History of the Macdonald Leeming House

The Raw Family

Leeming House's history really starts with John Robinson of Watermillock House, Sherrif of Cumberland in 1796, and substantial landowner in the parish of Watermillock. His daughter Elisabeth Jane Robinson captured the eye of a widower from Barnard Castle, John Raw, and she married him in 1766.

John and Elisabeth Raw's only son, John Raw, was brought up in Barnard Castle but in 1808 married Catherine Thwaites, the vicar`s daughter from Watermillock. That same year he bought the 'messuage and tenement' called Knott End from his aunt, Anne Robinson, for £2,100. Knott End at the time was within the Manor of Watermillock part of the Barony of Greystoke held by the Howard family.

John and Catherine Raw's offspring - two daughters, Jane and Elizabeth and two sons, John and Joseph Raw - were all baptised at Watermillock and at the time of their baptisms were described as 'from Leeming House', in the Watermillock Parish Register.

It is therefore assumed that Leeming House was built between 1808 when John Raw bought Knot End from his aunt and 1811 when he was described as 'of Leeming House'. John Raw had inherited land at Grinston in Swaledale on his father's death in 1803 and it is thought that the Swaledale connection is the reason why the new house known as Knott End became known as Leeming House.

On John Raw's death in 1851 the Leeming House esate was inherited by John Raw Junior, who was living at that time in Manchester as a merchant, and thereafter leased Leeming house to local farmers until 1866 when, on his death, Thomas Every Clayton became the owner. The esate by this time was made up of Leeming House, Leeming Farm, Leeming Cottage and a boat house, and was sold for £6,500.

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