The Welney Website Archives

Farming in Welney

George "Turkey" Smart's steam powered threshing engine, circa 1915

On ground, l to r, Tom Carter, Jarman Smart, "Turkey" Smart, George Cutting, Bob Gordon, Fred and Jim Carter.  Above, Ike See at wheel, Herbert Smart, anon and "Doddy" Rudland (engine driver).

Steam traction engines like this were built from the 1850s up to about 1937 by many companies including Gibbons & Robinson, Fowlers of Leeds, Foden, Aveling & Porter, Ruston Proctor, Robey & Co, Chas.Burrell of Thetford, Garrett, Ransomes Sims & Jeffries of Ipswich, Ruston & Hornsby, and Wm. Allchin. This one powered threshing machines (see below). Others had a drum winch fitted underneath and were used in pairs as ploughing engines.

photos & names courtesy of Miss Amy Markham, OBE and Mr Tony Smart. Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

built by Marshall, Sons & Co. Ltd of Gainsborough, Lincs

These machines were driven by a leather belt from an engine such as the one above, or by a tractor, as here. It needed a team of eight men to operate it, and more to look after the power source. The sheaves, which would have been stacked for several months to dry out, were pitch-forked up to the top of the machine and fed into the threshing drum. The grain poured into sacks which held 2 cwt (220lb or 100kg) and the much lighter chaff was collected separately. The straw passed out of the front of the machine on a series of mechanical ratchets called 'straw-walkers' and built into stacks.

Note the metal wheels on both tractor and thresher. Probably mid 1930s (?)

    photo from the MAP 2000 Welney Archives CD.    Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

with Len & Keith Markham

The tractor here is a Fordson model N, produced between 1939 and 1945. In 1940 the rear mudguards were changed to the shape in the photo below, so this is an early version. I think it would have been a bright orange colour all over with the 'Fordson' names at the top and sides of the radiator in black.

It had a 28 hp engine and two fuel tanks. It was started using petrol, and when warm was switched over to a  cheaper fuel known as "TVO" - tractor vaporising oil, a type of paraffin or kerosene.

Here it is towing a machine that cut the corn and bound it into bundles called 'sheaves'. 

photo courtesy of Miss Amy Markham, OBE. Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

Trevor Loveday on tractor, with various Markham children by the reaper (Keith on top)

This tractor was a model E27N introduced in 1945 and was the first Fordson "Major". It had a dark blue engine, chassis and bodywork and dark orange wheels. The 'Fordson' names at top and sides of radiator were also orange.

The engine and gearbox were the same as the earlier model N.

The Webmaster has fond memories of the Fordson Major. He learned to drive on one while on holiday from London aged 12 on his uncle's smallholding in Crowland, Lincs. He drove one every Easter and harvest time for the following 10 years.

photo courtesy of Miss Amy Markham, OBE.   Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

The cutting and binding mechanisms on some reaper-binders were powered via a drive shaft from the tractor's rear PTO (power take off) to the reaper gearbox. Others were chain driven from a large wheel under the reaper.  If you know, please e-mail the webmaster. Later note: Michael O'Neill e-mailed. He has a Hornsby reaper and binder, c1940, chain driven from a ground wheel, and the one in this photo seems to be the same type.)

 The sheaves in the foreground would later have to be picked up and stood upright in small groups known as 'stooks' to dry out before being carted off to the stack yard, or rickyard.

Many of these tractors would have had another PTO in the form of a drum on the right side of the gearbox used to drive threshing machines via a long leather belt, but this tractor does not appear to have one.

          photo courtesy of Miss Amy Markham, OBE.     Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

2 wheeled carts were drawn by a single horse, and 4 wheeled wagons (like the one behind the front cart) would usually need a pair.

Carts were often ornately decorated and sign written with owner and makers names, and each county in England seems to have had its own standard of sizes and dimensions.

 I don't know if the same applied to wheelbarrows!

           photo courtesy of Miss Amy Markham,OBE.                 Text © Welney Webmaster 2006

The MAP booklet says this was taken at Lakes End in 1994.

It looks a pretty hopeless task.

 Does anyone know any details?

please e-mail the webmaster.

photo from the MAP 2000 Welney Archives CD

The "beet eater" lifting Ken Goodger's crop in front of White Hall Farmhouse in October.

photos courtesy Peter Cox

if you can add or correct anything, please e-mail the webmaster