Mike Bridgen meets two brothers who have restored a Victorian stud farm to its former glory.

ARARE Victorian stud farm has been given a new lease of life after undergoing full restoration.

Myton Stud Farm is owned by brothers Nick and Nigel Ramsden at Myton on Swale, between Thirsk and Boroughbridge.

Built in 1870, it was part of the larger Home Farm, which was designed to state-of-the-art plans promoted at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Although the stud farm fell into disrepair, meticulous restoration work has returned it to its former glory.

The Ramsdens received funds from Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship Scheme owing to its historical significance and importance for educational visits.

“We could not have afforded to do it ourselves and if it had not been restored it would have gone to rack and ruin,” said Nick Ramsden.

The family has spent a fortune over the years maintaining the much larger Home Farm, which still contains many of its original features.

The model farm took a year to build and used bricks made near York. They were transported to the site along the Ouse and Ure by barge and over land by a temporary, purpose-built narrow gauge railway.

Parts of the railway, which runs through the vast expanse of buildings, is still used today and even includes small turntables for the wagons to change direction.

The entire complex is under a series of huge, tiled roofs which the Ramsdens have regularly maintained over the years.

The original owner was Henry Miles Stapylton, of nearby Myton Hall.

He hired an architect to design the farm, whose layout and buildings were said to be the most advanced in the country.

Built in the 1850s, it was a mixed farm with beef, sheep and a good variety of cereals – exactly the same as today.

Twenty years later, he ordered the stud farm to be built and bred trotting ponies, exporting many to America and Canada. Today, some historic bloodlines can still be traced back to Myton.

The stud farm has two inter-linked courtyards, each surrounded by buildings – including 33 individual horse boxes – and central covered exercise yard.

The below ground level yard was also where the stallions were put to work.

A tall 18,000-gallon capacity water tower supplied the entire estate.

A screw-driven system pumped water to the tower, where gravity pipes fed the stud farm, Home Farm and Myton Hall.

The entire complex has been restored to the finest detail.

More than 70 per cent of the roof slates were reclaimed (the remainder hand-made to match), cobbles in the stables and elsewhere have been restored, and lime wash used in the stables.

Mr Ramsden said: “If we had restored it on our own, we would have had to cut corners. We could not have afforded to do it to this detail.”

Local firms and skilled craftsmen have been used throughout and the work has included creating an education room for schools.

In the First World War, the farm was a training centre for horses before they went to the front line.

In the Second World War, the horse boxes were used as secure storage for sugar The brothers now hope they may be used for a livery business – the individual boxes are particularly suited to ponies.

Mr Ramsden said: “We only used them for storing a bit of hay.

“It did not warrant us putting money in, there was such an expanse of slate to restore.

“They have been caught in the nick of time, before water got in and caused deterioration.”

The brothers’ grandfather bought a portion of the 1,100-acre estate in 1933.

“When my father came home from college, there were 27 people working on Home Farm,” said Mr Ramsden.

The brothers have always welcomed schools – both local and from Leeds, York and Bradford – to see their farming operations and environmental schemes.

The farm is a haven for wildlife, including species such as corn bunting, yellowhammer, linnet, curlew, snipe, plovers, tree sparrows and barn owls.

Buzzards and red kite have also been spotted overhead.

The farm produces sheep and beef cattle along with carrots, wheat, barley, fodder beet and 64 acres of miscanthus (elephant grass) grown on contract for Drax power station.

Now schools can add the experience of seeing the Victorian stud farm and farming methods from those days.

Mr Ramsden said “My brother and I have always considered ourselves custodians of this wonderful piece of agricultural heritage.

There is so much history connected to it, you could probably write a book about it.

“We have always thought it would be fitting to restore it and were thrilled when Natural England’s HLS funding was made available to do it.”

Margaret Nieke, Natural England’s historic adviser, is delighted with the work.

She said: “The farm is like a living, breathing piece of rural history and it’s great to know that it’s been restored for future generations.

“We are very grateful that Nick and Nigel have been so passionate about the project as it couldn’t have happened without their commitment.”