Heritage Project - Green Sike Miners Cottage

Thanks to funding from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium trust we can now offer an exciting new heritage project exploring the unique history of the dale.


Programme

Any or all of the following elements can be included in you visit, please contact us to discuss your pupils' requirements.


Pupils will have the chance to:

  • Visit an old miner's cottage where the Bell family were the last occupants, circa 1871
  • Experience the sense of isolation, the sights and sounds at this remote location
  • See inside an old cow byre, complete with stone 'buse's'
  • Walk down the steep hillside pastures to the main farm buildings
  • Hear and take part in the story of Henry Bell and other real life characters who lived and worked in the dale from the1850's to 1900's then 1950's to present day. Discover how their food was produced and processed at home. (includes butter making)

    • The children can discover what life would have been like for the Bell family during the 1850's. The men folk worked in the mines whilst the women and children would work at home looking after the land and livestock. By the end of the 1800's most of the mines closed, the Bell family, along with many others left the dale. Their cottage was never lived in again; it remains a desolate ruin standing on the skyline, plainly visible from the road by the river as you come up the dale.

    The view back down the dale from the cottage is spectacular, the 'u' shaped valley with the river meandering along the valley floor and the distinct field patterns warrant some quiet time, standing still, looking and listening. A short walk downhill for about 1/4 mile brings the children back to the farm.


    Once back at the farm buildings the story of past dales farming is told with the help of volunteers taking the parts of, and dressing up as the characters. We start off with young Henry Bell the eldest of six children, who joined his father working in the lead mines at the age of 11. Kited out with a pair of moleskin trousers, waistcoat, clogs and miners hat, young Henry sets off to work with a pair of knitting needles.


    Moving on 50 years, we have outfits for Margaret & Nancy Alderson, two sisters who came from a family of 10 children. During the early 1900's their life and work was hard. Nancy used to tell of having to run up the hillside from school during morning break in wintertime. Her job was to let the cows out of the barn to drink at the trough and tie them back in to their stalls before the schoolmaster rang the bell for lessons. Nancy married a farmer and turned out to be an expert butter-maker. (our Nancy from the group will set the butter off, which everyone will have a hand in making) Margaret aged 13, managed to secure a job as a live-in maid at Hazel Brow, she was allowed to walk home every Sunday to see her family and go to Chapel.



    The auction mart was a busy and vibrant place of business in the 1950's. Farmer Alf has a spectacular pair of fancy market breeches, a smart jacket and a cap to try on.


    By the end of the 1900's farmer Ray needs subsidies and diversification to keep the farm going. Farmer Brian in the year 2050 has….well, you'll just have to come and find out!


    Details and timing of the above program can be arranged during teacher's preliminary visits. If time allocated for the visit is a problem, it may be possible for part of the project to be taken in to schools within a 35 mile radius of the farm.


    Transport can be provided to the cottage by local mini buses as the road is not suitable for coaches. Alternatively, children can enjoy a brisk walk for ½ mile (uphill)!


    A Risk Evaluation Analysis is available to download