Stork House

It’s 2½ years since I was last at Stork House in perhaps the remotest part of Bransdale and decay has continued to creep on.

Such neglect seems a real shame but the cost of renovation would be prohibitive, and of course, being a National Trust property, it can not be sold, a condition of its transfer through the National Land Fund in 1972, in lieu of death duties of the estate of the late Earl Feversham¹“ArcGIS Web Application.” 2021. Arcgis.com <https://nationaltrust.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a7a56518c10845daab1950239e041447> [accessed 11 June 2021].

In 1993, the disquiet over the neglect of Stork House reached the pages of the Independent newspaper²“Derelict House Rouses Anger.” 2011. The Independent <https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/derelict-house-rouses-anger-1457375.html> [accessed 11 June 2021].

The buildings date from the mid 19th-century although the site itself is thought to be medieval, a monastic grange of Rievaulx Abbey³“MNA144408 | National Trust Heritage Records.” 2015. Nationaltrust.org.uk <https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/HBSMR/MonRecord.aspx?uid=MNA144408> [accessed 11 June 2021]. The NYM HER Map lists an alternative name of ‘Stirk‘⁴“HER Map: North York Moors National Park.” 2012. North York Moors National Park <https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/archaeology/her-map> [accessed 11 June 2021], a Yorkshire word generally meaning a bullock or young heifer‌⁵“Stirk – Yorkshire Historical Dictionary.” 2021. York.ac.uk <https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/stirk> [accessed 11 June 2021]. Perhaps ‘Stork’ sounded nicer.

• 1
  “ArcGIS Web Application.” 2021. Arcgis.com <https://nationaltrust.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a7a56518c10845daab1950239e041447> [accessed 11 June 2021]
• 2
  “Derelict House Rouses Anger.” 2011. The Independent <https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/derelict-house-rouses-anger-1457375.html> [accessed 11 June 2021]
• 3
  “MNA144408 | National Trust Heritage Records.” 2015. Nationaltrust.org.uk <https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/HBSMR/MonRecord.aspx?uid=MNA144408> [accessed 11 June 2021]
• 4
  “HER Map: North York Moors National Park.” 2012. North York Moors National Park <https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/archaeology/her-map> [accessed 11 June 2021]
• 5
  “Stirk – Yorkshire Historical Dictionary.” 2021. York.ac.uk <https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/stirk> [accessed 11 June 2021]