Ryedale Folk Museum Archive & Collection

Waind Clothing Display Dates Announcement

2011-04-11T12:58:00.000+01:00

We will definitely displaying the Waind family collection from September - December in the Manor House & Fat Betty's. It consists of more than 30 items, varying from nightdresses, girl's dresses, ladies dress, bonnet, gown, cape and much more.

If anyone reading this post knows of anyone in the Ryedale area called Waind, please get in touch as we would like to add to the family tree that was given to the museum with the clothing. This will also be on display.

Jonathan S

More of the Wainds

2011-03-25T14:10:00.000Z

Whilst researching in the museum's library today anything to do with Bert Frank (Ryedale Folk Museum's founder I stumbled a cross the 1890 edition of the Bulmer's History & Directory of North Yorkshire.
The entire contents are accessible online; http://www.genuki.org.uk/index.html

Similar to a census it provides a valuable insight to life in the region at that particular time.

Here is an extract of some trades people from Hutton-le-Hole, p.908;

Baxter, Thomas, tanner
Clark, James, joiner
Cole, Joseph, bootmaker
Pateman, Pennock, birdstuffer
Stephenson, Mark, tailor

The Waind's do get a mention on p.906, John is entered as a farmer at Ankness Farm, East Bransdale.Other tradespeople include;
Duck, S, joiner and wheelwright at Lofthouse
Fawbart, Robert, gamekeeper
Lancaster, John, schoolmaster
Teasdale, Robert, huckster

The remarkable difference between 1890 and present day are the number of people who are skilled in their profession. The small rural communities before the advent of the motor car would be very reliant on local tradespeople, will things revert back to how they once were with the surge in fuel prices?

Jonathan S

The Waind Family

2011-03-04T13:03:00.003Z

The museum was donated garments from the Waind family, the Wainds originated from Ankness Farm, Bransdale but left in 1938 to farm in another part of Ryedale.

Among the images that are here is a family tree section of the Wainds. The family name is still commonplace in the area, there is a Wainds Coal merchants in Helmsley and a Wainds butcher in Kirkbymoorside.

Is there anyone reading this who is or knows of someone called Waind?
Please tell them to get in touch with the museum as we are exhibiting the clothing in the Autumn.

Jonathan Severs
Email, : blogs@ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk

Beading Hunt

2011-01-14T16:23:00.000Z

Hello Everyone!

I was looking in our collection stores today for some beading examples, and thought as I was taking pictures I would pop them on here so you could see just a small amount of the lovely items we have at the museum.

Enjoy.

EMck.

Mike Benson on BBC Radio Tees

2010-11-11T12:39:00.000Z

From Shared Horizons

Mike Benson, Director of Ryedale Folk Museum will be on BBC Radio Tees reviewing the papers on Saturday 13th November 2010 at 0930ish. Please tune in and listen, it's bound to be entertaining...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/programmes

Jonathan S

Tatie Picking

2010-09-09T21:57:00.000+01:00

In North Yorkshire it was traditional for taties to picked in autumn, generally in October. Half-term in October was traditionally known as Tatie Picking Holiday, as children often helped, lured by extra cash and free spuds to take home. It helped me buy my first computer back in 1986.

The video in this post shows how it was done in the 1950's, we are having a Potato Week in October 25th-October 29th with things to do and see for all the family.

Jonathan Severs

Tractor & Engine Day 2010

2010-07-11T22:21:00.010+01:00

Today the museum hosted yet another highly popular Tractor and Engine Day. Many machines were on display, but what I found most interesting were the traps; man traps, gin traps, badger traps. All now illegal to use, but a reminder of how things were done years ago before the advent of the electronic burglar alarm.

Featured in the tractor run in (pole position) was our Museum Manager Kevin Sims on his beloved Fordson Dexta, and on the tandem were 2 museum volunteers, Peter and Jim.

Results as follows: Best Engine- Richard Nesver showing a Lister stationary engine.

Best Tractor- Alan and Pam Nesfield with an International Harvester

Most Original Tractor - Chris Stevenson with a Field Marshall.

Please feel free to leave a comment.

Jonathan Severs

Last year's Tractor & Engine Day can be found via this link: http://ryedalefolkmuseumarchive.blogspot.com/2009/07/tractor-day.html

A Queen For 60 Years...

2010-07-02T11:40:00.002+01:00

Queen Victoria was Britain's longest reigning monarch, here Meriel is showing us a nice handkerchief that was a souvenir of Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The handkerchief shows Queen Victoria's sons and daughters and also the Prime Ministers during her reign.

Jonathan S

Napoleonic Weekend at Ryedale Folk Museum

2010-06-25T11:59:00.000+01:00

Come and see Napoleonic re-enactors and find out what life was like as a foot soldier this weekend. Did you know that one of Napoleon's jailers came from Ryedale, follow this link http://www.ryedale.co.uk/ryedale/misc/ryedalehistory/grimes.html

Jonathan Severs

World War 2 Weekend

2010-06-04T13:02:00.001+01:00

World War 2 Weekend is here again. Tomorrow and Sunday.Re-enactors being British and American Paratroops, Home Guard and real Land Army girls will be here.
There will be plenty to see and do all weekend including air raids and real weapons and vehicles from the era.

Jonathan Severs

Iron Awe

2010-04-29T11:28:00.006+01:00

On May 2nd we are hosting an iron-awe event, here is some footage of the Corus Steel Plant at Redcar, Tesside which sadly closed in February 2010.

Jonathan S

Union Flag

2010-03-11T12:25:00.008Z

This Union Flag was kindly donated to the museum by Peter Brears the food historian and author. The flag is in remarkably good condition and dates from the 1930's.
It is being held by the museum's collection manager Helen.

Jonathan S

Cartwheels

2010-02-25T12:20:00.004Z

Volunteers and staff at the museum have been busy recently making some reproduction cart wheels for the Marshall thresher.

This You Tube video shows the process of putting the iron hoop on the wheel in an episode of the B.B.C series Victorian Farm.

The Great War

2009-11-06T10:30:00.006Z

Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday will soon be here again, when we all remember those who gave their lives so that others could live. Looking through the collection Barry found a few photographs which most people will not have seen before. They are of Bamletts of Thirsk, which made agricultural implements and machinery. These pictures show the metal posts used for erecting barbed wire fencing in trench warfare. The workers, of course, are all ladies, the men who usually worked there being in the forces.

On Thursday 12th November the museum is organising a play with local schoolchildren a the village hall in Hutton-le-Hole called 'Standing in Line' based on the Great War.

Threshing Day October 4th 2009

2009-10-02T10:33:00.006+01:00

From Ryedale Folk Museum Archive & Collection

On Sunday October 4th we are having a threshing day at Ryedale Folk Museum. The thresher is a Marshall and was restored by staff and volunteers, come along and have a look. This is just part of a good collection of tractors and implements the museum has from days gone by.

Whalebones

2009-09-24T12:09:00.007+01:00

Whalebones were often a feature of the farm gateway in the Ryedale area. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many farmers sons would go to sea with the whaling ships from the local ports such as whitby. The whalebones erected on the farm gateway were like a badge of honour, to show you had relatives at sea whaling. Please have a look at a previous blog post about a local man Wiliam Stockell, amongst his many adventures he spent time whaling.

http://ryedalefolkmuseumarchive.blogspot.com/2009/05/eventful-narrative-of-william-stockell.html

Jonathan Severs, B.A (Hons)

World War 2

2009-09-03T11:40:00.006+01:00

RFM 2006.11.84

Most people will have heard in the media that it is 70 years since Germany invaded Poland. Everyone has a relative who took part in the war, and Ryedale Folk Museum is no exception. Bert Frank, the museum founder had a brother called Christopher (Kit) who perished in 1943 aged 25.

Jonathan S

Prize Giving At Tractor Day July 2009

2009-08-21T13:36:00.002+01:00

Here is some footage of the prize giving from Tractor Day 2009.

Some More Footage From Tractor Day July 12th 2009

2009-07-24T14:31:00.007+01:00

Some more footage of Tractor Day 2009. Can anyone spot a former Prime-Minister?

Tractor Day 2009

2009-07-12T13:11:00.037+01:00

Today was tractor Day at Ryedale Folk Museum. Exhibitors from far and wide brought in their prized tractors, stationary engines, implements and vehicles for visitors to see.

The museum's Fordson Dexta and Massey Ferguson 135 loader tractor were amongst the exhibits which were all in excellent condition. If it was not for these enthusiasts, the future of these machines would be in doubt.

In the years before the advent of the National Grid, it was essential to have a power source on the farm. Initially stationary steam engines were used, and then with oil powered engines, these petrol and paraffin engines were used for a variety of tasks such as generating electricity, pumping water, powering milking machines and milling grain.

At 2p.m, the tractors drove through the museum grounds and did a loop round Hutton-le-Hole. I was very fortunate to have a pillion ride on the 1950's B.S.A B31, owned by museum volunteer Jim Wood. There's nothing like the sound of a British motorcycle.

Jonathan Severs

(For 2010 Tractor & Engine Day report click on this link: http://ryedalefolkmuseumarchive.blogspot.com/2010/07/ryedale-folk-museum-tractor-engine-day.html )

World War 2 Fortnight

2009-05-22T11:04:00.004+01:00

From the 1st to 12th June Ryedale Folk Museum hosts events with a Second World War theme. Land Army Girls , the Home Guard and American G.I's will all be coming at various times to re-enact and enrich our knowledge of life during the Second World War.

Today's picture is of a local volunteer, Les Davison, in 1943/44. He, like many other men, served in the Home Guard. The picture was taken at Hutton-le Hole. Les was one of the first volunteers at Ryedale Folk Museum.

Jonathan Severs B.A (Hons), York St John.

The Eventful Narrative Of William Stockell

2009-05-15T11:32:00.012+01:00

The Ryedale area of North Yorkshire does not conjure up an image of ships and whaling, but an individual named Captain William Stockell came from Malton and led a full and adventurous life. He taught himself sea navigation, and went to sea in January 1804. This led to him developing a love for life at sea and many adventures. If one is fortunate to read his autobiography, The Eventful Narrative of William Stockell, one may assume that is the work of someone with an overactive imagination. Further investigation into other sources of information such as ship's rosters that he wrote about prove that much of the contents of the book are true. Maybe he does bolster his own image with tales of courage under the worst conditions, but one cannot dispute that he led a full life. Service in the Royal Navy, the U.S navy, working on merchant ships and whaling were just some of the vessels he sailed on, in days before steam ships.

Here is a brief excerpt from his book in which the Cornwall engages the enemy (France) off the coast of Belgium:

...the Frenchman fired into the Cornwall. Not one shot yet from us; the Captain standing on the poop with a speaking trumpet in his hand. At last, he put it to his mouth, the word ''Fire'' ran aloing the decks, and a thundering and dreadful shock took place; broadside to broadside for half an hour. Our deck began to be sprinkled with blood - my brave boys fought like bull dogs. I had never seen fighting like this before, it was fighting in earnest; several of my men lay around, and the fore-most guns on the starboard side had lost six hands. After we had engaged about three quarters of an hour, I heard a thundering crash, and in a few moments- ''Boarders away!'' In a moment I with my boarders were in the fore-chains of the enemy, and I landed safe with about fifty fine fellows on the forecastle. We had a gun loose that we took, and at one shot cleared the larboard side of the deck. By this time we had fought our way aft on the quarter deck when down came the colours...

Jonathan Severs, B.A (Hons), York St John.

Story of the Manor House

2009-05-05T13:53:00.003+01:00

Blacksmith and Museum volunteer Robin Butler tells his story of finding a silver spoon wedged within the thatch of the crumbling Harome Manor House in 1971. Robin found the spoon whilst working as part of a group of volunteers dismantling the building in order to preserve and rebuild it on site at Ryedale Folk Museum. The original spoon is now held by the British Museum, Ryedale Folk Museum has a replica which is on display in the Manor House on site. This video uses images from the museum's photographic collection and shows the volunteers at work.

Carrie Gough

Pigs

2009-05-01T12:12:00.010+01:00

You may have heard that the museum has purchased two Lincolnshire Curly Coated Pigs, have a look at the museum blog to see the latest pics. I found these photographs in the museum archive of some weaners being fed at Rosedale North Yorkshire. The other is possibly a chaotic scene of some pigs roaming around in Thornton-le-dale near Pickering.

Chautauqua Desk and Blackboard

2009-04-30T12:49:00.000+01:00

Coming in to the museum today, I spied this rather interesting piece of furniture. It is Edwardian and invaluable to any house with young children, as the top of the blackboard is on a scroll and contains a surprising quantity of information. As one can see from the pictures taken, there are the current Royals of the period Edward and Alexandria. The Prime Minister Gladstone and even Lord Salisbury are featured too. There is a list of household items and agricultural implements. This is what gives away the North American origins, the spelling of plough (plow) and calling a bath a tub. Before the age of the internet and television this is what many would use for educational purposes at home.

Life In Ryedale In Times Past

2009-03-27T12:24:00.013Z

Life in times past in the Ryedale area has changed vastly over the years. These photographs are just a small example of the archive collection.

The Loss Of The Working Horse In Rural England (Part 3 & Conclusion)

2009-03-22T19:01:00.025Z

There was also much tradition lost as time progressed and the horse replaced. In areas including Yorkshire, ploughing did not begin until Plough Monday[1]. This was the first Monday following the twelfth day after Christmas. Often, the farmworkers would parade through the village streets and dance, not dissimilar to Morris Dancing today[2]. Also widespread in Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and other central areas was the Plough Play. The performers would pull a brightly decorated plough through the village streets and ask to enter the village houses. If the performers were allowed in they performed their play and were given food and drink. If the householder refused to give them entry, they would plough the ground in front of their property[3]. This tradition, like that of the hiring fair has fallen into disuse with time and progress[4].

Three manufacturers of tractor emerged who could supply farmers with reliable, cheap tractors – David Brown, Fordson and Ferguson. The tractor not only began to replace horses but changed agricultural methods forever. Production increased as a tractor could plough or cultivate much more land than a horse. The binder disappeared and was replaced by the combine harvester. Grain from combines initially was run into large sacks frequently weighing sixteen stones. These were later collected and put onto trailers. This method was replaced by the collection of loose grain into trailers and then tipped into large sheds or silos.

Ferguson revolutionised the tractor. It no longer was a vehicle that just pulled trailed implements after he incorporated a three-point linkage onto the Grey Ferguson. The Little Grey Fergie, as it became known, also had a power-take-off (P.T.O.) enabling the tractor to drive implements. Before this, implements were wheel driven. Now tractors could tip trailers, drive balers, muckspreaders, spray crops with chemicals and carry bales behind the tractor. In short, the tractor had not only replaced the horse as the main source of power on the farm, it had revolutionised agriculture. However, although working horses were becoming fewer in number, it took many years for them to virtually disappear from most farms. In September 1965 there were still twenty one thousand horses being used for agricultural purposes in Britain[5].

To conclude, the loss of the working horse in rural England in the twentieth century was inevitable. The demand for more food during two world wars demanded higher productivity from the land, and this could only be achieved by the use of tractors. The ploughing of grassland for the use of arable crops could not have been achieved with only horse power. The later post war policy ensured high productivity and efficiency would be required of British farmers. There was no return to extensive types of farming and a reversion of the plough policy after the Second World War. As time progressed the tractor became more versatile, more reliable and affordable. The invention of the P.T.O by Ferguson made the tractor more than a pulling machine, like the horse. Nowadays one sees working horses at ploughing matches throughout the country, but one rarely sees a horse ploughing at a genuine working farm. Perhaps, in these times of bio fuels we may see the horse reappear in the countryside, but it is unlikely it can ever replace the tractor.

22/3/09, Jonathan Severs, B.A History (Hons), York St John.

Bibliography

Brown, J, Agriculture in England, Manchester, (1987).

Dewey, P, British Agriculture in The First World War, London, (1989).

Dewey, P, The Supply of Tractors, found in p.p 89-100, The Front line of Freedom, Exeter, (2006).

Holderness, B.A, British Agriculture Since 1945, Manchester, (1985).

Howkins, A, The Death of Rural England, London, (2003).

Martin, J, The Development of Modern Agriculture, British Farming Since 1931, Basingstoke, (2000).

Morris,Rev M.C.F, Yorkshire Folk Talk, 1892, found at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Books/FolkTalk/Chapter11.html , accessed 23/1/09.

State-Led Agricultural Revolution, Short, B, Watkins,C, Martin, J, in The Front Line of Freedom, Exeter, (2006).

Primary Sources and Journals

Caunce, S, Twentieth-Century Farm Servants: The Horselads of the East Riding of Yorkshire, found at: www.bahs.org.uk/39n2a5.pdf, accessed 2/12/08.

Davidson, T, Plough Rituals In England and Scotland, p.30, found at: http://www.bahs.org.uk/07n1a4.pdf, accessed 1/3/09.

M.A.F.F, A Century of Agricultural Statistics, Great Britain 1866-1966, London, (1968).

Storey, N, Ancestors at Work, Ploughmen and Penny Boys, in Family Tree, (09/06).

Websites Visited

David Brown Tractor Club, found at :http://www.davidbrowntractorclub.com/David%20Brown%20History.htm, accessed 23/1/09.

Ferguson Family Museum, found at: http://www.ferguson-museum.co.uk/index.php, accessed, 29/1/09.

Society of Ploughmen, (U.K), found at: http://www.ploughmen.co.uk/, accessed 29/1/09.

The Little Grey Fergie, A Legend In Its Own Lifetime, found at: http://www.myfergie.co.uk/index.html, accessed 29/1/09.

[1] T. Davidson, Plough Rituals In England and Scotland, p.30.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid, p.31.
[4]] One cannot help but think of the chaos and lawsuits that would result from such an act today, especially with a large modern 200hp tractor and eight furrow plough.
[5]] M.A.F.F,p.61.

What Are These?

2009-03-20T10:48:00.000Z

The Collections team are rather baffled by these objects. We believe the first object may be a form of pipe cleaner, the other object we are not sure of. Could it be something of surgical use?

This Week - Thermos Flask and Torch

2009-03-12T17:39:00.000Z

This week in the Museum we were trying to find out exactly how old these objects were.

We think the flask dates from the 1920's and the torch from the 1930's. The torch is manufactured by a company called 'Vesta'.

These may seem like mundane objects for a museum, but they are an important part of history. Where would the working man be without the flask? The electric torch replaced the candle and paraffin lamp providing a much safer means of portable light.

If anyone reading this can shed any light on the age of these objects please email us at: ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk.

Artefact Of The Week

2009-03-06T10:42:00.000Z

This week, some of the Harrison Collection is still on display in the Ryedale Folk Museum Gallery. Rather quaint is this dog wheel, used in the seventeeth and eighteenth centuries for turning a spit over an open fire. The breed of dog was called a 'Turnspit',(now extinct) a cross between a Daschund and a Jack Russell.If the dog would not trot then hot embers would be placed in the base of the wheel to make it move. Many of the expressions used in the English language such as 'dog tired' and 'every dog shall have its day' originate from the use of a dog wheel.

Volunteers

2009-02-14T19:01:00.001Z

On Friday 13th February we had a Ryedale Folk Museum Volunteers meeting. It was well supported, Mike gave us a briefing on the fund-raising for the Harrison Collection, we still have a long way to go. However, nothing is impossible and we will get there.

If you are not a volunteer at the museum, have you considered becoming one? If not do you know someone who may be interested? The museum welcomes people with plenty of enthusiasm in all aspects of museum work. Restoration of farm machinery, archive work and helping in the shop are just some of the things you could be involved in.

Don't be shy, give the museum a ring on: 01751 417 367, or email us at: info@ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk

The Loss Of The Working Horse In Rural England (Part 2)

2009-02-13T13:13:00.002Z

When Great Britain was at war in 1914-1918, and 1939-1945, food production was very important as the country faced the prospect of not being able to import food due to U-boats. Government intervention with War Agricultural Executive Committees or ‘War Ags’ as they became known, was vital if the country was to survive. The War Ags main purpose was to advise farmers on how to run their farms and ensure the government policy of ploughing up land was being upheld. If farms were not being farmed in an efficient manner the committees had the power to take over the running of it themselves. More positively however, the ‘War Ags’ did supply tractors machinery and labour to farms[8]. The Plough Up Policy, was unpopular with many farmers- the main objection raised was that Committees sometimes insisted that land unsuitable for growing arable crops was ploughed up.

Another obstacle to the increase in production was the availability of labour, many young men had left the countryside to join Kitchener’s army. Billa Dixon from Trunch, Norfolk remembered; ‘They were calling for volunteers, and several of us in the village, I should think about ten of us, went that morning down to Mundesley and joined up, took the shilling’[9]. At first, the labour shortage did not affect productivity because the war started in August 1914, and that year’s harvest was gathered before the men enlisted in the army. By 1917, Britain was suffering from the German blockade and was losing much shipping due to the U-boats. Labour was supplied to farms by the War Ags, the Women’s land Army was formed in 1917[10], to attempt to alleviate the labour shortage. Prisoners-of war were also used as were British soldiers, in both world wars. Having thousands of volunteers or prisoners working on farms may have helped, but there was a shortage of skilled labourwhich lasted for the duration of both wars. Training was needed for more skilled jobs such as ploughing with horses or a tractor.

As time progressed it became obvious that tractors were much more efficient than horses. They became cheaper, more reliable and more readily available. From 1937-1942 there had been an increase in the number of tractors in Britain from 18,950 to 35,059[11]. However, horses could not compete with the work a tractor could achieve. Much more land could be ploughed with a tractor, and as time progressed they were fitted with front loaders for other agricultural tasks, such as mucking out large buildings and loading loose grain . In 1942 the horse still outnumbered its metal counterpart, there being approximately thirty horses to each tractor.[12], but this statistic does not disguise the fact that the working horse had declined since 1921 when there were nearly one million working horses, by 1946 this figure had nearly halved[13]. Horses, even in the Second World War, proved useful for light draught work, and the tractor reserved for cultivation and ploughing[14].

By Jonathan Severs, B.A History, Hons, (York St John).

[8] This was more the case in the Second World War than in 1914-1918, in November 1917 the government was very short of tractors, in November 1917 there were only nine tractors that belonged to the government in Cheshire, also there were twelve borrowed from local farmers, P.E Dewey, British Agriculture in The First World War, p.183.
[9] Interview, Billa Dixon, cited in, The Death of Rural England, A.Howkins, p.28.
[10] P.Dewey, British Agriculture in The First World War, p.131.
[11] B.Short, C.Watkins, J.Martin, p.10.
[12] B.Short, C.Watkins, J.Martin, State-Led Agricultural Revolution, p.10.
[13] M.A.F.F, A Century of Agricultural Statistics, Great Britain 1866-1966, p.61.
[14] J.Martin,The Development of British Agriculture, p.17.

Steam Ploughing

2009-02-06T12:06:00.001Z

This video from You Tube shows how ploughing was done before tractors became popular.

More Tractors

2009-01-30T11:35:00.002Z

A few more tractors and a threshing machine, most of which you can see at the museum. Watch this space, more to follow.
N.B If you didn't know already, Ryedale Folk Museum will be the home of the Harrison Collection, a humungus collection of historical artefacts. Click on this link to go to the Gallery Blog and have a peep
http://www.ryedalefolkmuseum.blogspot.com/ . The museum is currently appealing for donations for this, as we need to extend and build, which does not come cheap. Some of the collection is currently on display in the Gallery, so if you are passing Hutton-Le Hole, please pop in and have a look.

Horse Ploughing

2009-01-30T09:48:00.001Z

This is a short North American film, it must be, they mis-spelt ploughing (plowing!).

It is rather an unusual plough, being that the ploughman is actually sitting on the plough rather than walking behind it.

The Loss Of the Working Horse In Rural England (Part 1)

2009-01-29T12:11:00.004Z

The horse, a sight common on most farms was phased out on most by 1958 when there were less than one hundred thousand working horses left on farms in Great Britain by 1958[1]. The horse, the source of power on most farms was indispensable, even when steam power arrived to power labour saving machines such as the threshing machine. How else could the land be ploughed, harrowed, rolled, sown and the crop harvested? Horses were used in haytime and all other aspects of heavy work. Tractors, the modern replacement for the horse, once unreliable and expensive became cheap and more reliable as time progressed. Manufacturers such as Massey-Ferguson, Ford and David Brown all made cheap tractors that were not just used for pulling trailed implements. The Little Grey Fergie was the first mass produced tractor equipped with a Power Take Off (PTO) used to implements such as power balers and muckspreaders. The Grey Ferguson was also attired with a hydraulic three point linkage and a front loader could also be fitted. More implements were designed by manufacturers such as Ransome, Sims and Jeffries of Ipswich to fit the tractor, and sales naturally increased as the tractor became more popular. Perhaps one of the most influential reasons for the decline of the horse was the rise in demand for food produced in Great Britain during times of conflict. When Britain was under threat from Germany in 1914-1918, and 1939-1945, it was vital to increase the acreage of crops in Britain, particularly cereals. This in turn led to a post-war government policy of increased production of food.

A common misconception is that the tractor was the sole reason for the demise of the working horse on the farm. This is not entirely the case, the loss of arable land in many areas meant there was simply no need for having as many horses on the farm. Ever since the Great Agricultural Depression of the late nineteenth century farmers were reducing the amount of land that went under the plough[2]. From 1879 onwards, times were financially challenging for many farmers[3]. Many chose more extensive farming methods, such as sheep farming or rearing beef cattle, which required much less labour as compared to arable farming. What is surprising in the period from 1870-1910, the number of horses used in agriculture actually increased from 966,000 to 1,000,137[4].

The tractor in 1914 was still in its development. [5]. Steam ploughs with a single or double engine had some success, but the horse was still providing the most power in the field[6]. Tractors became the focus of many farmers because although the horse was still very numerous, horses, like men were necessary for use by the army. Half the steam ploughs were thought to be laid idle in Great Britain due to the lack of both labour and skills required to use them[7]. Prices of agricultural produce increased due to a higher demand, and the farmer was able to consider investing in modern machinery.

By Jonathan Severs, B.A Hons (York St John).

[1] M.A.F.F, A Century of Agricultural Statistics, Great Britain 1866-1966, p.61.
[2] Ibid, the acreage of wheat in Great Britain fell in the period 1866-1938 from 3,350 000 acres to 1,923,000. Barley in the same period also fell from 2,237 000 acres to 984,000, p.34.
[3] J.Brown, Agriculture in England, A Survey of Farming 1870-1947, p.1.
[4] M.A.F.F, p.129.
[5]In 1925 there were only 14, 565 tractors in England and Wales used for field work. The Agricultural Output of England and Wales 1925, cited in P.E Dewey, British Agriculture In The First World War, p.60
[6] P.E Dewey, British Agriculture in The First World War, p.60.
[7] Ibid, p.61.

The Women's Land Army 1939-1945 - An Interview

Horse Power

2008-12-12T10:09:00.001Z

Who said we never get proper winters anymore?

Horses, once the main source of power on farms were mostly replaced by tractors and combine harvesters in the twentieth century. Before snowploughs and gritters came into existence the horse was responsible for clearing the snow-bound roads. the two photographs above were taken in Hutton-Le Hole.

The photographs in this post are from the archive collection at Ryedale Folk Museum. Thery depict some of the tasks that were undertaken by horses such as ploughing, pulling a reaper and potato harvesting. Threshing was mainly done with the aid of a steam engine, but these were gradually phased out with tractors replacing them.

This gentleman is demonstrating how corn was threshed before the advent of a horse drawn reaper.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From Everyone at Ryedale Folk Museum.