English Rural Life Collection (page 9)

Beating out a crop fire A TopFoto
Beating out a crop fire eTopFoto

Only the head of a man can be seen over the tall wheat stems. 1937

Farm labourers having a meal break - horses enjoying a food break too TopFoto

Boy gardener. 1935

A Gyrotiller at work in a field in Staplehurst, Kent. 1937

A team of four houses ploughing a large field in Kent. 1935

Lambs on a field in Eynsford, Kent. 1936

Fruit tour. National Farmers Union (England and Wales). 1935

Bagging potatoes in cold winter snow. 1947

A bull. 1935

Fruit trees, grafted. 1935

Market personalities. 1936

Hop pickers dispensary at Faversham, Kent. 1935

Laying pipe lines for spraying fruit trees at Farningham, Kent. 1938

Mr J Amos showing people around at the East Malling Research Station open day in Kent. 1938

A spraying machine on a field in Swanley, Kent. 1939

Mr G Lamb of Hextable shows off his banana plants. 1 March 1936

Farm worker using a flail. 1935

A man is stickybanding a fruit tree to prevent insects from crawling up it. 1939

Glass houses at the Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent. 1935

Hop wiring on stilts - January 1947 A TopFoto
Hop wiring on stilts - January 1947 eTopFoto

A women stands looking out at Preston hill farm estate. 3 February 1938

Meat and bone for lettuce on Jacksons farm near Ruxley, Kent. 18th July 1947

A farmer sows oats and harrows a field with teams of horses. 1938

Sheep grazing in front of some oast houses. 1936

Thatching rick. 1935

Hop pickers at London Bridge station going to Kent. 1933

A man looks out over the growing potatoes. 1937

Demonstrating bee keeping, the Reverend D L Bryce. 1935

Stranded cattle retreat to the higher grounds to avoid the flooded fields in the Darenth Valley. 1936

Young apple trees with lots of fruit. 1935

Cold storage plant. The sealing room. 1937

A Swan and a cygnet on the River Darent. 1938

A farmer points out an electric switch on the beams in the old forge. 1935

The horse - drawn mash cart making its way to the pig styes at Tripes Farm at Orpington, Kent. 1936

A farmer and his horse team plough a field in Hockenden, Kent. 1939

A man on a rickety ladder stringing up the hop poles onto which the hop bines will climb. 1939

Farm workers in a field by Farthing Street in Farnborough, Kent. These fields are part of the green belt. 1939

A farmer and his tractor at work in a field. 1935

Ploughing with horses, furrowing. 1933

Cold storage plant. Seal farm exterior shot. 1937

A farmer and his team of horses plough a fruit orchard. 1935

Placing sticking bands on trees. 1935

Footpath through cornfield at Tumberton Bottom in Kent - September 1952 eTopFoto

Swanley College girls at bee education. 1934

Two women Hop Pickers stopping for lunch

A farmer and his dog stands to view his fields at Preston hill farm estate. 3 February 1938

A farmer and his tank track tractor, harrow a field 1936

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"Capturing the Essence of English Rural Life: A Glimpse into the Past" Step back in time to September 1962, where hop picking season was in full swing in Paddock Wood, Kent. The air was filled with excitement as a party of hop pickers gathered on a farm near the village, ready for a day of hard work and camaraderie. Just a few days later, at Brewers Hall Farm in Mereworth, Kent, hops were being loaded onto the mechanical picker. This innovative technology revolutionized the process and made it more efficient than ever before. Meanwhile, in Swanley during 1936, Phillip Ladds Nursery hosted a nursery congress that brought together horticultural enthusiasts from all over. It was an opportunity for them to exchange knowledge and celebrate their shared passion for nurturing plants. In the 1950s, hop picking became not just labor but also a family affair. Young and old alike joined forces to pick hops by the binful. Laughter echoed through the fields as generations bonded over this timeless tradition. Goudhurst witnessed another aspect of rural life - hop kilns removing dried hops from their warm embrace. In 1937, these structures stood tall against picturesque landscapes while farmers prepared their precious harvest for market. Maplescombe Farm in Farningham welcomed hop pickers with open arms during 1938. The vibrant atmosphere created by people coming together to gather nature's bounty left lasting memories etched into hearts forever. East Peckham saw young and old working side by side amidst its lush greenery on September 1st, 1938. Hop pickers united under sunny skies as they diligently plucked each delicate cone from its vine. Charing introduced us to Harry (Heathfield), known as "the Hedger, " who skillfully wielded his felling axe against nature's obstacles. His dedication ensured that hedgerows remained intact, preserving the beauty of Kent's countryside.