Whitethorn has been built in the 19th century – about 200 years ago
Whitethorn in July 1963 - a typical farmhouse with some outbuildings and about 2,5 acres of land.
And that's about late 60's or early 70's.
Unexpectedly we got an e-mail from somebody who lived as a child at Whitethorn from 1965 - 1973.
He did send us some photos from the late 1960's! (Photo RB)
He writes that he has "happy memories of living at Whitethorn and going to school at Lockton"... (photo "Lockton School in 1960's" published 2006 in "Lockton & Levisham Heritage")...
...and he goes on that "I will always remember the snow and I recall seeing photos where the snow drifted up to the first floor windows". (Photo RB)
And indeed - an old photo from 1963 shows how high the snow drifts had been (photo seen at Ryedale Folk museum).
The writer also remembers "the wooden panneling in the hall of Whitethorn. My grandfather bought it from a stately home that was pulled down in Cumbria and the wrought iron panels came from a church in Peterbourough." In 2021 it still exists!
The e-mail ends with: "The place looks in good hands".
Yes, we try to maintain Whitethorn as good as possible and we have done several renovations. Just have a look at renovation and rebuilding
And the renovations started "a long time ago"... (everything is relative)!
Not such a long time ago (March 2020!) our neighbours dog Lockthorn Fenton demonstrated that he is the best nurse for lamb orphans...
...and this March he is looking after new-born baby-boy "Joe". Congratulations to Emily and Guy (nearly an "Easter present" - relatively...)!