Hall Garth

. . . and Garthside Cottage

The origins of this house as a former barn are clear from this photograph. The barn was last in use as such during the occupancy of the last tenant farmer at Manor House Farm - Mr. Fred Horner. This early aerial photograph shows the building in the days when the farming use still continued.

That use ceased when the farmhouse and its outbuildings were offered for sale in September of 1975.

It appears that the successful purchaser was Mr. H. Clough of 9 Belmont Road Harrogate . . .

In 1976 Mr H. Clough applied for planning permission to convert the large barn fronting the Birstwith Road into a dwellinghouse. The Parish Council expressed concern that soakaway from a proposed septic tank might contaminate the village well but the application was nevertheless granted, the planning officer commenting that this was "a good conversion which pays proper regard to the farm (?form) and character of the existing building". Certainly, the building's origins as a working farm building are still apparent in the imposing front elevation.

In the same year a separate permission was granted for the installation of a caravan on the site, the permission being limited to the duration of the conversion works or one year at the most.

In 1980 a further permission was sought by Mr Clough to allow the conversion of about 450 square feet of the barn's outbuildings into a hairdressing salon. This provoked an objection from a village resident concerned by the prospect of competition for the established salon in the High Street. The objector commented ". . . back-room hairdressing complained of before seems to have made enough money to come out and try to take someone else's livelihood. I hope justice will be done and it will not be allowed" The Planners seem to have recognised that refusal might interfere with an existing business on the premises of Hall Garth for permission was granted but expressed to be personal to Anne Bramley and Ruth Clough only while they resided at Hall Garth and that thereafter the salon area should revert to ancillary domestic accommodation.

In 1984 permission was granted to a new owner (Mr M. Robertson) for the creation of offices in a further part of the outbuildings attached to the salon and subject to the offices being used only in connection with the adjacent dwelling.

1985 saw the grant of a further permission for conversion of more outbuildings to a separate dwelling specifically designed for disabled use.

In 1990 and 1991 the offices and the salon were permitted to revert to domestic use in connection with the main dwelling of Hall Garth.

For details of earlier ownership history click on Manor Farm House.