Drive

The drive has been the central farm courtyard since the 19th Century (see the 1860 OS map below). It had a very narrow entrance from the road, which was widened by taking down one of the cart sheds as part of the planning permission for conversion of the Bothy. It is bounded (anti-clockwise from the road) by the helmings, Rudchester Farmhouse, Farm Cottage, the Bothy, Rudchester Manor, the Front Garden and the Garages.

The drive was re-laid in the Summer of 2010. I have no idea why I didn't take photographs at the time, but these are from the builder who compelted the work. The first set are immediately before starting. The drive was a grassy area on which some gravel had been placed over the years. It was muddy with puddles, especially in the Winter.

They carefuly scraped off the old gravel and topsoil, and put down a layer of compacted stone.

This is the finished article, which hasn't changed much over the years.

Some recent aerial photographs