Cordilleras Farmstead, Marske Training Area Nr Richmond

Cordilleras Farmstead, Marske Training Area near Richmond

Farmstead built between 1811 and 1824 for John Hutton IV (1774-1841), who enclosed Marske Moor and established this farm shortly after 1809. The farmstead is now used for Ministry of Defence training exercises. It is constructed of stone with stone slate roofs, though some roofing has been replaced with corrugated iron and parts are ruinous.

The farmstead comprises a farmhouse facing south-east with a principal foldyard at its rear and two further foldyards positioned to the north-east and north.

The farmhouse is a two-storey, three-bay building with coursed rubble construction and stone dressings. A catslide outshut extends to the rear under a stone slate roof with stone coping. A central doorway, slightly offset, has a porch with plain sandstone jambs, consoles and pediment. One window occupies each bay with plain stone dressings, though fenestration has been lost. A ridge chimney stack stands to the left gable, with an external stack of later construction towards the rear of the left gable end. The rear elevation contains a doorway, ground floor windows, eaves windows above and an inserted stair window. A single-storey outbuilding, possibly a former privy, is attached to the rear at right angles, leading to a small single-storey range facing the farmhouse, which has a corrugated iron roof and altered openings.

The interior has been stripped to whitewashed stone with several blocked fireplaces, the scar of a former central staircase visible, and the first floor open to the roof. The roof structure has largely been replaced and is supported by RSJs and wooden props. The north-east face of the house and rear outbuilding has one altered entrance, one blocked entrance and one inserted entrance.

The principal foldyard to the rear of the farmhouse features a south-west range that originally contained two 3-horse stables with hay-loft above, a 3-arched cart shed and threshing barn. An external staircase and first floor windows remain at the north end, but the upper floor has been lost and the southern roof section replaced with corrugated iron. The adjoining range to the north contained a 4-arched horse-way and barn with granary over both. The rear two archways are blocked; the first floor and roof of the horse-way remain intact, though the barn roof has been replaced with corrugated iron and some upper windows blocked. A single-storey range to the north-east, split at its centre to form an entrance to the second foldyard, has a corrugated iron roof and an arched entrance at the north gable end, while the south side contains concrete cattle stalls.

The second foldyard, backing onto the first on its north-east side, contains single-storey ranges to the north and south with corrugated iron roofs. The north range has four blocked arched entrances with inserted windows and doorway. The south side has two doorways, one blocked with brick. The south range turns the corner to the eastern side, against which the north range butts. The eastern range is single-storey with corrugated iron roofs either side of a central two-storey entranceway with arched opening. Small rooms to either side are open to a pyramidal roof of stone slates. A blocked window appears on the outward-facing first floor, with recesses for pigeons on the inner face.

The third foldyard, positioned to the north-west of the second, contains single-storey ranges to the north-east, north-west and south-west, including two 4-arched cattle sheds which are unroofed and partly ruinous.

The farmstead was named Cordilleras in recognition of the explorations of von Humboldt in South America, and the surrounding fields were similarly given South American names. The farm represents a manifestation of the 'Model Farm' movement, which began in the eighteenth century, occurring during the extension of arable farming into the uplands. Work on improving access and the land proceeded simultaneously with construction of the farmhouse and steading. The farmhouse was built first and inhabited from 1813, followed by the west wing. Next came the 'horse-way' and second barn, enclosing the first foldyard. The second foldyard followed, with its Spanish-style entranceway and surrounding buildings, with the third foldyard added later. A shelter belt of trees and an apple orchard were further developments. Arable crops were initially grown in response to the needs of the Napoleonic Wars period, but this was later abandoned in favour of grazing as the main land-use.

After 1841 the farm was tenanted until 1968, when it came into use by the Ministry of Defence. Early destruction, including stripping of the farmhouse interior, ceased in the 1970s, since when limited reconstruction has taken place, principally in the form of re-roofing.

This planned farmstead is a very complete example from the early nineteenth century and one of the highest and most remote 'Model Farms' of the period, built on previously undeveloped land. While some constructional detail has been lost, the steading survives externally complete as a whole, set within its landscape context. It has a distinctive history reflecting the fortunes of the country and demonstrates contemporary awareness of international affairs.