The Farm

Church Stile Farm Wasdale | Traditional Herdwick Sheep Farm

Church Stile is a traditional Lakeland sheep and beef farm located in the village of Nether Wasdale in the heart of Wasdale valley.
 
The first record of the farm is from 1547 and the current owners are only the 3rd family to have farmed at Church Stile in the past 400 years or so. From 1898 until recently, Church Stile was farmed by the Knight family who continue to farm in the area and before that it was farmed by the Fletcher family for about 300 years.
 
The core of the farmhouse is thought to date from the 16th century and a beam in the original kitchen is said to have come from a shipwreck. The farmhouse has been extended on several occasions with one such extension being built in the early 1900's by Mr Musgrove to act as the village hall for Nether Wasdale. However, following criticism of the siting of the hall Mr Musgrove refused to let it be used by the villagers and it was incorporated into the farmhouse though it was used for threshing dinners and hunt balls as well as family parties.
 
The farmland extends to about 280 acres of which in excess 30 acres is natural woodland. In addition to the "inbye" land the farm has grazing rights on Nether Wasdale Common. At present the farm carries about 700 pure Herdwick ewes. The majority of pure bred lambs for sale are sold direct to private customers or to The Sawmill Cafe nearby as well as small butchers.  The farm also has a herd of pedigree Hereford cattle.  The beef from these traditional grass reared animals is sold direct to consumers as well as The Sawmill Cafe.

The farm is registered in the Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb Scheme (Red Tractor). Future plans include traditional British Beef breeds such as Hereford cattle.

The farm is registered in an Environmental Area Scheme with some land listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Nether wasdale Common has recently entered into a Higher Level Stewardship Agreement. Conservation is a core part of farm life at Church Stile with many bird  & bat boxes situated in the woodlands while further hedgerow and wildflower planting has recently taken place.

Below are some sheep farming terms that you might hear when out and about!

• "Heft" - a particular area of common (fell) where the sheep from one farm graze.
• "Hefted" - a sheep which lives and stays on a particular area of unfenced common because it has been taught to do so by its mother.
• "Yow" or "Ewe"- an adult, female sheep.
• "Gimmer" - a female sheep that has not had a lamb.
• "Hogg" or Hogget - a lamb that has been weaned from its mother.
• "Shearling" - a sheep that has been sheared once.
• "Tip" or "Tup" - a ram.
• "Twinter" - a sheep of 2 winters.
• "Wether" - a castrated male sheep.

Photo Gallery

Photos of the Church Stile Herdwick Sheep Farm:

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