Yorkshire farmer and TV star Hannah Hauxwell dies at 91.
A HARDY female farmer who found fame in TV documentaries chronicling her tough life has died aged 91. Hannah Hauxwell inherited her parents’ farm, Low Birk Hatt near the North Pennine village of Baldersdale, County Durham, when she was 34.
REX / SHUTTERSTOCK / ITVShe had no electricity or running water and tended her small herd of cattle in ragged clothing even when temperatures fell below freezing.
Yorkshire Television filmed a documentary about her in 1972 called Too Long A Winter, following her struggle to survive.
She was living on £240 a year at a time when the average salary was £2,000. When the documentary aired, the TV company’s phone line was jammed for three days with viewers wanting to find out more and to help her.
A local factory raised money to fund running electricity to Low Birk Hatt Farm and she continued to receive thousands of letters and donations from well-wishers around the world.
Almost two decades later the same TV crew returned to her farm. The second documentary, A Winter Too Many, showed that she had a little more money, which she invested in a few more cows. The crew followed her to London where she was guest of honour at the Women Of The Year gala.
