This page is still being researched and constructed as at January 2005.

Ryhlah was in earlier years often referred to as Riley.

Rylah Farm was located down Rylah Hill.  It is no longer a working farm having ceased to be so in 1980.

1847.  29 March.  This entry does not relate to Riley / Rylah Farm but instead relates to the short lane (cart track) opposite the farm, where Nether House was located though at that time Nether House was not so named.  Nevertheless, I have included this snippet of information because Thomas Greaves who owned Riley / Rylah Farm also owned the land that was being conveyed in the document.

A release of a right of way over a Homestead and Croft situate at Riley in the parish of Scarcliffe in the County of Derby.  This was a 'Conveyance of Real Property' between Thomas Greaves, Farmer of Old Coates in the parish of Heath (Derbyshire) on the one part and John Bowett, Farmer of Bothamstall and Thomas Bowett, Farmer of Warsop (both parishes in Nottinghamshire), on the second part.

To summarise the conveyance document, the two Bowetts owned Whitaker Croft (number 22 on the 1849 Tithe Award) and Riley Meadow (Number 112) and paid the sum of ten shillings of lawful English money to gain a legal right of way to these fields.

There are two more snippets of information in this Conveyance in that it states that Ryley Meadow was purchased by Thomas Greaves from the Devisees of the late Samuel Beeley.  Also, the two Bowetts had purchased their property at Riley from the Right Honourable Henry George Earl Bathurst.

1849.  Tithe Award revealed that Thomas Greaves owned and Edward Brown occupied a House, yard and premises.  They owned and occupied several other plots including an old barn, stable, orchard and croft marked number 27 on the plan.  This referred to property about 100 metres towards Palterton on the "s" bend.  Although the occupier was stated to be Edward Brown, I believe it is an error and should read Bownes.

The below named Edward Bownes also appears on this Tithe Award at Rylah and is stated to be an owner and occupier of his property.

1851.  7 April.  The census Enumerator George Kirk, a farmer recorded one farm at Ryley.  This is the farm that is known as Riley / Rylah Farm.  It was occupied by Edward Bownes and his family.

He was the head of the household, married, aged 38 years and a farmer of 74 acres employing 2 labourers.  He was born at Crich, Derbyshire.  His wife was Rebecca Bownes aged 31 or 37 and was born at Mansfield, Notts.  They had five children, the three oldest born at Mansfield, the two youngest at Ryley.  I conject they had moved from Mansfield to Riley after the birth of one child in 1847 and before the birth of another in 1849 at Palterton.

Two farm servants and one female house servant lived with the Bownes at the time of this census.  Also, there were 24 males and 19 females recorded in Riley.

Edward Bownes remained at that farm (Riley/Rylah) until 1855/1856 appearing on the Electoral Rolls until that time.

1861.  Census.  Reuben Taylor, Head of the household, aged 31 years and a farmer of 75 acres and his family was living at Riley / Rylah Farm.  The clue seems to be the fact that he farmed 75 acres.  This was almost the same (74) acreage as appears on the 1849 Tithe Map and in fact all of those 75 acres (plus a few more) were attached to the farm when it closed in the 1980s.

I conject that Reuben Taylor, who was born at nearby Stainsby, was the occupier but did not own the farm.

His wife was stated to be Ann Taylor, aged 27 years and was born at Greasley, Nottinghamshire.  Their two children and two servants lived with them.

At that time, an important person in the district was William Burkitt a widower aged 54 years born at Bothamsall, Nottinghamshire was living at Ryhlah.  He was stated to be a Farm Bailiff.  His son Thomas aged 17 years born at Palterton lived with him as did his two unmarried daughters Elizabeth, 27 years and Ellen 20 years.

I conject that William Burkitt and his family occupied Nether House but did not own it.

At the time of that census, the Enumerator recorded another farm premises at Rylah.  Elizabeth Johnson an 84 year old widow and a farmer of 20 acres occupied it.

The latter named Elizabeth Johnson appears on the 1851 census as a 74 year old farmer of 18 acres at Stockley.  I conject she is still at the same farm and the Enumerator has made an error as to the location.

The census Enumertor recorded 9 males and 13 females living in Rylah at that time (1861).

1881.  Census.

William Burkitt a widower aged 74 years born Bothamsall, Nottinghamshire was still living at Rylah (Nether House - my words).  He was stated to be a farmer of 4 acres and a Rate collector.  He employed one labourer who did not live at the farm.  His grandaughter Eliza E. Burkitt aged 12 years born at Manchester was with him on census night.  He was an occupier but may not have owned his property.

1885.  21 February.  By his will of this date, Job Denham devised his freehold and copyhold farms and lands at Riley and Palterton to his wife Harriett and appointed his nephew William Denham and George Goodwin Exors. thereof.

1885.  14 December.  The said Job Denham died this date.  Jon Denham was born 1805 in Heath.  On the 1861 census for Heath, Derbyshire he is stated to be a Farmer of 320 acres and aged 56 years.

1886.  15 January.  Probate of the will of the late Job Denham granted this date from Derby District Registry of H.M. High Court of Justice (Probate Division) to the Exors, William Denham and George Goodwin.  Harriett Denham thus inherited the farms and land, including Rylah (Riley) Farm.

1891.  23 September.  The said Harriett Denham married Walter John Gascoigne on this date at the Register Office for the district of Mansfield.

1895.  Kelley's Trade Directory for Derbyshire.
Cornelius Hufton Turner - Farmer at Riley Farm, Riley & Overseer & Collector of Income - Land Taxes for Ault Hucknall.  He occupied but was not the owner.

1898.  9 August.  A Lease of this date between Harriett Gascoigne the wife of the Revd. Walter John Gascoigne of the Rectory, Upton Helions, Crediton in the county of Devon, a Clerk in Holy Orders and The Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Ltd. whose regd, office was in the Township of Newbold, Derbyshire

The latter company were renting the mine bed or seam of coal known as the "Top Hard Coal" lying and being within and under the several pieces and parcels of freehold land etc. at Riley in the parish of Scarcliffe containing (about) 73 acres and 15 perches.  This is Rylah (Riley) Farm.

Thus The Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company Ltd. was granted a lease to mine coal under the farm and land, subject to Royalties, etc.

1899.  30 May.  Harriett Gascoigne of The Rectory,Upton Helions, Crediton, the wife of the Revd. Walter John Gascoigne. B.A. made her "Will" and appointed her Exors. as her brother in law William Thomas Phillips of Upper Hornsey Rise, London and her nephew Arthur Phillips of 35. Inderwick Road, Crouch End, Middlesex.

In her "Will", she bequethed her freehold farm at Riley to the said W.T.Phillips, except for the lease of the minerals under the land.

1901.  Census.  The Enumerator Thomas Shaw recorded "A Farm House" and living there was John Wilson Shacklock, Head, married aged 38 years a farmer on his "own account" and born at Bolsover.  Also living with him was his wife Sarah Ann Shacklock, aged 42 years born Bolsover and their daughter Florence Shacklock, aged 4 years born Riley.

Harry Holmes and his family lived at Rylah Farm.  Either his brother or son, William John Holmes and his wife Mary Holmes nee Renshaw also lived at the farm.  Fred. Holmes, son of the latter couple was born at this farm.

1926.  1 October.  William Thomas Phillips, Gentleman of Ballater, Chislehurst Road, Orpington, Kent died there on this date.

1926.  27 November.  Administration of his (William Thomas Phillips) will granted to his son Arthur Phillips of Hill House, Cuffley, Herts, a retired Admiralty Clerk and the deceaseds daughter Ada Phillips, spinster also of Ballater aforesaid.  In his will, William Thomas Phillips stated ... and I give my farm at Riley in the parish of Scarcliffe to my Executor and Executix.

1926.  25 March / Lady Day.
William John Holmes occupied Rylah Farm.  His son Fred Holmes and wife, had previously married and had moved to a farm at Renishaw, Derbyshire where their son Wilfred was born on the 30 December 1918.  The correct name of William John Holmes may have been John William Holmes.

1927.  William John Holmes occupied a House, Building and Land comprising 75 acres 1 rood.  This information is number 90 in the Poor Rate for the parish of Scarcliffe and relates to Riley (Rylah) Farm.  The gross estimated rental was £95 and the rateable value was £85.10shillings.

1927.  Lady-day.
The Holmes family left Rylah Farm and moved to Hall Farm, Bolsover Woodhouse.  Subsequently, they moved to a farm at Cuckney, Nottinghamshire.

1928.  George Henry Poole and his wife Charlotte Poole occupied Riley (Rylah) Farm but I have not yet established the date when they first occupied this farm.

1928.  31 December.  Arthur Atkinson of Fanshaw Bank Farm, Dronfield signed a tenancy agreement with Arthur Phillips of Hill House, Cuffley, Hertfordshire and Ada Phillips of Ballater, Wales Avenue, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey to occupy, as a tenant from year to year, Riley Farm, Palterton.  The farm comprised a dwelling house, outbuildings and land containing in the whole 75 acres 1 rood and 12 perches.  The tenancy was to commence on the 25 March 1929 at an anuual rental of one hundred and five pounds per year.  This rental to be paid half yearly on the 29 September and 25 March.  Either party to the agreement had to give twelve months notice to quit, such notice to expire on the 25 March in any year.

1929.  Lady Day.  The outgoing tenants of Riley (Rylah) Farm were George Henry Poole and his wife Charlotte Poole.  They moved to Carr Farm, Carr Lane, Palterton where they took over the tenancy from the Howett family.

On behalf of George Henry Poole and his family, W. C. Botham & Sons, Auctioneers and Valuers of Chesterfield, compiled a report "Valuation of Tenantright and fixtures upon Riley Farm, Palterton, given up by Mr. George Henry Poole and Mrs. Charlotte Poole to the landlords Arthur Phillips, Esq. and Ada Phillips or to their incoming tenant Mr. Arthur Atkinson."

This valuation is an excellent document and names every field, the size and what is being grown therein.  The contents of the rooms in the house are described.  In the kitchen there was an oven, boiler and fire grate.  Mantel shelf.  Bell and fixing.  12 hooks in the ceiling.

1929.  Arthur Atkinson, his wife and four children moved to Rylah Farm from Dronfield, which was his birthplace.  His wife was named Lucy and their four children were named Leonard, Cecil, "Minnie" and Margorie known as "Madge".

When this family moved to Ryhlah, they occupied the farm but did not own it.  The owners were the Phillips family.  Subsequently, Arthur Atkinson purchased the farm and 75 acres from the Phillips family.  He farmed here until his death. 

His two sons "Arthur" and Cecil took over the farm and remained there until their retiremnents.

At the time (1929) of Arthur Atkinson moving to Rylah Farm he was a tenant, the owners being the Phillips family.  Subsequently, he bought the farm.

1932.  Kelly's Trade Directory.  Arthur Atkinson at Rylah farm. 

1939.  7 June.  Cecil Atkinson and his brother Leonard Atkinson, farmers both of Riley (Rylah) Farm, Palterton representatives of Arthur Chadwick Atkinson, otherwise known as Arthur Atkinson are taking over the tenancy of the farm.

1939.  1 October.   Arthur Chadwick Atkinson, otherwise known as Arthur Atkinson died intestate.

1963.  18 December.  Leonard Atkinson and his brother Cecil Atkinson purchased Ryhlah Farm from William Bernard Phillips and it remained in the Atkinson family until the 1980s when the two brothers ceased farming.

After 1963, the two Atkinson brothers, purchased a few more acres of land.  They purchased 13 acres from the National Coal Board and another 7 acres from Mr. Arthur Turner, a farmer in Palterton.  This increased their acreage to 98.7 acres.

Cecil Atkinson died in 1980.  At that time both brothers had just retired.

Some of the farm buildings were located about 100 metres from the house and main farm buildings.  They were located closer to Palterton.  At that location, part of the original stone barn is still standing.  However, due to some subsidence, the National Coal Board, during the 1950s, renovated the barn and built brickwork on top of the stone.