There are dozens of ex 'farming' properties sitting unoccupied - all to do with the land and the gathering together of smaller holdings to make more viable farms in the mechanised age. Now't to do with any Council in this case and the Authorities can only move in if there are no next of kin, having made proper representations in the Official Press, but this is only for 'built up areas' and rarely for farming lands as the land registry in 99.9% of cases shows a direct overall ownership. When one looks at these properties you soon see that most have no services, proper access roads and any old well will be contaminated or dried up - they don't even start to tick the boxes for holiday lets. In Victorian times etc., one had to live 'on the job' if you worked on the land, otherwise most of the daylight hours would be spent in travelling. Today's situation is vastly different as with suitable transport, workers can cover huge acreages. My families's farm in North Yorks originally had six such dwellings; two are now daytime shelters for bird watchers, field study groups etc., but with all associated outbuildings removed, one is converted into a feed and seed store and the other three were demolished ages ago.
