The History of South Low
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While we have been restoring South Low we have gleaned some idea as to how it evolved into the, rather hotch-potch, dwelling as it is now. I will be putting this in writing some time soon but in the meantime here are some contributions by others on the "residential" rather than structural history of the house.
Click HERE for a summary of families who have lived in South Low compiled by Hartley Trotter.
John Wilson - 'statesman' farmer.
This picture would have hung at South Low for a time after his death.
THE TOWNSONS OF LYTH
An account of a Westmorland farming family
by John Townson.
John has chronicled the Lyth Valley branch of the Townson family through more than 300 years and saw how, for 200 years, they remained self-contained and more or less self sufficient at Low in the Lyth Valley.
John gave me this script for inclusion on the Parish web site in 2009. Rather than add a link I have reproduced it here.
Summary
South Low has had several different names over the centuries. Here is a list of previous residents mainly from Hartley Trotter's researchesRESIDENTS AT - Law, The Low, Low Farm, South Low Farm, South Low. |
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| 1535 | Christopher Parnters | (possibly) |
| 1630 | Thomas Brigs | |
| Thomas Dacre | A messuage given to | |
| 1654 | Miles Rowlandson | Tanner |
| James Rowlandson? (son) | ||
| 1659 | John Cartmell | Yeoman farmer |
| 1665 | Leonard Townson | From Fell End Witherslack |
| 1672 | Thomas Townson (son) married Agnes Garrett | Has land at Draw Well near to Law |
| 1689 | Thomas Townson | Has lease of tenement at Law |
| 1697 | William Townson(son) | Occupied some of the land |
| 1700 | Thomas Townson died | Agnes stays in residence |
| 1705 | William Townson | Conveyance of house from Agnes |
| 1709 | William marrried Mary Barrow of Broadbeck | |
| 1734 | James Townson died | (unsure where he fits into family tree) |
| 1745 | William Townson died | House to passed Thomas (brother) |
| 1749 | Thomas Townson died | The house passed to brother Leonard |
| 1750 | James Dacre born | |
| 1749 | Thomas died | House to Leonard (brother) |
| ------ | Leonard died intestate | House to Thomas (son) |
| ------ | Thomas m. Elizabeth | |
| 1772 | James Dacre | Lived at the Law |
| 1793 | Thomas died | House and farm to Robert |
| 1802 | Robert Townson married Mary Wilson | |
| 1861 | Robert Townson aged 75 | |
| 1860s | South Low sold to Argles | |
| 1873 | Robert Townson died | |
South Low was then occupied by the Trotter family and later by the Park family. Colin Park’s grandfather, Joseph, moved to South Low around 1909, taking over from the Trotter family. Joseph Park’s son, Edgar, followed on from his father at South Low until 2000.
See also the following links to the Crosthwaite and Lyth community web site:-
Births and deaths at the Low Farms
Low Farm and South Low from Cameos of Crosthwaite and Lyth