Crackpot Hall, Keld, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Keld to Reeth subsection
Looking along the length of Crackpot Hall from the Rear
Crackpot Hall, Keld, Coast to Coast
The ruins of Crackpot Hall are located beside the Coast to Coast path on the gentler lower slopes of Hall Out Pasture, a little south west of Buzzard Scar which overlooks the Swinner Gill valley near to Keld. There has been a building at this location since the 16th century, when a hunting lodge was kept for Thomas, the first Baron Wharton. It is known that he visited Swaledale now and again to hunt red deer. Red deer and Roe deer, both naturalised to England, were re-introduced to the Yorkshire Dales in the 19th and 20th centuries, following a near extinction. The Hunting Lodge was subsequently replaced in the mid eighteenth century by a farmhouse that had shippons attached to each end. It is this building that currently stands in ruins.
Crackpot Hall
Crackpot Hall and its outbuildings occupy a site that enjoys a marvellous view across the Swale valley between Ivelet Moor and Kisdon Hill, almost all the way to Muker. The property was once enshrouded in mystery due to a tale involving a perceived ferel child living within the ruins.
Mystery of the Feral Child at Crackpot Hall
The building presently occupying the Crackpot Hall site dates from the 18th century, and is the ruin of a two-storey farmhouse, with shippons and cowsheds at each end. it is thought that the building was also used as mining offices associated with the Beldi Hill Lead Mines. It is now a preserved building, owing to grants provided from the Gunnerside Estate, the Millennium Commission and the European Union.
The now resolved mystery enshrouding this property relates to a reputed feral child named Alice Harker who lived at the Hall in the 1930's. Following a BBC documentary, "Between the Ears", in 2015, it became apparent that Alice lived at the farm with her mother, father, two brothers and two sisters. Her parents owned the property, and it was soon obvious that Alice was not a feral child. Still, most people are interested in legends, myths and mysteries, and perhaps one day this may become the theme for a film.
Millenium Stone Crackpot Hall
The Millenium Stone commemorates the donation in 2000 by the Millenium Trust of a grant to stablise Crackpot Hall, which had been subject to ground instability. The metal plaque accompanying the Stone has been removed by vandals.
Farmhouse West Gable
Crackpot Hall is only a ruin now, but it certainly has an interesting history, having had many owners, both rich and poor.
Former Ownerships
The current owner of Crackpot Hall is the Gunnerside Estate, who has committed to preserving the ruin. Former owners include the "Ferel Child", Alice Harker, her siblings and parents.
Crackpot Hall Rear View
From the rear Crackpot Hall can be seen with the shippons adjoining.
Blacksmith's Smithy Crackpot Hall
The ancient blacksmith's smithy still stands on the northern periphery of Crackpot Hall, on a grass verge siding onto the Coast to Coast path. Looked at from Crackpot Hall, the southern extremity of Buzzard Scar is seen in the background. Coast to Coast walkers will pass the Smithy and proceed on a narrow grassy track below Buzzard Scar and above the steeper cliffs of Swinner Gill.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
