Chapter 9

Little Acorns

Chapter 9

Farming in Mawdesley

The land on the east side of Mawdesley is fairly heavy, a clayey loam. To the west and to the north the land is much lighter along, Sandy Lane and on the Moss which adjoins Croston Moss. Near Sandy Lane there are four marl pits vhich were used for marling the lighter land nearby. There is access on the level to these marl pits. The marl was dug from the high banks of these pits. There are over 100 pits holding water marked on the 1820 Map besides hollows and slacks. These pits are scattered haphazardly, sometimes as many as 3 or 4 in one field. There are only a few pits on the lighter ground. When corn has been sown and rolled in spring on the heavier land, the fields can be seen to be covered with water worn stones. In years gone by farmers used rollers made of stone with curved shafts with a box or tray built on top. When rolling the fields the larger stones were picked up and put in the box. This was done to save the scythe or mowing machine blade from damage. On one farm there are four pits within 50 yards of each other, three at which hold water. The other pit or bowl 30 yards across and and 20 feet deep is bone dry. These four pits are on Cedar House Farm.

ln the days when there were only horses to work the land ploughing was a very slow process. The work had to be carried cut when the ground was wet and not in good condition. Farmers tried to get as much of their ploughing done before Christmas in the hope of frost breaking up the furrows. The horsemen received 18/- per week. They started work at 6 a.m. feeding their horses then home for breakfasrt and back to yoke their horses at 7 a.m. The farm labours only received 12/- per week. There was much casual labour hired just for the summer months. When there had been a poor and wet winter the land was very rough and lumpy in spring. Men had to go over the field with big mallets, breaking the lumps. I have seen potato ridges which seem to consist entirely of lumps so that the wind blew through them. The farmer would go along with the manure cart taking 2 ridges throwing out the manure as he went. A man went along the ridge knocking khe manure along with fork. Older men and women had the iob of cutting the potato sets into the seed trays and set baskets. The sets used to be all laid by hand on the manure. These jobs knocking muck and laying sets were very tedious and tiring and back breaking. The ploughman would plough a narrow furrow for corn. Corn used to be sown by hand on to these narrow furrows and when harrowed would appear in rows as the seed dropped between the furrows. A sower called a fiddle came to be used. This was carried in front of the sower by a strap around the neck. The working part was a handle through the container. The handle being pulled and pushed lengthways throwing the grain out.
Corn was also sown by hand from an improvised apron in front of the body. At harvest time the cornfields were opened out with the scythe i.e. cutting around the edges of the field to allow the mowing machine to proceed without flattening the corn. The corn cut by the scythe was bound by hand. The binder, by hand, taking a small quantity of straw in each hand giving the heads crossed a twist by the fore finger of each hand. This band was placed on the ground and the heads pressed by placing a foot on them. (One farmer barred this as he thought the band would lose some of its grain). The sheaf was placed on the band, the binder then taking the ends, one in each hand and crossing them, pulling the band tight round the sheaf, screwing the two ends tightly and pushing the doubled ends inside the sheaf.
In setting up the sheaves in hattocks the place where the ends of the band were pushed into the sheaf was turned inwards into the hattock. This was done so that the ends of the band would not hold water in a shower.
The system used to be for ryegrass and clover to be under sown in corn. If the clover had grown well it could be to the detriment of the corn harvesting as the cover did not dry out in the ten days which it was customary for the hattocks to stand in the field.
I have seen the clover being pulled out of the sheaves by hand. 1918 was a poor harvest, hattocks were green with the blades of sprouted corn. One farrner was cutting the sprouted corn off the sheaves with a knife to salvage some of the crop.
Tne first machines I saw for cutting corn were mowing machines adapted for the purpcse. The driver had a special rake to turn the corn over the cutting blade. The driver would press a lever with his foot to release the corn when a sheaf had been gathered. These sheaves had then to be bound by hand, mostly by women. The mowing machines were later superseded by the selfbinders One of the e!arliest selfbinders was named Paragon and introduced in the Parbold/Dalton area.
Another task which is not done nowadays was the carting of manure and puttling in heaps in meadows. This was followed by a man with a fork breaking it up and spreading it.
Later some farmers would brush harrow the field. This harrow was formed by strong thorns fastened to a rail with a heavy piece of timber on top to
At one time the practice in ditching and fencing was for the ditch to be dug and the soil thrown on to the owner's side cf the boundary. The fence was planted on top of this soil, leaving the ditch on the outside of the owner's fence. In later years, this has caused many arguments and quarrels, when land has changed owners. People unfamiliar with the practice think they own the ditch because it is on their side of the fence. In some cases the ditch has been piped (drained?) by the legal owner which has misled the buyer of the adjoining piece of land. The legal cwner is entitled to four feet on the cutside of his
fence in lieu cf the ditch. An old story handed down is that of a man laying drains was discovered not having put in lengths of ti!es. It is to be presumed he was on piece work. He was transported to America.
Tractors in Mawdesley were first seen during the l9l4 - 1918 War on Cedar . House Farm. These seemed to being demonstrated as a gocd crowd were there to watch on a Sunday. A field in School Lane was ploughed and the large field in Back Lane where the Knock Out was first held. The Back Lane field was laid cut in butts. The crown of the butts was nearly a yard high which would make the cutting of the following corn crop very difficult.
The meadows and pastures used to be laid down in butts and reeuns, this is the local description. This system helped to top drain the surface of the fieldsin the days when horses were the sole method of working the land. A field or fields in the neighborhood would be hard to find laid out on this system today.
The war time compulsory ploughing changed this, plus the introduction of tractors. There are a few fields with butts and reeuns to be seen in the Midlands and the North but these are in cattle country. When the meadows had been mown and the hay carted in, the meadows were adorned with hawthorn branches. These thorns were to raise the long nets of the poachers who came at night to take the rabbits, thus freeing them.
The farmers used the old fashioned tipping carts which had broad and high wheels. These were called stiff carts wilh a tipping arrangement. These were painted red with red lead paint. The carts were fitted with detachable
rails (flakes) front and rear to be used when housing hay or corn. These carts were built by the local wheelwright and the local blacksmith. The carts were fitted with a detachable backboard and stilts hung under the shafts to hold the cart on a level when the cart was being unloaded after the hore was unyoked. The heavy land is very good for cattle farming. The lighter land on the western side and the north is more used under the plough. At one farm on the moss where a cow was kept for milk for use in the house it was found the cow did not last very long. The cow took in too much soil with the grass it fed on. The soil being sandy came up with the grass when eaten.
In 1799 an act of Parliament was passed. Commissioners were appointed to drain the low lands of Croston, Mawdesley, Rufford, Tarleton and Bretherton out of a fund raised by a rate on landowners and tenantry. An act for the enclosure of Croston Common was passed in 1728. From Mannex & Co., Directory af Lancashire 1854.
On the moss and on the west (Blackmoor) in the early 1900's roots and trunks of trees were brought to the surface by the plough and dug out. These moss stocks, as they were called, are not so much in evidence today as they must by now, have all been cleared. When the Rufford (Hesketh) estates in Mawdesley were sold in 1888 and 1895 the plans attached to the catalogues were marked on the field boundaries to show which field the ditch belonged. This was shownby a fine line on the outside of the fence line. These sales of the Rufford Estates started a stage of building in Mawdesley. These houses were the red brick double fronted ones which replaced the old thatched cottages. Mawdesley up to this time must have been a poor and badly housed community. Many of the farm houses in Mawdesley and district were built and dated just after Cromwell's time about 1692.
About the time of the sales of the Rufford Estates orchard planting became general. Many of these orchards were 34 acres in extent. For many years the orchards yeilded a profitable return, the fruit being sold in Wigan Market. In the early 1900's quite a number of people kept hives of bees resulting in good pollination of the fruit trees. The rector Mr. E. Thommason planted 2 acres of fruit treesand also had a number of hives of bees.
There were quite a number of collectors of eggs and market garden produce in the village who travelled to Wigan Market on a Friday. They would also attend the Tuesday and Thursday markets during the summer season if the supply of fruit, eggs, etc., warranted it. There were many horse drawn lorry loads of fruit in the height of the season. Gluts often occurred and fruit brought back and dumped on the midden. One grower had a hamper of pears left so when he was going for his dinner he tipped them on the midden. When he returned from his dinner, others had tipped their pears along with his. These horse lorries would start from home at 2 a.m. in the morning. Some farmers would go to market with the old type stiff cart with their potatoes. Apples for the jam factory were collected in the village, the price was 3d. per score (20 lbs). The apples being small and rough ones. On one occasion a woman back from market told neighbours that damsons were sold for I/2d. a quart. Peas used to be sold by measure strikes and bushels retail.
The orchards planted 1895-1905 have practically all disappeared along with the varieties of pears and apples, many of the best flavoured ones, but not having the best appearance.
Apples

scotch bridgets, keswicks, Lord Grosvenor, Golden Spire, Kings, peasgood nonsuch, selinas, mortons, early margarets, jenny lind ecklnville, White transparent, American Pire, King of Pippin.

Pears

argonelle, hessle, beurre de amanlis, green chisel, walton weeper, Holcrofts, pitmaston duchess, Kings, Duke of York, William bon chreitian, Loui bon de Jersey, winter nellis, early crawford, Fertility,

these items would be hard to obtain now, Hankins of Bispham Nursery supplied the majority of the trees planted locally.
A considerable business or trade developed in the village in the late 1800's
and early 1900's. Market gardening of soft fruit, Gooseberries, Black Currants,
Raspberries and Strawberries along with the orchard fruits. One smallholder grew early peas for which he received £1 for a hamper of 48 lbs. He also grew onions which he sold locally at 10d. for a score lbs.
The onions were dried under a shelter with a thatched roof and open sides. The farmers also grew peas in their fields for market. These peas used to be supported by sticks i.e. branches of tree or waste tops from 2 year old basket willows. Peas grown thus were of first grade and classed as garden peas.
Field peas were later grown without sticke and were not as good quality through being in contact with the ground. These fieid peas tended to be rougher and not as evenly fed as those supported by sticks. Some growers were
eager to get the early prices and picked before the peas were properly fed. Buyers would try the peas and finding them not fully grown would remark, "Aye swads this wick and peighs next wick". Housewives would ask are they garden peas but this manner of growing soon passed away and field peas were sold as Garden Peas. Poultry keeping increased during this period as there was an outlet for the eggs to Wigan Market. A horse wagonette was run by H. Wearden from Mawdesley Hall to take women with their baskets of eggs and small produce to Wigan.
A daughter of the Alty family used to walk to Parbold Station from the City Farm by the Black Bull, a distanee of nearly 4 miles. She carried her basket of butter and eggs to sell at Wigan Market.
One farmer used to go to Wigan Market starting out early cn Thursday afternoon for the Fridar Market. He had a chain horse to helo get up the hill climb to Wrightington where the chain horse was unyoked and taken home. Fruit and potatoes were marketed in the locally made wicker hampers in the days of horse transport. Cauliflowers and cakbages were sold loose and packed in bulk on the horse lorries which were fitted with high cabbage rails at sides and front and rear.
At one time potatoes were harvested with forks. The forks were three grained, the grains or strines were flattish with a ridge on the upper side of the grain which were 3/4 " wide. The Potatoe harvesting was mostly piece work by extra casual labour. There were some labourers who made good wages, "praytu geddin". These men usually worked ln pairs, it being more convenient for two to move their harnpers along.
There was a big influx of Irish in the Autumn for the potato harvest. These men came every year usually to the same farmers. Many of the farmers had a building to accomodate these workers referred to as the Paddy House. Some were provided with one of the old fashioned washboilers to cook potatoes which were provided free by the farmer. Later potato getting spinners horse drawn, which threw the potatoes to one side to be picked. This was done mostly by women and children on holiday from sehool in October. The wage was 1/6d. per day for the children. People relied on this bit of extra cash towards clothes and clogs, for winter. On a frosty morning the potato tops had to be pulled before the digger went down the ridge. The pickers were allotted a certain length to pick. At night clogs had to be scraped out as they became filled with loose soil.

Hay Time

Meadow hay was cut with scythes until mowing machines were introduced. The swathes were turned manually with rakes and later made into cocks using pikles. This latter stage was a skilled job, the cocks being made so they would turn off the rain. After heavy rain the cocks were often moved to a drier place when the sun had dried the ground. Sometimes the cocks had to be spread out again for the sun to dry the hay.
Farms with a big acreage of hay, stacked it outdoors in the stackyard where it was thatched using wheat straw. Thatching was a skilled job, the farmers taking a pride in the neatness of their stacks. Sticks cut from the fences and sharpened were used along with thatching string which smelled of rozzin and tar. Produce and hay dealers would buy the hay by the stack. They could calculate by the measurements of the stack what weight the hay would be. Buyers usually had an iron rod a trier, which had a slot near the end. The trier was thrust into the centre of the stack and when withdrawn brought a small quantity of hay out, caught in the slot. This was done to judge the quality cf the hay.
During a bad season or due to bad farming a stack could heat up if the hay had been gathered in too wet. A few cases have been known of stacks burning through spontaneous combustion. Farmers have sometimes cut into a stack when they found signs of overheating. Hay badly made and weathered is discoloured and musty, refused by the livestock. Hay which is found to be discoloured by overheating is described as (Moo-brunt), mow burnt.
The hay before mechanical balers were introduced had to be cut by hand and bound in bales by two bands of twine. The blade of the hay spade was heart shape, the handle similar to a spade handle, but cross piece larger for use with both hands. The bend above the blade being larger than that of a spade hand!e There was another type of hay knife, the blade 2 feet in length and 6 inches wide and tapering to a point. The handle was at right angles from the edge of the blade at its widest point. This type was not as common as the other kind. Some hay dealers had their own cutters who cut and loaded the hay which had been bought.

In the I800's there were many small holdings where a cow or two were kep for the household use of the milk. Some supplied the neighbours besides butter for their own use. There were many houses which had a pig cote where
a pig was fed for their own suply of ham and bacon. When I was a chi d under school age, I was watching Jack Alty cutting up a neighbour's pig. He cut off the pig's nose then scraped a hole in the soil with his shoe heel and buried the nose. Shortly afterwards a man came along and spoke to Jack who then uncovered the nose and handed it to the man. The pig killers at one tme only received 5/- for killing and cutting up a pig which entailed three visits. This was during the time when farm labours wages were 12/- and horsemen's 18/-.
During the last war Bob, a pig killer, had killed and hung a pig. Jack Alty came along and said to Bob "AW wouldn't hing id theer ev id were mine", Bob looks ayund the buildin un ses to Jack "Wheer would y hing id", Jack sez "ud houm". It was fairly common for farmers and small holders to make their own butter. The rector Rev. E. Thomasson kept cattle for this purpose Farm butter vas included in the classes at the flower show, decorated by the owners pattern.
The cld time Butter Churns were like a barrel, wide at the bottom and tapering to the top The churning was done with a churnstaff with an up and down motion. The bottom of the staff was furnished with a circle and cross piece of wood similar in appearance to one of the roadsigns of today. In later years the old type of churn was superseded by the end over end (EOE) churn which was barrel shaped and worked on a stand. This type was worked by turning a handle. The barrel had bearings on each side resting in bearings on the stand. One end cf the barrel was fitted with a glass inspection aperture to allow the progress of the churning to be ascertained. One of the last cheese makers in the district was at Anderton's Farm in Bispham.
The land levels in Mawdesley are broken by the several streams which have over the centuries washed away the soil forming fairly deep valleys. This will be noticed on the rise and fall ef the roads where the streams cross

No. 1 Bently Brook starts by Harrock Hall and is the longest valley running to the River Douglas.
No. 2 The stream running near the Four Lane Ends starts as a small stream along Jackson's Lane in Wrightington. This stream crosses Kester's Old Lane and Back Lane by Cedar House Farm to near Four Lane Ends.
No. 3 A stream starting from Bentley Lane runs along Moody Lane to cross the road at the junction of Bradshaw Lane and Back Lane. This stream emerges and crcsses New Street in the centre of the village. For a section this is now culverted and goes on to join the main stream in the Longshaws which goes on to Reeds Brook.
No. 4 The stream by Ambrose House is fed by small streams from Back Lane East and runs on to the Hough, the valley south side cf the Black Bull and the War Memorial. Another stream starts near Threapers Green and runs across the road near the R.C. Chapel emerging in Dark Lane and on to join the other stream in the Hough. This joint stream goes on to Gales Lane
where it is joined by the stream from Four Lane Ends. A stream orginating in Sandy Lane joins this main stream at a point in the fields between Blackmoor Road and Gales Lane. This main stream now takes a straight course due west being named now as Reeds Brook which has raseid banks. Reeds Brook winds left behind the Nook and Home Farm crossing Blackmoor and Rufford Road to join Bently Brook behind Slate Farm to be carried on to the River Douglas by the New Cut. The lower lengths of these streams must have entailed much labour and expense to carry water to the River Douglas by raising the height of the banks. The tide is noted to raise the water level in the Douglas at Rufford which causes water to back up in the streams. On one occasion Reeds Brook burst its banks behind the Nook and the flood water ran across the Moss towards Croston.
These streams have worn, deep valleys in a short distance west of Bradshaw Lane and Back Lane. Along these valleys are many small springs which are difficult to drain along the banks, making some areas very wet and swampy.