Pinpointing why women go solo

Jan 9 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

Tourism business took off thanks to Henry III

ENTREPRENEUR Elizabeth Robertson combines running a holiday cottage, with art, photography and being a wife and mother from the family farm at Embleton near Alnwick. She believes the Alnwick Garden has created numerous opportunities for local businesses to flourish, saying: “The Garden has had a huge impact. Even if people weren't interested in the Garden as such, it drew people to the area. It has become more and more in the public eye.”

Elizabeth, 49, who is originally from Stamfordham, moved to Embleton Mill farm in 1980 when she married her husband David. Six years ago, she opened up the historic Spitalford holiday cottage, which was originally built in 1269 for Henry III’s sister, Eleanor De Monfort.

“We had this fairly unique property on the farm, it was in a fabulous location and I’d thought that it could be wonderful,” said Elizabeth, who is on course to open a further two holiday cottages this year to meet the demand from tourists.

Problems in the farming industry also persuaded Elizabeth, a mother of four, to be more enterprising. “Farm diversification is increasingly important. Things are getting better now but they still have a long way to go. You don’t really want to have all of your eggs in one basket,” she said.

However, she says that conversely, the problems caused by the first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001 did provide a boost for coastal businesses in Northumberland. Elizabeth, whose family farms beef cattle and arable – their sheep were sold a year ago – says the area was packed with tourists over the Easter break that year.

“The countryside was closed but the beaches were open,” she said. “I noticed after foot-and- mouth that people never really went away and there were always visitors and walkers.”

Elizabeth is also a talented photographer and produces posters with a Northumbrian coastal theme. The straw bale installations she designs, one of which is used as a coffee table in the holiday cottage, are on display at the Kirkharle gallery in Kirkwhelpington.

To see Spitalford Cottage and examples of Elizabeth’s photography, log on to www.spitalford.co.uk.

PAGE THREE: Read opinions on female entrepreneurialism from One NorthEast chairwoman Margaret Fay.