History of Broadrayne Farm

The name 'Broadrayne' through various spellings traces back to the old Norse language and translates as 'Broad' (wide) and 'rein' (long strip).  Indeed the farm sits above what would have been originally the flood plain of the valley and below the high fells behind the farm.  Our oldest maps and the field walls tell us that the farm indeed extended further to the north in a long strip.  Whether people lived here or just used the land we cannot tell, but for the name to survive, something must have happened here for a very long time. 

The farm house stands on a large boulder base; indicating that there was probably an earlier building than the present house which dates to circa 1620 (it was a tradition to rebuild on the same site as the previous one). The stone walls around the farm and the shape of the fields also reflect a similar date.  Our deeds and a very early map tell us that these fields were enclosed before the 1720s. Although some will date from  when the field enclosure act came into force and later. The outlying barn to the North has always been known as the bracken barn; the bracken was used for animal bedding and some was probably burnt to make potash which was in turn made into soap to scour the grease from the wool .

The building attached to the north of the farmhouse was the original cow byre with storage above for animal feed and fleeces awaiting processing. The little two storey barn at the side of the largest barn was built in the early years of the 19th century with storage for hay, barley and oats on the top floor and a stable and shippen below for cows.  The oats and barley would have been grown in the meadows further down the valley.  The picture to the right shows a remarkable scene of farm hands salving the sheep outside this building circa 1880 (salving involved waterproofing the sheep's fleece with a mixture of hot tar and butter.  This also helped to keep down the number of sheep parasites).

Broadrayne Farm has over the years bred some of the best sheep in the Lake District.  The grey-faced sheep you can see round the farm are Lakeland Hardwick's -  descendents of sheep that have been on this farm for generations. These are Broadrayne Sheep and are marked with the Broadrayne own flock mark but are owned and managed by our next door neighbour.  The geese, ducks and chickens you see round the farm are all free to roam at will, many are unusual or specialist breeds - please ask before feeding them.

Farm hands salving the sheep outside a Broadrayne Barn
circa 1880

The annual Rushbearing in Grasmere will be held on Saturday afternoon 20th July 2002

Bank barns like the Hostel are almost unique to the Lake District.  Around 1860 the fine Lakeland bank barn that is now the hostel was built out of stone quarried  from the back of Helm Crag, (the mountain right opposite the farm). This stone is unique to Grasmere as it all has an iron red tint. For those of you who are interested in how the Lakeland walls and buildings are constructed do ask when you visit here.

The barn originally housed the cow byres on the lower ground floor and a bull pen.  The upper ground floor was given over to storage of hay, straw, animal feedstuff and tractors etc...

In the hostel we have a display of before and after photographs of its development.

It has now been graded by the English Tourism Council as 4 stars.   We feel this is now a very fitting use for the barn and we thoroughly enjoy having people to stay.

Cherry picking on the farm