Peoples Stories - Bevendean History Project
Recollections of a Stanmer Farmer c1985
As related to C. W. Yeates by Mr Albert West, whose family, and father who have farmed Stanmer since the beginning of this century (20th century), first at Cold Dean Farm - whose barn is now Coldean Church - and then as a tenant farmer at Stanmer Farm formerly farmed by the Earls of Chichester under a bailiff.
Very great changes have taken place during
this time. Farming methods, stocking and land usage today contrast
dramatically with the method of Mr West's boyhood. Herds were far less
in numbers and milked by hand. Ploughing and harvesting were carried
out with teams of horses.As related to C. W. Yeates by Mr Albert West, whose family, and father who have farmed Stanmer since the beginning of this century (20th century), first at Cold Dean Farm - whose barn is now Coldean Church - and then as a tenant farmer at Stanmer Farm formerly farmed by the Earls of Chichester under a bailiff.
It seems remarkable that in 50 years such changes could have occurred. In those days the road from Lewes to Brighton was a narrow dusty lane, flint-surfaced, with tall hedge-rows on either side; a country road as far as Preston Barracks.
On Mondays the cattle, sheep and pigs from Lewes Market were driven down to Brighton slaughter house 'on the hoof, with drivers and their dogs in attendance.
Only the valleys and lower slopes were then ploughed as arable land, the hills were still thickly covered with blossoming gorse and grazing sheep; flocks of Southdowns, then a familiar sight with shepherd and dog; the sweet ringing of their bells carrying across the valleys.
The conditions and methods prevailing then were fundamentally unchanged for the previous 200 years.
The following items were listed on a farm in 1750 and could well have still been in use in Stanmer at the turn of the 20th century,
| Pitch Prongs | Dirt Boards | Turnwrist Plough | |
| Flint Spuds | Sundry Harness | Nine Tine Scarifier | |
| Road Hoes | Whippances | Clod Crusher | |
| Dung Drag | Rick Borers | Hay Tedder | |
| Hay Rakes | Bushel Measures | Wood Hames | |
| Scythes | Milking Stools | Bull Lead | |
| Faggin Hooks | Knaves and Fellses | Dibbles |
This pastoral scene, probably unchanged for centuries, ceased abruptly with World War II when the open downs were cleared of gorse, ploughed up and made to produce about two tons per acre, more than twice the yield of 50 years before.
Gone are the days of his Lordship's invitation pheasant shoots to tenant farmers; the rook shoots, and the hares and pheasants left at farmhouse doors.
Some of the people of those days still live on in the memory of Mr West and others of his generation, bringing back to mind Stanmer towards the end of its role as a gentleman's country seat.
Here are a few;
Lady Elizabeth and Lady Prudence riding horseback through the Park. Mr Feast, the groom, busy in the stables.
Mr Wood, the game-keeper, feared by little boys but loved and respected by all who knew him. His stories and exploits themselves are worthy of a full chapter in any book on the Sussex countryside.
Mr Wilson, the wood reeve, living at the Lower Lodges on the Lewes Road. He cared for the trees with a group of farm men,
Mr Jones, the estate foreman, lived in the cottage next to the shop until one night it got burnt to the ground.
Mr Turner, the chauffeur, and engineer to the electricity plant and pump house,
Mr Mason, in charge of the gardens, whose daughter writes her recollections on another page.
Mr Ellis, the postman, who lived in Stanmer, and went daily to Falmer Station to collect the mail. He then set off in all weathers, upon his deliveries, a journey of 10 to 12 miles which included Stanmer, Standean, Piddingworth, High Park and Mary Farm. In the afternoons he laboured in the woods, probably to prevent him from idling away his time!
The reader will have observed the great changes which have taken place in one man's life-time. Today we see the six furrow plough drawn by a high powered tractor, the harvest gathered in a few hours compared to as many days, and today local schools regularly visit the farm on educational exercises to see modern dairy farming. The farm its animals, and general activity are a great attraction to visitors as well as to the children.
It is a sobering thought to recollect that this land has been farmed from prehistoric times and that the same thin layer of soil still produces crops with the help of more modern methods in more and more abundance.
Each spring Mr. West, as he turns the soil, sees the same stones roll, over as did his predecessor of 2,000 years ago.
c 1985
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