The remarkable story of Hannah Hauxwell is to be remembered in a new exhibition in County Durham.
A display of photographs, letters and personal papers, opening at Brancepeth Castle this weekend, captures the life and times of the late farmer who was 'discovered' leading an isolated rural existence and went on to become a popular TV personality with a whole new life.
The Life and Times of Hannah Hauxwell, running from April 30 to May 1, will also celebrate the opening of the archive room in the castle which has been delayed due to the pandemic. Now visitors will have a chance to see the new resource while learning about the woman who by the 1980s was a household name
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It was in the early 1970s that the friend of a researcher for Yorkshire TV first chanced upon Hannah while out walking in County Durham - then the East Riding of Yorkshire - and set the ball rolling on introducing her to the world. Then 44, she was leading a harsh existence, working a run-down 80-acre farm on her own, and there soon followed a documentary, Too Long A Winter, which showed how she lived without electricity or running water while she cared for her cattle and struggled against freezing weather.
It caused a sensation and huge concern, help and wellwishes for the gently-spoken Hannah who was the focus of a follow-up documentary, A Winter Too Many, in the late 1980s. Age and infirmity finally forced her to give up the farm - which was put on the market in 2016 - by which time the viewing public had grown to know her well and kept up to date with her changing life in another TV programme which featured her on a trip to Paris.
Hannah died in a nursing home in West Auckland in 2018 at the age of 91. Her estate gifted her many family papers to the Fitzhugh Library in Middleton-in-Teasdale and Brancepeth Archive and History Group, which is organising the display, says it is "delighted that the library has given permission for this exhibition to be staged in Brancepeth Castle over the weekend."
The free exhibition is described as a rare opportunity to view a unique collection of Hannah’s letters, cards, photographs and other items which span four generations of the Hauxwell family. It will be on show in the Constable Tower and archive room of the castle, near Durham, which also has a whole host of other treasures.
As new home to The Brancepeth Archive, it offers a local history resource with a catalogue listing more than 27,000 items. Amongst it is a large collection of documents, maps, pictures, postcards, books and photographs relating to the history of the ancient parish.
The Life and Times of Hannah Hauxwell will be open from 10am until 4pm on Saturday and from noon to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is free.
Parking and teas are also available to visitors. Email brancepeth.archive@outlook.com for more information about the event or to make enquiries about personal family connections to the village.
