North Farm – our family farm in the Derbyshire Dales – was a working dairy farm from the 1860s through the 1970s.
This was one of the most important farms in the area having a natural spring serving the surrounding farms. The “dry brick” well spans some 6 feet and is over 30 feet deep. The pump is still in situ.
Fresh dairy milk from the 78 Fresian Cows, each known by name to farmers Bill and Marilyn Yates, was carried in churns by horse and cart across the fields to the Cheese Factory on Luke Lane.
Prized Shire horses were reared and stabled at North Farm which was also a regular meeting point in the Meynell & South Staffs Hunt calendar with horses, hounds and crimson jackets and the sound of the hunting horn being a regular feature in the courtyard.
It Is believed a member of the Royal family enjoyed coming here.
After the farm sale in 1968, the English Country Garden Cosmetics Company was founded in the barns, which used the flowers, fruit and herbs from the garden to manufacture bath products. An early and much loved pioneer, it is for this reason that we have named our four lovely barns after fruits and flowers.
Three decades later, we refurbished the farm and brought the barns back to life through sensitive restoration by time served craftsmen and sourcing local materials.
We have been busy replanting the orchard with quince, mulberries, sloes, damsons, apples and espaliered pears and have filled the herbaceous borders with scented flowers, lavender and old fashioned roses plus creating a new kitchen garden.
In Spring, you can see rare breed sheep and lambs – last year all 17 named by farmer Julie, who home spins the wool and weaves it for gloves, hats, scarves and other items to order.
We hope you’ll find Brailsford Barns a welcoming country retreat to rest, relax and recuperate amidst beautiful unspoilt countryside and an abundance of nature.