Reference
Z1850/1/23
Title
Farm diary relating to Manor Farm Studham. Believed to have been written mainly by Mary Gladman [nee McClelland]
Date free text
1971
Production date
From: 1971 To: 1971
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, illnesses of family, employees and friends, marriages and funerals.
- Visits to local towns for shopping, banking, and other events.
At the beginning of the year, the worker on the farm is George Smith. Also references to B.C. [Bernard Cooper?] and occasionally Eddie. Entires mention B.C. having days at college.
Also includes:
2 Jan: Alasdair on Sunday School outing to pantomime in Hemel Hempstead.
4 Jan: Vet here early Cow died.
18 Jan: Went to Hemel Hempstead to see Jimmy Shand.
20 Jan: Postal and telephone strike.
26 Jan: NFU ladies night.
27 Jan: Went to Dunstable to see new Maxi car.
1 Feb: New Austin Maxi came fro Dunstable Motor Company.
5 Feb: NFU D/D at Halfway House [dinner/dance?]
13 Feb: Claude and Alasdair at football.
14 Feb: Change to decimal currency.
17 Feb: Frank Rose died.
24 Feb: Frank Rose funeral.
8 Mar: County vet doing blood test.
15 Mar: Went to London to Ideal Homes exhibition.
28 Mar: Cows on grass.
30 Mar: 'Thames TV camera here with Mr Senior [vet].'
4 Apr: Ken, Alice and family arrived at Common Road [Alice Sargison, sister of writer].
Note above 8 Apr: Alice and family left for London.
17 Apr: Alasdair at London with Methodists at rally.
9 May: Went to Spalding to see tulips.
21 May: T.T. test on cows and calves.
25 May: Ministry punched beef.
27 May: Going on holiday [handwriting changes to that believed to be Anne McClelland].
28 May: Bernard had accident with trailer and broke chassis on one and puncture on other.
6 Jun: returned from holiday.
7 Jun: B.C. college exams.
Note after 19 Jun: Wettest week for years. No hay work started; goound very soft and wet.
20 Jun: Chapel Anniversary.
27 Jun: Aunt Emma 92nd birthday.
3 Jul: Gary Ward started work.
6 Jul: Claude and writer at Royal Show.
Note after 17 Jul: George off since Wednesday - sore knee from dropped bale.
29 Jul: George at court.
31 Jul: Barbecue at Clows.
1 Aug: Alice, Ken and family flew to Majorca [sister Alice Sargison].
8 Aug: Claude and Alasdair fishing.
13 Aug; Cows got in to Horton's corn.
7 Sep: Finished all combining.
11 Sep: Fetes at Studham and Kensworth.
16 Sep: Claude at Thame Show.
18 Sep: Went to Bedford market.
26 Sep: Chapel harvest festival.
18 Oct: Very heavy rain. Everywhere flooded.
29 Oct: Alice and family at Common Road [sister, Alice Sargison and family staying with mother Anne McCelland].
31 Oct: Alice and family went home.
13 Nov: Chapel sale. Claude at Redbourn pliughing match.
18 Nov: Carole passed driving test.
23 Nov: Good fall of snow.
25 Dec: Milkman here at 7.30. Mother here. Quiet day. Alasdair got radio and Carole vanity case and bag.
Level of description
item