Chrishall Village History

The life and times of a North Essex Village
Plough Team 1917

Plough Team 1917

Mar 25, 2016 | At Work, Village Folk

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:...
Drage & Kent’s “Gyro Tiller”

Drage & Kent’s “Gyro Tiller”

Aug 7, 2015 | At Work

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...

Traction Engines: Arthur Cane

Aug 7, 2015 | At Work

These photos were taken on the 1st May 1928. Arthur Cane (born 1904?) worked for Drage & Kent of Chrishall working with the steam plough teams. Two engines, one at each end of the field would pull the plough by a cable turned by an horizontal cable drum under the...