1926 Diary of Elliot Woolford of Hook Farm, Lydiard Tregoze

1926

In 1926 Elliot and Amy Woolford are busy developing their poultry business, buying stock and building fowls houses. Traditionally poultry keeping was the responsibility of the farmer’s wife, providing her with her own income.

On February 25th Elliot writes: “John fetched some planks from GWR warf Beatrice St cost 10/- Tip 3/- which Amy pays for.”

Work begins on building a fowls house in Home Ground the following day when Elliot writes “Paid H. Gilling & Sons £4 13 6 for poultry food which Amy pays.”

But with chickens come other unwelcome residents.

March 30 – “Killed 40 rats put some wire round & dogs killed them.”

March 31 – “Killed 33 rats.”

Background

In a meticulously kept and unbroken series of diaries, Elliot Woolford provides the reader with a no-nonsense view of farming life at Lydiard Tregoze spanning more than 45 years. His livelihood was forever at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather and fluctuating market prices.

Elliot and his brother Rowland acquired the tenancy of Hook Farm in 1899 from the 5th Viscount Bolingbroke. In 1930 Elliott was able to purchase the farm when part of the Bolingbroke estate was sold by the Viscount's widow, Mary. The Woolford family remain there to this day.