Wetheral, The Village c.1965

Photo ref: W497053

My grandfather was the village blacksmith in Wetheral who had his forge behind the District Nurse's House opposite the Wheatsheaf pub. His name was Tommy Marshall. By the time I knew him in the 1950s he was more of an agricultural engineer than shoeing horses but his great forte was ornamental wrought iron for gates and fences. Some of the iron benches on the village green marked with Elizabeth II's ...see more

My family go back many generations as farmers in Wetheral up until the 1930s. My Great Grandfather Richard Irving was at The Croft Farm and The Green Farm. My Grandfather Thomas Watson Irving first lived at Pleasant View where his first child was born. Before that My Great Great Grandfather Thomas Irving was at The Croft Farm for many years. Our family moved to Leicestershire but I still think of Wetheral as the home of our Irvings.

I still have memories of living in Wetheral Folly, I was only very young, 3/4yrs old. I remember opening the large gate and the drive through a field full of cows to get to the front door. The toilet was actually in the woods...a very long walk it was too. I would love to see some pictures or history on the Folly, I wish it hadn't been demolished as from what I can remember it was 'unique'.