sheep, about 800 choice poultry, implements and dairy utensils. Mr Charles Turner was the auctioneer, and a start was made with the sale shortly after ten o’clock. The sheep and pigs were next sold, and the principal buyers included Mr Farndale, Guisborough.

On 23 August 1903 Lynn (Elizabeth Lindsay Farndale) married George Barker and went to Tancred Grange near Scorton to live. John Farndale worked on the farm. Lynn was the first to marry. She had been working at Tancred Grange and she was 24 when she married. She was to have six children and her descendants were still living at Tancred in 1982. On the day after she was married, her mother wrote to her.

Tidkinhow, Aug 24 1903

My Dear Daughter

I received your letter and was glad to hear you arrived all right. I hope you and your husband are enjoying yourselves and that you are having fine weather. It is raining here today. John will take your luggage and leave it at Darlington tomorrow as he is going back to Newcastle. I posted all the boxes on Saturday night that were addressed and I will send the others to you with the cake. I gave the postman 2s 6d this morning and he was very pleased. We have to wish you much joy and happiness for him. You must write after you get home and let me know if you get the luggage all right. I now conclude with kind regards to you both.

I remain your affect mother

C J Farndale

Meanwhile life at Tidkinhow continued. Weekly shopping expeditions by pony and trap to Guisborough to buy groceries were followed by elder members of the family going out on Saturdays in Guisborough. They went for lots of walks and met neighbours. There were horse drawn and later motor buses and from time to time a break would take them on an outing to a show somewhere. John was working down the mines, Lynn was married, Martin was described as a bit delicate as a boy and spent much time at home helping his father. George, the shy one, was working on a local farm. Kate was at home and James was working as a butcher. His younger brother, William, was an apprentice butcher at Saltburn and Mary soon went away to learn confectionary. Grace, Dorothy and Alfred were at home.

Catherine Jane frequently wrote to her children when they were away. She often visited members of her family, some of whom by then lived at Bishop Auckland. There were two postcards written to Grace, one from Bishop Auckland on 25 September 1906 which simply wrote Will be at Bishop Auckland Wednesday by train and the other, on 6 March 1905, from Etherley Schools where Catherine Jane had been, saying This is where I went to school a long time since. I hope you are keeping well.

The Canada Bug

Life was a challenge as twelve siblings grew up and considered their futures. It was becoming more difficult to make a living, let alone realise ambitions. Martin was the first to want to spread his wings. Many young men in the district were going abroad and there was great pressure to colonise the western provinces of Canada. He was, however, concerned at the effect on his mother on leaving and this concern is clearly reflected in two letters written from SS Tunisian after he had left without saying goodbye. He seems to have hoped to avoid the worry and concern of his departure, though leaving without a farewell might not have been the best approach. He left Liverpool on Thursday 16 June 1905.

June 16th 1905, Friday morning

Dear Sister

Just a few more lines. I left Liverpool on Thursday night for Canada on SS Tunisian. I have had a good night's sleep. I have booked second class on board and it is very comfortable. We are passing by the north of Ireland. The ship makes a call here to take on more passengers. This letter will be sent on from here. I shall not be able to post any more letters till I land at yond side. I am enjoying the trip well so far. I hope mother will not fret if she get to know before I write. I will send a letter to her as soon as we land. I am going to do best . I am going a long way up the country. I am to Calgary in Alberta. It is chiefly cattle farming there. There is several more young men on ship that are going out from there. But I have not meet any lady that is my way yet. You must try and cheer mother up. There is nothing for her to trouble about. I am as safe here as riding on the railways in England. I shall be about other 7 days on the water. I will send a few letters off before I start my land journey. I have not time write more. I want to up on deck. We are just about to land at Londonderry I believe.

I must leave hoping you are all well.

M Farndale

And five days later he wrote another letter, though it was not posted until he arrived in Canada.

Letter cannot be posted for England till we land so you will know if you get this that I landed all right.

Wednesday June 21st 1905

Dear Sister

I shall soon get my sea trip over now. Land was sighted today Newfoundland I believe. Every body is beginning to lighten up now. But it will be Saturday morning before we land at Montreal.

I have enjoyed voyage up to now. I had one day sea sick. It was awful. I don't want that any more. We have had few very cold days. It is always cold in this part of the Ocean. We saw a great iceberg this morning. It was a great sight. This is a great rock of ice. So you must know we were passing through a cold front. This is a big vessel about two hundred yards long I should think. Every body seem quite happy. There is a smoke room and a music room. And the best of everything to eat. Third class seems to be rough quarters. But they are in another part of the ship. There will be about eight hundred passengers on board all together. Some men pulling long faces when the vessel left Liverpool. I never thought anything about it. But I was like the rest. I watched England till it disappeared out of sight. I hope mother will not trouble about me. I will be all right. I thought it was my best thing to do. I had nothing to start in business with in England. I shall be able to get about £50 per year and board with the farmers out here. If I can stand the climate. And I can settle. I shall be able to start farming for myself in about two years.

Thursday

All letters are to be posted tonight on board so that they will get away as soon as we land. So all has to be ready.

First and Second class are having a Grand On Board tonight. We shall be quite lively.

I now finish. Hoping you are all well. And remain your affectionate Bro.

M Farndale

Martin was 24 years old. These letters start a whole branch of the Farndale family who emigrated to Alberta.

The boys of Tidkinhow in about 1910 - John, James, Alfred, William, George, Martin (inset) The girl Farndales of Tidkinhow with Barker children - Willie B, Dorothy F,

Mary F, Mary B, Kate F, Grace F,

Margaret B, John B - about 1910

George and James (“Jim”), at first reluctant to leave home, followed their brother Martin to Alberta in 1911. Jim would spend his late life in the United States. Already Kate wanted to go to look after them, but they all knew that their mother was ailing.

27 – The Albertans The story of the Farndales of Tidkinhow who left Yorkshire for a new life on the Prairies

Atlantic crossings at the time of Titanic The story of five brothers and two sisters who crossed the Atlantic in the age of Titanic to emigrate to Canada

Death of the Matriarch

In January 1911 the Leadholm and Danby ploughing and hedge cutting competitions, which were established a year or two ago, and are the only competitions of the kind which are held in the immediate district, took place on Wednesday afternoon, at Egton. There was a large attendance and considerable interest was manifested by agriculturalists and others in the various events. Dyking was dropped out of the programme this year. The district includes the parishes of Danby, Glaisdale, Egton, Ugthorpe, Westerdale and Commondale, and competitors and spectators attended from most of the villages comprised in the area, and also from other places. The ploughing competitions were held on the land of Messrs M Farndale, W Jackson, Tynedale, and W Pearson and, and the hedge cutting on Mr Thomas Hutchinson 's land. The weather was favourable, and rain held off till the evening, when a heavy downpour took place. A luncheon was afterwards held at the Horse Shoe Inn.

The 1911 Census for Tidkinhow Farm, Boosbeck, Stanghow listed Martin Farndale, then 65, farmer, and head of the household; John Farndale, 33; Catherine Jane Farndale, 26; William Farndale, 20, a butcher; Grace Alice Farndale, 17; and Alfred Farndale, 13.

At the same time the 1911 Census for Scorton, Darlington listed George Barker, head, farmer, 50, born Scorton in about 1861; Elizabeth Barker (nee Farndale), 36; Kate Margaret Barker, 6; Gladys Mary Barker, 5; William George Barker, 4; John George Barker, 2; Catherine Jane Farndale, 56, married, visitor; and Dorothy A Farndale, born Stanghow in about 1895, 16, single, also a visitor.

Catherine Jane Farndale

Gradually Catherine Jane weakened until on 14 July 1911, Catherine Jane Farndale died at Tidkinhow aged 56. She was buried at Boosbeck Parish Church.

Her death certificate shows that her husband, Martin, was with her and that she actually died of fibroid pathesis, cardiac failure, but she almost certainly had TB. Alfred Farndale later remembered his distress at her funeral in Boosbeck and being comforted by his nearest brother William on the way back. There is no doubt that her untimely death at the age of 56 was a great blow to the family. She is remembered by them all with the greatest affection. Her life had been hard but she had clearly cared for them all. She was remembered as kind, intelligent, firm and determined. There was now a great gap at Tidkinhow and the family had to do their best to fill her place.

The Canada bug hit the family hard. Soon after their mother's death William and Kate followed their two elder brothers to Canada. Jim had already sailed on 31 March 1911. There is a diary of his voyage which has been transcribed. Kate went in 1913 to join her brothers. William had become a butcher, but also emigrated to Canada in 1913, settling in Saskatchewan. Kate and George were never to return to England, but Martin did twice and William as a soldier. Jim returned as a soldier and visited again in the 1950s.

John Farndale would have increasingly taken over farming from his father at about this time, although Martin continued to farm until he died in 1928.

Old Martin was now a widower at the farm, but surrounded by his remaining family, though now five were in Canada, two (Lynn and Mary) were married and one, the first William, had died. John the eldest was on the farm and Grace, by now 18 and Dorothy ,16 helped to bring up the youngest, Alfred, aged 14.

When the war came in 1914 three of the boys became soldiers. Jim joined the American forces and fought in France. Soon he was joined by William, serving in the Canadian Army who was wounded near Ypres in 1917 and then by Alfred who served from 1916 to 1920 as a British soldier in the Machine Gun Corps in France and Mesopotamia.

Willie Barker at Tidkinhow about 1915

Post War Tidkinhow

By the end of the Great War, the family were well scattered. John was still farming at Tidkinhow. Lynn was still at Tancred Grange near Scorton. Martin was still a bachelor in Canada, as was George, both in Alberta. Kate had married William Kinsey and was living near her brother in Alberta. After the war Jim returned to America where in September 1917, he had married Edna Adams and was living in San Antonio, Texas. William returned to Canada where he too intended to marry, but tragically he died on 20 November 1919 from the flu, contracted when he was still weak from his was wound on the Vimy Ridge. Mary remained at home until she was married to George Brown in 1920 and went to live in Leeds. Grace and Dorothy were at home. Alfred had returned to Tidkinhow in March 1920, but George Barker, Lynn 's husband at Tancred Grange had died in about 1920 and their young family were unable to cope alone, so Alfred spent much time at Scorton helping the Barker family. Old Martin, in 1920, was 75 and still living at Tidkinhow.

By 1920 Tidkinhow was still part of the much larger estate of the Wharton Family of Skelton Castle and again the freehold was sold. Part of the Skelton Estate, about 1,359 acres, will be Offered for Sale by Auction at an early date, subject to conditions being produced. T S Petch, Auctioneer. The Short Particulars included, in the Moorsholm District, Tidkinhow and Stanghow Moor Farms, extending to about 553 acres.

Martin harvesting at Tidkinhow about 1920 Martin Farndale mounted at Tidkinhow in about 1920 Margaret and Willie Barker, 1920

Alfred continued to help out at the Barker Farm at Tancred Grange until 1921 when he returned home to help at the farm. The 1921 Census listed Martin Farndale, 75, a widower, farming, employed on his own account, and living at home; John Farndale, his son, 43, single; Dorothy Farndale, his daughter, 25, single; Alfred Farndale, 23, single, his son, farming; William Barker, whose father had died, 14 years old, full time at school.

Grace went away to a job as matron at Monmouth High School for girls and there met Miss 'Peggy' Baker. Together they left the school in 1924 and went poultry farming first at Scorton and then at Leeming Bar. Peggy was later to marry Alfred and had many trips to Tidkinhow and met old Martin. There is a letter from old Martin to his daughter Grace, mentioning Peggy, undated, but must have been written in about 1927 just before he died.

Dear Grace

I am doing well. Not much time to write. Father wishes you a very happy new year & Peggy write her. Quite well myself. Wanting to get up and abscond from here. from your ** father

Martin Farndale at Tidkinhow Farm about 1925 (notice sundial between upstairs windows)

Martin Farndale at Tancred Grange in about 1925 - his daughter, Lynn Barker, lived there

Martin Farndale, George Brown, Grace Farndale, Willie Barker, and Mary (nee Farndale) Brown

Alfred remained at home until Martin died on 17 January 1928, aged 82, of pneumonia. He was buried at Boosbeck Church with his wife, Catherine. Farndale; At Tidkinhow Farm, Boosbeck, on 17th January 1928, Martin Farndale died in his 83rd year. To be interred at Boosbeck on Friday 21 cortege leaving Residence at 1.30 pm. Friends kindly invited.

His son John Farndale continued farming as tenant on Tidkinhow Farm.

Grace Farndale’s diary touches on Tidkinhow at this time, before her emigration to Alberta.

1927 was one of the wettest years I remember. It rained and poured the whole summer and the grain was swept into the rivers in many places all over the country. The water poured down Burk Brow like a river. The people at Charlton 's Terrace had to camp upstairs as the water seeped into their lower quarters. They had planks on the floor to walk about. We were ok on the hill top at Tidkinhow, for once we had the advantage! For many years we'd had hot weather during the summers and everyone blamed the First World War with all that shooting big guns and small. This must have opened the clouds and the floods came down. The years were wet at any rate. I suppose we were in for a change of seasons. Nothing was ever the same again after that terrible war that we can all remember.

Brother Martin came over from Canada during the Christmas of 1927. Father was very ill and he died in January 1928 at the age of 82. It was the first and last illness of his life. He had had prostate gland trouble and they wouldn't operate in those days on the elderly. The doctor said he was as sound as a bell, except for this trouble. So ended the worthwhile life of a fine old man. One of the best in his upright, honourable life and outlook. At that time I was only at home casually as Peggy and I were at the poultry farmer Leeming Bar. She and Alf had got engaged to be married in March so that was that! Both father and Martin had discussed the possibility of my going back to Canada with Martin. I had serious thoughts and I felt I knew I was going to do just that as I was at a loose end. I had always wanted to go anyway. Then when Peggy and Alf decided to go that did it.

It was an exciting and busy time. I was thrilled to bits. Dorothy and Alf Ross got married. There was so much to do selling our poultry farm etc. ‘We were all hell bent for election’, to use one of Howard's expressions. One of our neighbours said he had never seen such an exodus of a family. I guess it was Gran really, we all stayed as long as he lived, though he never asked us to do that. We were to do as we wished. After all we were all grown up and we were all very independent. John stepped into Tidkinhow with the help of Lynn and did very well for himself during the Second World War.

There was a touch of sadness deep down about leaving the old place, for us all I think, and England. One never does these things lightly. But for me the excitement of going overseas counterbalanced all that. It had to be done and I never tried to shirk difficulties. Sometimes I thought I rather enjoyed the challenge in my quiet way. It made life more interesting. I had already found out life was far from rosie all the time long ago, just occasional little glimpses. I was always an optimist and felt that there was a new life ahead of me. At the time of leaving for Canada, I said I would stay five years or so.

Dorothy and Alf got married, just family in a few neighbours and off they went. Peggy and Alf were the next. Ditto. A family quiet wedding and they were off to Canada. I was left to pack up which was a big job. Martin was at the bungalow with me. Lynn and John were ensconced at Tidkinhow and Martin went up again. I took as much of our stuff packed in trunks and everyone packed solid. This chap took me to the train and thought I had rocks in my baggage. Martin had asked me to go alone to Liverpool on March 30th as he wanted to go to a big race at Liverpool - The Grand National. I was a bit nervous really. However, he didn't go to the race and met me at the train, was I ever glad to see him? I was a bit of a ‘green horn’ travelling and I was terribly thrilled at going to Canada. I would have got anyway, whether or not Peggy and Alf had. I had made-up my mind.

The end of another era in the Farndale Story

The 1939 Register for Stranghow, Skelton and Brotton listed John Farndale, farming with Elsie M Farndale, unpaid domestic duties.

Tidkinhow in 1954

John Farndale farmed at Tidkinhow until he retired in the 1960s.

Tidkinhow in 1987 during the visit of George and Margery Kinsey of Alberta Canada

There was a reunion of the descendants of Alfred Farndale in 2016 at Tidkinhow.

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