A range of disused dairy buildings have been redeveloped at Hunters Hill Farm near Crakehall.
A fire in 2017 caused the Gibson family to stop dairy production and look for a new income for the farm.
Initially, milking cow accommodation was converted in 2020 into a self storage facility which is named Yorestore and established during lockdown for local businesses to store goods, and families moving back to the local area to put home contents into storage.
Most recently, following funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, a range of office units have been created to rent out.
The family says help from Hambleton District council has been key to both the design, and getting grant funding towards the development.
Two buildings contain a range of ten separate office suites, linked to shared communal areas.
The offices are suited to between one and five people in size.
Another wing has four clean kitchen rooms, designed to lease to small start up businesses in the food or beverage sector, on the ground floor with a 1200sq ft meeting / events or training room on the first floor.
Uptake has already been promising, with demand from existing customers of the on site self storage business looking for office space, close to where they have goods store.
The first event held at the farm was an 80th birthday party for Myra Shield (nee Gibson) who was brough up at Hunters Hill.
Myra’s 21st Birthday party was held in the loft of a grain store all those years ago and she wanted to go back to her roots inviting friends and family back to Hunters Hill to celebrate her 80th again in a barn on August bank holiday Monday.
Myra asked that no presents were given, and to instead donate to Blood Cancer UK in memory of her brother David Gibson, who farmed at Hunters Hill and passed away in 2005.
September is designated as Blood Cancer Awareness Month to support patients affected by blood cancer, spread awareness, and raise funds to progress research on blood cancer.
Tim Gibson, David’s son, now runs the farm and has developed the diversifications into storage and now offices.
With his aunt’s request of donations Tim topped up the fundraiser after another local business was very charitable to him.
Richmond based IT company thecitysecret Ltd was relocating their offices and gave away all of their furniture which was then moved to equip some of the offices at Hunters Hill.
They declined payment so Tim said he would round up the fund which his Aunt started for Blood Cancer UK.
In total, £500 has been given to Blood Cancer UK from the Gibsons.
Blood Cancer UK state that with every £500 donated this will fund a research nurse for 3 days, who gives patients a hand to hold while they are testing new treatments.
For more information on the rural offices the website www.YoreOffice.com
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