A Peep into the Past

By Richard Watson

In these days of high mechanisation, what would a substantial local farmer have had in the way of stock and equipment some three hundred and thirty eight years ago?

Most people in Pilling know where Shaw's Farm is. How many know that the old maps record the farm as Bagot's? It is most likely that this was the home of Alexander Beagott who died in 1658. The present house on the site could conceivably incorporate some of his home, particularly in its layout. His was certainly a house with an upper floor, and had six or seven rooms.

But what of his farming activities? Well, we know he had quite a lot of arable land, for there were three pairs of oxen; oxen were still frequently used for ploughing until about 1700. also listed a horse, a little mare, an old mare, one mare in foal and There were a stag. This was the motive power, although one horse would have been for riding, and others performing a dual role amongst the seven various carts, wains and coups, the two ploughs and two harrows. An ox could be valued at up to £5 and horses between £2. and £4.

We do not know what the entire weight of the harvest had been, but when his inventory was taken on October 5th, the corn then standing threshed in the buildings amounted to twenty sives of oats at £20 and twenty windles of Barley at £5.50. Both sives and windles are names used in this area to mean a Bushel: i.e. a dry measure which is roughly 10-12.5 kg for the half measure.

Dairying had not, during this period, reached the prominent position it held on local farms until fairly recently. Alexander's milking herd consisted of four cows, one of which was in calf and one was lame. As now, milk cows varied in value according to their condition, age and state and also the time of the year. In the 1650's £2. to £3. was a good average. There were also four heifers and three calves. Other stock listed include a hog (a nearly fully grown swine, probably what we would call a gilt) (55p) and poultry valued at 68p.

A whole host of household furnishings, beds, tables, stools and all the then simple domestic appliances are accounted for and also listed is turf (peat) at £2.33, and £2.25 worth of hay.

The sum total was £124.30 which included £3 for his purse and apparel. Quite a snappy dresser our Alexander.