Throughout our explore of London, and its environs, we marveled at the historic buildings found everywhere. A true highlight was the fact that our last three nights were spent in our friends' historic building- a farmhouse circa 1720.

North Brook End Farm was a significant farm within the Wimpole Estate. When we were here in 2014, we visited this vast estate which contains Wimpole Hall, a country house whose current structure dates from 1640. It is surrounded by 3,000 acres of parkland and farmland that was once much, much larger, with many sub-farms.

Wimpole circa 2014

At some time in its long history, the Estate began selling off the various farms along with their farmhouses. Eventually, Ian and Eileen were able to buy the North Brook End Farmhouse, a significant historic farmhouse within the Wimpole Estate. While not currently listed in the official UK building listings, Steeple Morden History says it's described as "an early 18th-century timber-framed, and roughcast rendered, with tarred brick plinth, building with additions and alterations through the 19th and 20th centuries."
Recently, Ian was given a collection of historic documents related to the property's various transactions by a relative of F W P Hunt, a tenant farmer who purchased a majority of the farms being offered. Wimpole Estate's history includes multiple sales of land, primarily due to debt or family circumstances.
In F W P Hunt's treasure trove was the Auction catalogue offering The Wimpole Estate near Royston, chiefly in Cambridgeshire and a small portion in Hertfordshire by the Direction of the Trustees of the Estate Act of the Earl of Hardwicke.
The Earls of Hardwicke owned Wimple from 1740–1894. It was the 5th Earl (1836–97) who tried to dismantle the Estate. This Earl was an inveterate gambler in the circle of the Prince of Wales and was known as 'Champagne Charlie' after his death. He amassed huge debts, and Wimpole was put up for sale but failed to find a buyer.




Located on a quiet lane, surrounded by large trees, many planted by Ian, it was as if we were staying in a home featured in a Jane Austen novel. I loved every minute of it.

What is now a woodshed was the farmhouse's privy.






I fell in love with the Hebridean sheep who call Ian's pasture home.


And how sweet is this for a parting shot! Yes, staying with dear friends in history made our trip's conclusion that much more unforgettable.