Yealand Conyers village and its links to the Quaker religion

The village of Yealand Conyers is perhaps best known for its proximity to popular tourist attractions, rather than the parish itself. Just a short walk from Leighton Hall, the ancestral home which dates back to 1246, and Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve which attracts thousands of birders every year, many visitors drive straight through the village unaware of its important role in the campaign for free speech and religious liberty over the centuries.

The beautiful village in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been a Quaker stronghold for nearly four centuries with its emphasis on peace and anti-discriminatory practices. Quaker co-founder George Fox – who was born 400 years ago in 1624 – visited Yealand during the summer of 1652 on a major tour of Lancashire including trips to Pendle Hill, Sedbergh and Swarthmoor Hall to call for greater equality in religion in the wake of the English revolution. His visit led to more Friends settling in the Yealand parish.

Now, 370 years later, the village is still a stronghold for Quaker values with 50 attendees regularly attending the Friends’ Meeting House which dates to 1692. Look closely and you can see early 18th century graffiti on the original wooden door. It’s just a few metres from The Old School House which was used to educate youngsters in the village, regardless of religion. During World War Two it took on another use, as a dormitory for evacuees who were taught at nearby Yealand Manor School. From September 1939 to July 1944, 183 evacuated Quaker children aged from three to twelve from large cities in the north were educated at the school. There were also a number of refugees from across Europe, some with mothers, and others who arrived on their own in the UK on the Kindertransport.

Pendle Hill's brooding presence can be seen from all over Lancashire. Image: Getty Images The manor house is now privately owned, but the Quakers still use The Old School House to accommodate groups, particularly those who are underprivileged or have special needs. Warden Anne Simpson, who works in children’s mental health in Preston, has been responsible for The Old School House for the past few years.

‘We have assets in Yealand in terms of property and land and we use this to benefit groups that would not normally come into the country by keeping costs low. We do not make a profit, we just break even, and we really try to support special needs schools and those from areas of Lancashire and further afield that don’t have the opportunity or the money to stay in beautiful places like Yealand,’ she says.

‘The building has been refurbished in recent years to make it accessible for everyone, it can sleep 20 people and there are disabled toilets and ramps. We really want it to be a place where everyone can enjoy the beautiful area, a place where we can share the beauty of Yealand Conyers and the surrounding area,’ she says. In accordance with Quaker values of equality, challenging injustice, living simply and in peace, they do not accept military groups.

Graffiti from the 1700s on the door of the Meeting House Groups which have stayed in the past year include Vision of Adventure which gives visually impaired people the chance to enjoy adventure sports, Red Rose Recovery which supports former addicts and their families and a number of special needs schools.

‘You do not need to be a Quaker to stay here, we are very inclusive and welcome groups of all kinds,’ Anne adds. ‘We often have groups of university friends who want a base to discover the local area or family groups who have struggled to find a large place to stay because of the cost.

‘We don’t make a profit on the bookings so it’s as reasonable as it possibly can be to make it possible for people to come and enjoy. We’ve got beautiful countryside, fascinating history and lots of things to do on our doorstep, and we want to share it.’

Warden Anne Simpson at The Old School House in Yealand Conyers The school house and Meeting House are surrounded by fields and set in a simple graveyard featuring some notable Quakers including Manchester-born author Elfrida Vipoint Foulds and former director general of Oxfam Brian Walker. Social change organisations Amnesty International, Oxfam and Greenpeace all have Quakers among their co-founders.

Although the Quakers campaigned for the abolition of slavery, they also apologised in recent years for the way some Lancaster Quakers benefitted from the trade. Evidence of that is John Rawlinson who had connections with the slave trade and is buried beneath a large beech tree in a corner of the graveyard.

Before the Meeting House was built Quakers met in private houses and were sometimes fined and physically attacked as they made their way to worship as all such gatherings were forbidden by law. That didn’t discourage the Lancashire Quakers and despite some of their number dying in jail, nearly a century later they were thriving. In a history of the parish by John Lucas in the 1720s, he wrote: ‘Yealand Conyers is almost wholly inhabited by Quakers.’

The Quaker Tapestry in Kendal. As the Quaker membership in Yealand changed from mainly farmers and rural workers to wealthy industrialists and mill owners during the 19th century they started to buy, build and inherit land and property in the area; they now own a selection of rented properties in the village and 55 acres.

The Old School House itself was endowed in the will of local Robert Withers and earliest records show it was certainly open from 1709.

‘The area is a big plus for our visitors and most of our business is repeat bookings mainly from the North West. People also come back for the history associated with the place,’ says Alan Tyldesley, treasurer of Yealand Quakers.

* The Old School costs £260 a night for 10 people. For groups of more than 10 people there is a surcharge of £12 per person. The building can accommodate 20 people and is disability-friendly.