‘Second home’ with a long family history

MY wife and I own a house in Muker, which is now classified as a second home, but to us is our family home.

We are in our 80s, having been born in Muker, went to school there and were married in the church in 1960. Our families were both farmers in the area.

I was brought up on Kisdon Farm above Muker and my wife, Marina, at Scarr House – opposite the waterfall. Partly because of lack of work and, in my case because of health problems, we both found jobs in the South of England. However, we have spent most of our holidays and, since our retirement 25 years ago, about 20 weeks a year in Muker.

Our children, and now our grandchildren, all love the village and spend as much time there as possible. It is quite likely that one of our children, now in their 50s, will retire there.

Regarding our house and why it is our family home, it was bought by my wife’s parents in 1967 when they retired, and we have owned it since Marina’s mother died in 1998. We have spent tens of thousands of pounds on the house over the years, all done by local family firms.

Our roots in Upper Swaledale go back many generations. Both our fathers and grandfathers played in Muker band. We are life members and attend most of their concerts. We go to Muker Church where Marina was confirmed and continue to provide the Christmas flowers, a custom started by her grandmother at least 65 years ago. We generally attend Muker Show and fully support the Swaledale Music Festival where our daughter has regularly played.

I now find it incredible and very upsetting that the National Park Authorities, supported by some members of the local council, have singled out second home-owners as the cause of the perceived problems without a jot of defensible evidence and propose trying to force me to sell our family home.

It should be noted that there is a mis-match between salaries and house prices in the country generally. What is an affordable house in the Upper Dale for a young family earning £25,000 to £30,000 a year? It is unlikely to be our house, which would be more likely sell to a retired person, who has had the benefit of previous house price inflation.