Rickyard Cottage
resident: Sam Batton

Rickyard Cottage gets its name from its close proximity to Brookfield’s rick yard that is basically steps away. Its modest beginning came as farmhand accommodation and much later blossomed into trendy holiday farm lettings. Original occupiers of Rickyard were farmhand Simon and Bess Cooper and then Ned and Mabel Larkin. Tony Archer [Phil Archer’s cousin] took residency during the early 70’s until he met Pat Lewis from Wales. They married in 1974 and soon Rickyard reverted back to being a home for Brookfield workers.

After squatters were run off in 1993, Jill Archer [nee Patterson] opened Rickyard to a series of holiday guests looking for a getaway on a true English farm in the countryside. However, Phil’s sudden penchant for gourmet cooking put an end to that. Guests complained they were never served hotpots, ploughman’s or fry ups for their meals.