Recollections of visiting Wood Top Farm
in the early 1900s

ADDED FEBRUARY 2010

In the summer of 1968 Roger Davy recorded a conversation he had with his father, Walter Davy, in the kitchen of Wood Top Farm. Walter told Roger of his early days of visiting the farm as a boy when his grandfather, William Hargreaves (1836-1922) still lived there and where his mother (Mary Ann 1865-1922) had been born. Walter moved to 4 Jackson Street in 1901.

Roger's Dad and Mum bought the farm and 27 acres of land at auction in Skipton in 1965 for £1500 and used it as a family retreat until Walter died in 1979.

The tape has recenly been transferred to CD and Roger very kindly sent me a copy. The conversation runs to 46 minutes and is divided into six parts, which can be listened to in MP3 format using the links below. The conversation provides an invaluable record of goings-on at the farm and in the village in a bygone age.


Part 1 - click to listen

Part 2 - click to listen

Part 3 - click to listen

Part 4 - click to listen

Part 5 - click to listen

Part 6 - click to listen



William Hargreaves and family, click to see a large version.

The photo from Roger Davy shows his great-great grandfather William Hargreaves and his family outside Wood Top Farm, circa 1888.

Back row: David (1874-1952), James (1870-1953), Alfred (1867-1941), Mary Ann (1865-1922), Sarah (1872/3-1896).

Front row: Fred (?-?), William Hargreaves (1836-1922), Hetty (1881-1949), Hannah Hargreaves (1836-1902), and William (1877- ?)