Milkhope

Milkhope is located near Blagdon, about 7 miles north of Newcastle and 2 miles south of Stannington. In medieval times there was a settlement here, but this was later deserted.[1] Most of the buildings which make up today's Milkhope Centre were buit in 1865 for Sir Matthew White Ridley, as part of the Bagdon Estate - the buildings include byres, shelter sheds, barns and storerooms, which were originally built as a 'planned' (or 'model') cattle farm. The farmhouse here is dated 1806. The farm was formerly called 'Stumpy Riggs'. The farm was converted for light industrial use in 1985-6; initially as an 'artisan workshop' concept, hosting small businesses, evolving to also become a 'country retail destination', with a farm shop added in 2002.[2]  Historically, Blagdon-with-Milkhope was a township in the ancient parish of Stannington. Today, Milkhope falls within Stanington Civil Parish.