Reference
Z1850/1/6
Title
Farm diary relating to Manor Farm Studham. Handwriting changes, but believed to have been written mainly by Anne McClelland, possibly with other entries by Thomas, Robert and Mary McCelland.
[Note: writer refers to husband as 'father']
Date free text
1954
Production date
From: 1954 To: 1954
Scope and Content
Daily entries include observations on the weather and jobs undertaken on the farm (muck spreading, taking out dung, ploughing, thrashing, grinding oats, barley & wheat, spreading phosphates, planting mangel wurzels and potatoes, hedging, harrowing, drilling, rolling, fencing, cutting hay, harvesting, agricultural machinery repairs). Gallons of milk sometimes noted. Social events, visits and visitors, illnesses of family, employees and friends. Trips to London, Luton, Bedford, Hemel Hempstead and other places for shopping, banking, eye tests, theatre and other events.
Also includes:
1 Jan: Usual party at night, Stewarts, Clows, Cell Park and family. Late night.
5 Jan: Result of T.T. tests - 2 re-tests needed.
18 Jan: Father away to Birmingham for football.
27 Jan: Frozen pipes; Milking machine pipes frozen. Plumber here all day - didn't do much good.
30 Jan Maisie's wedding. Good show but weather awful. [Marriage of Maisie Gladman and George A Hanna].
1 Feb: Coldest night so far. All pipes frozen.
2 Feb: Pipes from water tank burst. Terrible day.
18 Feb: J Hillier here in morning to do books.
19 Feb: Father went to see small farm at Tring with Uncle Fred.
3 Mar: A lot of snow and drifting.
8 Mar: Tractor stuck in mud behind cottage.
23 Mar: Bobby took 2 sows to boar.
24 Mar: Speirs party at night, home 1.30am.
30 Mar: Father in bed with sore back.
4 Apr: Carole [Gladman] christened. [Daughter of Claude and Mary, nee McClelland]
10 Apr: 4 cows to Northampton. Disappointing trade.
20 Apr: Swallows here.
23 Apr: Father and Bobby away to look over farm at Beaconsfield.
2 May: Mr Davies of Kensworth bought 2 cows.
3 May: Men treated animals for ringworm and warbles.
5 May: 22 animals to Cell Park and 2 cows to Davies.
8 May: Stewart, Father & Bobby went to see farm near Northampton.
18 May; Heifers went to Wilcock.
20 May: Hertfordshire Show at Tring.
27 May: Sold 2 cows at Hertford market for 47 and 50 guineas.
1 Jun: Fixed electric fence for calves.
6 Jul: Bobby & Kenneth went to see new baler and to see farm at Woburn.
7 Jul: Father, Kenneth, Bobby and Richard to Royal Show.
9 Jul: Men went to Woburn to see agent about farm.
10 Jul: Had to go to hospital with cut on head.
16 Jul: Bedford Show.
21 Jul: All hay now cut. At wedding in Markyate.
13 Aug: Father and Bobby went to Woburn for pullets. Went to see farm at Kempston in evening.
15 Aug: Iain [McClelland] christened [Son of Robert and Julie, nee Osborne].
19 Aug: Put some rubble in holes in road.
21 Aug: Father and Clow at football - first of season.
17 Sep: 'Old Dairy Maid' very bad with milk fever - vet visited 3 times.
24 Sep: Father and Bobby went to see farm at Wycombe (hopeless).
25 Sep: Milking very busy with so many heifers calving.
30 Sep: Mr Wilson bought 4 heifers £70 each.
4 Oct: Father at Ayreshire sale at Harpenden.
14 Oct: Lifting potatoes all day. Women helping.
15 Oct: Bobby & Co. at stock car racing at night.
16 Oct: Oliver brough new tractor and took away old one.
20 Oct: Vet came t inniculate against husk.
27 Oct: Father and Bobby a dairy and motor shows.
30 Nov: Uncle Alex died.
1 Dec: Went to Hemel and ot Father a coat for funeral.
2 Dec: Father went to Scotland [returned 5 Dec].
7 Dec: Bobby at Smithfield.
16 Dec: Father and Bobby went for interview at Munden House [Watford]. Phoned later to say Bobby had got the farm.
17 Dec: Bobby and Father at bank for interview about finance.
30 Dec: Oldest tractor broke down: Luton Motor Co. men came to repair clutch. Bobby and Father went to bank fir settlement about Munden.
Level of description
item