Thousands of people have flocked to support a farming couple who are facing eviction from land their family has occupied for centuries. In March 2022 David and Karen Yates received notice that they were facing eviction from Earls Farm on Stitch-Mi-Lane in Harwood. Now the couple have garnered more than 2,600 signatures to save highlight the plight of tenant farmers and save the more than 500 year old house found on the farm Karen Yates said: “As you can imagine it is steeped in history, with old original beams, stone flags and period fireplaces.
“You can even see ancient thumb prints in the wattle and daub. The couple are facing an eviction order (Image: Public) “We, the Yates family have been the proud custodians of the house and land for over 300 years, initially 160 acres, we now have 12.5 acres and sadly we are battling with Bolton Council to stop its demolition and ultimately the demise of Earls Farm.
” Mr and Mrs Yates were served with an eviction order in March 2022, which gave them just days to leave the land. Mrs Yates said the council took over part of the land in 2007 and she and her husband thought they would be put on a new contract when building was done on the new St Catherine’s Academy. But the couple then heard nothing more about this until 2020.
A look inside the historic house (Image: Public) They then believed they would have been able to take ownership of the land having occupied it for more than 12 years, thanks to an adverse possession order. M.