A stunning view of Kildale, seen from the sandstone crags of Ward Nab. Kildale, with its postcard-worthy scenery and quaint stone buildings, represents the sort of agricultural nostalgia many enjoy romanticising. Yet, beneath this charming façade lies a tale of upheaval and supposed progress.
In the 18th century, Kildale’s open fields were carved up through the enclosure of common lands. Sir Charles Turner helpfully claimed over 600 acres for himself in the late 18th century, all in the name of “efficiency” and “productivity.” No doubt his intentions were entirely selfless.
Before this, the area thrived on traditional farming methods. Open fields and shared grazing supported crop rotations that left land fallow to recover. Oats, a hardy staple, dominated, with wheat and barley occasionally gracing the richer soils. Flax likely kept the textile mills ticking over, adding a bit of industry to the mix.
Then came the agricultural reformers such as Arthur Young, armed with new ideas and fervour. Turnips and clover became the new fashion, while tenancy agreements demanded that fertilizers like bone meal and “Town Manure” graced the fields. Town Manure was a polite term for “Night Soil,” better known as the delightful offerings from the earth closets of nearby towns. Farming yields rose; so did the fortunes of landowners and ambitious farmers. For the smallholders and cottagers, however, enclosure meant displacement, poverty, and a rapid exit from the idyllic rural life. Traditional cottage industries like weaving disappeared, replaced by progress that mostly benefited others.
Even so, Kildale’s landscape has endured, carrying the marks of this upheaval while remaining thoroughly picturesque. The history of its farming practices is a tidy microcosm of tradition, innovation, and inequality – a fitting legacy for such an “iconic” landscape.
Source:
Anthony, Cedric. “Glimpses of Kildale History”. Geni Printing. 2012.
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