The Farm and Cornish Mining Heritage Link

The original Old Farm Heritage was organically based, which incorporated traditional farming methods going back to the early days of the Norfolk four course rotation of roots, barley, seeds and wheat. This was manured in Cornwall by seaweed from around our coast, with much evidence, still visible of cart tracks leading from fresh rocks and long lanes to various fields.

Until the late 19th century the horse or oxen were the only power available to assist man in his cultivations and the fore- runners of modern machinery, which were fashioned originally in blacksmith's forges and some, over the years, became equipment and machinery fabricators, growing into extremly large corporations. Their ingenious designs still have some uses today, eg, the string knotting mechanism on the old binder, still functions today on modern bailers. In the very early 19th Century, the old "cock up" plough was so called because, when in action, had one mould board up in the air ready for the return furrow of a reversible plough Today nearly all modern ploughs are reversible.

As a matter of interest the current expression of "it's a cock up", comes from the old time farmers, of that era, shaking their heads and saying 'these modern inventions only make a mess of the job' and the name became synonymous with anything badly done. Needless to say the old reversible plough usually made a very good job!!

The method of ploughing, leaving 'Ridge & Furrow' of early times, only went out of fashion since the last war, with the advent of the Cock Up reversable plough and was complete in the late '40's. It was said to be better for drainage, but in practice the difference was barely noticeable.

Regarding the links to Cornish Mining, some of the lifting gear and power transmission from horses, was adapted for farming e.g. the Haypole (which became the Maypole) for lifting large bundles of Hay or straw onto a stack in the corner of a field, or wagon for transport to a stack yard in the homestead. Horse milling engines for chopping, rolling or grinding were developed from equipment previously used in the Cornish mining industry.

The seed bed preparation after ploughing is still much the same but bigger machines and remarkably little ground pressure leaving a very good tilth.

The old mechanical potato lifter also became an essential machine during the war, being developed from the early horse drawn model.

The Harvesting methods have developed from the sickle and scythe method to the 'reaper' (without a knotter) up to late 19th century, then the 'Self Binder' with knotter late 19th & early 20th century to 'Combined Harvester' in the mid 20th century.

In a different vein, members of our group have several annual wagon/carriage ride outings and also supply facilities for weddings, parties, funerals etc., as in ‘days of yore’