The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2020 - Issue 69 | Page 28

28 PRIORY FARM JUN/JUL 2020 • farmers-mart.co.uk providing for 100-120 guests in the main function hall. It didn’t start out that way. The original intention was to provide holiday accommodation around the courtyard utilising what were outbuildings, with a gym in what was once a barn. This then moved on to being home to an art gallery before transformation to today’s purpose. David and his wife Vanessa’s daughter Serena manages the wedding venue. The 17-acre woodland at Wighill Park has been developed into Wighill Park Glamping and would have opened earlier this year but for Covid-19 restrictions. It officially opened on July 10 with 6 glamping pods and an office which is based in what was the old Wighill Park Cricket Club pavilion. ‘This was ex-Yorkshire CCC captain Lord Hawke’s private home cricket ground that we purchased 5 years ago. The woodland, which we have maintained for many years, once produced matchwood for Bryant & May.’ David’s grandfather had Priory Farm and rented Wighill Park’s Home Farm from Major Hudson in Wetherby, which David’s father Harold Rawlings purchased from him in the 1970s. Pigs were once kept at Home Farm. David recalls having 1000 fattening pigs and studying pigs at Askham Bryan College with former student colleague and long-time good friend Chris Jeffery. ‘He was a rum lad,’ says David with a cheeky smile. ‘I believe he has a book coming out about his life. I could tell you more than one or two things about Chris! He now stocks our vodka and gin at his Green’s Country Store at Thirsk livestock market. We had pigs at Home Farm for 25 years. When it came to a decision over the buildings needing replacing we came out of them and converted to industrial units.’ David and Vanessa have two daughters – Serena and Alicia; and a son James. David and Shirley trade as DA & S Rawlings. Syningthwaite Priory was built in 1163. The Priory Farm farmhouse is situated on its site and the doorway of David’s home dates back to the 16th century. Are you looking for a new Agribuggy? WE NEVER LIKE TO BE BEATEN ON PRICE With our wide range of high quality Agribuggies and new/used crop sprayers available, you can be sure that we have one to suit your budget or your farming needs. WE STOCK PARTS FOR ALL TYPES OF - • Crop sprayers • Frazier Agribuggies • Kellands Agribuggies • AgriBuggy • Melo Axles • Fpw Axles • 2.8 TGV Engines • Landrover Engines • Ford Engines Proud to be suppliers to David Rawlings of Priory Farm Tel: [phone] | Email: [email protected] Mobile: [phone] | www.agribuggy-yorkshire.co.uk Arglam Farm, Arglam Lane, East Yorkshire, YO43 4HG