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Farming
around Greens Norton
At
the beginning of the 2Oth. C it was mixed farming in this area, horses
provided all the power. Ploughing was carried out in the Autumn and early
Spring, using two horses to pull a single furrow plough. The ploughman,
who was also the Waggoner, took great pride in his work, having fed and
watered his team by 7 am he would then work through until 3 pm, eating
his packed lunch about 12 noon. His first thoughts on returning from the
fields would be for his horses; they would be groomed and fed and made
comfortable for the night. Wheat, oats and barley were drilled in Autumn
and Spring, hoeing and weeding had to be done by hand as there was no
spraying as we know it today. March was lambing time, the shepherd having
sole charge of the flock. On some farms a barn was made available for
the sheep and a special hut for the shepherd so that he could stay with
the sheep until lambing was over. A practice long discontinued was folding
sheep on turnip crops where they fed themselves and manured the ground.
Sheep were also folded on young wheat, the theory being that this grazing
would encourage growth. Sheep also had to be dipped and washed before
shearing, not all farmers had their own facilities, so flocks would be
driven to other farms for this operation. Shearing was done by hand in
May -extra labour was needed for this hard work. Later on a machine was
used, but still turned by hand.
Most farmers owned a few milking cows, the milk mainly for their own consumption,
also for butter and cheese. the remains would go for pig feed. Some would
deliver to village people. ; later when the herds grew, the milk was sent
to the main dairy at Buckingham. Bill Smart was the first farmer to start
bottling milk in the area for delivery. Walt Smart was a local character
who farmed a small holding at Bengal; his wife delivered milk to a few
customers in the village.
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An
extract from the school log dated 18th. March, 1935 stated 'Supply of
school milk commenced this Monday. Mr Francis of Glebe Farm supplied milk
for 50 (I think it was in bulk). 'John Brown came to Greens Norton in
1921 and lived at Home Farm on the village green, he delivered milk in
the village, this duty was carried out later by his daughter Gwen. Harry
Picketts worked for many years for John Brown. Spen Barrett lived at the
Mill and worked the farm for Mr Guinness.
Quite a few farmers kept bullocks to be fattened and sold at Northampton
market. The cattle had to be driven by road, on foot, on a Saturday. After
their sale the farmer would usually purchase some more and these would
have to be driven home, again by road, on foot.
Hay time began later in May, men with scythes would work from first light
to cut a way around the field for the mowing machine to come in later.
When the grass was cut, it was left to dry, turned several times, then
put into small 'haycocks', later to be gathered and carted and stacked
into a rick. When settled this would be thatched, like a cottage. The
men took great pride in this work. Harvesting would follow about August.
A binder, pulled by horses, would cut the corn, a boy sometimes rode the
lead horses to keep it going at a reasonable speed. The corn would leave
the binder in sheaves, these would then be shocked (or stooked) about
eight sheaves to a shock. When dry, these would be carried and made into
a rick. Great care and skill was required to build a corn rick; again
this was thatched awaiting the time for thrashing. Some farmers had their
own machinery for this job, but mostly a Mr Smart of Field Burcote did
it. Mr Albert Wright and Mr Arthur Wilinson travelled the district with
a big thrashing machine and a steam engine. They would travel to their
job and 'set up' one day, ready to begin work the following day. They
always carried their bikes strapped to the box so that at the end of the
day they could cycle home. Both hay time and harvest called for extra
labour which was always obtainable, whereas today, two men are all that
are required.
Around November most farmers would have a pig killed; this would be carried
out by the local butcher on the farm. The meat would then be cut up and
stored in the cellar. The farmer would be hoping that the weather would
not be too mild, as there was no cold storage at that time. Hens were
kept on most farms and these were free range. After harvest the coops
would be taken into the cornfield and the hens would feed on the remaining
grain until ploughing time.
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Up
to the last War the village was a great centre for hunting horses, which
hunted with the Grafton. These horses were owned by Mr Guinness at the
Hall, Major Williams at the Court, Major Lyons at the Butchers Arms and
Mr McDonald at the Manor, also Mrs Barnard at Duncote Hall. Each would
employ a head groom and several stable lads. Well-known local head grooms
Albert Booth were Mr Whiteman, Mr Bond, Mr Roberts and Mr Miles. The season
started in September and lasted until April when the horses would be turned
out to grass. The stable hands were usually dismissed until the following
season; most of them would find work on the farms, the head groom being
kept on.
Public
Houses
There were four Public Houses, the 'Butchers Arms' being the only survivor,
although this is not the original building. For years it was an old stone
building but unfortunately it was burned down and the present premises
were erected to take the place of the old country inn. The three other
pubs were: 'The Gate' -on the corner of Bradden Road, now a private residence:
'The Red Lion' -in a courtyard just off the High Street almost opposite
Hunt's the butchers, now also a private residence: and 'The Robin Hood'
-the off-Licence previously mentioned. Considering the population of Greens
Norton at the time, you can see from this that they were well supplied
with places of refreshment as, of course, most villages were in those
days.
Builders
As there was little or no mechanical transport, there was more local activity
in providing building services. The names of builders that come to mind
are Maycock, Williams, Ratledge and Hefford who employed mainly painters
and carpenters.
Buses
There was no bus service until after the 1914-18 War when Mr Basford,
together with a chap called Hornsby, decided to run a bus, but we made
an old ambulance type of vehicle into a small bus with seating on each
side so that passengers faced one another. We used to refer to it as 'the
hen house'. It was also used to take people to football matches.
Schooling
When starting school at four years old we had to go to the building now
called the Reading Room, where we stayed for one year. There were three
sisters who took it in turns to take the class: Mrs Perry, Mrs Garrett
and Mrs Gamage. When we arrived home from school I remember my mother
would ask who had taught us that day and we could not understand why she
was so amused when told that Mrs Carrott or Mrs Cabbage had taken the
class. Small wonder that four year olds misheard the unfamiliar names
of Garrett and Gamage- On reaching the age of five we transferred to the
Village School and I remember a Miss Syrett took the Infant Class. She
was very nice and was good to us in the classroom. I remember I cried
when she had to leave. My parents could not understand why I cried but
I knew I would miss her kindness. The Headmaster was Mr Phillip, Second
Master was Mr Josh Bannard and another teacher who was the Headmaster's
sister, who left on marrying Mr Groom. We left school when we were thirteen.
There was no time for sport, particularly once gardening time came round,
and we used our spades. But we enjoyed ourselves. Most families had six
or seven children. There were the Mansfields, the Lucases, the Smarts,
the Booths. We needed a lot of food but I cannot remember going short
of anything as most families grew their own vegetables and many kept one
or two pigs. Clothes, I remember, were a problem and most of us had to
wear 'hand-me-downs'.
It was many years before I could afford to buy a bicycle. Even before
I left school I worked to help to pay for my keep. I took a milk round
for Mr Perry for a shilling a week. This meant getting up at seven in
the morning and delivering round the village and right down to the Hall.
A Mr Derrick was butler at that time and Mrs Derrick would give me a piece
of cake most days to help me on my way. The milk was in a large oval bucket
which was very heavy to carry down Old Bengal Lane and up Frog Lane to
the Hall. During the 1914-18 War I would sometimes meet a Mr Ray Freeman
(who was billeted at Towcester) who would carry the bucket for me up Frog
Lane.
In those days the people of the village helped one another in times of
trouble with no asking I well remember that if any allotment holder was
taken ill, word soon went round and before you knew it the allotment was
dug by good neighbours"
Feast
Day
When the fair came to Greens Norton on Feast Day in early September it
was one of the highlights of the year for the children. We used to go
and meet the caravans and amusements as they came along the Turnpike (A5)
from Fosters Booth We would watch the Fair being assembled and then it
would be here for two or three days." It was held in Mrs Garret's
field opposite the school. For several years it was held in my father's
field" Albert Booth) The chief attractions were the horse roundabouts,
swing boats, coconut shies, hoopla and the shooting gallery where the
targets were small white balls continuously moving on jets of water"
There were also donkey rides for children. Towcester band came in on the
Sunday and I remember a bandsman sending me to the 'Robin Hood' for packets
of cigarettes". In those days ten Players cost 3d" and two packets
of Woodbines cost 1.5d" The bandsman told me to tell the lady at
the 'Robin Hood' that he would pay for them that evening and she was quite
trusting and handed over the cigarettes to me"
The
Boy Scouts
An interesting event for the boys of the village was the formation of
a Boy Scouts Group. We were encouraged by Lady Lane and Miss Bairstow
who lived at the lodge of the Mansion" We met in the big room at
the Butcher's Arms once a week and sometimes we were invited to the Mansion
where we were treated very well" Sometimes we camped in the grounds.
The gentry used to employ a lot of labour, including grooms, gardeners
and inside staff" I can recall Mr Guinness, Mrs Barnard and Miss
Watson" A staff ball was organised every year. This was a big event
and they used to treat the village well"
Blacksmiths
Mr Frank Lay was greatly in demand as the village blacksmith" He
lived at 'The Rest' and employed four or five blacksmiths as well as members
of his own family. Another blacksmith was Mr May who also employed one
or two of his lads" They were kept very busy, as at that time there
were numerous farm horses that needed regular shoeing, as well as farm
implements that needed to be maintained in good condition" There
were many big families. About a hundred and twenty people lived in the
houses in Chapel Yard " The houses included the four at the bottom,
of which only two remain" I can recall the Phillips, the Maycocks,
the Tews and the Atkins" They all had families that went into double
figures"
Earnings
of the average worker
Before the First World War wages were very low" My grandparents were
married on two shillings a week, my grandfather being a farm labourer.
There was little other employment and two shillings was the average wage"
Tradesmen had to be very good at their work to be in demand and perhaps
earn as much as one pound per week"
Local
Employment
Employment was mostly on farms" It was hard work" As readers
will know, at that time there was no mechanisation" Mr Turner at
the Park had ten maybe a dozen labourers in his employ." Mr Whitton
at Caswell also employed about a dozen men" There were two big farms
further up at Blackridge and all the farmers round about employed three
or four men"
The
Local Brickyard
The brickyard on land between Kingthorn Mill and Bengal Manor was owned
by Mr Williams, the builder" Spen Barrett and his father worked there
for a number of years. At times, if there was a shortage of building work,
they would be helped by some of Mr William's employees" It was interesting
for us lads to visit the brickyard at night when they made fires to burn
the clay. It was very hard work getting the clay out of the pits because
it all had to be dug by hand, put into a barrow, wheeled for about a hundred
yards and tipped into a big hopper which revolved by means of a pony walking
round and round. This churned and mixed the clay to make it ready for
use. Then a wire was used to cut through the clay to remove any stones.
There was a lot to do and it was hard work making bricks, tiles, and pipes.
It was a regular source of interest for us to go and watch them working.
The hollows in the fields can still be seen today.
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My
first job
My first job on leaving school at the age of thirteen was with King's
the Grocers at what is now No. 26 High Street. There was a wooden hut
where we kept a pole-van and the two horses to draw it.
On Monday we went to Bradden, Blakesley, Wood End, finishing up at Maidford
and Adstone, then back to the village.
On Tuesday we went to Litchborough, Farthingstone, Little Preston and
Preston Capes.
On Wednesday -Duncote, Fosters Booth, Grimscote, back across the Turnpike
(A5) to Pattishall, Tiffield and Caldicote, then along the Turnpike home.
Thursday was a half day, the remainder of the time being used for general
clearing up.
On Friday we went to Towcester, Pury, Pury End, back across the Turnpike
to Alderton, Grafton Regis, Yardley Gobion and back down the Turnpike.
In the winter when we got to Cuttle Mill we used to walk up there to keep
warm as we had no protection over the front of the van. After knocking
at doors, we always greeted the customer with the same list. I must have
picked it up from the others who worked on the round .-
Tea,
coffee, cocoa, Sago or tapioca,
Currents or raisins,
Soap, soda, talcum and blue, Case they take over
Jams and marmalade too.
Try
our home-brewed beer
1/6d., 1/8d., and 2/- for four quart bottles.
It
warms the heart without inflating the brain.
We
had quite a long working day, usually not finishing until about 7 pm.
On Saturdays we would go to Towcester and Abthorpe, then back to the store
to fill up ready to go round the village. We would have tea and then,
starting at Bengal, would be just about finished as customers turned out
of the 'Butchers Arms' at 10 pm. We sold a lot of goods in the village
in spite of the fact that there were two shops and the Newmans and Withers
came in from Towcester with their vans. However, King's always held their
own and sold an enormous quantity of goods.
They gave good value for money.
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Village
Shops
Butchers
I believe there were two butchers in Greens Norton. Mr Hornsby (where
the present butcher's shop is now) and Mr Perry whose premises were opposite
Mr Peter Williams, the coal merchant, (where Mrs Dove now lives). Mr Perry
had a slaughter yard where he killed a lot of beasts for villagers as
well as for other butchers. I know he also sold meat because we bought
from him at the time we lived opposite. The premises incorporated a pub
called 'The Robin Hood' which was an off-licence only, meaning that drinks
could not be consumed on the premises. In good weather customers could
sometimes be seen drinking in the garden.
Grocers
There were two grocery shops in the village. The Store and Post Office premises were owned by a Mr Famham and the other store by a Mr Eales. As well as the shops serving
the village it was surprising the number of trades people who came into
the village in those days. As mentioned previously, I can remember two
grocers' vans, also coal merchants and chimney sweeps coming in from Towcester.
Transport
Road and Rail
Around 1905 Thomas Swann, with the help of his daughter Lottie, ran a
carrier service from the village to the Market Square, Northampton. Very
often Lottie would have to walk as far as Tiffield before there was a
seat on the cart. Thomas's son, Harry, owned and ran the first recorded
bus. Later, Harry Swann and Walter Lawrence (late of Wappenham) drove
buses for Whitlock of Towcester. Walter Lawrence started his own bus service
from Wappenham to Northampton (Wednesday and Saturday) and from Wappenham
to Banbury on Thursdays. Lottie Swann was conductress for him; she walked
from the village to Abthorpe crossroads to catch the 9.30am bus to Northampton.
She still acted as carrier for the village, taking shopping lists for
villagers, morning and afternoon, and delivering the goods to the door
at the end of the day. Later on, Arthur Basford was to carry on with the
local bus service. His first vehicle was a 1914-18 war ambulance, which
was converted to a bus by Mr Booth, the late father of Mr Albert Booth.
On many occasions the passengers would have to walk up Church Hill before
joining the coach. The Basford family at this time lived in School Lane
(opposite the Post Office), site now of lock-up garages. Repairs were
carried out here and on the Green, which at that time was owned by Mr
Basford, but later donated to the village when he moved to 'The Rest'.
It was about this time that more buses were purchased. Later, the Basford
family moved to 'The Dingle', the site from which the coach company operates
today. Local lads were employed as drivers, among them Jack Rogers, 'Trimmer'
May, George Wilkins, and Joe Thorneycroft; also later, Bob and John Basford,
who were to carry on their father's business. In 1952 Basford's coaches
were some of the first in the area to run to France. The nearest railway
station was situated in Towcester. This was used regularly for journeys
to Bedford, Banbury, Stratford-on-Avon. Many of these journeys were excursions
organised by Mr. J. Cox. It was also very handy as a goods depot for a
rural district, packages being delivered by horse and cart to local villages,
later by lorry. Local coal merchants also had their coal delivered there.
The branch line from Norton junction to Banbury closed in 1959; the entire
line closed in 1964.
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