A Description of Fold Farm House by Kathleen Beard

What of the homestead which housed so many of the Feild family in later years? Modern times have changed out of all recognition, but for centuries it stood a long low farmhouse, two stories high for the most part, following the contours of the land. All it’s doors and windows (except for two small ones), faced east. With it’s back to the gentle hill slope it was fairly sheltered from the south westerly gales and its front caught most of the sunshine from dawn onwards through the day.

Nothing about it was labour saving. It sheltered many people in its time of large families and they were all expected to do their share of work. The walls were at least three feet thick and stone built. First came the dairy at the top end of the slope, then the upper kitchen which was a scullery for rough work. Two steps down to the main kitchen as in any farmhouse was the heart of the home. Cooking dining and living generally, everything went on here.

Then the top passage with a front door to which all callers came, that was the main thoroughfare. Then came another two steps down to the sitting room, another door led to the lower hall. From this hall a stair case led up to bedrooms, and an almost unused front door opened to a small conservatory, lawn and flower garden, protected by a thick stone wall. Last of all came the lower parlour which was rarely used after the family grew up and left home.

Four front doors opened straight onto the farmyard, from dairy, kitchen and both halls so there was no lack of fresh air, they always seem to be open. The upper kitchen also had a staircase which led up to what had, in earlier times been servants quarters.

The vegetable garden, orchard, clothesline and “little house”, (no indoor sanitation then), were in the back garden.