Graham's farm is part of the site of the former Kilnhurst Hall - once home to the wealthy Mountforth family.

But a rare document has revealed how 400 years ago the family was forced to tighten their belt - possibly due to raging inflation at the time.

Widow and 'gentlewoman' Elizabeth Mountforth left an estate worth just £26 when she died, according to her will, which has just gone on show at Rotherham Library.

The 1549 probate, one of the very few probates to survive prior to the 17th Century, is the library's 'Document of the Month' and gives a fascinating insight into life at Kilnhurst Hall.

Elizabeth is said to have led a very frugal and sad existence - and archive staff say the document highlights the difficult lives led by even the privileged at the time.

The inventory reveals her clothing, few items of furniture and household goods, as well as her livestock and crops - the most valuable of her possessions - were valued at just £26 13s 8d, approximately £6,900 in present day terms.

It shows she kept and bred cattle, pigs, horses, ducks, geese and bees -12 'hyvys' or hives - and grew wheat, barley and oats.

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Assistant archivist Celia Parker said: " Elizabeth seems to have been living quite modestly for a gentlewoman, with only one change of gown and headdress, no silverware, no elaborate bed-hangings or tapestries and the minimum of furniture."

Archives staff say the early 16th century was a period of high inflation, so Elizabeth was probably not very well off. Documents also reveal one of her children was so fearful of losing his job he dare not even attend her funeral.

"In the same collection of documents in which the probate was discovered is a hastily scrawled letter from her youngest son, Anthony, declining to come home after her death as he didn't want to endanger his employment, but asking his brother to let him know what his share of the estate was," said Ms Parker. The hall has long since disappeared. But Graham's farm still stands on part of the site, sandwiched between the South Yorkshire Canal and the former Kilnhurst Colliery.

The probate inventory is now on display at the Archives and Local Studies Service on the first floor of the Central Library. Opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 5pm, Thursday 1pm to 7pm, and Saturday 9.30am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm.

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