Defending the Farm

A circular walk from our door this morning. We have been here a year and this is a first - much more interesting than it looks on the map.

This complex of farm buildings is Beetham Hall. Parts of it are 14th Century, including the Hall on the right. There is also a three foot wide and twelve foot high barmkin wall, which is a defensive structure (barmkin being a Scottish term). During these times the England/Scotland boundary was fluid and much fought over, and this Hall and it’s walls were built with defence in mind.