Old Hall Farm

David a farmer and my neighbour lives here. Long before Staffield Hall was built this farm was the old hall. I have chosen to take a picture of the outbuildings because I think they are attractive and have an interesting history. These are in the cobbled farmyard and this picture is a mirror image of the opposite corner with four arches, four lofts above and a central arch through the middle of it all. The farm is over three hundred years old and the lofts above the arches were used to house itinerant Irish navvies seeking local farm work. The arches underneath would all have had double doors on to keep the animals in. The animals would of course give off heat and in turn heat up the lofts and keep the workers warm - not exactly central heating. A bit of a harsh life but better than no food.