image of track to pear house (Pear House field is outlined in blue at the upper central part of the picture)
Pear House is a derelict house and field above the village of Gunnerside in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. The field has been traditionally grazed for sheep and is categorised as “unimproved grassland” habitat at the lower limit of the uplands moorland. We acquired the house and field in 2009/10 and in November 2010 we planted (with the help of children from the local primary school, and friends and relatives) around 250 native broadleaved trees in a fenced off area of around 1 acre at the eastern part of the field (the whole field is 1.28 hectares, around 3 acres). In March 2012 we planted (again with help from the local school children) 20 mixed fruit trees as a traditional orchard in an area below the house at the western end of the field. This website is a record of the planting, survival and growth of these trees, and a record of renovations to the house and observations on the local farm activity and wildlife.
Pear House
My great grandfather Joseph + Dorothy Cottingham and family of 8 lived in Pear House 1860’s – 1890’s. He was a lead miner and the family were strong Methodists who helped to build and maintain the chapel. He died young aged 46 of “miners compant”.
I have a story of his life and will be pleased to send you a copy if you wish.
Sam
I believe that Dorothy Cottingham may have been a sister of my two times great grandfather William Brunskill. His parents Samuel and Phillis lived in Pear House in the 1841 census with their first 6 children. William was born in 1847, so likely at Pear House too. Samuel died in 1848 at 43 and Phillis had moved into Gunnerside by 1851. By 1881, William was the inn keeper at the Topham Arms in Melmerby and a Phillis Cottingham was staying there as a servant, I think she may have been Dorothy’s daughter. would that fit into your known story?
Ian,
Dorothy was indeed a Brunskill and their first child was Phillis (born 1882) and was older sister of my Grand father, Samuel. Good to learn that Pear House was her home as well as that of her Brunskill grand parents.
Ian,
I was thinking about your information and that William and niece Phillis had moved to the Topham Arms in Melmerby by 1881.
My Grandfather Samuel (younger brother of Phillis) his wife Mary (Rutter) and their family left Gunnerside in 1922 to settle in Chantry Farm, West Witton. Since Melmerby is just 3 miles over the hill from here, perhaps that’s what influenced their choice of village.