Close on the end of the 14^th Century a wealthy shearman of Kendal, named William Dodding, retired from the wool trade and sought for a convenient site on which to build a suitable house and pass his remaining years in leisure. For him, wool had been much more than his daily bread: it had brought a substantial fortune, the means to buy ease and comfort when he had hardly passed middle life and could hope for a considerable stretch of years to come.

He bought a goodly piece of land from the Leyburnes of Skelsmergh Hall, and on it he built a commodious house of the manor type, which he called Dodding Ground or Dodding Green. It was but a few minutes walk from the Hall, being separated from it by a field or two, so that the newcomers looked to the lord of the manor for his protection and eventually enjoyed his friendship. The new house was pleasantly situated, protected on the north by a small copse, its immediate vicinity laid out in gardens and orchards and surrounded by pasture and farm lands, while at the bottom of the home field the small river Mint flowed leisurely along to join the Kent before its passage through Kendal.

Here the family settled down to the life of the country, gaining experience and knowledge in the working of the farms on their land and entering with zest into all the interests of the neighbourhood. Each succeeding generation dug its roots deeper into the soil until at last they considered themselves the product as well as the possessors of their inheritance.

Their friendship with the Leyburnes opened to them the doors of other homes and gradually by means of marriages they became linked with families of some consequence and standing in the district. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the owner of the property was another William, who also held the office of chief clerk of the Crown in Kendal, a post of considerable importance.

His eldest son and heir, Myles, attracted by the glamour and glitter of court life, established himself in Fleet Street, in London and managed by some means to win the favour of the Queen. He was granted all the rents from the lands formerly belonging to the leper hospital of St. Leonard’s, outside Kendal on the yearly payment of twelve pence to the Queen. His father as Clerk of the Crown would naturally have the assessment and collection of these rents and most likely helped by his service and influence to transfer them to his son’s pocket.

Eventually Myles Dodding left London and settled at Ulverston where he married Margaret, daughter of Francis Sandys, the owner of the dissolved Priory of Conishead, near Ulverston. After the death of his father in law the whole of the Manor and Priory of Conishead became the property of Myles Dodding and the home of an important branch of the Dodding family.

Edmund another son of William Dodding married Margaret Thornburgh of Selside Hall near Skelsmergh and he founded another prolific branch of the family at Penrith.

As the family acquired other and more important properties, the house and estate at Dodding Green became out of favour and having lost its interest was somewhat neglected. The family gradually drifted away from the district until in the Seventeenth century the property came to the market.

The Braithwaites of Burneside bought Dodding Green. This family was one of the most ancient and flourishing families of the county, first coming into prominence during the Fourteenth century at Ambleside, where they held an estate and manor known as Ambleside Hall. In the sixteenth century they bought Burneside (or Burnishead) Hall from the Bellinghams in order to accommodate their much increased family and here lived at least seven generations of Braithwaites, including Richard Braithwaite – known locally as "Dapper Dick" – a famous writer and a noted character. During the Civil War he was a keen royalist, aiding King Charles by every means in his power. He raised and equipped men and collected large sums of money and supplies for the King at the expense of his family fortunes. After the execution of Charles, like all other royal delinquents he had to face the vengeance of the Parliamentarians and was forced to compound for his estate at Burneside in order to pay his heavy fines. His son, Sir Thomas Braithwaite, was a Catholic, and in addition to other fines was heavily taxed for his recusancy, so that the family was much impoverished and found it impossible to continue living at Burneside Hall and so was glad to purchase a much smaller estate at Dodding Green. Even then the family had not reached the limit of its misfortunes, for it was not suffered to remain here in peace for long. Sir Thomas after being repeatedly fined was carried to York for trial as recusant. He was committed to the dungeons of York Castle where he contracted goal fever, of which he died after some month’s imprisonment. Dame Elizabeth his wife, with her three children, who had followed him to York to be near him in his afflictions, returned after his death to Dodding Green and for a time struggled on in dire poverty.

Among her kindly and sympathetic neighbours at Skelsmergh was a yeoman family Stephenson, who acted as stewards or agents for the Dodding property and did all in their power to help her in her distress. They also were Catholics and in a position to help their unfortunate neighbours since they were wealthy landowners, possessed much land in Skelsmergh, Selside, Whitwell, Grayrigg and Crook. They likewise owned house property in Kendal; the most valuable of which were two inns, the Globe in the Market Place and the Rainbow in Highgate.

Much of this property had been acquired by Alan Stephenson, who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and who at his death in 1619 left his family fortunes much more flourishing than when he had inherited them. His son and heir, another Alan Stephenson married Dorothy Duckett of Gilthwaiterigg, a cadet branch of the Grayrigg Ducketts and her marriage dowry had added considerable lands to the Stephenson possessions. All these families had retained the old faith and were determined to retain it at all costs; hence the sons made a resolute practice of choosing their wives from Catholic families only.

The second Alan Stephenson died in 1633, leaving three young sons, Robert, Myles and Anthony all mere children. It was Myles the second son who when grown up became the agent or steward of the Braithwaites of Dodding Green. He settled in Skelsmergh and married Anne Pickering of Killington Hall. Robert, his son and heir, succeeded him in the agency and it was he who took the unfortunate Dame Elizabeth Braithwaite and her children under his care and protection. He was not only the business agent but soon became a great personal friend of the family who sought and accepted his advice and help on every occasion. In time he was invited to share the large roomy house with the Braithwaites, so accordingly he bought his wife and young family to live there with him as tenants or paying guests. This eased not only the financial position but also in great part the loneliness of the widow. His wife Alice Ingram, was a friend and companion to Dame Elizabeth, while his two children Anne and Elizabeth, aged ten and seven respectively were playmates for the three young Braithwaites, Philip, Dorothy and Frances.

The first concern of Robert Stephenson after coming to Dodding about the year 1680 was to put the house into thorough repair for it had lacked care and attention for many years. These renovations were extensive, so much so that it was practically a new house when it was finished. His work was thoroughly done for it still stands today very much as he left it. It is a charming two storied, picturesque building of whitewashed rubble with round chimney, a gabled roof covered with green Westmoreland Slate, while each of the six gables is itself ornamented with a beautifully carved bargeboards as also is the deep porch built over the front door. The house is H shaped with the cross wings lying north and south while its low wide windows above are all surmounted by square headed dripstones. At the back of the house is a rainwater head and drainpipe on which are engraved the initials and date, RAS. 1682 for Robert and Alice Stephenson. Here also is seen a small courtyard separating the stable and outhouses from the dwelling house and rising from this courtyard are some old worn steps leading to a raised orchard which in winter is beautiful with crowded masses of snowdrops, so prolific as to resemble a heavy fall of snow. Dodding Green has always been noted for its sunny gardens filled with the choicest flowers and numerous visitors have been attracted by these alone. It is on record that it was in these gardens that bulbs from Holland and France were first planted in this district with amazing success.

Within a stone passage runs through the whole house from the front porch to the back entering the courtyard through a stone porch in which is built a stone bench. On either side of this passage are doors leading into pleasant, wide low ceiling rooms of which the floors, doors and accommodating window seats are all of oak highly polished by care and age. The staircase leading up from the entrance passage is likewise of rich oak and has turned balusters and square newels with ball terminals. Upstairs are several fine rooms with the same beautiful woodwork carefully preserved. In one of these is an old oak bedstead in a wonderful state of preservation considering its great age, for it bears the date 1386 carved on one of its head panels. Unlike the dates on later furniture, which always stand out in bold relief, these figures have been cut out in the wood, and the cavities thus formed have been filled and leveled up to the surface with a filling in substance. Unfortunately the history of the bed is unknown. The house is full of surprises: alcoves and tiny built in cupboards are to be seen in most of the rooms and even small rooms are to be found hiding round the corners in unusual and unexpected quarters. A long passage with polished oak flooring runs the whole length of the house upstairs, corresponding to the stone passage below. Altogether it is a charming place within and without full of beauty and dignity, hidden and secluded and thus admirably suited to a life of retirement. It is reached from the main road running north to Carlisle, by a typically English twisty land lying between high banks, which eventually arrives at the beginning of a graveled drive about 150 yards long.

In May 1687, Robert Stephenson bought Dodding Green and its estates from the Braithwaites. Dame Elizabeth was always in need of ready money and so was glad of this opportunity of securing some without undue publicity. She was the daughter of Thomas Nicholson, one of the serving men of the Braithwaites at Burneside and her secret marriage in 1664 with the heir; Sir Thomas had caused much surprise and gossip. After the sale she left Dodding Green and possibly accepted hospitality from some of her friends or relatives nearby: for she must have remained in the vicinity, since Robert Stephenson’s diary shows that she and her son Philip were constantly borrowing money from him.

These were difficult times and there was much unrest in every grade of society, much of this was due to economic difficulties following on war, but religion was the main cause of disturbance. Never since the Reformation had there been unity or harmony. The persecutions of the Tudor Sovereigns had been carried on by their successors, the Stuarts. Although the reign of Charles II had seen the last death sentence passed for religious belief, the penal laws were still pressing heavily on those who refused to conform to the religion of the government.

James II had succeeded to the throne and being a Catholic, was anxious to repeal these laws and annul all disabilities. Unfortunately he was tactless and stubborn and his methods destroyed his purpose. The country was not ready for religious toleration and refused to accept measures thrust upon it in an arbitrary fashion. The most galling of these penal laws was that forbidding a Catholic priest to exercise his sacred functions in the land and at the same time forbidding any lay person to harbor him or assist him in any way. Another was the insistence of attendance at Divine Worship in the Parish Church for everybody. These two laws caused much real suffering and distress that every genuine Catholic had to face, since the penalties attached to them were most severe. Death was the price paid by the priest who defied the law and said Mass and by the layman who harbored and assisted him. A fine of 20 pounds per month was the penalty for non-attendance at the Parish Church. The churchwardens were stationed at the bottom of the church with lists of all the householders in the parish. Those who attended on at least one Sunday in the month were passed over, but those making no attendance at all during the month without good excuse were fined 20 pounds.

Even in the darkest days, priests travelled up and down the land celebrating Mass when and where possible and attended to their flocks and it was the pride and delight of the laity to house them and assist them even in the face of fearful risks. Many interesting books full of thrilling interest and excitement have been written about the adventures and hair breadth escapes of such priest, while many more record the tragic arrest and death of others captured when engaged on their duties.

Robert Stephenson was the type of Catholic who was ready to risk all in helping a priest. He esteemed it an honor to his dwelling and his household that any priest should stay with him and use his home as a shelter and as a place of worship and prayer. When he purchased Dodding Green, he had the purpose in his mind of making his home a permanent abode for a priest who could dwell there and minister to the Catholics in the district: Skelsmergh had many of these. Being a secluded hamlet off the main road it had experienced very little disturbance; hence its inhabitants clung to the old faith as they clung to the soil which had given them birth. Already no less than seven of them had given their lives for their faith. These having left their native hamlet had encountered risk and danger in practicing their religion elsewhere and had finally been captured and put to death. There was Hanes Leyburne form Skelsmergh Hall, executed at Lancaster in 1583. John Mason was a serving man of Sir Brian Lacy and was arrested with his master in London while attending Mass. Both master and servant were executed at Tyburn, 1591. Then there were four priests, Reverends Thomas Sprott, Thomas Somers, Thomas Tunstall and John Duckett. All of these had gone to Douay as boys for their education, had been ordained there and had finally returned to England in defiance of the law. Each one had paid the penalty by a cruel death at Tyburn.

James Duckett, who left his home at Gilthwaiterigg to seek his fortune in London, was first an apprentice and then a bookseller. He was arrested on a charge of distributing Catholic literature and suffered for it at Tyburn 1602. In such a neighborhood, therefore, as Skelsmergh a priest would be comparatively safe and secure from spies, received with friendliness and his ministry welcomed and valued.

So it was that after Dodding Green passed into the possession of Robert Stephenson, a priest was to be constantly found there, living with the family and making the house his headquarters in his travels round the district. In order thoroughly to safeguard the priest, it was necessary to construct hiding places in the house against a possible surprise visitation by the sheriff or magistrate and it was also necessary that any room used as a chapel should be adequately camouflaged to prevent detection. Accordingly, the first chapel at Dodding Green was the attic; its only window being a skylight in the roof and its only means of access being a stone stairway built in the thickness of the wall. Among the rafters on the roof a large and a smaller hiding place were constructed: the former for the priest himself and the latter for the sacred vessels and vestments used by him. This second smaller hiding place was only discovered during this last half century and when opened an alter stone a small pewter chalice and some papers were found hidden there for safety. On the landing below the attic another hiding place consisting of a small cupboard like chamber, measuring six feet by three feet and ventilated at the top was also constructed in the thickness of the wall. By means of a trap door in the floor the priest could let himself down into a passage below. Compared with other hiding places up and down the country this does not appear very ingenious or even convincing as a refuge but no doubt it was something to rely upon in time of danger and tradition maintains that it was successfully used on more than one occasion.

The story goes that a priest, Abbe Ray, was forced to take shelter in this hiding place in the year 1689. His pursuers having seen him enter the house followed and searched everywhere in vain. They ransacked every room and cupboard and at length, angry and disappointed at their failure, they loudly declared their intention of burning down the house in order to get him living or dead. On hearing this, the poor priest desirous of saving the house and property of his kind host and protector in some way squeezed himself through the small window which ventilated his chamber and from thence managed to reach the lower roof near the plantation. He then sprang into the wood surrounding the house signaling his escape to his hunters in order to draw them off from the house. Although shot and wounded he continued his run and finally escaped over the adjoining hill.

Tradition also says that an underground passage connected Dodding Green with Skelsmergh Hall a short distance away and the entrance to this is still to be seen in the present chapel, although it is now built up. This passage served as a means of escape when the pursuit grew too hot either at Dodding or Skelsmergh where priests also found safe harborage with the Leyburnes. Nearly every one of the manor houses in the district, which remained in Catholic hands, had these hiding places, constructed for the safety of priests visiting them. Indeed so necessary were they considered, that a Catholic family would hesitate to ask a priest to pass any time in a house without one.

It was in this way that Mr. Stephenson prepared his house as a shelter for any priest who could contrive to come there and make it a center for his work. Well known to the authorities as a Papist, he and his wife were regularly fined for non attendance at church: his house was periodically raided possibly owing to rumors of a priest being there and once at least he spent some time in prison. In May 1692 there was a warrant out for his arrest on the charge of harboring priests – a dangerous charge which usually meant the gallows but fortunately the case was dismissed owing to the lack of evidence and witnesses.

This little incident speaks volumes for the popularity of Robert Stephenson and the loyalty and honor of his friends and acquaintances. When his house was searched for arms, the only weapon found in his possession was an old sword, which was taken from him. Horses above five pounds in value were also seized without compensation and he was forbidden to travel more than five miles from home without the written permission of a magistrate, to whom he must state the length and purpose of his journey. Apart from these restraints, he lived the life of an ordinary country gentleman very much interested in farming and fishing and in all country sports. He was on exceedingly good terms with all his neighbors irrespective of creed. Evidence of this can be found in his diary and other writings, which show that anyone was welcome to his house rich or poor, young or old. In his will he left a legacy to his friend Rev. William Lancaster, Curate of the Parish Church and another to Mr. Thomas Garnett, assistant master of the Grammar School, another particular friend. It will be seen later on that Stephenson was very interested in the education of children and strongly urged it for all, no matter what their station in life might be.

His charity and kindliness to those in distress was amazing. Dame Elizabeth Braithwaite was not the only widow and mother who asked his help and received even more than she sought. No one ever appears to have been turned away without some material help and compassion: even at times those least deserving of his generosity. Again and again in his diary are statements of money lent to needy persons, which apparently was never repaid. Philip Braithwaite repeatedly borrowed sums of money which do not appear to have been repaid and which Robert Stephenson writes off as bad debts. He writes "This mid April day 1694, being Sunday, I lent to Mr. Philip Braithwaite 5 pound and at the same time I promised him 5 pound more upon good security. His cousin Ned Nicholson would be bound." In May, he notes " I lent Philip Braithwaite 5 pound more." Again the following month there is an entry on June 30^th 1694; " I lent Philip Braithwaite 40 pound for a fortnight." There is no mention in any case of repayment, although Mr. Stephenson, a very methodical accountant was careful to note when loans were repaid or even partly repaid.

There is another interesting statement in Mr. Stephenson’s diary, which reads " on April 8^th 1698 I lent my cousin Peter Platt’s wife, 20 shillings it was when Peter Platt went to Appleby." This family of Platts is a most interesting one. Peter Platt and his father Oliver were near neighbors of Robert Stephenson since the old man Oliver on his retirement from business had built himself a charming home at Summerhow. The grounds of this estate bordered on those of Dodding Green; hence the two families were extremely friendly and intimate. When Peter married Elizabeth Pickering, a cousin of Stephenson, the friendship between the two houses was further strengthened. Oliver Platt lived to the age of 96, having been born in 1593 and dying in 1689. When entering his burial in the parish church register, the clerk commented upon this great age by the naïve remark, "a very olde man." His second son and namesake, Oliver apparently took his place as trusted confidant of Robert Stephenson for his signature appears no less than seven times on deeds and transactions drawn up by the master of Dodding Green.

In his will Mr. Stephenson stated that 10 pound was to be paid to Oliver Platt of Summerhow: an annuity of 20 shillings was to be paid to his unmarried sister, Mary Platt of Summerhow and a further annuity of 20 shillings was to be paid towards the clothing of Peter the son of Peter and Elizabeth Platt, who furthermore was to receive 10 shillings every Easter during his natural life.

Selside Hall was another home where Stephenson was always warmly welcomed. Here lived the Thornburghs a family of great antiquity, who had held this manor and estate from the beginning of the fourteenth century. This family together with the Leyburnes of Skelsmergh Hall was Stephenson’s most intimate friends. He apparently took them into his confidence concerning his numerous charities and George Leyburne and William Thornburgh were his appointed trustees and executors.

Robert Stephenson endured the great sorrow of seeing all his children die, either in early childhood or in youth. In his diary is the following entry, "Myles, son of Robert Stephenson was borne April ye 26^th 1671 of Fryday morning at 6 o’clock." Myles did not live long to gladden the hearts of his parents. He died of measles at the age of four years. This must have been a great blow, but there is no comment on the event probably because the grief was too deep for words. He was not the only child of Robert Stephenson, there was a little daughter Anne, born two years before Myles and another daughter Elizabeth arrived two years after him. This last birth also was notified in the diary which states "This morning my little Betty was borne January ye 17^th. Baptised ye 23^rd 1673." Apparently he had no other children. The two little girls grew up to maidenhood and then both were taken from their stricken parents in a couple of months. Anne the elder died at the age of 17 years on December 19^th 1687 and was buried in the parish churchyard. Betty perhaps suffering from the same complaint as her sister felt her death so grievously that she lived but one month longer and the new grave had to be reopened o January 17^th to receive her – that day being her fifteenth birthday.

Perhaps it was the loss of his children that decided Stephenson to leave all his worldly goods and possessions for the benefit of the church and the poor. About ten years after the death of his last child, he drew up his first deed of charity for the maintenance of a priest who should devote himself to the service of the Catholics and poor of the district. In declaring this his intention he says: "Now know ye that because it seems the matter of the best and greatest charity to contribute in any manner to the salvation of souls and this great work mainly depends on supplying the people with worthy priests and because there appears great difficulty and distress in this regard in these northern parts of England where frequently the Catholics are poor and not able to maintain a priest and commonly the priests also destitute of means to maintain themselves with other inconveniences and misfortunes which attend the poor mission, I Robert Stephenson for Christ’s sake and for the love of God and of my neighbour do freely give and bequeath for ever, three of my tenements called and known by the names of Deepslac, Bremerigg and Pickethill in Whinfell, with all their appurtenances and also those my tenements known and called by the names of Crook, Evetiske and Holme in Skelsmergh to Rowland Thornburgh of Meathop, William Thornburgh of Skelsmergh and Cunswick Hall or their successors, these my executors immediately after my death to sell these lands tenements and all these properties and devote the proceeds to the use of a priest who will labor amongst these poor people for the good of their souls."

In 1702 he drew up another deed giving 1,000 pounds to be invested for the purpose of providing education for the children of the poor: providing for the needs of the sick and aged and also for the procuring of decent rooms and all necessities for the celebration of Mass wherever it was possible. This document proves him to be almost two centuries ahead of his time.

He was a well educated man himself, his letters and writings testify to the fact that his knowledge and interest were varied and far reaching. His documents and papers give the impression that some part at least of his education had been spent in legal training so exact and methodical was he in dealing with his estates and affairs while his library containing the classics, valuable first and early editions of the best literature of his time shows that he was a man of cultured tastes.

It is evident that in his eyes education was a necessity for every child, rich or poor and he urged his executors to find out those who were needy in order to supply them with teachers and books. Not only did Stephenson supply teachers and equipment but he also gave valuable advice on the right methods of teaching. Patience and perseverance were the virtues he rightly considered should be cultivated by all teachers. He believed in encouragement and rewards for diligence rather than severity for the slow pupils and in his exact methodical way suggested a list of prizes and rewards. These were "A sixpence or a shilling, a hat, a necklace, a bonnet or a neckcloathe, a handkerchiefe, an apron or a shirt: a pair of gloves, stockings or shoes, a book or some thing to be given to the industrious boy or girl as a reward. These rather drab uninteresting prizes are indicative of the outlook of that age, when purpose and usefulness were considered rather than pleasure: it is certain that modern industrious pupils would not welcome most of them as prizes. After their schooling these children were to be placed as apprentices to some good master and be supplied with the necessary tools and an outfit and all initial expenses to be paid for.

Because he realised that many poor people would not be able to attend Mass either because they had no means of transport to reach the place where Mass was being said or because they could not leave their young children or their animals unguarded he directed money to be spent in hiring horses to bring them and in paying people to tend the young children and watch the animals. He even went so far as to provide a slight refreshment for anyone who came to Mass from a considerable distance, "lest after their long ride if they return fasting they might be sick and faint in the way."