Hop Pickers Collection (#2)

Hop-pickers starting from London Bridge railway station at midnight, 1891 (engraving)
XJF438428 Hop-pickers starting from London Bridge railway station at midnight, 1891 (engraving) by Ward, Enoch (1859-1922); Private Collection; (add.info)

Hop Kilns
16th April 1908: Hop-pickers drive their cart to a demonstration at Maidstone, Kent. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Hop Pickers Demo
16th May 1908: Hop-pickers demonstration and march along the Embankment in London. They demand an import levy on foreign hops. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Hop Pickers Demo
16th May 1908: Trafalgar Square is packed by a demonstration of hop-pickers demanding protection against importation of hops. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Hop picker sleeping under the hop bushes. 1938

Hop pickers in East Peckham. A child helping in the hop field. 1 September 1938

The children of the women hop pickers in Beltring, Kent, playing in the hop fields. 1939

Hop pickers walk along a country lane. 1935

Hops collected. Children help hop picking. 1935

Hop pickers in East Peckham. A baby in a fruit box. 1 September 1938

Hop pickers watch the swans on the river from a bridge. 1938

Hop pickers in East Peckham riding in the back of a truck. 1 September 1938

McConnel hinds, hop pickers work on the machine belt. 1937

East Peckham, Kent - going to the hop fields by car in 1938 A TopFoto
East Peckham, Kent - going to the hop fields by car in 1938 eTopFoto

Hop pickers in East Peckham in their transport. 1 September 1938

Hop pickers in East Peckham. 1 September 1938

Hop pickers huts in Swanley, Kent. 1939

A farmer on his International tractor draws a harrow between the hop vines. 1935

Hop pickers in East Peckham. Young and old helping in the hop field. 1 September 1938

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"Hop Pickers: A Glimpse into the Lives of Hardworking Men, Women, and Families" Step back in time to 1938, where the picturesque Maplescombe Farm in Farningham, Kent was abuzz with activity. Hop picking season had arrived, and young and old alike gathered in East Peckham to work diligently in the hop fields on that sunny September day. In Beltring, Kent, a unique sight met the eye - women hop pickers donning gas masks over their shoulders. The looming threat of war cast its shadow even here amidst the hops. Each worker carried this protective gear as they plucked away at nature's bounty. Across the Atlantic Ocean in Josephine County, Oregon during 1939, Dorothea Lange captured poignant images that revealed a different side of hop picking life. Rows upon rows of shacks provided shelter for families working tirelessly under the scorching sun. These rough wooden barracks offered only one room per family but served as their temporary home during harvest season. Meanwhile, a vibrant engraving showcased Harvest Home celebrations in the heartland of hop country. Joyous faces filled with laughter and merriment painted a picture of camaraderie among those who labored together to bring forth these precious crops. Travelling by train from London to Kent became an annual pilgrimage for seasonal hop pickers seeking employment opportunities. London Bridge Station witnessed eager individuals waiting patiently for midnight trains that would transport them towards hopes of prosperity amidst verdant fields. Yet not all was idyllic; poverty lurked just beyond town limits as depicted in engravings capturing scenes titled "Poverty out of Town. " These illustrations portrayed hardworking men and women laboring relentlessly under challenging conditions while striving to make ends meet. The story is one woven with resilience and determination - a testament to human spirit prevailing against adversity.