Bygone Days

In the 1970’s, Don Sharp who lived in Stanford Rivers wrote a number of articles in the local magazine, about his life working on farms in the area, and the people that he met. Eventually some of the articles were produced in a booklet called ‘Bygone Days.’ Over the next few editions of this Journal we will re-publish some of his memories.

Don was born 2 days after the start of the Great War in November 1914, and towards the end of his life he lived in Moreton. He died in August 2004 and is buried in Fyfield church.

The Country Squire and his Estate.

I think it is a shame that in this day and age we have lost our Country Estates, and our Lords and Ladies. Around Stanford Rivers and district there was Greensted Hall, the Price family. Blake Hall still existing with the Capel Cure family, Forest Hall, High Ongar with the McCorkadale family, Hill Hall with Lord Haigh (Hay), and Dudbrook estate, then Suttons estate with the Smith family.

These all had farms on the estate and woodlands. The farms and cottages were well maintained. On Suttons estate, where I worked, we had three carpenters, two bricklayers, four woodmen, three gamekeepers, three grooms, five gardeners, two horsemen, one cowman and an old chappie who chopped firewood for the big house. Then there was a butler, cook, two maids in the kitchen and two housemaids and a Bailiff.

There were sixteen farms, one mill, three shops and two blacksmiths shops, woodlands and park about two thousand acres. All the gates on the estate were tarred and maintained, and if Sir Drummond could not open one with his crop (a type of whip) then he would see that it was attended too straight away.

The farm buildings looked smart, worthy to belong to Suttons estate, hedges around the wood were kept trimmed and level. I know he would not like to see the hedges hacked with a machine.

If Sir Drummond rode up to us on his horse with his groom behind , we waited till he said ‘Good morning first.’ This was a known thing with gentry. He always asked, ‘Are you getting on alright?’ with whatever you were dong, then ‘Looks very nice’ and ‘When will you finish.’

We were always supplied with our tea from the big house at Suttons, if we had to work after five in hay time and harvest.

Once a week I used to have to turn the handle on the butter churn to make butter. All our milk was for the staff and the surplus was made into butter. Skim milk was used to feed the pigs with the peelings and waste from the house.

The groom and gamekeeper looked smart in their tweed suits which was made to measure at Roses the Tailors in Ongar. The butler and footman in his dark suit with a big watch chain, the cook in white overall and cap. The maids in the afternoon wore their lace caps, black dresses with little aprons.

Yes it all seemed to run well, we were happy in our work.

The big bell was tolled at one o’ clock for lunch at the house.

There was a walled kitchen garden about one acre in size, rose walks and lawns, summer houses, peacocks, Chinese geese, ducks on a large pond and beautiful shrubs.