Reference
Z1850/1/1
Title
Farm diary of Robert McCelland, who farmed land at Manor Farm Studham.
Date free text
1 Jan - 29 Jun 1949
Production date
From: 1949 To: 1949
Scope and Content
Daily entries include observations on the weather, jobs undertaken on the farm (muck spreading, taking out dung, ploughing, thrashing, grinding oats, barley & wheat, spreading phosphates, planting mangel wurzels and potatoes, hedging, work on cow shed, harrowing, drilling, rolling, fencing, cutting hay) issues with farm machinery, Young Farmers Club meetings, social events, visitors.
Includes the following:
1 Jan: Mr & Mrs McKenzie here - he had his bagpipes.
5 Jan: at Luton - looked at some television radio sets and got one.
6 Jan: Father had his eye injured by cows horn.
8 Jan: Television aerial put up, set working by afternoon.
13 Jan: 2 land girls and Norman extra.
25 Jan: Burns supper in Bedford.
7 Feb: Father at Luton market.
18 Feb: Bent beam of plough - had it repaired at Dagnall.
20 Feb; Dug Scotty out of rabbit hole after 8 days interment.
23 Feb: Visit to Royston manure factory with Young Farmers Club.
4 Mar: Snow all day. St. Albans Caledonian dance.
9 Mar: Visit from man for Ford Motor Co. - 2 small Fordsons and cash adjustment for Fordson Major.
Note: Agricultural wages up to 4s per week.
14 Mar: Filled up new cowshed with cows.
15 Mar: M. Hastings implement sale at Nuneham Courtenay near Oxford.. Scots farmers dance.
22 Mar: Mother & Mary in London.
25 Mar: Berkhamstead Young Farmers Club dance.
28 Mar: 3 bull calves to Luton.
7 Apr: Hail showers.
11 Apr: Nan Blair's 21st birthday party at Luton Town Hall.
Memo 17 Mar: Warmest Easter on record; 84 degres registered on thermometer at Kensington Palace; previous highest 81.5 degrees at Greenwich in 1865.
27 Apr: Went to Buntingford to see Hodges Friesans [cattle].
30 Apr: Went roller skating
2 May: Rosemary Read's 21st birthday dance.
10 May: Sheena had 10 pups, 2 dead.
11 May: Drowned 2 of Sheena's pups.
20 May: Jock gave in his notice.
21 May: Hertfordshire Young Farmers Rally at Baldock.
31 May: 10 Letters in response to advertisement in Farmers Weekly.
4 Jun: Bedfordshire Young Farmers Rally at Leighton Buzzard.
10 Jun: J Martin started work.
16 Jun: Ascot races. 'Had rather a bad day'.
25 Jun: Studham Fete; ball and dance at night.
Memo: J Leslie has embarkation leave - goes to Germany 7 July.
Level of description
item