Metcalfs House - Honey Bee Cottage
Location NZ 071 313 beside the Ape Beck.
Located on the old road from Barnard Castle to Wolsingham, the inhabitant (Metcalf?) is said to have provided refreshment to the men leading packhorses over the old road. The 'old road' was a significant route until at least as late as 1811.
It is not shown as such on the inclosure map of 1753 (although a small enclosure is shown on that side of the stream as part of Patrick Lyons' Redford property).
It is not listed in the 1841 census, nor 1851 census (but may be one of the uninhabited houses listed at Redford.
It is shown on 1859 First Edition OS map.
(Click on image for larger area map)
The remains of the house were consolidated by the Forestry
Commission and I drew the following sketch layout in 2009.
Named as Honey Bee House in the 1861, 1891 and 1901 censuses - but uninhabited.
1871 Occupied by Ann Mitchelson, a 58 year old widow, 'farmer of 30 acres', her son Lance, and a servant, Jane Harden
I have not yet located a Metcalf associated with Metcalfs
House but the name Metcalf is well established in the area - for
example at Hamsterley "At the Bishop’s Court held on 20th
December 1674 cases were heard against Gilbert Metcalfe and
Catherine his wife, Peter Applebey, John Parkyn and his wife,
George Bradley and Margaret his wife, Stephen Walton and William
Teasdaile and his wife for not paying the Minister’s dues."
Etherley Colliery - Metcalfe, John, 11 Mar 1873, aged 22, Engine
Plane Man, crushed by tubs on engine plane