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Archiver > NORTHUMBRIA > 1999-10 > 0938819210


From: Brian Pears <>
Subject: Re: [NMB] Farmer of 51 Acres
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 00:06:50 +0100


>What was the general nature of farming in these times? Was it the story-book
>variety with the farmer milking the cows and raking up the haystacks, while
>his wife baked bread and apple pies in the kitchen and threw wheat to the hens
>at the back door? I get the impression that, with 51 acres of land, there
>might have been more to farming than this, at least on this particular farm.

Ruth

A "farmer of 51 acres" could be a tenant or an owner. 51 acres
is a small farm; 80-150 acres was typical with some very much
larger.

Farming varied greatly with the terrain - and even in Rothbury
Parish itself there was a tremendous variety. Arable farming
(mostly corn) on the rich soils near the river, and sheep with
a few cows on the higher ground.

Farming has never been anything like the story-books portray.
It was (and is) a very tough way to earn a living. Mechanisation
didn't really make things easier for the individual, it simply
meant that fewer people did the work. A farm near my childhood
home had 12-15 Ag Labs living in cottages on the farm as
recently as 1900 - now one guy in his 70s does all the work!

Cheers, Brian
--
Brian Pears Home page: http://www.swinhope.demon.co.uk/
Gateshead, UK Fax: 0870 1600865 (Charged at National Rate)

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