On the evening of the 15th of June 1904 a steam engine team from Pamplin Brother’s Engineers, Cherry Hinton, was ploughing a field at Catley Park, Great Chesterford.
The Chrishall connection to the Linton Explosion
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Farms and farming
Traction Engines: George Swann
George Swann was another of the Drage & Kent drivers. While he didn't live in Chrishall he worked with many of the men who did of course. Summer 1928 - George Swann driver, aged about 16 These photographs are kindly reproduced with the permission of Clive Flack...
Ploughing, Drage and Kent 1950
Three more photographs of Drage and Kent engines in work. The largest photo below was taken in 1950 and the gentleman standing on the left is Charles Cranwell who can also be seen on the 1917 photograph here where you can also see an excellent film showing how this...
Plough Team 1917
A plough team from Chrishall in approximately 1917. This might have been one of the last jobs this set of engines did with Drage and Kent as these engines were known to have been sold during 1917. They are: (Lionel) Stanley Clarke on the engine. Then left to right:...
Chiswick Hall Farm Records 1945
I wonder if the owner of Chiswick Hall in 1945 realised how far his new Farm Record Book would travel in it's lifetime? To be honest he was probably much more concerned about how he (or she?) was going to fill it in and exactly what they were going to grow where in...
Reapers
Chrishall Reapers: Amos Pitches, Walter Webb, Timothy Harvey, Charlie Banks, Alfred Walters, Billy Barnes, Albert Reed, Fred Reed. This team was swanging charlock. To 'swange' (pronounced swonj) was to cut off the flowers of the weed before they seeded. The tools...
Haymakers with hoops
The Haymakers. The willow hoops on the end of the scythes helped to control how the hay fell once cut. From left to right: William Revell Amos Pitches William Cranwell Albert Drury Leonard Flack Herbert Flack...
Working the fields the old way
Looking towards New Farm, Chrishall from Chiswick Hall, these men are hoeing out the weeds. Two individuals appear to be left handed. Notice the lack of trees and hedging along the main road which means you can see New Farm very clearly.
Haymakers
Workmen pictured at Reservoir Hall Lane, Great Chishill c 1935. Tim Harvey is in the front row with the pipe and back row left to right are Ron Reed & Chummy Harvey. Karen Rogers of South Wales writes (July 2010): "I'm descended from Thomas Rogers and Phoebe Reed....
Drage & Kent’s “Gyro Tiller”
This incredible beast of a machine was also known as a Diesel Rotary Plough and was made by Fowler of Leeds, who were better known for the manufacture of steam locomotives and traction engines. It was a real monster and was used for breaking up the heavy clay Essex...
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