Reference
Z1850/1/18
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
1966
Production date
From: 1966 To: 1966
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:
Note above 2 Jan: Bob [Robert Haines] gave notice.
Note above 6 Jan: Increase in men's wages.
Note below 8 Jan: Bobby & Sheila here on Saturday as Iain going to boarding shcool.
15 Jan: R Haines left. Not really sorry.
16 Jan: Very snowy. David Mann arrived.
19 Jan: Busy feeding cattle and thawing water.
5 Feb: House very damp with condensation.
7 Jan: Claude at doctor - has ringworm.
Note after 26 Feb: It has rained all week and all outside work at a standstill.
2 Mar: Got new television.
8 Mar: T.T. testing.
10 Mar: Carole's pony not well - vet called.
11 Mar: Pony better. T.T. test showed some reactors and some re-tests needed.
24 Mar: Finished drilling, Snow showers.
31 Mar: Paddy died in early morning [Patrick Millea of Church Street, Studham]. Went to vote in afternoon.
2 Apr: Paddy's funeral at Dunstable.
Note after 15 Apr: Very miserable week - snow and biterly cold. No outside work; fields very wet.
Note before 24 Apr: George started work.
Note above 12 May: T.T. animals re-tested and all OK.
19 May: Hertfordshire Show.
28 May: Claude, Mary and family left for holiday at Butlins [returned 4 June]
9 Jun: Started to cut hay.
11 Jun: Worst thunder storm for years.
23 Jun: David off for driving test - didn't pass.
4 Jul: All hay now baled.
6 Jul: Claude, Mary and family at Royal Show.
Note above 10 Jul: Ann Clow's wedding [to David Juggins]
19 Jul: J Hillier here about transfer of farm.
28 Jul: Tarsey's lorry took Mary's furniture down and ours up [Thomas and Anne moved from the farm house to 21 Common Road].
From this date, the hand writing in the diary changes - believed to be to that of Mary Gladman]
29 Jul: Daddy & Mother slept at No. 21.
30 Jul: England won the World Cup.
Note under 6 Aug: This was our first week at Manor Farm.
15 Aug: David passed driving test.
18 Aug: Paul started work.
22 Aug: Viv Dawson died.
25 Aug: Boy didn't come [Paul?] John McClelland died.
30 Aug: V Dawson funeral.
1 Sep: J McCelland funeral.
2 Sep: Sacked Paul.
10 Sep: Carole at Little Gaddesden gymkhana.
17 Sep: Finished combining.
21 Sep: Finished baling.
2 Oct: Chapel harvest festival.
8 Oct: David left.
29 Oct: Danish student came for interview [Oluf].
30 Oct: Bobby here to meet J Hillier to sign partnership.
14 Nov: Peter started work.
6 Dec: Claude to Smithfield.
18 Dec: Chapel nativity play.
20 Dec: Oluf to Foreign Office.
25 Dec: Went to Common Road [parents] for dinner and tea.
Level of description
item