small holding over the centuries

[eleanor2]

my mum in law was born 87 years ago at the small holding they still live at.it is 2 up 2 down.about 300 years old.they have old meat hooks coming out of the ceiling. a masive coal house that used to be a pig pen right by the kitchen door.there has always been hens and home grown veggies.a good place to live whilst the war was on.they always had eggs and veggies and the odd pork chop.i am going to find out as much information as i can.i now the original owner was a captain in the army in about 1760.deeds are written on pig skin.not sure how long mum inlaws mum lived there before she was born.it still holds a touch of the days of self sufficiency.i am interested in the days gone by on small holdings.any stories out there.

[Crocus]

Goodness, it sounds fascinating Eleanor. We've watched a programme called "House Inspectors" I think(?) where the history of homes in the UK are being researched. It was quite interesting. As you say deeds written on pig skin. When you have found out some more interesting facts about your mum in laws house, it will be most interesting to hear. xx

[eleanor2]

i have decided that all the tales i have heard over the years need to be written down as mum and dad in law start from the begining.as mum inlaw is deteriorating .I think it will be good to log all her past memories as they are the most real to her.her mother was in service at the big house.her mother lost out on inheriting a farm because her dad married again in old age and left it to his second wife and family.even tho mum inlaws mum had skivvied for him all her life.any way that is when she moved to this cottage with her husband.they went on to have 3 girls and a boy even tho it was a 2 bedroomed cottage.mum in law stayed on to lok after her mum and dad till they died.as dad in law was away in the war.the rent was in shillings.just before the lady who owned the cottage died.she let dad in law buy the cottage for a few thousand pounds.as he had always looked after her and her hubby.

[franbee]

Sounds like the start of a good novel, e.

[keepersdaughter]

Sounds fascinating Eleanor, it would be good to capture her precious memories of past times before thy're forgotten.

[eleanor2]

i have been thinking about this as it is a big part of history.a lot of the old buildings are being renovated or knocked down.mum in law is now the longest living in the area.she has got photos of her mum and grandmother out at the front of the cottage.it is touching to me as this is a place with a true family feeling.77 years of pushing our family babies up the lane opposite.it would make a good story as the cottage is still a typical old cottage.the outside toilet is still there with its stone tiled floor.

[Crocus]

Hi Eleanor, what a lovely story so far! Please carry on posting. As you say it has a true family feel. xxx

[eleanor2]

this morning i spent time questionting mum in law and dad in law.apparantly when dad in law moved into the cottage it was how it had been for probably a hundred years.he gave me a great description of the cottage before he made changes.i was absolutely fascinated.i found it unbelievable how people could live in such small cottages.even i was shocked by dads description cus it looks old fashioned now.but dad made many changes about 50 years ago.the brick built animal area was as big as the living area.this description reminded me of the french houses with their brick built barnes attached to the house.

[sheddie]

I wonder if pigs were kept outside Eeeee as they used to be kept right next to the house and used to eat any leftovers and were thought highly of. Any chance of a photo of the cottage? X

[Crocus]

Ooh yes, I would also love to see the cottage. xx

[eleanor2]

photos coming.............this cottage had only 4 rooms.the first room was a dining room/living room.it had a big black cooking range.a old wooden table and chairs.a leather horse hair filled chaise lounge.all the cooking and spare time was spent in the dining/living room ,there was no sink in this room even tho all the cooking was done in here..there was a small pantry at the top end of the room.through a door on the right was the kitchen. in here to the left was a old cast iron boiler.a small fire place right hand corner a old brown sink.then a big mangle .there are big meat hooks still there fro where they hung there own reared pigs. this was where they al had a bath in an old tin bath.even when hubby was young him and his mum and dad would share the water in the old tin bath.one after the other.in the old days bet they didnt have many baths.

[Crocus]

Goodness, it must've been a bit cramped in there. But I suppose they were used to it. Thanks for the update Eleanor! Carry on eh? xxx

[eleanor2]

it gets worse. there are 2 bedrooms.now great gran and great grandad lived at cottage.when granma and grandad moved in with a small child.apparantly grandmas dad gave her £100 in cash when she left home .obviously cus he now had a new family.he left his second wife the farm in his will. any way grandma went on to have 3 more childen. there was 3 girls and one boy.when great grandparents died.grandparents moved into that room and the 4 children shared one bedroom untill they all got married.my mum in law stayed at the cottage with her new hubby my dad in law. he went off to war she looked after both her parents .they both died youngish.grandma died of a stomache ulcer(would have been treated today)grandad had severe asthma.

[eleanor2]

oh in one bedroom upstairs always used as the parents beroom.there is a lovely little fireplace.that could be used if wanted.
now for the side of the house used for the animals.it is brick built but lower than the main house.there was a large stable.cus the first occupant of the house in about 1780 was a captain from the army.can you imagine him riding around the countryside on his horse.but in great grandads time it was used for a horse to pull a coal wagon.great grandad was a coal man.next to the stable was a pigsty with a henloft above.then at the side of this was a big open ended barn.where they kept thier straw and hay for the animals.mum inlaw can remember grandma having her own calf to feed up each year..... i need another interview with dad in law to find out more.i am thinking they probably grew most of thier own veg.

[eleanor2]

took photos will put on soon as. anyway the story continues.great grandparents and grandparents apparently didnt have a tin bath.they had to have strip down washes.the outside loo that is still there used to be one of those wooden seats over a bucket.it appears when my dad in law moved in he straight away started to add some mod cons.like a tin bath and flush loo outside. anyway today we were talking about the family who lived on the farm behind.they were two up and two down with 6 children.mum and dad used to buy thier butter off the farmer.i tell you when mum in law was talking about her mum making her own staffordshire oatcakes.enugh for the family and some to sell to regular customers who lived near by.they used to have them fresh cooked with fresh local farm churned butter.my mouth was watering.they had a little vegetable garden by the side of the house.grandad had asthma and couldnt work much it held the family back financially .when dad in law moved in and eventually came back from the war.he got a job down the pit and like a cart horse in strength set about modernising the house.set up a massive garden from one of the fields and a greenhouse.he had about 100 hens and a pig.

[Crocus]

Hi Eleanor, it's almost watching a tv series, the lovely way in which you describe this "small holding over the centuries". xx

[eleanor2]

thanks crocus.i need to make notes really cus this way of life is dying out fast.i was saying to inlaws today.we dont know we are born today .mum inlaw and her sister had to walk over a mile to school hail rain or shine.down country roads from quite a young age cus they couldnt afford any bus fare.

[Crocus]

Hi Eleanor, what a delightful cottage - did you notice the sagging roof? It comes together now, the story so far and the pictures of the cottage. I hope there's more for us to read and see? I quite enjoy it, so don't stop please. xx

[eleanor2]

have been thinking about it today.got to get photos off mum in law.if i can scan will put one on of great gan and gran outside the cottage.i dont know how this photo was taken.cus believe this no-one who has lived at the cottage has ever had a camera there.there are a few photos taken by relatives.but inlaws have never owned a camera right to this day.

[Crocus]

Well someone liked it enough to have taken a photo. Fortunately you have that now to help you in this fascinating story. xxxx

[eleanor2]

i think what is fascinating is that it is still a family home.every saturday nearly me and hubby still go as we have done for about 32 years.son goes nearly every saturday and so does grandson.the whole place tells a story.there are bits of go carts from many generations.son has just bought two proper go carts with engines. a bit more modern than the old ones with odd wheels and string to steer them.some old prams have been used over the years for go carts.yet nowadays only the best will do.i need to find out how great grandparents first went to this cottage.

[Crocus]

So it's truly a family house and home. There must be so many stories and happenings the walls have seen throughout the years. Of course there were happy times as well as sad times. xxx

[souter girl]

This is really fascinating and as somebody said, reads like a book - "Lark Rise to Candleford" springs to mind. It is so important to record all the old stories before there is nobody left to tell them My father died in 2001 aged 88 and had a fund of wonderful tales to tell from his many years as a journalist in Scotland. Oddly, though, he never wrote any down and the only record I have is a CD made as part of a Living Archive by my cousin's son as a boy. If only he had written them down they could perhaps have been on a level with "Doctor Finlay's Casebook" or James Herriott!

[eleanor2]

true souter.it is important to write these things down.i am glad i have started i dont really know much about great grandparents.but at least i am getting a picture of grandparents and inlaws lives.opposite the cottage is an old lane.mum inlaw was pushed up there in her pram as ababy,my hubby was,then my children and then my grandchildren.the lane has hardly changed at all.same old trees and hedges.dad in law has always got his pea sticks and holy for wreaths from up there.me and hubby have bought back broken sticks and wood for the fire in winter.got the old rayburn hot and red to sit with the old brass toasting fork making thick chunks of buttered toast.

[eleanor2]

we were talking about grandad of the cottage.he ad asthma and couldnt get a proper job.as all the family lived together they pulled together.but mum in law says grandad used to go down the local pub football team on saturdays.cus he had two women at home who were good cooks.he used to always be bringing the odd man and his dog home for dinner.if tramps stopped at the door.which they did a lot in those days.cus there was a route between two workhouses which passed near the cottage.grandad always gave them a piece of bread and butter and a drink of water.soft as old rope mum in law says of him.dad in law says he was an old fool.you know grandma passed on to mum in law her love of cooking and baking. there was a cooked meal and a home made cake most days at the cottage.they were poor but ate well.

[dragonfly]

Very interesting Eleanor, you must write all this down. You could do it in caligraphy.

This has made me realise that we should be writing about our lives as our grandchildren and greats... will probably be doing research one day. I know our lives don't seem old fashioned now but they will do to our children. My kids already ask me how we managed to grow up without mobile phones. We didn't even have an ordinary one until I was a teenager. I think the main difference is we don't stay in the same house for long now so don't establish a family home with history. I wish I had asked my grandparents about their lives before they died.

[eleanor2]

hi dragonfly i think it is so interesting to think how our ancestors lived .the thing is mum and dad in law want us to live in the cottage after them.so the history will keep going on.i would love to keep a historical family feel about the place.i would hate to see it go modern.

[Crocus]

That's interesting Eleanor for you to live in this house after your inlaws? Surely you must write anything down for your children and grandchildren. It's almost like a modern fairytale. xx

[eleanor2]

the beauty is son and grandson go nearly every saturday the same as me and hubby.it is still like an old family gathering every saturday.there is so much to do with it being a small holding.the men are always upto something in the garden or garage.the field is used for go carting,camping and bonfires.my lovely oak tree takes centre place in the field.i planted it as an acorn.now it is a good 15ft.hasnt strted growing acorns yet tho.

[eleanor2]

talking to inlaws today.dad was born late in his mums life.she had to have (instruments)which pulled her hip out of place.she was slightly crippled after had to have a brace on her leg for a while.then she had another child.dad in law stayed a lot at his childless aunts.he said he left school at 14 on his first pay day he rushed home to give his mum his board money.she was dead.she had breast cancer for a wile.all thier money was spent on having radium rods to help cure the cancer.£1ooo a time.16 times and she still died at 53.i was a bit shocked to learn this.cus i couldnt help thinking of my daughter and breast cancer being in the genes. anyway dad in law said all his mums family were money maker mad.when he first went to the cottage to meet the family.he was shocked.he was used to his parents running a pub abd his aunty running a shop.here at the cottage they were poor but happy.he said he had never known such a happy contented family home.sad thing mum in laws mum died at 53 too.of a stomache ulcer.no n.h.s no proper affordable treatment .

[Crocus]

Hi Eleanor, my granddad died at age 52. For those times it was old, this was about 60 years ago. Nowadays it's a different story.

You story gets more interesting by the day! xx

[eleanor2]

yes crocus how sad eh for many.no affordable health system.my hubby didnt know any of his grandparents.yet i knew all of mine.we are a healthy bunch.
talking to daughter on the phone today she ssays her nan got a brown envelope down one day with letters dad in law sent her when he was away at war and a commendation he got.i have to get to look at those.i do have dad in laws medals and a clock in a glass case that was his mums.oh and his mums porcelain tea pot.the sad thing was dad was away at war when his dad died.his brother who was at home.took nearly all his dads possesions and money.there was no owned property and no will so brother just took the lot that there was.the war was on and he got away with it. dad refused to talk to his brother from then on.how sad.his brother is now dead a stranger to dad.

[Crocus]

It's such a sad pity that these kind of things as you described above happen which causes brothers, sisters, whatever the case may be, to ignore one another for the rest of their lives! It's so totally unnecessary. One understands that it may hurt, but why refuse to talk to a brother over possesions. I've seen this kind of thing happen to a woman I worked with at one stage. They were a close knit family, mum dad, brother and 2 sisters. Eventually they all ignored and one another, were cross with each other for years because of the parents' testament. xxx

[eleanor2]

i think people were tougher in the old days.they had to look after themselves.build up thier lives from nothing.scraping a living.no help.you could only buy what you could afford and absolutely needed.hard knocks came .but you fought on.

[eleanor2]

the story is on a break.cus the weather is nice so i have been working hard up the garden.one thing i have realiszed.runing a small holding is very hard work.there is so much work to be done.now dad in law doesnt even go up the garden.we are realising all the little jobs he did each year just to keep things ticking over.i have been digging all morning.hubby has beejn logging and hedging with son.grandson has been picking blackberries,runner beans and fennel seeds with me.oh and 3 carrots.grandson even tho only 5 is an avid gardener.he will weed for hours with me.he tastes everything we pick in the raw state as i do.loves everything.we were eating the runner beans straight from the plant today pod and beans.delicious.i amtraining him.cus it will be al hands t the plough to keepthe place running smoothly.got to tackle my wild garden next week.

[buecherwurm]

dear eleanor,
I don't want to be a spoilsport but please don't eat uncooked beans. Raw beans contain a poisonous protein mixture called Phasin. This is poisonous to humans. After cooking the Phasin is destroyed and then beans are edible. I just checked wikipedia for confirmation.

[eleanor2]

wow beuch does this mean runner beans too.luckily i only had a few tiny beans on mostly pods.they tasted lovely to.we ate all the peas i grew raw.so just moved onto the beans.thanks for the warning.

[buecherwurm]

Peas are allright, eleanor. But as far as I know we should never eat beans (any kind) raw, or potatoes for that matter.

[eleanor2]

you know beuch i have come out in heat lumps.i wonder if that is a reaction.i knew kidney beans were poisonous.but never give it a thought about runner beans.good job you said.cus i am really into gardening and eating raw foods.better teach grandson the right things.not poison the little duck

[buecherwurm]

Sorry, don't know what effect raw beans have on us. Only heard it years ago that we shouldn't eat them raw because they are poisonous uncooked and then checked on Wikipedia to be sure before telling you

[Linnet]

Can you tape the old folks as they tell you the history? You will then have it for ever.

[eleanor2]

you have just give me a good idea linnet will get son do a little video.then we can save it on computer.at the moment it is hit and miss.settling down and getting inlaws chatting.in the right atmosphere we really go down memory lane.on other days it doesnt go anywere.mum in law suffering with onset of senile dementia.we never know from one week to the next what mood the house will be in.i think as it gets colder we will allbe snuggling round the rayburn chatting.mum in law still cooks on a coal rayburn.there is always a big enamel whistle kettle boiling away.we used to have lovely buttered toast off the fire.that was always my job.its sad really we have such happy homely memories.before mum inlaws dementia.some weeks we still have a good laugh.can you believe my inlaws play cards or domnoes every afternoon or evening of the week and have done for about 50 years.used to be for old pennies.then 2p now it is 5p.mostly play newmarket now as mum can play that easiest.on a cold afternoon we all get round the table with our 5ps.thats how my children learnt to count.playing pontoon with their nan.

[Crocus]

Wow I never knew this Buecher! I've eaten many many runner beans, young and fresh. It's so delicious! My father used to sit and cut it for my mum to cook on Sundays. I couldn't stay away from this young fresh green beens. xx

(Sorry Eleanor, I'm totally off topic here!)

[Linnet]

I cannot even begin to tell you how important it is to tape the information for the future. Having been involved in an oral history project for well over 10 years now we have a whole picture of our village that has so many little details that would have been missed if it were not for the tapes - all 200 hours of them!

[eleanor2]

linet i know you are right.there are only 2 old residents left in the little place where the smallholding is.i am writing it all down in a book.you know i can remember only 25 years ago.a lot of old houses ,run down with some old men in.mum inlaw bless her used to cook them meals and we would take them down .they were so basic and poor.they were called crate shop cottages.all knocked down now and new houses.across the road an old cottage knocked down and a big new fancy house. i bet inlaws cottage and farm behind are the oldest buildings left.

[TIGGYWINKLE]

Eleanor, I have just read your lovely family history. The house resembles Flora Thompson's house in Larkrise. Computers are so wonderful for writing. I have just bought a new scanner, to scan old family photos. I am also using my tape recorder more. I am doing my life for my grandchildren, as so much has happened in our lifetime. I think it is important to do this, as it is Social History, and with telephone, emails, and texting, so much is lost for ever. Keep up the good work.I am also going to buy a spiral binding machine, so I can do my own A5 size books. Look forward to seeing your old photos. TIGGTWINKLE x

[eleanor2]

hi tiggi my mum in law once gave me the photos.then forgot and asked for them back.the way she is now with dementia i have to wait for the right week to ask for them.dad says just sneak up and get them but i rather wait .i really want to keep all this history.as we will probably live there next.i am very sentimental and have many fond memories right from the first day i walked through the door.my first visit was my boyfriend taking me home when his parents were out and we pinched some of his mums gin.never again.the next was a very respectable invite for tea.the little dining room all snug from a coal rayburn.the table set with salad and joint of ham and home made cakes.mum in law waiting on us hand a nd fot.i wasnt used to being spoilt.i didnt know i was in for many years of this lovely home comfort treatment.my mum in law was like her mum.nothing for fancy living.everything was home made,the men were looked after.she never had a daughter so i was put in that slot straight away.

[eleanor2]

i went upstairs this saturday to look for the old photos.inlaws live downstairs now.so upstairs looks like a ghost ship.there was dad in laws old army coat on the old latch door.that has covered a few few people in bed on a cold night when there was no heating on.a picture of young handsome dad in law in his army uniform.you know those portrait photos they had done to leave with their loved ones.my daughter says theres some letters dad il sent whilst he was away at war.i never saw them and couldnt find the photos.mum in law says i have got them.but i took them back ages ago cus she wanted show some-one.so i have to get another excuse to go upstairs again.for another look.

[eleanor2]

was talking to mum in law last week.we were discussing new years eve parties in the past.for the poorer folk.they knew how to enjoy themselves.even tho they had a 2 up 2down cottage.she said relatives would all converge on the place.they had their own pig so there would be a leg of pork or ham hanging on the meat hooks in the kitchen,the hooks are still there.they would buy hand made butter from the neighbouring farmer.then make plates and plates of ham sandwiches.i said waht about cakes .no cakes at all.everyone was happy with a few sandwiches.they said they didnt make thier own beer.so i have yet to find out what they drank. mum in law said after the festivities everyone would just find a place to lie down and sleep.yet she remembers these parties with such fondness.

[eleanor2]

well probably for the first time in all the hundreds of years.we are letting a proffessional painter loose on the old cottage.it is in much need of care and atention.hubby and grandson both have good jobs as well as looking after their own homes and doing everything we can at the smallholding between us.hubby hates heights too.so i have got a painter to come and give us a quote.he will first do it with stabilising liquid.then paint the whole lot.chimmneys too.which hubby didnt dare do last time.i have asked him to do the bench and fence in the same colour too.we are having a new back door .to make it more secure.so when it is all done i will put a photo on.

[eleanor2]

the painter hasstarted work on the cottage today.one wall is buckling where wind as sent rain into cracks in the rendering.then ice has got in.so a whole patch of rendering has to come off.i tell you it is expensive just to keep the bare upkeep of an old detached cottage.

[eleanor2]

the cost of repair and painting the whole of the detached cottage cost £620.

[eleanor2]

mil and dad i law are nearly 90.they hardly ever leave the house and are contented with their sedated life.i tried to pursuade mil to come for a walk up the lane today ,but no .anyway all the work around the place is upto us now.what a beautiful day.it was one of those tranquil summer days that dont come often.yet being on a small holding you could work all day nearly every day and never get all the work done.today was super me,hubby,son and grandson decided to tackle my secret garden.there were blackberries and a tree full of ripe plums to pick.so son strimmed all the nettles and hubby chain sawed some overgrown branches.we picked our fruit and off i went.next thing i know son is dragging the fence from my garden across the field behind his souped up mower.he then started to clear away the ground.so looks like as well as my large veg patch we are going to start working on secret garden.that is no longer secret.next we all sat down at garden table for a lovely picnic.a bit more weeding.then i decided to make use of grandsons blow up trampoline it made a lovely sunbed.i lay looking at the sky.a clear blue ,birds calling in the background.saw my first red admiral.a poor honey bee was trying so hard to get some necter from my worn out lavendar flowers.you know money couldnt buy such a pleasant day.i have gone up to cottage nearly every saturday of my life since meeting hubby.now son and grandson are there every saturday.it seems such a healthy life working outside all day.i remember when lots of people used to grow their own veg even if they only had a little garden.

[cindy]

Its fascinating, Eleanor. Off topic though it is only the beans in runner beans that are poisonous.

[Crocus]

You know Eleanor, MrC mentioned this same thing during the week, no matter how small a garden was in the olden days, there always was a veggie patch. I remember my granny and her son who lived next door had veggie patches and fruit trees and we as children loved to pick ripe figs, peaches, apricots, beans, carrots etc. give it a good wash and sunk our teeth into those homegrown luxuries. Something we didn't have where we lived those days. Lovely and your journal on the smallholding over the centuries is lovely to read. You are so fortunate to have that Eleanor, so use it while you can. xx

[eleanor2]

thanks cindy.i havnt actually grown runners this year.my peas were a disaster.yet last year we had a lovely crop. crocus today i just lay there in the warmth and tranquility.looking at the lovely cloudless sky.then looking up to watch son and grandson working together dragging the fences across the field.at one point grandson tried catching a lift sitting on the slatted fence.hubby was busy in his garage.a good old fashioned simple day.i went down to the cottage later and made us all a mug of tea.got the eccles cakes out of the cooler box.we all sat there happily having a rest from labour to enjoy a much needed drink and cake.i also laid all my onions out in the sun to dry them off a bit quicker.i think next week will be stringing the onions week.

[eleanor2]

we are tidying the old place up a bit.cutting hedges is a big job this time of year..today we have been chainsawing and choping logs .half for small holding rayburn half to bring home.got a little hay barn where my onions are drying .been plaiting some up today.still digging beetroots out.oh its all so much work and fun on a smallholding.

[Primrose]

Eleanor - Have promised myself to read your thread from start to finish it sounds fascinating.

[eleanor2]

arrr primrose it is quite long.all is quiet at the smallholding at the moment.to much work in the garden.mum in laws last sister just died.they wee all born in the cottage.now there is just mum and dad in law left of all their siblings and partners.i wonder if the healthy small holding life helps.they are both nearly 90 and still looking after themselves as much as they can.the place needs lots of work from us young uns to keep it tidy however.

[jazzactivist]

I have just caught up with your thread, eleanor, and it is really fascinating. The cottage still looks lovely, but having renovated a couple of old ones I know what you mean about the upkeep being like painting The Forth Rail Bridge. My nan and grandad lived in a tiny one up one down cottage, much smaller than your in-laws' one, and ran a market garden from the two fields that they had. There was a room attached to the cottage that was as big as their sitting room / kitchen where they used to make cider. Maybe that is what people drank at parties then? I didn't know about the raw runner beans either. Over my life I have eaten loads of them, as I think that they have a better flavour raw than cooked! It seems really odd to me that people would live not only in the same village, but in the same house for all those generations. I don't think that you get that nowadays. Keep going with your record, as it is so interesting.

[eleanor2]

thanks jazz. i have been thinking about mil younger sister dying a few weeks ago.i have been musing over the fact.that they lived as people did in those days.mil looked after her dad till he died. as they had looked after their parents before them . that meant mum and dad in one room.children in another ,where did grandad sleep.this is a question to ask next saturday.can you imagine a brother and three sisters sharing a room till they married. this was how mil lived.they musnt have owned hardly any toys or clothes.no computers on computer desks thats for sure.i dont think i would have liked being around in those days.yet mum sounds so happy when she recalls it all.she loved her mum and always says what a hard worker she was.they used to make staffordshire oatcakes and one sister would go around selling them to neighbours.the other sister had to wash up the mess.mil says you wouldnt get me going round selling oatcakes to neighbours.i always chose to clean up.

[jazzactivist]

As my Nan and Grandad only had one child - my mother - I once asked her about contraception. She said that it wasn't a problem as she had a lot of pain during sex and childbirth so made my Grandad sleep in the shed every night. Imagine that over the winter! I suppose that in those days people were more practical and less emotional. It must be very interesting in a way to live in the house that your parents and grandparents lived in and be able to unearth all the different goings on in the house and see how it has changed over the years. Nowadays children usually sell their parents' home when they no longer live in it, rather than move in themselves.

[eleanor2]

i asked hubby if he wants to live there one day he said yes.i know it has always been home from home for him ,my son and now my grandson.it is like a magnet.mainly because there is so much they can do there.it would be really strange if one of us didnt live there.as we all go nearly every saturday.i actually see my garden as my garden and my secret garden as mine.dad in law just says its ours now and upto us what we do.my oak tree in the middle of the field.was what i planted as an acorn.it is now quite grown up.i want my grandsons and great grandsons to know i planted it.it is like the place has a heart of its own and we are all part of it.strange really.

[Katelb]

Eleanor,what an incredible saga,I have just discovered it and read it through and I applaud your sentiments regarding the cottage and the land etc, it is so interesting to read about yestereyear and how our grand/great grandparents lived.

During WW2 we were bombed out of our home which was close to Liverpool;after a short time spent with my grandparents on the Wirral,we(my Mum and I) went to live in a similar cottage which my grandparents used s a holiday place before during and after the war;like yours it was 2 up and 2 down,an earth closet 'up the garden!! and no electricity ,just oil lamps,
the old kitchen range and just a cold tap in the kitchen,and yes,there was a vegetable garden.This little cottages' rent was 4/6 (old money) a week, and my mum and I lived there all the while I was at school in nearby Ambleside.
We were never able to buy it, but now it has electricity,has been knocked into a similar one next door,and is a posh country home for some family I guess,the vegetable garden is no more and it looks very different.it would have a similar story to yours if we had been able to buy it ,but it was never to be.
Living there were some of the happiest years of my young life,it was carefree and countryfied,and was just great for children.

[Crocus]

I would've loved to live in my granny's house where my mum were brought up, but it's been sold when she moved out to the old age home. The house where my dad were born and brought up was also sold to a family who doesn't care about it at all. The house is now dirty, unloved and uncared for.

[eleanor2]

i suppose we are one of the few left still living in the family cottage.the outside toilet is still there and used in emergencies.the old pig sty is a coal house.the meat hooks still hang down from the beam in the dining room.you know i dont know what happened to the tin bath.i must find out.mil family heirlooms are a pair of brass candlesticks and an old oil lamp .these were what they originally used for light.oh she has her mums big brass jam kettle too.i have seen mil slaving over the rayburn making jam in it many times.there is a fireplace upstairs.i would certainly have little coal fires in that on a winters night.sadly the character is still there as they cant afford to do it up.but there is a lot of work needed if ever we want to get the cottage upto scratch.

[eleanor2]

what a lovey day it has been today. Over the last few months we have been pruning all the trees and hedges. Slowly building a big bonfire in the field. Today there was 4 generations of us. Son was mowing the field. Hubby and i were chainsawing old wood.sorting what was for burning in the house and what was rotten and naily to go on the bonfire.Daughter inlaw and grandson were collecting all the rubbish bits of wood etc and piling it on the heap... Old nan and grandad are to old to join in.they were snug by the rayburn. Then each saturday now, son goes to the chip shop for fish and chips for all of us .we all have dinner together. Then back to work .I went pruning trees in my secret garden with grandson. The fire got quite big. As dusk came we lit a barbie. set up table and chairs . Son even set up a rope light down the path and round the table. Then we lit the bonfire and had our barbie.i went in the cottage and did a tray of teas. At last grandson got his wish and we let of the fireworks..Then we all sat around the bonfire eating popcorn and chatting. A good old fashioned day. We were outside from about 11a.m to about 7.30. All that clearing up and yet still on a smallholding theres work and more work to do.

[franbee]

What a lovely day that must have been, eee, with all the family there helping. It's years since I've been to a bonfire because I don't like fireworks, but the bonfire's ok, and the food, of course!

[eleanor2]

Thanks Fran it was a good old fashioned bonfre.We all sat round for hours after just watching the flames and chatting. I did try to get them all singing gin gan gooly gooly but they wouldnt have any of it.

[eleanor2]

Today was a bit sad as well as having such a laugh.We have bought a large new shed.So today hubby and son were sorting out the old shed that is falling down.It was sad as all this was father inlaws belongings.He is 90 and never gets up the garden at all any more.There was about 60 years worth of stuff.some of dad inlaws stuff from the many jobs he had.Old rusty tools and all sorts.Son was trying to scrap the real old rust things and hubby kept saying no they will be useful.Me and daughter in law joined in trying to get hubby to scrap stuff.In the end we were all laughing our heads off.It does seem sad tho sorting all dad in laws stuff out.The new shed looks great probably the poshest the small holding as ever had.

[Crocus]

Hi Eleanor, it's always sad to this kind of thing - I remember when my mum had to move to the care home, it was quite sad as well, deciding what stuff she wanted to take along, what will have to go to either my sis, us, for charity, or get sold. I brought home quite a few of her things - I just didn't have the heart to let it go. It's the sentiment of it all eh?

[dragonfly]

Old tools are quite popular E.. so perhaps you can sell them. Old garden tools make modern garden ornaments and people like them rusty. I know it was sad but it must feel good having a new shed and a good clear out. x