Photographs
Please send any local photographs (with brief details of the location) to jeanrobinson1946@gmail.com for inclusion in this section.
The three photographs below, showing the centre of the village, were supplied by Mike Adams. Click on any image to enlarge it.
Crake Hall
Does anyone know when this photograph of Crake Hall was taken? Today the house is a complete ruin, with no roof, only parts of the front and side walls standing, and the right-hand part of the house merely piles of stones. The barn is in good repair as it is still used by a farmer.
Can anybody supply any information about who lived there, and why it was eventually abandoned?
Can anybody supply any information about who lived there, and why it was eventually abandoned?
Crake Hall - Update
I have been contacted by Karen Philbin, who has given me the following information:
"I have been working on my Ancestry family tree and came across the following regarding Crake Hall. When I Googled Crake Hall it came up with your article on New Hutton and those wonderful photographs. You may well have seen this article before but, if not, I hope it is of interest.
"My 6x great grandmother Hannah Atkinson was the daughter of Joseph Atkinson of Crake Hall, now a derelict farmhouse in a village called New Hutton near Kendal.
"Interestingly it was advertised to let in 1807, the owner being John Atkinson of Manchester:
"I have been working on my Ancestry family tree and came across the following regarding Crake Hall. When I Googled Crake Hall it came up with your article on New Hutton and those wonderful photographs. You may well have seen this article before but, if not, I hope it is of interest.
"My 6x great grandmother Hannah Atkinson was the daughter of Joseph Atkinson of Crake Hall, now a derelict farmhouse in a village called New Hutton near Kendal.
"Interestingly it was advertised to let in 1807, the owner being John Atkinson of Manchester:

From the Lancaster Gazette - Saturday 15 August 1807
Text: August 1, 1807. TO BE LET, TO FARM, TOGETHER OR IN TWO LOTS, To be entered on at the usual time next Spring, 1808, THE ESTATE, called CRAKE HALL, in New Hutton, four miles from Kendal, in the county of Westmorland, pleasantly situated between the two turnpike- roads leading from Kendal to Kirkby-Lonsdale and Sedbergh ; the private roads to the above turnpikes are good. The above estate contains, by measurement, 77a. 2r. 5p. customary, or 108 a. lr. 6p. statute measure, inclosed in a ring fence; has an UNLIMITED RIGHT to the extensive and valuable Common, called Hutton Common, to the best part of which it adjoins, A good STOCK of SHEEP, bred on the premises, may be had at a fair valuation. The above estate has been, within a few years, highly improved, having had upwards of 5,000 bushels of lime laid on it. There is about sixteen acres of rich meadow land, which may be watered at pleasure The buildings are particularly good, being mostly new, and fit for the reception of a farmer of respectability. The taxes are easy, the land-tax re- deemed; pays a modus of about 3s a year, in lieu of tithes. *Particulars may be had for the premises examined, by applying to Richard Simpson, of Milnholme, gentleman; Thomas Simpson, linen- draper, Kendal ; or John Atkinson, of Manchester, the owner. N B. Should the above not be let by private contract, it will be LET by TICKET, of which due notice will be given.
Text: August 1, 1807. TO BE LET, TO FARM, TOGETHER OR IN TWO LOTS, To be entered on at the usual time next Spring, 1808, THE ESTATE, called CRAKE HALL, in New Hutton, four miles from Kendal, in the county of Westmorland, pleasantly situated between the two turnpike- roads leading from Kendal to Kirkby-Lonsdale and Sedbergh ; the private roads to the above turnpikes are good. The above estate contains, by measurement, 77a. 2r. 5p. customary, or 108 a. lr. 6p. statute measure, inclosed in a ring fence; has an UNLIMITED RIGHT to the extensive and valuable Common, called Hutton Common, to the best part of which it adjoins, A good STOCK of SHEEP, bred on the premises, may be had at a fair valuation. The above estate has been, within a few years, highly improved, having had upwards of 5,000 bushels of lime laid on it. There is about sixteen acres of rich meadow land, which may be watered at pleasure The buildings are particularly good, being mostly new, and fit for the reception of a farmer of respectability. The taxes are easy, the land-tax re- deemed; pays a modus of about 3s a year, in lieu of tithes. *Particulars may be had for the premises examined, by applying to Richard Simpson, of Milnholme, gentleman; Thomas Simpson, linen- draper, Kendal ; or John Atkinson, of Manchester, the owner. N B. Should the above not be let by private contract, it will be LET by TICKET, of which due notice will be given.
11th May 2015:
I've been contacted by Naomi Weatherhead, who says:
"I have been researching my family history if Westmorland and have come across Crake Hall.
"Peter Moser, cordwainer [shoe-maker], married Jane Atkinson of Dillikar on 27th February 1662. The couple settled in Shaw End in Grayrigg where they had two children: Roger and Mary. The family were Quakers and Peter was frequently arguing with the authorities. He refused to take the Oath of Allegiance and pay Easter Offerings. He was fined several times and spent some time in prison. Peter died in 1679 and by 1715 Mary and Roger were also dead. Jane left Shaw End and returned to her relatives in Crake Hall in New Hutton until she died in 1722. She was buried at Sunniebank, the Quaker cemetery in Grayrigg.
"Jane made her will on 31st May 1721. She named as Executor her nephew Joseph Atkinson of Crake. Among her bequests were 'To Thomas Atkinson son of Joseph Atkinson of Crake 20 shillings and a cupboard now standing in the dwelling house at Brocklebank in Grayrigg. To Joseph, Anthony, Alice and Hannah children of Joseph Atkinson of Crake 20 shillings each.'
An extract of her will appears in the book "Some Westmorland Wills".
I've been contacted by Naomi Weatherhead, who says:
"I have been researching my family history if Westmorland and have come across Crake Hall.
"Peter Moser, cordwainer [shoe-maker], married Jane Atkinson of Dillikar on 27th February 1662. The couple settled in Shaw End in Grayrigg where they had two children: Roger and Mary. The family were Quakers and Peter was frequently arguing with the authorities. He refused to take the Oath of Allegiance and pay Easter Offerings. He was fined several times and spent some time in prison. Peter died in 1679 and by 1715 Mary and Roger were also dead. Jane left Shaw End and returned to her relatives in Crake Hall in New Hutton until she died in 1722. She was buried at Sunniebank, the Quaker cemetery in Grayrigg.
"Jane made her will on 31st May 1721. She named as Executor her nephew Joseph Atkinson of Crake. Among her bequests were 'To Thomas Atkinson son of Joseph Atkinson of Crake 20 shillings and a cupboard now standing in the dwelling house at Brocklebank in Grayrigg. To Joseph, Anthony, Alice and Hannah children of Joseph Atkinson of Crake 20 shillings each.'
An extract of her will appears in the book "Some Westmorland Wills".
Picture of the Vicarage

This photograph, provided by Maria Radice, shows the Vicarage and is dated on the back at October 6th 1890.
The man on the right in the photograph is clearly the incumbent of the time.
Has anyone any knowledge of who he was, and therefore the likely identity of the others in the photograph?
The man on the right in the photograph is clearly the incumbent of the time.
Has anyone any knowledge of who he was, and therefore the likely identity of the others in the photograph?
Midge's Monument

Tony Porter has provided this photograph of Midge's Monument which stands in woodland at Monument Hill, Hilltop, New Hutton. A Latin inscription nearby shows that the monument is in memory of Midge, a mare which died in 1766 at the age of 30. It's possible Midge belonged to Robert Somervell, who lived at Hilltop in the mid-1700s. This was the Somervell family who later founded K Shoes. The mare is said to have won every race she entered. It's thought that races, possibly point-to-point races, were held at Hagg.
The monument is listed as Grade II by English Heritage, listing number 76694.
You can find a list of other listed buildings in New Hutton by logging on to English Heritage's "Images of England" website. You will need to register - but it's free to do so - then search for New Hutton under "Place Name".
Does anyone know any more about Midge and her owner?
The monument is listed as Grade II by English Heritage, listing number 76694.
You can find a list of other listed buildings in New Hutton by logging on to English Heritage's "Images of England" website. You will need to register - but it's free to do so - then search for New Hutton under "Place Name".
Does anyone know any more about Midge and her owner?
Strickley Now and Then
You can see photographs of old farming scenes on Strickley's website.