LETTERS PAGE 2025

GROVE HALL
I read with great interest, the article by Mr. Ian Swift, about his time living at Grove Hall off the A1.
I lived on the caravan site with my parents between 1964-65, so appreciably it was some time after Mr. Swift.
I attended Darrington CE primary school whilst living on the site. Despite my tender years l have vivid memories of my time there, which l often recount with a deep fondness. Unfortunately, l do not know what happened to the whale bones Mr. Swift speaks of.
When l lived on site, a widower, Mr. Hebditch lived in the hall. The title then was Grove Hall Farm. Very quickly, the farm was run by the Rowling family, Bill and Barbara. They had 2 sons and also a daughter who was my age, named Linda. She became my very best friend! Linda actually saved my life!!!
I have been back to the site. At the side of the main hall is the building in which they lived and a tiny cottage in which the Grandmother lived. All those buildings are now derelict which fills me with sadness, particularly as l had spent much time in them, when they bristled with life!
Try as l might, over the years, l have never been able to find any information about Grove Hall Farm during this period. I have never been able to find out why the Rowling family left or where they went. The area now is not farmed and the last time l was there, the fields were used for horse pasture.
If you have any information about Mr. Hebditch or the Rowling family, l would be deeply grateful if you could pass my details on.
It has been a wonderful experience reading Mr. Swift's memories of Grove Hall.
Yours sincerely
Steven Mitchell
25 August 2025

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