Old mill where nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is said to have originated could be yours for £650,000

The former mill where the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is said to have originated from has gone on the market for £650,000.

The Old Mill, which has the nickname the 'Humpty House', is in the historic village of Cawood, North Yorkshire, which was once the home of the Archbishop of York, Thomas Wolsey.

The property is located at the start of Wolsey Walk and legend has it Humpty Dumpty was written about a man called Cardinal Wolsey when he attempted to board the royal barge at the foot of the Old Mill's garden, bumped his head and died en route to London.

There is said to have been a mill on the site for many centuries but the current property dates from the 1800s and has retained its character and individual charm.

The five-bedroom home sits on the bank over the River Ouse and enjoys a scenic and peaceful location.

The Old Mill, which has the nickname the 'Humpty House', is in the historic village of Cawood, North Yorkshire, which was once the home of the Archbishop of York, Thomas Wolsey

The property is located at the start of Wolsey Walk and legend has it Humpty Dumpty was written about a man called Cardinal Wolsey when he attempted to board the royal barge at the foot of the Old Mill's garden, bumped his head and died en route to London 

There is said to have been a mill on the site for many centuries but the current property dates from the 1800s and has retained its character and individual charm

The five-bedroom home sits on the bank over the River Ouse and enjoys a scenic and peaceful location

Humpty Dumpty (drawn here by Milo Winter) became famous through Lewis Carroll's book, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', where Humpty Dumpty is shown as a round egg

It has 1,823 sq ft of accommodation over three floors. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, kitchen/diner, sitting room and dining room. On the first floor is three bedrooms and two bathrooms and there are a further two bedrooms on the top floor.

Where does the Humpty Dumpty rhyme come from?

Nobody knows exactly where the Humpty Dumpty rhyme comes from or what it means. 

The rhyme was first printed in 1810 and became famous through Lewis Carroll's book, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', where Humpty Dumpty is shown as a round egg. 

However, it is a very old rhyme and goes back much earlier than this.

Humpty Dumpty was a common 'nickname', used in 15th century England, to describe large people. 

This had led to many ideas as to who, or what, the Humpty Dumpty in the nursery rhyme really was. The idea that 'Humpty Dumpty' was a powerful cannon, used during the (1642-49), is one of the ideas taken most seriously.

Despite the various explanations on the origins of Humpty Dumpty, there is no proof about the origin of the nursery rhyme character.

Source: EnglishHistory.net

Advertisement

Outside the garden lies to the front of the house with a lawn and a riverside decked terrace with stunning views, which is a haven for wildlife.

A spokesperson for Carter Jonas, who are selling the property, said: 'The Old Mill is situated in the historic centre of Cawood village, quietly set on the banks above the River Ouse.

'This row of period houses presents a very pretty picture, a hidden gem with riverside views and walks from the doorstep.

'Cawood is a historic and highly regarded village with roots going back to the 10th century.

'The Old Mill is sited at the start of Wolsey Walk, named after Cardinal Wolsey, and it is reported that the famous Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme was created when Cardinal Wolsey attempted to board the royal barge at the foot the Old Mill's front garden on the river deck.

'The Cardinal bumped his head as he joined the barge and sadly died en route to London.

'The property enjoys a scenic and peaceful location. It is a haven for wildlife and water lovers.'

Mystery surrounds the origins of the famous children's rhyme, with suggestions ranging from slang for a short and clumsy person, to King Richard III or a reference to the English Civil War.

Nobody knows exactly who or what Humpty Dumpty was. 

The rhyme was first printed in 1810 and became famous through Lewis Carroll's book, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', where Humpty Dumpty is shown as a round egg. 

However, it thought to a very old rhyme and goes back much earlier than this.

It has 1,823 sq ft of accommodation over three floors. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, kitchen/diner, sitting room and dining room

The property comes with a large kitchen which has an exposed wooden beam in the ceiling

Outside the garden lies to the front of the house with a lawn and a riverside decked terrace with stunning views, which is a haven for wildlife

The property also has a large dining room suitable for sitting eight people for dinner

One of the bathrooms has a large copper bathtub and copper sink

On the first floor is three bedrooms and two bathrooms and there are a further two bedrooms on the top floor

The kitchen also comes with a table which seats six, as well as a skylight for natural light

The five-bedroom home sits on the bank over the River Ouse which is used by ships

The decking on the property would be perfect for a summer barbecue or evening drinks

The property also has a white picket fence arround it and some nearby trees

One of the bedrooms is fitted with a black metal bed and grey cabinets

One theory made in Punch in 1842 was that Humpty Dumpty was about the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey.

Wolsey was a favourite of Henry VIII and at one point his chief adviser, but fell out of the king's favour when he failed to get permission from the Pope for Henry to divorce Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn.

READ MORE: Author sparks Twitter storm claiming Humpty Dumpy was NOT an egg - but do you know what he really was?

Advertisement

He was stripped of his government office and residence at Hampton Court, but was permitted to remain Archbishop of York and moved to Cawood Castle in the village of Cawood.

The Cardinal was arrested at the castle in November 1530 and charged with high treason. He was ordered to return to London for trial but fell ill and died in Leicester on the journey.

Another theory is the rhyme is believed to reference a large cannon used during the English Civil War fought between 1642 and 1649.

Towards the end of the war, a big cannon was was used in Chichester to bombard the roundheads or parliamentary forces in a bid to stop Charles I ruling the country without consent.

The parliamentary forces then attacked the cannon with fire of their own, making it tumble to the ground.

The lyrics then refer to the kings men - the royalist supporters in support of King Charles I - being unable to fix the canon.

Despite the various explanations on the origins of Humpty Dumpty, there is no proof about the origin of the nursery rhyme character.