Lady Davina Barnard Tribute
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Newsletter : November 2018 Human Mountain “Natural Creation” Estate Property New Gamekeeper Endeavour: Lady Davina Barnard Temporary art Renovation Tom Wilkinson looks Raising money Tribute installation at Low Programme to make his mark for the Institute of Force Cancer Research Lady Davina Barnard Tribute Lady Barnard enjoyed music, walking and gardening. Her eldest daughter Carolyn Vane said “She loved the countryside and especially Teesdale. Some of our happiest memories are going for picnics in Upper Teesdale in the summer holidays”. She was involved in running Raby Gardens for many years and took an interest in the wider Estate and those who lived on it. In the 1980s she and Lord Barnard featured on BBC Gardeners’ World showcasing the renovated gardens in the grounds of Raby Castle. Many children of former employees will recall the Christmas party she arranged in the Castle every year. Whilst living at Selaby she was on the PCC for Staindrop Church and for many years was responsible for church flower arrangements. In addition she helped to organise Flower Festivals both there and at Raby Castle. She was involved in a number of charities in the County and was appointed County Vice President of St John Ambulance Association in 1962 and in 1970s became County th Lady Barnard, former wife of the late 11 Lord Barnard, died in President until retirement in 2000. September, aged 87. Born in London in 1931, Lady Davina Cecil was the th eldest daughter of the 6 Marquess of Exeter and Lady Mary Burghley. Her son Harry, the present Lord Barnard said “her She married in 1952 when she was 21, and shortly afterwards the couple priorities were the home, family life, the countryside, and moved to Selaby Hall, near Gainford, a property that had long been part the various causes she supported. She was a modest of Raby Estates. person who quietly went about her business and always saw the best in others.” She became Lady Barnard in 1964 when 11 th Lord Barnard succeeded to the title on his father’s death. Lady Barnard moved to Barningham soon after their divorce in 1992, where she has lived for the past twenty-five years. Led by John Wallis as Estate Manager and David Charlton as Piercebridge historic Project Manager, the refurbishment project will see both large and small properties developed to a high standard using in house labour and outsourced contractors. finds Focusing mainly on the long-term residential market, the programme is designed to attract tenants to some of the more Bob Middlemass and remote areas of the Estate by providing high quality Rolfe Mitchinson, both accommodation combined with serviceable rents. Improving the members of the energy performance of each property is a key criterion to any Northern Archaeology refurbishment as the Estate looks to improve its carbon footprint Society, started diving and help reduce heating costs for its tenants. on the River Tees 30 years ago where they It is hoped that bringing the empty properties back into use will began finding Roman have knock on benefits to the local schools, pubs and other retail coins, pots, rings, outlets. brooches and all manner of items John Wallis. Estate Manager which collectively created some insight into what life was like Andrew Lewis retirement at Piercebridge many moons ago. Andrew retired this In 2003 an summer after 37 archaeologist started years of dedicated working with the pair service to Raby to document their Estates. Joining as finds and log them Shropshire Farm with the British Manager in 1981, Museum. As the finds Andrew took over continued to grow, what was initially considered as “River the management of Rubbish”, started to look more like an interesting collection that Raby Home Farm could be taken more seriously. in Co Durham in 2001 on the Recently the combined 30 year collection, consisting of about retirement of Peter 1,500 coins and 3,500 objects was submitted to the Coroner for Boylett. This was of consideration as Treasure which was confirmed on 30th August course Foot & 2018. Reading University have also received a research grant Mouth year and through The Leverhulme Trust to study the finds over two years with the cattle and to help tell the story of what life was like in Piercebridge during deer herds in Raby Roman times. The title of the study is “Bridge over troubled Park it could not have been an easy initiation to farming in the water – ritual or rubbish found in Roman rivers” and Raby north. Estates is actively involved in supporting their efforts. One of the several theories is that soldiers at the fort in In 2003, Andrew was promoted to Estate Manager by the late Piercebridge and travellers crossing the bridge there may have Lord Barnard and took on responsibility for the management of thrown small items into the water as “good luck” charms on their wider estate interests as well as continuing to supervise the in way to war or on their way home which may help explain the hand farms in both Shropshire and Co Durham. In 2016 Andrew number of small items. There is also evidence that the bridge returned to his role as farm manager and helped to manage the we cross over today is not the only bridge that has stood across changes to the in hand farming operation that were introduced the river at Piercebridge. earlier this year. Whatever the story, it looks like more of it will unfold and help us understand the history of the land and lives of what is now a part Andrew retired this summer after 37 years of of Raby Estates. dedicated service to Raby Estates. Katrina Appleyard. Operations Manager Travelling between Shropshire and Co Durham on a weekly Raby Estates renovation basis involved long days, much time away from home and on the programme road. Few people can have put more effort into their work. Lord Barnard commented "My father left Raby Estates in good order with a highly successful in hand farming operation. This, in Following a detailed no small part, was due to the efforts of Andrew Lewis and his review of derelict and conscientious approach during his many years at Raby. On empty properties across behalf of my family and his former colleagues at Raby I wish the Durham Estates, both Andrew and his wife Natalie a long and happy retirement. I Raby has embarked on hope they will keep in touch." an ambitious property refurbishment programme Duncan Peake Chief Executive aimed at breathing new life into the dale. Over a 5 year period the Estate aims to develop and renovate numerous properties across both Durham Estates providing additional let accommodation from Piercebridge in the east to Harwood in the west. Yesterday I was doing the pheasant feeders, today we should The Longhorn Cattle have been carrying out heather management but the weather is not suitable so I am filling the grit boxes. Some of the work is Society Visit seasonal, while other jobs such as predator control are ongoing throughout the year”. The Longhorn Cattle “It’s not just the grouse that benefit from the way we manage Society held their AGM these moors because we also create a habitat that is good for in Piercebridge during other birds as well. Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe and Golden Plover the weekend of 13 & for example do well here, as do Black Grouse.” 14 th October this year. In fact we have one of the biggest Black Grouse leks in the They experienced country here.” Leks incidentally are areas of ground where male some pretty horrible Black Grouse, usually referred to as “Blackcock” by the keepers, weather in the form of Storm Callum, but congregate to display to the females in the spring. fortunately the worst had passed by the time With an Uncle who is also a gamekeeper Tom has been involved they made a visit to in shooting since he was a youngster so it is fair to say shooting Raby Park to see the Estate’s Longhorn cattle on the Sunday. is something of a passion for him. They were welcomed by Lord Barnard and Farm Manager Tom tells me he has always wanted to be a gamekeeper and Robert Sullivan. Normally the cattle graze in the Park itself but that he served his apprenticeship on another estate before they were moved to the fields surrounding Home Farm so that society members could see them at close quarters and find out moving to Raby Estates three months ago so that he could about the herd. While hearing about the cattle they were also manage a beat of his own. joined by Lady Barnard who also takes an active interest. He is really enjoying his work with Raby and is keen to make his Here the visitors found out a little about the history of the herd mark by increasing grouse densities here. When asked about which is one of the oldest still registered. It was established here the future he says he would eventually like to become a head in 1973 as part of a rare breed project by Peter Boylett the farm keeper. manager at the time. David Forster Afterwards everyone headed back to the Castle to enjoy some refreshments. Despite the rather damp weather they enjoyed their visit and thanked Lord and Lady Barnard for the opportunity to view the cattle. New volunteers help to David Forster develop Castle experience New Gamekeeper Tom Over the summer a team of committed volunteers were tasked to help enable and inspire visitors to discover more about Raby Wilkinson looks to make Castle.