The Hawthorne Family Stone Circle House Abandoned After Farm Debt

The Hawthorne family established Stonefield House in 1907 after Thomas Hawthorne inherited farmland surrounding an ancient stone circle near the village of Alder Moor. Three generations lived there, including Thomas, his wife Eleanor, their children, and later grandchildren who helped manage the vegetable gardens and small livestock operation. The family earned income from farming, dairy sales, and seasonal produce deliveries.

Local records describe the house as an ordinary working residence built within the historic stone ring, with regular repairs and active use of the workshop and garden before financial difficulties changed the family’s future.

The first warning sign appeared in 1927 when the Hawthornes received overdue payment notices from seed suppliers after two poor harvest seasons. By 1929, declining crop prices forced Thomas to dismiss a farm assistant and close the side workshop for repairs. The family stopped maintaining sections of the garden path, porch flooring, and attic room to reduce expenses. The agricultural depression of the early 1930s caused unpaid land taxes, equipment debts, and supplier bills to accumulate. In 1933, creditors began foreclosure proceedings, and Thomas and Eleanor moved with their remaining family members to rented housing in Alder Moor.

Stonefield House was abandoned in 1934 after foreclosure followed years of agricultural debt and declining farm income. No restoration occurred, and no Hawthorne family members returned after leaving the village. County records noted unsuccessful attempts to sell the unusual property and continued uncertainty over future use. The remaining rooms stayed closed with household belongings and farming documents left behind. Over decades, weather, vegetation, and neglect damaged the residence while the ancient stones remained unchanged around it. The house still stands empty inside the stone circle, continuing to deteriorate without restoration or confirmed ownership.