Survey of English Dialects recording in Avebury, Wiltshire

Description

[Side 1] Jim talks about ploughing with oxen before introduction of tractors, describes traditional 'buckshutter' plough, discusses manual farm labour incl. reaping/hoeing/harvesting/haymaking by hand, recalls women's role in tying up sheaves, discusses introduction of machinery incl. 'self-tier' [self-binder, machine for reaping and binding corn into sheaves automatically] and combine harvester, recalls 'thrashing' [= threshing] corn in barn and winnowing by hand, compares agricultural wages now and in past, mentions coal allowance deducted weekly and free supply of manure for allotments, reflects on reduction in farm labour since introduction of tractor. [Side 2] Jim recalls carters carrying beer to farm workers in field on horses 'hames' [= each of two curved pieces of wood forming collar of draught horse], describes brewery at Kennet and compares beer now and in past, discusses leisure pursuits in past incl. 'click clack', 'prisoner's base' and 'fox-hunting' [= children's chase games], tells anecdote about falling headfirst down Windmill Hill when out chasing friend, memories of Red Lion pub and regular building work at local pubs, recalls frequent visits by Swindon factory workers for sing-songs in pub, describes several local 'Club' days [= annual village festival] and Gorse Hill Brass Band parade.

Metadata

Identifier ktzjn896
IRN 726650
Class Mark LAVC/SRE/D/2/D271
Level Item
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/ktzjn896
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record English Dialect Sound Recordings (England and Wales)
Date Jun 1956
Size and Medium [Side 1] 05 min. 13 sec., [Side 2] 04 min. 56 sec.

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