Stott Hall Farm

Stott Hall Farm, viewed from moorland above westbound carriageway of the M62 motorway

Stott Hall Farm is located between the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the M62 motorway in Calderdale, England.[1][2][3][4] The eighteenth century farmhouse was located on unfavourable terrain for construction, and so the motorway separates around it. As the only farm in the UK situated in the middle of a motorway, the area has been a point of public interest.[5]

Site

A view of the land enclosed by the motorway

The farm is situated in the centre division of the M62, in an area where the two directions separate for approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km).[6] The terrain is largely rough pastureland. It is separated from the motorway by crash barriers and a fence to keep livestock in and prevent out-of-control vehicles crashing onto the property.[7][8] Although the farmhouse itself is about only 30 metres (98 ft) from the motorway, joining the motorway requires a drive of some 3.7 miles (6.0 km) via the A672.[citation needed] Despite the isolated location, the farm is home to a range of bird species including merlins, snipes and twites.[9]

History

The farm was built in 1737 on Moss Moor, south of Booth Wood Reservoir.[9] During the construction of that section of the motorway, which took place from 1968 to 1971, it became apparent that the terrain was unsuitable for both directions to remain adjacent, as there was no area of land wide and level enough to allow it. Some attempts to landscape the area resulted in minor landslips.[10] As a result the road was divided between the Windy Hill and Deanhead cuttings, which coincidentally led to the farm being retained along with several acres of its land. Underpass tunnels needed to be cut anyway for use by the Calderdale Water Board and these provided access to the farm.[6][7][11]

A myth persists that the motorway was split because the inhabitants, Ken and Beth Wild, refused to sell the farm.[11] However, the farm was actually owned by Calderdale Water Board at the time the M62 was built.[12] In 1974 Calderdale was merged into Yorkshire Water, which is the current owner of the site. Since 1992 it has been worked by local farmer Paul Thorp, who moved into the property in 2008 with his family. In 2017 Yorkshire Water announced an environmental project to restore part of the site to peat bog.[9]

Stott Hall Farm was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary, a 1983 Yorkshire Television documentary[13] and a short film in 2008.[14] It is referenced, though not by name, in the John Shuttleworth song titled "The Man Who Lives on the M62".[15][16] Sally Boazman, BBC Radio 2's traffic reporter, and CB radio users nicknamed it the Little House on the Prairie.[7]

In a 2007 list compiled from a survey of 1,000 UK motorists, it was one of the ten best-known sights on the motorway network.[17][8]

References

  1. ^ Lavender, Jane; Howarth, Rachel (2 January 2021). "Owners of house in the middle of the M62 tell the true story behind it". LancsLive. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ^ Cole, Laura. "Stuck in the middle - Geographical Magazine". geographical.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. ^ McCoid, Sophie; Lavender, Jane (28 December 2020). "Owners of the house on the M62 explain true story behind it". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  4. ^ Grieveson-Smith, Jess (7 February 2022). "Fascinating truth behind story of the house in the middle of the M62". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. ^ Jennings, Ken (21 April 2014). "The Only Farm in the UK in the Middle of a Highway". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b "M62: Boundary to Pole Moor". The Motorway Archive. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  7. ^ a b c "Farming in the fast lane". BBC. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  8. ^ a b "The man in the middle!". 2 November 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  9. ^ a b c "Famous M62 farm in fast lane to becoming a farm for the future". www.yorkshirewater.com. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  10. ^ Varga, Tamás (4 October 2018). "The Farm in the Middle of the Highway". Earthly Mission.
  11. ^ a b "Life in the Fast Lane". BBC West Yorkshire. 24 May 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  12. ^ Jones, Craig; Ballinger, Lauren (3 July 2019). "This is the actual story behind that house in the middle of the M62". Leeds Live. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  13. ^ Michael Clegg (1983). "The Farm on the Motorway". Archived from the original on 28 May 2016.
  14. ^ Walker, Rowan (30 November 2008). "Farmhouse Island on M62: the Movie". The Observer. London.
  15. ^ "The Man Who Lives On The M62". 2 October 2022 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Graham, Jane (10 January 2020). "Showman John Shuttleworth recalls the time he 'almost' played with Billy Joel".
  17. ^ "Spaghetti Junction is top sight". BBC West Midlands. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
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53°38′28″N 1°57′07″W / 53.641°N 1.952°W / 53.641; -1.952

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