It is hard to believe that it was in 1970 that the Yorkshire Post ran a story that outed a new Star. After the newspaper article Yorkshire TV screened a documentary ‘Too Long a Winter’ about a middle aged, female, Yorkshire Dales Farmer. Hannah Hauxwell was to capture the hearts of a watching audience as she recounted her life that could have existed in the 18th or 19th centuries but was actually being lived in the then current times. In her remote 78 acre hill farm in Baldersdale, without running water or electricity, Hannah Huaxwell became an author and soft spoken TV hit.
A follow up documentary programme almost 20 years later showed Hannah still in the farm with the odd extra cows but with her strength failing. A ‘Winter Too Many’ told of the decision to move into a cottage in Cotherstone where Hannah at 82 still lives today.
Favourite Quotes from Hannah.
Hannah comments on being a ‘celebrity‘
‘Don’t be daft, I’m just a plain Daleswoman. I’m just as I am. I don’t think of myself as anything special – if I did, I’m sure someone would give me a good shaking.’
‘Ooh, that was all a while ago. I shouldn’t think anyone will remember me now. I certainly wouldn’t go to the end of the village to see me…’
Commenting on the reality of farm life and a winter that lasted until May.
‘In summer I live in winter I exist’.
‘It would have been nice to have a bit more money, but I’ve always cut according to my cloth,’
‘Once, I went for a whole three weeks without seeing anybody, and another time, for two and a half weeks. Of course, I missed people.’
On moving in to a cottage in Cotherstone 1988
‘You can’t live somewhere all your life and have all those memories and walk away without being distressed – there’s chains that bind.’
‘I miss the trees the space and the water’
On being asked about her new washing machine –
‘I don’t know if it works, because I’ve never tried it. I do it by hand. It’s not one of my favourite jobs, but that’s how I’ve always done it.’
A review of this DVD by Freespirit on Amazon sums up how Hannah is perceived ‘These 2 videos depict an extremely moving story about a wonderful lady who single-handedly runs Birk Hatt Farm in an isolated area of Teesdale. She is dignified, gentle & her animals are her priority. She has gone without herself to ensure that her cow is fed. This will move you to tears and transport you back to a bygone age of manners, politeness and England how it used to be.
Simply wonderful.’
Click on the book or DVD to order from Amazon
Cotherstone Footnote
Cotherstone lies within the historic county boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire, but along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for administrative and ceremonial purposes on 1 April 1974.It is famous for local cheese and its famouse resident Hannah Hauxwell.
Dating back to the 1750s, The Fox & Hounds sits proudly on the West Green in the picturesque village. Within an area of outstanding natural beauty and sitting next to a beautiful stretch of the River Tees near the river Balder the friendly and cosy atmosphere of this traditional country pub may be worth a visit.
Interestingly enough, the Pennine Way long distance footpath runs almost past the front door of Low Birk Hatt farm where Hannah Hauxwell lived.
Pretty lonely in winter but like the M25 in summer. Maybe not so remote after all?
IT WAS A WINDERFUL STORY OF THIS LITTLE LADY AND HER LIFE ON HER FARM AND THEN THE MOVE TO THE TOWN.I WAS WONDERING IF SHE IS STILL WELL AND HAPPY.