Working Farms

Farms as of 2025

• Trewiston Farm

• At Trewiston Farm, Diaries were kept from 1850-1950 by four generations of the farmers wives. *Elizabeth (1850-1875, wife of William Anthony Mably, *Joanna,(1875-1900) wife of John Mably, *Druscilla (1900-1925), wife of William Mably and *Mary Hannah, (1925-1950) wife of Richard Mably.

• In the time of William Anthony Mably’s Grand-mother, Joanna, wife of Richard Mably, who kept the diaries from 1875-1900, it stated that, “beef cattle replaced the flocks of Sheep and more and more, especially after the Spring of 1879 when many of the Sheep got Flu”. It may have been that she was a little hard of hearing and what she heard as “sheep flu” was actually “sheep fluke”.

• The “great epidemic” of sheep fluke, historically referred to as “liver rot,” peaked during the disastrous winter of 1879–1880 in the United Kingdom. It stands as one of the most devastating agricultural crises of the 19th century, resulting in the death or destruction of an estimated 3,000,000 sheep across England, Scotland, and Wales. A year later in 1881 was a very hard winter and snow blizzard, followed 10 years later in 1891 by the Great Blizzard. Hard times indeed especially for outdoor workers.

• Restharrow Farm

Historical Farms

Since the mid 20th centuary these farms all became unviable and were converted to residential/holiday accommodation. The last two old barns of Higher Farm still remain but are unused as of 2025.

• Trewint Farm, circa 1600
• Elm Cottage, circa 1600
• Old Farm, circa 1600 - Was originally called Higher Farm but the land was sold to Harry Male in 1929 who built himself a new house over the road, the original was renamed Old Farm.
• Lower Farm , circa 1600
• Lower Trebetherick Farm.
• Trewiston Farm Diaries 1850 – 1950 states that this farm disappeared sometime c1850.
• Trenain Farm
• Higher Farm, Farmhouse built 1930 - demolished and rebuilt as holiday accommodation 2016

A Short Summary of Farming in Trebetherick Before 1900

Trebetherick Farm Animals - Oxen - Sheep Replaced by Cattle - 1800-1900 - Wadebridge Cattle Market

• 1800 Oxen were strong and often used for ploughing and other farm work. When on the road they always had a horse in front to lead them. By the 1880s oxen had mostly been replaced by horses which were more easily managed. Now while digging in The Haven garden I still find old discarded horse and oxen shoes.

• By 1850 almost every farm in Trebetherick kept a flock of sheep and beef cattle, mostly dark red north Devon crossed with Hereford, which were sold on the first Tuesday in the month at Wadebridge Market. Up to the first World war this Market was held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday and afterwards changed to 2nd and 4th Monday’s.

• By 1880 beef cattle began to replace the flocks of sheep, especially after the very bad wet weather of 1879 when many sheep got liver rot or “fluke,” which killed millions of sheep across Britain.

• ​1900 There was a shortage of labour, hedges were neglected and wool prices dropped​ because of the two Boer Wars, one in 1880-1881 and the second in 1899-1902​.