English Rural Life Collection (#3)

A farmer and his team of horses plough a field in Bexley near London. 1938

Workers load crates of fruit into cold storage. 1939

3 December 1952 The first Fatstock Show after World War II, behind Edenbridge High Street. Edenbridge, Kent, England. ?John Topham / TopFoto

Poultry run. 1935

A man sprays a fruit trees against pests and disease. 1935

A man and his horse ploughing in the back garden. 1935

Drying plants, rose hips, Avery Hill. 1937

Farm worker sowing oats with a horse drawn seed drill in Shoreham, Kent. 1937

Sheep shearing. A farmer hand - shears his flock of sheep. 1935

Pear trees at the East Malling Research Station open day in Kent. 1938

Filming at a butterfly farm. 1933

Dr Hatton and Mr Woodward at the East Malling Research Station open day in Kent, where Dr Hatton is to give a lecture. 1938

A farmer and his horse team harrowing a field in Farningham. 1935

Dartford fat stock show. A man proud of his pig. 1935

The shepherd and his faithful dog watch their flock by night

Sheaves of corn. 1938

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

Lambs run past a caravan on a field in Eynsford, Kent. 1936

Rural farmers build in Paddock Wood. 1936

Hurdle making in Cuxton, Kent. 1937

Tunbridge Wells Show. Cattle in ring 1934

Judging Pigs in Sevenoaks, Kent. 1933

Haymaking on the farm. A farm worker is loading up the horse drawn cart with hay. 1939

Pigs being herded onto the back of a G Hales and Sons contractor lorry at Hales Pig Farm in Footscray, Kent. 21 June 1937

The Edenbridge and Oxted Show - 2 August 1960 President of the Show, Mr Sam Marsh, a well known horseman. credit: John Topham / TopFoto

Sheep shearing was very hard work. A large jar, probably of ginger beer, awaits the thirsty shearers, in a bucket of water to keep it cool

Farm workers using a hand seeder to sow kale. 1937

Farm scene. Horse and cart going past an old tree. 1934

Cows on the road in Charing, Kent. 1936

Ploughing. 1935

Cattle being loaded onto a truck at Burnham Grove Farm, Burham, Buckinghamshire. 1937

R H Brown feeding minks in the cage. 1937

Mr Groombridges sheepdog poses with a pipe and a walking stick. 1936

The Edenbridge and Oxted Show - 2 August 1960 Herded together like... Spectators
The Edenbridge and Oxted Show - 2 August 1960 Herded together like.... Spectators take shelter from a shower of rain in the cattle tent credit: John Topham / TopFoto

A bull being led awayaafter being unloaded from a truck. 1937

Steam tractor cultivation at Farningham, Kent. 1938

Testing a Handimac ultraviolet ray light for killing bugs at the East Malling Research station in Kent. 1937

Early morning on the farm - with frost still on the ground and the suntrying to force its way through the mist. A picture from Allington, Kent. Dung-spreading in February 1939

Tomtits nest in tool box in Lenham. 1936

A team of four houses ploughing a large field in the background is a pylon. 1936

A farming scene. Farm workers in Farningham at work using a steam engine and belt - driven threshing machine. 1936

Collecting the spring onion crop in Hextable, Kent. 1939

Freak apple growth in Swanley, Kent. 3 October 1937

Mrs O M Fenwick with Watstock Despot a pedigree Sussex bull. Watstock Farm, Chiddingstone, Kent, England 10 January 1964

Paston Barns. 1937

Bunching leeks together on a cart in Dartford marshes. 1939

Harvesting edges round the field. 1937

Farm workers at work using a portable steam engine and belt-driven threshing machine. 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.