Inspiration from our back story
What can we learn from our footsteps
through two thousand years of British History
This webpage
is still to be written.
Lessons
from History
Māori,
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, I walk
backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.
Nietzsche,
3,000 years quote
Déjà vu
History
repeats itself. It’s happened before.
Pandemic –
1918 influenza – William Farndale …
Crimea –
John George Farndale
Climate
Change – Black Death …
Inflation –
William Leng Farndale in
February 1916 a meeting of the licenced victuallers of Rothbury and district
was held at the Railway Hotel. Mr W L Farndale, manager for Rothbury Brewery
Company, presided. It was unanimously decided, owing to the considerable
increase in the price of spirits, that on and after today an increased charge
of 1 penny per glass be made. It was also decided that steps be taken to form a
licenced victories association for Rothbury and district.
Anti Vaxers - In September 1879, the Rev W Stoddart, BA,
minister of the Unitarian Church, Wellington Street, Stockton, appeared before
the Borough Magistrates on Thursday morning in answer to a summons for
neglecting to have his child vaccinated as required by the law. The Vaccination
Officer proved that the child had not been vaccinated since its birth. Mr
Stoddart, in defence, said that he had a conscientious objection to
vaccination, believing it to be contrary to the laws of God and opposed to
sound common sense. As a parent he considered it his duty to protect his child
from any and every kind of harm; but he should not be doing his duty as a
parent if he allowed to the germs of disease to be inserted into his child's
body with a view to the possible prevention of some other kind of disease. He
therefore considered it to be his duty to oppose the laws of the State rather
than disobey the laws of God. Alderman Knowles (chairman of the bench): “Very
well, the Bench make the order with costs”. Mr Farndale (deputy magistrates’
clerk): “The child must be vaccinated within the next 14 days, or you will be
summoned again”. The reverend defendant then paid the costs of the present
proceedings and left the court.
Community
The large
Farndale family operated as an extended family and provided its own community
and support system.
250 years at
Kilton – large
extended family
When
William’s eldest son, George Farndale needed support, he provided funds in his
will in 1846 for his other brothers to look after his interests. And I give
and bequeath unto my sons John Farndale,
the said Matthew
Farndale and Martin
Farndale, the sum of One Hundred pounds upon trust to apply the same, or
any interest which may arise therefrom in case my said three sons should place
out or invest the said sum of One Hundred pounds at interest in providing Board
Lodging Clothing or Medical attendance to and for my son George Farndale
at such times and in such manner as my said three children shall think proper,
provided always, and I declare and direct that in case my said three sons, the said John Farndale,
Matthew
Farndale and Martin
Farndale shall think it expedient to lay out or expend the said sum of One
Hundred pounds in any other manner than is hereinbefore mentioned, in favour of
my said son George
Farndale. I hereby authorise and empower them so to do, it being my Will
and intention that my said three sons shall have the complete control,
management and expenditure of the said principal sum of One Hundred pounds and
interest if any. And I declare and direct that in case the said principal sum
of One Hundred pounds and interest, or any part or parts thereof shall not be
expended by my said three sons at the time of the decease of my said son George Farndale,
then, and in that case, I give and bequeath the same to the children of my said
son George
Farndale to be divided equally between and amongst them.
By 1851 Matthew
Farndale had left Kilton and on 1 April 1851 Martin Farndale
was farming at the main family farm of 207 acres at Kilton with 8 employees. His brother George Farndale,
by then 60 and a widower and working as agricultural labourer, was living with
him as was his 15 year old niece Maria Farndale,
and Charles Farndale,
13, his nephew and son of his brother John.
Twenty years
later in 1871 Martin
Farndale was still at Kilton Hall Farm, Kilton, the head of the family, by
then a farmer of 600 acres with 16 employees. Living with Martin
and his wife Elizabeth was Matthew Farndale,
aged 22, his grand nephew, described as a servant, so
presumably working on the farm. Matthew was the son of the late Martin Farndale,
and grandson of Martin’s brother the late George Farndale.
So the
family farm provided a focus for the family community.
Respect
for resources
60
generations back to Roman estate at Beadlam? 58
generations largely self sufficiency and sustainable
Graft
Leaving the
protection of the extended family – Kilton – the risks
Struggle
Picking up
again
Martin Farndale
(1818 to 1862) the second son of George and Mary
Farndale, by 1851, a farmer of 70 acres at Fogga
Farm in Skelton.
Alfred
Farndale
Passing
on the baton
Medical
researcher Jonas Salk, Are
we being good ancestors?
Roman Krznartic, The
Good Ancestor
Richness
of inheritance
Stories and
experience
Above all
perspective – passage of time
Our
revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this
vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous
palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit,
shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack
behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded
with a sleep. (William
Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1)