Whirlow Hall Farm facts for kids
Whirlow Hall Farm is a busy working farm located in Sheffield, England. Since 1979, it has been home to the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust, a special charity. This trust allows children and young people to visit and learn about a real farm. The farm has several old buildings, like the Whirlow Farmhouse and two ancient barns, which are important historical sites.
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Farm History: A Look Back
Ancient Farms: Romans and Brigantes
People have been farming at Whirlow Hall Farm for a very long time! We know this because evidence of farming from the Bronze Age has been found there. In 2011, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large Roman farm, or 'villa', from the 1st or 2nd century AD. This Roman farm was likely built on top of an even older farm used by the Brigantes, an ancient British tribe.
More signs of Roman life have been found nearby. Experts from the University of Sheffield found what might be an old Roman road. This road could have connected important Roman forts and stations in the area.
The First Whirlow Hall
The very first Whirlow Hall was probably built in the mid-1500s. It was built by the Bright family, who were quite wealthy. They first made their money from selling wool, but later got into metalworking and producing lead. The Bright family had lived in the Whirlow area since the early 1300s. Records from 1303 show that land and buildings in Whirlow were given to John Bright.
An old book called Hallamshire mentions that Richard Bright was making arrowheads for longbows at Whirlow Hall as early as 1501. The original hall was a large stone building with big rooms and windows. By 1720, the Bright family had lost all their money. The Whirlow Hall estate was then sold to new owners. Many of the farm buildings, including Whirlow Hall Cottage, were built around this time for new tenant farmers.
Building the Current Farmhouse
By the late 1700s, the first Whirlow Hall was in bad shape. Part of it was taken down in 1795, and the rest was later demolished. Some local stories say it was hit by lightning and burned down!
In 1843, the current farmhouse was built on the same spot. It's a lovely stone house, but not as grand as the original hall. The Furness family were the first people to rent and live in this new house. They stayed there until 1937, meaning their family had lived at Whirlow Hall for over 200 years!
Whirlow Hall Farm Trust
Sheffield City Council bought the farm in 1943 and the hall in 1949. They sold some of the land but kept the main farm buildings and 138 acres of land. The Whirlow Hall Farm Trust was started in 1979. It's a charity and an educational group that works with children and young people. They especially help those from the city or with special needs. The Trust rents the farm from the Council.
Princess Anne visited the farm in 1980. In 1983, dormitories were added so children could stay overnight at the farm. This lets them experience farm life and the countryside. The farm has many different animals, like sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, ponies, goats, and horses. They also grow some vegetables and even have a small vineyard.
The farm gets a little bit of money from Sheffield City Council. They also earn money from visitors and their farm shop. However, the Trust needs to raise about £350,000 each year through donations and events. This money helps them continue their important work.
