TALK BY TIM WINTER:   RURAL LIFE AT THE START OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Tim Winter collects old photographs and, using these, gave an interesting account on 16 May of 'Rural Life at the Start of the 20th Century'. His earliest images were from 'carte de visite', a 19th century forerunner of postcards. 

An indication of how labour intensive farm work  was in those days was illustrated by a picture of 45 men in a single field cutting grass with sythes and raking. Another scene showed a single farrow plough about 9 inches wide pulled by two horses and this involved walking 11 miles for a one acre field: the ploughman also had to go to and from his home so must have been very tired. The wages in Edwardian times were only 14 to15 shillings per week.

We were shown mangoes being loaded into a cart by hand and corn stooks being thrown on to a trailer using pitchforks. Other unusual photographs showed four Sussex oxen pulling a cart: this was very common in World War I when horses were being supplied to the Western Front in large members and some old Sussex bearded collies, now rarely seen. 

Wool was a very important product and we were shown the clipping by hand of sheep in 1902, a very busy sheep market in Somerset and the carding and spinning of wool in the Isle of Harris to make Harris Tweed. 

He showed water divining using a hazel branch to find water sources. Also hand operated water pumps , a donkey pulling a water cart in Titchfield, one delivering milk in Whitby and another was used to crush apples for cider making. 

Other amusing photographs were of gull eggs being collected from cliffs and ,rather gruesome, 66 dead rats shot in a single lifestyle.

Tim reminded us of times gone bye in a pleasant and amusing manner.

Our Plant Sale, in the Village Hall car park,  raised over £200 for club funds.       Robert 'Greenfingers'  Walker