Details
RICHMOND
681/0/10003 Cordilleras Farmstead, Marske Training
25-APR-05 Area nr Richmond
II
Farmstead, 1811-1824, built for Thomas Hutton, now used for MOD training exercises. Stone with stone slate roofs, partly replaced with corrugated iron, some ruinous. Farmhouse facing south-east, with principal foldyard at rear and two further foldyards to north-east and north of first.
Farmhouse: two storey, three bay, single pile with catslide outshut to rear, under stone slate roof with stone coping, coursed rubble construction with stone dressings. Central doorway, slightly offset, with porch with plain sandstone jambs, consoles and pediment. One window in each bay, plain stone dressings, fenestration lost. Ridge chimney stack to left gable, and external stack towards rear of left gable end, of later construction. Rear elevation has doorway and ground floor windows, with eaves windows above and inserted stair window. Interior stripped to whitewashed stone, several blocked fireplaces, scar of former central staircase, first floor open to roof. Roof structure largely replaced and supported by RSJs and wooden props. Single storey outhouse, perhaps a former privy, attached to rear at right angles, leading to small single storey range facing farmhouse, with corrugated iron roof and altered openings. North-east face of house and outbuilding to rear has one altered entrance, one blocked entrance and one inserted entrance.
Foldyard to rear of farmhouse: south-west range had two 3-horse stables with hay-loft above, 3-arched cart shed and threshing barn. External staircase to south end and first floor windows to north end, but upper floor lost and southern part of roof replaced with corrugated iron, otherwise intact. Adjoining range to north had 4-arched horse-way and barn with granary over both. Rear two archways blocked, first floor and roof of horse-way intact, barn roof replaced with corrugated iron and some upper windows blocked. Single storey range to north-east split at centre to form entrance to second foldyard, corrugated iron roof, arched entrance at gable end of north side, south side with concrete cattle stalls.
Second foldyard backs onto first on north-east side: single storey ranges to north and south with corrugated iron roofs. North range has four blocked arched entrances, with windows and doorway inserted. South side has two doorways, one blocked with brick. South side range turns corner to eastern side; north range butts against it. Eastern range is single storey with corrugated iron roofs to either side of a central two-storey entranceway with arched opening. Small rooms to either side are open to the roof which is pyramidal with stone slates. Blocked window to outward facing first floor, recesses for pigeons on inner face.
Third foldyard to north-west of second: single storey ranges to north-east, north-west and south-west including two four-arched cattle sheds, unroofed and partly ruinous.
HISTORY:John Hutton IV (1774-1841) enclosed Marske Moor and began the establishment of a farm soon after 1809. This was at the height of the extension of arable into the uplands, and was a manifestation of the 'Model Farm' movement, begun in the eighteenth century. The farm was named Cordilleras in recognition of the explorations of von Humboldt in South America, and the surrounding fields were also given South American names. Work on improving access and the land was carried out simultaneously with the construction of the farmhouse and its steading. The house was built first and inhabited from 1813, followed by the west wing. Next was the 'horse-way' and a second barn, enclosing the first foldyard. The second foldyard came next, with its Spanish style entranceway and various surrounding buildings, with the third foldyard a later addition. A shelter belt of trees, which still survives, and an apple orchard were further developments, along with the ongoing work on improving the land and cattle breeding. Arable crops were grown initially, in response to the needs of the period during the Napoleonic Wars, but this was later abandoned and grazing became the main land-use. After 1841 the farm was tenanted until 1968, when it began to be used by the M.o.D. Early destruction, including the stripping of the interior of the farmhouse, ceased in the 1970's, since when limited reconstruction has taken place, mainly in the form of re-roofing.
This planned farmstead is not only a very complete example of its kind dating from the first years of the nineteenth century, it is also one of the highest and most remote of the 'Model Farms' of the period, built where nothing stood before. While some constructional detail has been lost, the steading as a whole, set in the context of its landscape, survives externally complete. Additionally, it has an interesting history that reflects the fortunes of the country, and an awareness of international affairs.
