13 minute read
Barn Life
with John Parsonage
If I should never see the moon rise blood red across the harvest fields... If I should never see the return of Swallows on a Summer’s morn... If I should never again hear the clinking of the harness or the muffled voice of the ploughman... If I should never smell the sweetness of the new mown hay or the earthiness of the wheat... You will know I have left this world and I am for one better still!...
Anon
The majority of the harvest is in; no more tractors, dust clouds, state-of-the-art harvesters or golden bales to draw one’s eye. The public now tends to forget about agriculture, food production and even more so, about those responsible for it…
Farming is predominantly a birthright industry whereby successive generations continue in their family footsteps to produce the food we so desperately need as a nation. Yet it is an industry which has also seen its fair share of change driven by technological advancement and market forces. This change has been even greater over the last 100 years.
A century or more ago our local towns and villages would have had a great many residents and businesses directly connected to agriculture, many of them our direct descendants. So why is it now, that many feel so disconnected from agriculture? Decades of local and family history lost to the mists of time like a slowly drifting dust cloud on an August evening….
If we are so quick to forget those connections, families and characters then it is little wonder so little thought or value is given to the fabric of the farm buildings themselves.
The barns, sheds, outbuildings and similar structures of an established farm hold a history comparable to that of the headstones in the local graveyard. Built by skilled hands driven by want, pride and commitment over the centuries, each has its own story to tell. Many have their own unique vernacular architecture dependent upon the area of country in which they stand. The vast oak and thatch barns of the southern counties differ greatly to the knapped flint and pantile barns of Norfolk. The latter vary again when compared to our local limestone/Collyweston slate/pantile barns. Then come the barns of Scotland, Wales and Ireland, all unique in their own special way, After the main barns come a variety of other smaller buildings but all equally important in their time and all reflective of the need and wealth of their owners at any one particular point in time.
A personal favourite of mine are the Fen barns, not necessarily those of stone, flint or oak but those of timber, zinc and brick, much of it repurposed from elsewhere or recycled buildings from the war. Many built to stable horses after a day in the field, others to house bellowing beast or provide cover to the all important grain and more recently to cover those new fang-dangled tractors which had started to turn the fenland soils. Nick Tearle, a local artist from West Deeping, often captures the essence of these buildings within the fenland landscape as they cling to the landscape after each successive winter storm. Most now serve little purpose to agriculture yet they are not without their value.
In a world of increasing order and especially a countryside of increasing tidiness these buildings and their surrounds offer a small oasis or paradise for wildlife set within a manicured landscape. The door hangs ajar inviting the explorer in…. observant eyes struggle to absorb all that is in front of them. Wide, waney-edged boards form the cloaking of the barn along with sections of soft red brick and honeycoloured limestone set within soft lime mortar. Zinc sheets and bitumen paint also feature as previous weatherproof coatings but, alas, the passage of time has taken its toll.
Roof tiles are missing, timbers rotten and the barn itself sits awkwardly rising from the soil, trying to proudly maintain its once vibrant stature. Ivy runs throughout, at first thick at the base, its roots like a buttress to the decaying timber. Then smaller stems entwine the structure of the barn, forcing here and binding there…then at the very top the canopy of green leaves creates a natural umbrella whilst the old leaves carpet the floor below.
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Old machinery, bales and various items lie in and around the barn and more lie in the nettles and brambles beyond. When it rains the cracked downpipes and broken gutters discharge their contents into the depressions of the surrounding yard and in amongst it all wildlife thrives.
Wrens nest deep within the ivy. Little Owls hide themselves away in any convenient crevice. Rats and mice come and go through the gnarled, gnawed holes, watched intently by the all-seeing eye of the Barn Owl above. Spiders, moths and butterflies tuck themselves away in every available space. In summer, swallows swoop through the broken windows and head up to their nests in the eaves, whilst whitethroats nest in the surrounding bramble. Masonry bees mine out new burrows in the lime mortar whilst tadpoles swim in the wet depressions. The old straw stack offers additional habitation for those which can’t find shelter in the barn. Badgers and foxes burrow deep underneath, grateful for the thatched roof above and, of course, the scene wouldn’t be complete without the robins nesting in amongst the shelving and at dusk the mystical silhouette of a hare waiting for the moon to rise blood red above the harvest fields.
We need to understand and we need to remember that what we see isn’t just a snapshot of today. It is an intrinsic and complex web of social and physical factors derived from decades of time.
It’s a photo of social, family and industrial history. A construction detailing craftmanship, techniques and materials. A wildlife reserve which isn’t signposted on any map but is equal to some 50 times its size. Above all we need to make sure such places are protected and preserved, not to be replaced by tarmac, concrete and questionable landscaping.
Friday 21st October Glinton Horticultural Society: ‘The Countryman’s Garden – Gardening for Wildlife’ by John Parsonage – a countryman’s version of gardening. Glinton Village Hall, 7.30pm
DEEPING ST JAMES PHARMACY DEEPING ST JAMES PHARMACY
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fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to old community pharmacy fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also where patients get to know vitamins and mineral supplements us and you will always see Our other services include ● We offer blister pack medication to a familiar face. Here at ● patients who meet the criteria. Flu vaccinations will be available this Deeping St James Pharmacy, ● winter as a pre-book or drop-in service. NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the we are proud to be part of the community and are ● pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. Emergency supplies: if you need one of your always striving to give the regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may community the best service be able to help. open to them. Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need.
We are an independent pharmacy
giving patients a one-to-one service. We like to model ourselves on the old community pharmacy where patients get to know us and and you will always see a familiar face. Here at Deeping St James Pharmacy, we are proud to be part of the community and are always striving to give the community the best service available to them.
We understand how important it is to speak faceto-face with a pharmacist about your medicines and prescriptions. Our services give you the chance to chat to a pharmacist about your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to improve your health in our private consultation room. We stock a wide range of prescription medications
JANUARY 2021 21 Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James PE6 8NT 01778 349646 deepingstjamespharmacy@aah-n3.co.uk fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to We are an independent pharmacy giving patients a one-to-one service. We like to model ourselves on the old community fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a pharmacy where patients get to know us and wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also and you will always see a familiar face. Here vitamins and mineral supplements at Deeping St James Pharmacy, we are proud
Our other services includeto be part of the community and are always striving to give the community the best service
available to them. ● We offer blister pack medication to patients who meet the criteria.We understand how important it is to speak face● Flu vaccinations will be available this to-face with a pharmacist about your medicines winter as a pre-book or drop-in service.and prescriptions. Our services give you the chance ● NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the to chat to a pharmacist about your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to improve your health in our private consultation room. pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. ● Emergency supplies: if you need one of your We stock a wide range of prescription medications and dressings from all the main brands. We keep regular medicines in an emergency and you a comprehensive stock of all medicines and use a are unable to contact your doctor, we may be able to help.
We understand how important it is to speak face-to-face with a pharmacist about your medicines and prescriptions. Our fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a services give you the chance to chat to a pharmacist about wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to impove vitamins and mineral supplements your health in our private consultation room. Our other services include ● We offer blister pack medication to We stock a wide range of prescription medications and patients who meet the criteria. dressings from all the main brands. We keep a comprehensive ● Flu vaccinations will be available this stock of all medicines and use a fast and efficient wholesaler winter as a pre-book or drop-in service. service to enable us to fulfill all the prescriptions promptly. We ● NHS unwanted medicine service, where you also keep a whole range of over the counter medicines and also vitamins and other mineral supplements. ● can return all unwanted medicines to the pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. Emergency supplies: if you need one of your regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need. be able to help. Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need.21 Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James PE6 8NT
01778 349646 deepingstjamespharmacy@aah-n3.co.uk
Our other services include
• We offer blister pack medication to patients who meet the criteria. • Flu vaccinations will be available this winter as a pre-book or drop in service. • NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. • Emergency supplies. If you need one of your regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may be able to help.
The Greenwood Quire
’Twas so mortal cold that year that they could hardly sit in the gallery. So Nicholas brought a gallon of hot brandy and beer, to church with him – just a thimbleful in the Absolution, and another after the Creed, and the remainder at the beginning o’ the sermon. When they’d had the last pull they fell asleep, every man jack of ’em; and there they slept on as sound as rocks’ Thomas Hardy
With their home at St James, Aslackby, the Greenwood Quire was established in 2011 by Pete Shaw to carry on the tradition of the West Gallery musicians. The term ‘west gallery’ derives from the wooden galleries which were constructed at the west end of churches from which the choir, made up of locals, would perform. The coming together of these choirs was in response to the virtual elimination of singing in church in the 1600s. The west gallery choir, distinct from the clergy, would face the altar in the same way as the churchgoers. The Victorians, known for their strict, more ‘proper’ ways, disapproved of these galleries and most were removed during the 19th century.
The first performance of the Greenwood Quire was on Plough Sunday; it was thought that there needed to be as a minimum two people for each singing part and an instrument for each part. This original group gathered together with the mission to tell the story of the West Gallery Choir and to do that they needed to dress up! Their costumes date from the first part of the nineteenth century and are typical of townsfolk at the time, men in hats and ladies in bonnets.
Members of the Quire have collectively acquired the necessary knowledge for the creation of costumes which is not too serious a pursuit and help is most definitely on hand for new recruits! Rehearsals are held once a month at Aslackby and are usually directed at an upcoming performance while keeping other items in their repertoire up to date – charged with bringing the Quire to a performance level is conductor, Brian David. Typically three or four events are planned each year, sometimes to support church services and others as standalone concerts. Chairman of the Quire, Mike Stevens sees his job as helping people to come forward and to facilitate their contributions. During the lockdown of the recent pandemic there were virtual coffee mornings to echo the tea, coffee and biscuits that are available at in-person rehearsals.
The Quire encompasses all age groups; whole families have been involved, some starting as trebles and becoming basses. Material is not exclusively religious and some material sung by the Quire emanates from the Nonconformist movement which itself started with John and Charles Wesley in Lincolnshire. Musical instruments played include the Trombone, Bassoon, Recorder, and members of the string family: Violin, Viola, Cello and Violone (a large bass instrument).
The pleasure that people get from making music together and the benefits it has on the brain have been well documented;
