Benchmark Cottage 1821 : A BRIEF HISTORY 

Over 200 years old, Benchmark Cottage is a characterful barn conversion dating back to 1821 and was one of the first buildings created in the scenic, historic 14th  century Esk Valley village of Glaisdale. It followed erection of the old village chapel in 1741, and its replacement in 1793, and was forged from traditional, hand-carved herringbone sandstone that once made up the nearby Mechanics’ Institute.

The village served as the centre of iron ore mining from the late 1800s and Benchmark Cottage was used to stable working donkeys and carts during that time. The building consequently has protected status through the National Parks Authority and thus retains many of its original, heritage features including:

• Positioning of the original stable door to the rear of the cottage/bedroom
• Original, wrought iron donkey tethers to the outside of the cottage
• Original 1821 foundation stone to the side of the property and……
• Original benchmark carving used by the original Ordnance Surveyors as a “level”, or tool resting in-set, to mark the property’s relative position above sea level – and to other buildings subsequently built in the village.

A fun challenge we set our guests is to see if they can find the Benchmark carving in the outside walls, after which the cottage is named!

Taken over by the long-established local Harrison family, Frank and Jean Harrison set about converting what was a rustic outbuilding into a workshop for their adjoining home, Glenwood. This was then converted into a cottage and extended in 2006 to integrate the kitchen and sunroom for their retirement use.

Pete and I adopted their much-cherished cottage in July 2022, and are passionate about honouring the building’s heritage and the loving care and attention that went into its stewardship and restoration over the centuries!

From guest feedback, it seems they love and cherish it too!