Hill farming or terrace farming is an extensive farming in upland areas, primarily rearing sheep , although historically cattle were often reared extensively in upland areas . Fell farming is the farming of fells , a fell being an area of uncultivated high ground used as common grazing . It is a term commonly used in Northern England , especially in the Lake District and the Pennine Dales . Elsewhere, the terms hill farming or pastoral farming are more commonly used.
58-472: Langthwaite is one of the few villages in Arkengarthdale , North Yorkshire , England . It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Reeth and sits 870 feet (270 m) above sea level. It is the main settlement in the dale and is one of the most northerly settlements in the whole of Yorkshire Dales National Park . Langthwaite is one of two places in the dale that have houses clustered together closely in
116-399: A 33 feet (10 m) water wheel, but used the existing chimney which ran half a mile up to the top of the moor. This kind of flue was large enough to allow men to climb up the inside and scrape off the condensed lead. It also vented the toxic residues away from livestock and vegetation. The Octagonal Mill continued life as a saw mill until in 1941 one of the roof timbers gave way and the roof
174-546: A 75% decrease in income over the past decade. Hill farmer income is subject to large fluctuation above the influence of the farmers. The harsh terrain and climate of hill farms are hard on the animals, causing them to be relatively very unproductive. Because of this, hill farming can have economic strains on the farmers who generally have low income. Wet weather, as often experienced in the uplands, create additional animal feed costs for farmers. Many hill farmers earn around £12,600, with some earning as little as £8,000. This
232-752: A Barns and Walls Conservation Area. In the 19th century a lead ingot with the name Hadrian stamped on it was found, at Hurst , east of the dale. This find, which has been lost at the British Museum , as well as records of the Romans at Richmond using Brigantian slaves digging for lead, has led to the assumption that the Romans were mining lead in Arkengarthdale in the 2nd century. The large proportion of Viking names, Fagger Gill, Kitley Hill, Langthwaite and Whaw, indicates Viking settlement during
290-595: A clogger, a shoemaker and a shopkeeper. In 1831 there were 285 males over 25 years old working as miners. But with the decline of the price of lead from £33 a ton in 1801 to £13 10s in 1831 a depression followed during which people left the dale in search of work; some to the factories in Derbyshire and Lancashire , others to the mines in County Durham , a significant number also emigrated to America . The average age of death of miners between 1835 and 1841
348-575: A hunting "forest" which was policed by forest rangers. In the 14th century there were eight gamekeepers employed preventing game being hunted in the dale. Towards the end of the 13th century there were 30 cottages in the Parish, but there followed a period lasting over a century of depression and de-population, with plague and war with France . By the end of the 16th century the Earls of Richmond had died out and Arkengarthdale and New Forest reverted to
406-673: A mile-long horse level cutting through the multiple existing levels. The total length of the Faggergill levels is calculated to be around fifteen miles. The mine was last recorded as being worked in 1912. Other minerals were extracted from the Dale but on a smaller scale. Coal was mined in Punchard Gill until the 1940s. Chert was taken from the Hungry Hushes and along Fremington Edge, also ceasing after 1940. Anthony Peacock
464-521: A narrow back road leads to Booze ), Eskeleth and Whaw . At Eskeleth Bridge another unclassified road forks north-east (towards Barnard Castle ); this also joins a minor road running along the northern side of the dale to Whaw. Beyond Whaw is the most sparsely populated upper part of Arkengarthdale, which here runs roughly west–east. This area is one of the most northerly parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park . Eventually
522-610: A new smelting mill, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Langthwaite. It was octagonal in design, 110 feet (34 m) by 75 feet (23 m), with a 36-foot (11 m) diameter water wheel to drive the bellows. It had four flues and a timber roof. In 1824, the octagonal mill was replaced by the New Mill a few hundred yards away on the other side of the Tan Hill road. The New Mill was built by Easterby Hall & Co. for Ark & Darwent Mining Company. It had improved fire chamber design and
580-539: A traditional village set up; the rest of the settlements in the dale are populated by scattered buildings. It is home to a pub ('The Red Lion'), a shop and St Mary the Virgin's Church of 1818, Langthwaite is also home to the grade II* listed hexagonal Old Powder House , built in 1807 to store gunpowder used in the many mines dotted around the area. The 1851 census counted 48 houses in Langthwaite. The village
638-614: Is becoming increasingly less profitable an increasing number of farmers have switched from the traditional hearty but less profitable animals which graze the moors to mainstream more profitable animals. Opportunities for farmers to supplement their farm income by working in industries such as quarrying or mining are largely no longer available. The financial burden has taken a toll on many hill farmers, causing them to exhibit signs of mental health issues. Many hill farmers are forced to generate supplemental income outside their farms or to take out loans. Because of these economic factors, there
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#1732794379110696-454: Is highly important in hill farming in order to protect the delicate relationship that farm manage has on the biodiversity of native plant and animal species. Upland ecosystems have seen a shift in the last century, associated with widespread habitat deterioration caused by human actions and exploitation. The decline in grazing animals accompanied with the milder winters experienced in recent years has caused an overgrowth in vegetation, putting
754-832: Is much below the annual £19,820 a single working adult requires to live in a village in England. In 2008, a farmer would receive a profit of £1 for a single moorland lamb. The average LFA farm in England only earns about 66% of their total revenue from farming. 22% of this revenue comes from the Single Farm Payment, and 10% from specific agri-environment payments. The 2% balance originated from non-farm activities, which are usually associated with contracting or tourism and recreation. Hill farmers in Peak District National Park (PDNP) constitute one of UK's most deprived farming communities, with farms in
812-586: Is often heavily dependent on state subsidy , for example in the United Kingdom it received support from the European Union 's Common Agricultural Policy . Improved, sown pasture and drained moorland can be stocked more heavily, at approximately one sheep per 0.26 hectares. Hill farming is a type of agricultural practice in the UK in upland regions. In England , hill farms are located mainly in
870-806: Is the valley of the Arkle Beck , and is the northernmost of the Yorkshire Dales . It is a subsidiary dale to Swaledale , which it joins at Reeth . The history of the dale, its people, and farming, lead mining, and local crafts is displayed and documented in the Swaledale Museum in Reeth. On its way up the dale from Reeth the unclassified road crosses many other small streams and their catchments, such as Great Punchard Gill, Roe Beck, Annaside Beck, and William Gill. It passes through several small settlements: Raw, Arkle Town , Langthwaite (where
928-555: The City of London . In 1656 the valley was bought by Charles Bathurst, who was Oliver Cromwell's doctor. The estate remained in the Bathurst family for four generations, John, Theodore & Charles, until in 1740 it was inherited by Charles' three great-granddaughters. At that time married women were not allowed to own property so the estate belonged to their husbands. In 1770 the turnpike road from Reeth to Brough via Tan Hill
986-476: The First World War , four of whom were killed. 1921 was the first year in which anyone in the dale owned a car, it was a Ford . The early 19th century was a time of growth in the dale. In 1801 there was a population of 1,186. In 1811 it had risen to 1,529. In 1798 there were 34 miners and 1 farmer; in 1820 there were 9 farmers, 5 innkeepers, 4 mining agents, 2 flour dealers, a curate, a schoolmaster,
1044-516: The Lord's mine made a profit of £4, possibly referring to Faggergill. By 1521, there was extensive mining in Arkengarthdale, at Moulds, Punchard Gill and Faggergill. Bell pits were common in the 17th and 18th centuries. The lead was sold to lead merchants based in York . Gunpowder was introduced about 1700, and had become common by 1750. This led to the digging of deep-level tunnels into the hillsides. By
1102-631: The 10th century, probably arriving from the west. Arkil is a Viking name which leads to speculation that he was a local leader. However, despite its history pre-dating the Domesday Book , none of the settlements in the area appear in the Domesday survey. Following the Norman conquest in the 11th century a large part of North Yorkshire was given to Count Alan , a member of William's family. He kept Arkengarthdale and neighbouring New Forest as
1160-487: The Crown. In 1473, Edward IV had granted the lordship of the area to his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester , and when Richard eventually succeeded to the throne in 1483, the manor became a crown property. Attempts by Crown agents to change the leases of the 55 tenants of small-holdings in the area led to protracted disputes. In 1628 the Crown, in an attempt to clear its debts, sold Arkengarthdale as well as other estates to
1218-1387: The DAs are more profitable than the SDAs, active since 2008 DAs became ineligible for funding from the Hill Farming Allowance (HFA). In addition to the Upland ELS, hill farmers in England's SDAs are supported by the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), which is the primary agricultural subsidy scheme under the EU. Subsidies from the SPS are not dependent on production, granting greater freedom to farmers to meet market demands. The SPS also claims to specifically support hill farmers who follow environmentally friendly farming practices. In order to receive these subsidies, hill farmers must meet cross compliance rules and regulations, which mainly involves avoidance of overgrazing and unsuitable supplementary feeding on natural and semi-natural vegetation under GAEC (standard of good agricultural and environmental condition). These standards were implemented to protect significant habitats and to limit soil erosion and other negative effects of soil structure in
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#17327943791101276-465: The LFA making an average loss of £16,000 per farm, generating an average headline Farm Business Income of £10,800 (supplemented by various government subsidies), creating a net income average per farm of about £6000. The hill farming sector in southwest England, like farming in the rest of the country, has experienced a decade of much change associated with economic pressures and uncertainties. On average,
1334-420: The LFA respectively. These areas are classified as such on account of poor climate, soils, and terrain which cause higher costs in production and transportation as well as lower yields and less productivity. The LFA is significant in England's farming on a whole despite these disadvantages: 30% of beef cows and 44% of breeding sheep come from LFAs. Farming distinctively shapes the ecosystems of these zones, and
1392-533: The North and South-Western regions, as well as a few areas bordering Wales . The Scottish highlands are another home for many hill farms. Sheep farms and mixed sheep and cattle farms constitute approximately 55% of the agricultural land in Scotland . These areas have a harsh climate, short growing seasons, relatively poor quality of soil and long winters. Therefore, these areas are considered to be disadvantaged and
1450-794: The SFP, and the SFP is guaranteed until 2013. Other subsidy schemes from the British government are available to hill farmers, particularly the Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) and agri-environment schemes. The Uplands ELS replaced the prior Hill Farm Allowance in 2010. Before the HFA, hill farms we subsidized by the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances which were active as headage support to eligible beef cows and ewes. Because
1508-546: The UK uplands, hill farming has shaped the English uplands both environmentally and culturally. The UK government has designated different areas in the upland as specifically valuable by certain terms of the environment, biodiversity, archaeology , cultural heritage and landscape, and seeks to protect these regions for such reasons. According to the UK government, these designated areas and their qualifications as such are: Over
1566-400: The Virgin's Church was built in Langthwaite. The architectural style is unusual in such a rural setting as the commissioner's churches were normally intended for urban areas. The Anglican church became a grade II listed structure in 1986. A Wesleyan chapel was built in Langthwaite in 1882, being used up until 2014. It is now a private dwelling. 37 men from Arkengarthdale served in
1624-524: The accumulation of surpluses, the CAP was reformed. The two most recent reforms to the CAP were Agenda 2000 in 1999 and the Mid Term Review of June 2003 and April 2004. These changes are phasing out support and protections linked to production, and are providing more support on environmental and rural developments. The Single Farm Payment replaced the older headage payments (CAP) in 2005. Analyses of
1682-578: The agriculture practices in the uplands define and shape the environment and landscape. Upland areas are usually covered with both dry and wet dwarf shrub heath and, rough and either managed or unmanaged improved grasslands . The typical hill farm is made up of three distinct zones: the High fell, the Alotment, and the Inbye. The High fell includes peat moors and rocky areas which provide poor grazing at
1740-542: The animals indoors, supplementing the livestock's diet with hay or silage. The land used to grow winter feed that are not mowed are able to provide protection for a variety of birds including skylarks , partridge , and corncrakes who build on their nests on the ground. Agricultural use, burning, and grazing by both livestock and wild life such as deer, helps to sustain the upland grasslands, moorland and bogs. If these ecosystems were not maintained they would be colonized by trees and scrub. Sustainable careful maintenance
1798-477: The animals raised there are generally less productive and farmers will often send them down to the lowlands to be fattened up. Upland areas are not traditionally favourable for agricultural practices. The majority of Hill farming land in England is classified as Less Favoured Area (LFA), and the LFA constitutes 17% of land farmed in England. The LFA is further divided into Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDAs) and Disadvantaged Areas (DAs), which make up 67% and 33% of
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1856-573: The dale ends and the road reaches the Tan Hill Inn , the highest in England, just outside the Park, near the Pennine watershed . Beyond Tan Hill, the road divides again, heading westward to Brough , south to Keld and south-west to Kirkby Stephen . The moors on both sides of Arkengarthdale are used for the annual Scott Trial , a cross-country motorcycle endurance event. The Dale cuts through
1914-462: The dale. The population of this civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 231. The lowest part of the dale, below Arkle Town and including the hamlet of Raw, is in the civil parish of Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh . Hill farming Cattle farming in the hills is usually restricted by a scarcity of winter fodder , and hill sheep, grazing at about two hectares per head, are often taken to lowland areas for fattening. Modern hill farming
1972-495: The earliest techniques for extracting the ore is called " hushing ". It involved the controlled release of dammed water along the line of a lead-bearing vein to wash away the top soil allowing the vein to be worked. The Roman historian Pliny records this method being used in Britain to extract lead. Some examples of hushes can be found in Arkengarthdale, as well as traces of dams and other water works. The other early method used
2030-435: The eastern half of a major lead mining field and lead was extracted from the area for over a thousand years. Most of the mining structures have now disappeared leaving only the spoil heaps and the line of an 3,600-foot (1,100 m) long chimney from the site of the smelting mill. The current economy of the Dale depends on hill farming , grouse shooting and tourism. In 1989 Arkengarthdale (and Swaledale) were designated as
2088-452: The ecosystem, as well as various archaeological sites at risk. The Dartmoor Vision initiative is trying to return Dartmoor to its former predominantly cattle, sheep, and pony grazed landscape. Hill farm incomes in the UK have recently seen great decrease following drops in lamb and beef prices. Therefore, subsidy support has become vital for Hill farm survival, and the policies have been changing in response to continuous uncertainty in
2146-585: The effects of economic incentives provided to hill farmers by decoupling and the introduction of the Single Farm Payment show that although these policies cause little change in average farm incomes they do encourage change in the way hill farms run. Specifically the policies promote the reduction of stocking densities, reduction of employment of additional farm labour, movement away from reliance on beef cattle, increased specialization, and to keep farming land in “good agricultural condition” rather than farm abandonment. The EU plans to phase out and progressively reduce
2204-670: The end of the 19th century one could enter the Moulds Level in Arkengarthdale and travel six miles underground to the Sir Frances Mine in Gunnerside Gill , Swaledale. The hexagonal Old Powder Magazine was built in 1804 and is now a grade II* listed building. In 1750 the Moulds Level, north-west of Langthwaite, was worked out. It was later used as a route for transporting ore from the Old Gang Levels in
2262-496: The feed given to their animals, leading to a decrease in meat production and therefore lower profit. By 2012 the Single Payment Scheme (or SPS), will only take into consideration the area of the farm. This will decrease the income in moorland farmers to only 70% of what it was 20 years ago. The income from calves and lambs has remained constant, while the costs of farm upkeep have risen sharply (including items such as feed, straw, fuel, or fertilizer ). Because hill farming
2320-648: The financial position of hill farms in South West England, like the rest of the country, is precarious. The average southwest English hill farm system in unable to match labour and capital invest in the business. Many farmers rely on a Single Farm Payment as a source of income. These payments are expected to arrive in November or December, but sometimes farmers do not receive the money until June. Due to this farmers are often unable to pay their bills or fix their machinery. Some farmers have to cut back on
2378-579: The next valley to the west. It had its own smelting mill, but this was knocked down after the building of the Octagonal Mill. The lead mining in Arkengarthdale was dominated by the CB (Charles Bathhurst) Company, which was founded in 1656 when a Dr Bathhurst purchased from the Crown the right to mine in the area. His company continued until 1911 when the lead-mining industry in Yorkshire collapsed due to
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2436-438: The over fourteen trades counted were four dressmakers, one knitter and one tailor. 51 of the 294 boys under the age 15 and 40 of the 247 girls were at school. Following the 1883 closure of CB Mining, most of the miners moved on in search of work. By 1891, the population of the dale was 761. The dale stretches for 11 miles (18 km) starting at Reeth, and running in a north-westerly direction, until it reaches higher ground on
2494-434: The past century, Hill farming and the upland environment have undergone a number of changes. Since 1900 there has been: A large number of upland ecosystems have been shaped by humans for centuries, particularly by farming and agriculture . Because of this, many upland ecosystems have become dependent on hill farm land management. Hill farming practices play a significant role in supporting surrounding flora and fauna in
2552-419: The road to Tan Hill. The valley is an average of 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, and the moorland tops are on average 2,000 feet (610 m). In the last Ice Age , a glacier broke off from the main stem which was carving Stainmore , and heading south-east to carve Arkengarthdale. Lead is found in veins running through the extensive limestone and chert beds which extend from Swaledale . One of
2610-446: The sector. Hill farming has been supported by both the British government and EU policies, one of the most influential EU scheme being The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP provided production-based direct (headage) which gave incentive to stock beef cattle and sheep at high densities. This led to, in some circumstances, overgrazing which damages natural and semi-natural vegetation. Because of overgrazing and issues with
2668-421: The slump in the price of lead. Water was always a problem in the mines. During the 18th century a group of miners working underground near Boldershaw blasted into an underground lake. Twenty-four miners and two pit ponies were drowned in the flood that followed. Modern research of parish records has failed to find evidence of this disaster, except for the deaths of three miners drowned after an underground lake
2726-420: The top. The Alotment follows below, an enclosed area with rough grazing. The Inbye is the lowest area at the bottom, which is used as the regular grazing area as well as for growing hay. Dartmoor National Park has over 10,000ha of prehistoric field systems, dating back to 1500BC. Archaeological evidence shows that these moors have been grazed for 3500 years. Because of the extent of historical farming in
2784-602: The uplands. Certain upland farmers and communities also have access to funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) team at Defra . The reduction of farming subsidies that have taken place over the past few decades has created an uncertain future for farming in many parts of Europe . Without government subsidies, many hill farms would have a negative income. The high cost of land and machinery keeps many hill farmers from expanding. Hill farmers in some parts of England have reported
2842-613: The uplands. Through grazing, sheep and cattle maintain a variety of tall grasses and short vegetation. This in turn supports local wildlife, as the short vegetation provides breeding and nesting grounds for many species of waders, including the lapwing, redshank, and golden plover. The taller grasses are an important part of the Curlew habitat, which is another species of wader. Cattle dung provides nutrition for many species of insects and carrion provides food for various species of scavenging birds. During winter farmers will usually keep
2900-639: The village. Another TV series, Century Falls , also featured Langthwaite. The 1976 Disney film Escape from the Dark was partly filmed in Langthwaite and around Arkengarthdale. The name of the village is Old Norse in origin and means 'the long meadow' or 'the long clearing'. Arkengarthdale Arkengarthdale is a dale, or valley , on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire , England . Running roughly north-west to south-east, it
2958-493: Was 54 years, 5 months. Typhus was common in the dale. The 1851 census records 1283 people in the dale; for 1073 of them it was their place of birth. There was a male population of 659; 254 of whom were lead miners and a further 42 were involved in smelting, construction and transport. 18 women and children washed the ore. There were 7 coal miners living in William Gill. There were 49 farms employing 64 men and women. Among
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#17327943791103016-609: Was a strike at the Faggergill Mine over the new management's insistence that the morning shift should start at a fixed time. After an eight-week stoppage the miners were forced to accept the changes. The last lead-mining enterprise in the Dale was Stang and Cleasby Mines, formed in 1908. They dug the Nuthole Mine, connecting to the Faggergill Levels and managed to remain profitable until 1914. They created
3074-529: Was breached. In 1820, miners in Little Punchard Gill created a canal level along which ore and spoil could be floated to the surface. The existence of this water level is disputed by modern researchers. In 1800 the mines of Arkengarthdale were let for 21 years to a Newcastle company for a fixed rent rather than a percentage of the lead mined. The company, under its manager Frederick Hall, invested heavily in new technology. In 1804 they built
3132-544: Was executed in Richmond for his part in the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536. In 1736 Christopher Hind was transported to the "King's plantations for seven years" possibly for poaching. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mathew Edward Stones was widely known for his skill at water and metal divining using hazel twigs. Arkengarthdale is also a civil parish in North Yorkshire , England , which includes most of
3190-467: Was opened. This greatly reduced the cost of transporting lead and coal from the mines since carts could be used instead of pack-horse trains. Between 1808 and 1811 a London banker, George Brown of Stockton , bought all three parts of the estate. Before his death in 1814 Brown had rebuilt the school and laid plans for a new church. The estate was inherited by his sister and his second sister's husband Rev John Gilpin, vicar of Stockton. In 1818, St Mary
3248-464: Was taken down. Today only the clearing on which it stood can be made out. Some parts of walls from the New Mill can be seen from the Tan Hill road. It closed in 1883, the last lease-holder being Whitewell & Company. The route of the collapsed double flue up the moor is easy to follow. The powder house is still standing. For a time it was used for candle making. The octagon was believed to have special properties for containing explosions. In 1870 there
3306-409: Was the digging of bell pits with lateral tunnels, called drifts, following the vein. The drifts would be extended until they became unsafe and another pit would be dug further along. Lines of these pits can still be seen across the moors. Apart from a locally found Roman lead "pig" stamped with the name Hadrian , the earliest record of lead being taken from the dale dates from 1285. It states that
3364-413: Was used for the filming of several scenes in the television series All Creatures Great and Small . The Red Lion was featured in the episode "Every Dog Has His Day" but was made out to be in fictional Briston, while the frontage of the fictional J. R. Stubbs provisions store and the bridge which Siegfried Farnon and James Herriot drive over, featured in the opening credits of the later series, are also in
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