Reference
Z1850/1/17
Title
Farm diary relating to Manor Farm Studham. Believed to have been written mainly by Anne McClelland, but some entries in other handwriting when writer on holiday.
[Note: writer refers to husband as 'father']
Date free text
1965
Production date
From: 1965 To: 1965
Scope and Content
Daily entries include observations on the weather and jobs undertaken at Manor Farm:
- Usual jobs on the farm such as ploughing, harrowing, drilling, weeding, fertilising, planting mangolds and potatoes, fencing, cutting hay, harvesting, baling, etc.
- Cattle: calving, milking, feeding, when out in fields, vet visits for T.T. tests and emergencies, taking cows to market (ususally at St. Albans on a Wednesday).
- Agricultural machinery; purchase and repairs, using Olivers Agricultural Machinery.
- Family and social events such as visits from family and friends; grandchildren staying over, illnesses of family, employees and friends, marriages and funerals.
- Visits to local towns for shopping, banking, and other events.
Also includes:
2 Jan: Michael 'finished up' [Left employment].
Note above 3 Jan: Gavin started work Monday.
5 Jan: Some calves had colds; Mr Senior here to inject them.
11 Jan: Claude's father much worse; died at night [Henry T Gladman]
16 Jan: Mr Gladman's funeral.
22 Jan: Sid Tarsey's funeral.
Note: Mr Churchill died 24 Jan [Winston Churchill].
30 Jan: Watched Churchill's funeral on television.
8 Feb: Vac Sweep did two chimneys.
12 Feb: T.T. testing.
25 Feb: Gavin off for Mother's funeral in London.
4 Mar: snowing hard; worst day this winter.
10 Mar: Men here to demolish old shed.
29 Mar: Hottest March day ever recorded.
31 Mar: Claude now has flu, Andy better, others very poorly.
1 Apr: Doctor here and coming again.
6 Apr: Men cleared up dung from yard; a big job as it had not been done for a week.
9 Apr: Tylers men dug holes fo rnew shed.
20 Apr: Men here to finish shed frame.
27 Apr: Tylers men came to roof new shed.
29 Apr: Men put up electric fence to let cows out.
1 May: Claude and Mary at Mrs [Annie] Bateman's funeral.
6 May: Change in handwriting; writer to Oswestry {returned 13 May].
20 May: Hertfordshire Show - a good day, but tiring.
22 May: Church fete in playing field.
14 Jun: Started to cut hay.
Note above 24 Jun: Father has pleurisy and doctor here.
Note above 8 Jul: Concrete floor put in new shed.
17 Jul: Father had heart attack - got better as injection took effect, Doctor here twice.
23 Jul: Father up in afternoon.
Note above 29 Jul: Last lot of hay not fit to bale [due to wet weather] and must be raked off field.
15 Aug: Went to chapel at night - last service in old building [The new building was dedicated on 12 March 1966].
Note after 28 Aug: Hopes of starting harvesting dashed by heavy rain.
5 Sep: Went to Oswestry [change of handwriting].
16 Sep: Returned from Oswestry.
Note after 25 Sep: Another dead cow on Tuesday - had twist in bowel. Also cow down with milk fever.
26 Sep: Harvest festival - went to afternoon service.
30 Sep: Took wheat to Cell Park to dry.
5 Oct: Finished combining.
Note after 9 Oct: Harold Tarsey died.
13 Oct: Harold Tarsey's funeral.
14 Oct: Father and Mary at sale at Hoddesdon and got pony for Carole.
31 Oct: Gavin left after milking.
1 Nov: James Malone arrived.
Note after 6 Nov: Robert Haines engaged to start work. James Malone here . Poor show.
8 Nov: J Malone left. New man arrived.
Note after 13 Nov: Dench's men here all week putting new guttering on house.
19 Dec: Went to Sunday School play in village hall.
25 Dec: Went to Mary's for dinner.
Level of description
item