- The Sale of Warnford House 1928 – by Messrs. J Hopper and Son.
- Warnford Cottage In The 19th Century – the people who lived there
Built in 1807 by James Willis 1759 – 1834
Warnford Cottage circa 1858
The Purchas daughters ‘Scholars at home’circa 1858
WARNFORD COTTAGE, THORALBY
(Now known as Warnford Court)
1807: Richard Willis is known to have purchased the real estate at Thoralby formerly owned by Thomas Carter of Carperby, deceased. This consisted of a dwelling house, stable and garden with two fields of meadow land called Goose Croft and Low Croft, with a cattlegate in Thoralby Haw Pasture.
Richard and his brother, James Willis, had also purchased jointly two closes or parcels of land at Thoralby called Scott Garth and Lonsdales Croft, the former from the representatives of Dolly Taylor, deceased, of Swaledale and the latter from Mr. John Sadler of Thoralby. They also owned adjacent land known as Martin Fields and Dodsworth Parrock.
These small fields and closes were “laid together and in one”, and here James Willis and his wife, Mary, had built for them “a fine Gentleman’s Residence”, which they called Warnford Cottage.
The imposing property occupied an elevated position with wonderful views over their land and across Bishopdale south-east to Penhill. Although of L-shaped plan, the house looks square and solid and has all the symmetry of classical Georgian architecture.
A rainwater head bears the cast date of 1807 and the initials J & R W. (James and Richard Willis.) – Compare this with the datestone of 1811 and J & R W above the door of “Lingdale”, facing Thoralby Green.
Records in the Willis Family Papers of 1801 – 1827, now at County Record Office, Northallerton, provide some points of interest.
Documents from 1807 refer to Richard Willis, Attorney, of Warnford Court, Kingsnorton Street, in the City of London. James, also a barrister, is shown as living at the same address.
On the cover of an Indenture of 1819 a note reads: “Sale. Richard to James. Land on which Warnford Cottage was built.
The Indenture commences:
Mr Richard Willis)
To
Mr James Willis )
- Conveyance of a Moiety (half-share) of Scott Garth and Lonsdales Croft.
It is clear that James bought his brother’s half share of the land on which he had built his house some twelve years earlier.
The formal gardens and extended parkland had been beautifully developed and laid out under the supervision of Mrs. Willis. The Bee boles and summer house or Sun loggia set into the garden wall are of particular interest. (Now Grade II listed.)
Above the loggia James placed a plaque with an inscription sacred to the memory of Mary, his wife, who sadly became ill and died in 1814, shortly after the house was completed.
Attached is a transcript of this inscription.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE INSCRIPTION ABOVE THE SUN LOGGIA
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARY WILLIS
- The wife of James Willis of this place. She planned and
- superintended the building of this house, and the laying
- out of the Plantations and Gardens, and intended the same
- as a retreat from the bustle of a town life, but Providence
- how inscrutable are thy Decrees! As soon as the same was
- finished, she took an illness which baffled all medical
- skill. She bore the same with pious resignation and
- cheerful fortitude, and was called home on the 20th day of
- Oct. 1811 in the 51 st year of her age, and was consigned to
- the dust in Aysgarth Churchyard on the Sunday following in
- the presence of a numerous assemblage of relatives and friends.
UT SUUS VICTOR TUUS EXITUS
The Sale of Warnford House 1928
THORALBY, NEAR AYSGARTH, YORKSHIRE
VAUABLE DWELLING HOUSES AND LAND FOR SALE.
Warnford Cottage now known as Warnford House 1928
To be Sold by Auction,
By Messrs. J. Hopper & Son
At the Bolton Arms Hotel, Leyburn
On FRIDAY March 30th 1928.
at 2.30 p.m. prompt.
(Subject to Conditions to be then Declared, and in the following or such other Lots as shall then be Decided on),
- Lot 1, WARNFORD HOUSE THORALBY,
with the Field in Front thereof, containing about 5 Acres and Numbered 175 on the Ordnance Map, and also the Field on the opposite side of the road containing about 8 Acres and Numbered 139 on Ordnance Map.
The Dwelling House contains Entrance Hall, 2 Reception Rooms, Kitchen, Etc, 7 Bedrooms, Several Box Rooms, and Bathroom. Large Range of Outbuildings, Etc.
- Lot 2, TRIANGULAR FIELD
At the East End of Thoralby, containing about ½ Acre Numbered 169 on Ordnance Map.
- Lot 3, Small CLOSE of LAND at the West End of Thoralby, containing about ¼ Acre Numbered 300 on the Ordnance Map.
- LOT 4, – THREE ALLOTMENTS, known as SEEDS,containing together 32 ¼ Acres, and numbered 1284, 289 and 347 on Ordnance Map.
- LOT 5, – HALL GARTH HOUSE Thoralby, with Cottage, Garth and Gardens adjoining.
The House contains 6 rooms, with usual outoffices and the Cottage 2 rooms.
- LOT 6, – TWO CLOSES of LAND called “LOW WEST LEAS” and “HIGH WEST LEAS,” containing nearly 5 Acres. Numbered 244, 245, and 216 on the Ordnance Map.
- LOT 7, – FIVE CLOSES of LAND called “FIVE ACRES”, “KILNGARTH”, “LONSDALE FIELD LEAS” and “TENTERSGARTH” containing altogether nearly 16 Acres and numbered 214, 130, 242, 114,315, and 119 on the Ordnance Map.
An excellent Range of Farm Buildings, in very good repair are included in this lot.
VACANT POSSESION can be had on Completion of all the Lots except LOT 5, and as to this, Hall Garth House can be had on May 12th.
“Warnford House” and “Hall Garth House” are two of the most pleasantly situated Houses in the Dale and are most desireable Country Residences.
Electric Light is laid on to both.
For further particulars apply to the Auctioneers,
Yorescott,
Askrigg:
or to ARTHUR H. WILKINSON
Solicitor,
Leyburn
Auction Outcome
- Warnford House and 13 acres of grassland was withdrawn at £1,200 and afterwards sold to Mr. Michael Webster of Thoralby at £1,250.
- Hall Garth House, buildings and 16 acres of grassland wre sold to a Mr. Gowland for £1,440.
With many thanks to the present owner of Warnford Court.
- Warnford Cottage In The 19th Century – the people who lived there