Blackthorn Farm

Blackthorn Farm was a rundown tenant farm owned by Home Farm Estate that was run by the Feldmann family until December 1990.
Mr Feldmann and his wife Elizabeth began renting Blackthorn Farm from Home Farm Estate around 1964 and the couple raised their children, Michael and Elsa, there. By early-1990, Mr Feldmann had died and Elizabeth and Michael were struggling to make ends meet - they often fell behind on the £1,000 per quarter rent. Things were so bad that Elsa left school at sixteen to get a job as the Feldmanns needed the money.
Frank Tate, the owner of Home Farm Estate, believed farming in the Dales didn't have a long term future so in April 1990 he announced his plan to to turn the 100 acre Blackthorn Farm into a museum of rural life with a focus on rare animal breeds and traditional farming methods. Although Frank's plans would ensure Elizabeth and Michael would still have jobs and would provide them with a steady income, the Feldmanns were against the idea, especially Michael.
In August 1990, pregnant Elsa moved in with her boyfriend, Nick Bates, at 3 Demdyke Row. Elizabeth wasn't happy with the arrangements so she invited both Nick and Elsa to move into the farmhouse, albeit in separate bedrooms. Nick and Elsa agreed but the young couple only stayed at Blackthorn for two months before moving back to 3 Demdyke Row.
By late-November 1990, the farms finances were in a dire state. Michael hoped the bank would extend their overdraft, but instead the bank called in the Feldmanns debt and took away their chequebook. When Elizabeth and Michael looked over the books, they discovered the situation was even worse than they thought - they had already spent money they were banking on and they owed Frank two quarters rent as both Elizabeth and Michael were under the impression that the other had paid the previous quarter.
With the bills pilling up and no money to buy feed for the winter, Elizabeth and Michael decided to sell some calves. This allowed them to buy the feed for the winter but it didn't put a dent in their debts which led Elizabeth to consider giving up the farm. Elizabeth visited Frank to ask him if he'd had any further thoughts about the farm museum but Frank informed her the idea had been put on on hold for the foreseeable future as he could no longer afford it due to high interest rates. 
After visiting Frank, Elizabeth concluded that giving up the farm was the only option but Michael remained adamant they should keep going, even when they received a letter for the finance company threatening to reposes the tractor unless they settled their arrears in the next seven days. Things got even worse when the water pipes and water tank in the farmhouse froze just before Christmas. A plumper took a look and concluded the farmhouse needed a new water tank, cistern and pipes which the Feldmann couldn't afford. Elizabeth and Michael were forced to move in with Nick and Elsa at 3 Demdyke Row although Michael continued to work the farm.
On New Year's Day 1991, the tractor was repossessed. It was the final straw. The Feldmanns could no longer work the farm without the tractor and Frank refused to give them more time to pay the rent so Elizabeth decided to give up the farm once and for all and persuaded Michael it was for the best. The farm's machinery was sold at a dispersal sale later that month. When recalling her time at Blackthorn a few years later, Elizabeth described it as the "coldest, bleakest most run down heap in the Dales".
==Residents==
===Former Residents===
*Mr Feldmann (unknown)
*Elizabeth Feldmann (until 1990)
*Michael Feldmann (until 1990)
*Elsa Feldmann (until 1990)
*Nick Bates (1990)
Category:Locations
Category:Farms
Category:Buildings in Beckindale
Category:Businesses in Beckindale