Old Pond publishing days

Room for poetry

Poetry: there are those who were put off it at school and those who are willing to give it some room. Alan Spillett, whose book of paintings Roadscapes II is nearly ready for the printer, falls into the second camp. Among his supporting features , Alan quotes lines from 'Roundabouts and Swings' by Patrick R Chalmers:

For "up an' down an' round," said 'e, "goes all appointed things,
An' losses on the roundabouts means profits on the swings!"

Another person in the appreciative group is Kate, daughter of tractor book author and magazine editor Stuart Gibbard. If you have been to the Spalding model tractor shows you will have seen her helping out on the Gibbard Tractors literature stand. One of Kate's ventures is Book a Poet, 'a comprehensive resource for organisations and individuals to book poets for every occasion'.

When I've been out in the fields with the video filming crew some lines from 'The Breaking of Nations' by Thomas Hardy have been known to come to mind:

Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk
With an old horse that stumbles and nods
Half asleep as they stalk.

Only thin smoke without flame
From the heaps of couch-grass;
Yet this will go onward the same
Though Dynasties pass.

Riotous behaviour among the railway navvies

There are plenty of earlier examples of riots and riotous behaviour in Britain's history. An interesting account I have been reading lately is in Terry Coleman's book The Railway Navvies (first published by Hutchinson, 1965).

The scene was the wave of railway construction in the mid 1840s. The pick, shovel, drilling and explosives work for the great cuttings, embankments and tunnels was undertaken by labourers - or navigators - who were poorly housed, often exploited and worked in dangerous conditions. Their fights and riotous assemblies were fuelled by alcohol and could involve thousands of men. The countryside was terrorised. Exemplary sentences were handed down by the bench.

The Port of Ipswich its shipping and trades - new book published

The Port of Ipswich its shipping and trades, Richard W Smith and Jill Freestone, Malthouse Press, Suffolk. Large-format paperback, 280 x 210 mm, 384 pages inc. approx 400 photographs. ISBN 978-0-9539680-4-6, £30.

Available from Robert Malster, Malthouse Press, 17 Reade Road, Holbrook, Ipswich IP9 2QL. Please make cheques payable to R. Malster and add £5 for UK post and packing.

Also available from the Ipswich Transport Museum.

This is an important book for those interested in the development of Ipswich or more generally in ports and shipping. Although the history of Ipswich shipping dates back to Saxon times, this book deals with the past two centuries. This is a period that saw the town's engineering companies, based around the Dock, grow to have worldwide fame and then decline; a period that started with sail, went on to steam and ended up with a 'Waterfront' jangling with moored pleasure yachts.

Richard Smith has spent twelve years researching this subject. He and his co-author, Jill Freestone, have presented their work under the following headings: the port and its trade - pilotage and other business - towage on the Orwell - the coal trade - grain and animal feed - chemicals and fertilizers - the timber trade - building materials - general cargoes - public utilities - engineering - oil - pasengers and yachting - the port at war.

Throughout the book there are tables giving details of sailings and cargoes; appendices tabulate LNER steamer sailings, visits of Royal Navy ships, deep-sea arrivals 1939-43.

The Port of Ipswich contains a wealth of photographs. It is hard to find a general adjective to indicate just how  impressive this book is. 'Awesome' comes to mind, reflecting the amount of work that has gone into writing and publishing it. I just cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Kind words for the Ford 7000 DVD

In the August/September issue of Ford & Fordson Tractors magazine editor Peter Love writes: 'I thoroughly enjoyed watching this 100 minute DVD and recommend it to you all ... the best DVD of its kind produced in years and a welcome addition to everyone's collection with an interest in Ford tractors.'

The programme Peter is reviewing, The Story of the Ford 7000, produced by Tractor Barn boys Steven Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam, is available at £16.95 from Old Pond Publishing.

The Working Horse Manual 2nd edition book advance information

The Working Horse Manual 2nd edition, edited by Diana Zeuner. Paperback, 245 x 189 mm, 256 pages including approx. 260 photographs and line drawings. ISBN: 978-1-906853-42-6. In stock at Old Pond at £24.95.

First published in 1998, The Working Horse Manual has established itself as the bible for heavy horse owners and enthusiasts. This second edition has been heavily revised, the most substantial new material being on working horses in forestry, training horses and transport and the law.

The chapter headings are:

1. The modern draught horse in the UK: Shires, Clydesdale, Suffolk, Percheron, Ardennes, Comtois, lighter working types
2. Choosing and keeping a working horse
3. Veterinary care of the draught horse
4. Farriery for the working horse
5. Training for horsemen
6. Training your horse
7. Harness for the working horse
8. Working draught horses as singles and pairs
9. Ploughing
10. Horse-drawn machinery and equipment
11. Multiple hitches
12. Working horses in forestry
13. Selecting a show horse
14. Preparing and showing heavy horses
15. Plaiting a heavy horse for showing: Clydesdale, Shire, Suffolk, Percheron
16. Road driving
17. Caring for horse-drawn vehicles
18. Transport and the law.
Appendices: horse ploughing rules; heavy horse obstacle driving rules; timber snigging course; rules for heavy horse cross-country relay race and trials; guide notes for judging; addresses; glossary; index.

The manual has been collated and edited by Diana Zeuner, editor of Heavy Horse World, the only magazine in the UK devoted solely to draught horses.

Diana has been able to assemble a remarkable group of authoritative contributors: Carl Boyde, Matthew Bradley, Norma Bradley, Cate Brewster, Tom Brewster, Keith Chivers, Roger Clark, Keith Ellis (Inspector), Stephanie Evans, Mike Flood, Angela Gifford, Edward Hart, Mike Horler, Doug Joiner, Terry Keegan, Rowena McDermott, Geoff Morton, John Peacock, Charlie Pinney, Nick Rayner, Philip Ryder-Davis, Robert Sampson, John Ward, Nigel Westacott, Jane Wordsworth, John Zawadzki.

The book is highly illustrated with photographs and diagrams.

Old Pond also stocks a range of DVDs on the working horse. You will find these at the Horses and oxen section of our website.

Pea harvesting DVD now in stock

The Pea Files: harvesting the most easterly peas in Britain, the new DVD from Tractor Barn duo Steven Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam is now in stock at Old Pond at £16.95.

Tanzin and Xia - a story of two Suffolk Punches

For three years we have been sponsoring the filly Colony Tanzin (left) at the Suffolk Punch Trust, Hollesley Bay. We were really sad to learn that in July she died shortly after the birth of her first foal.

Fortunately, the young foal was fed with her mother's milk containing the colostrum vital to protect the new-born from infection.

The foal, named Xia, needs a foster mother until she can be weaned at six months. The brood mare chosen is Lilly - registered name Dream Flight - who is three-quarters thoroughbred and one-quarter Irish Draft.

Lilly, who has already fostered five foals, took to Xia almost immediately. They bonded well, as Suffolk Trust Head Groom Tracey Pettit confirms: "It's brilliant to see how Lilly has completely adopted the foal, who in turn is doing very well and is quite feisty!"

Our sponsorship is continuing with Xia (right, with Lilly). If you would like a very enjoyable few hours with the Trust at Hollesley Bay or to support them in some other way, you can find their details here.

 

The Tyneham Fordson Major and an NH BB9060 baler

On holiday in Dorset this week, walked along the coast from Lulworth Cove to Tyneham, the village 'adopted' by the military in 1943. The tenants were given a week to pack up and leave but were promised they would be allowed back once the war was over. Successive governments have reneged on this.

However, since the 1970s there has been an increase in access and moves to preserve the buildings. Most are roofless, like the gardener's house here. The church in the background is in good condition.

The farm outbuildings have been worked on to protect them and the implements that remain. The Fordson Major has a roof over its head.

In the well-preserved school building there is a map of the fields with their traditional names: Cowleaze, the Glebe, Starveall.

You can find details about Tyneham's opening times here.

Meanwhile, not far inland, west of the firing range and the clamour of Bestival, today's harvest was under way.

We watched the New Holland BB9060 Rotor Cutter making what looked to be heavy work big-baling straw, powered by an MF 7495.

 

Ax Men Season 3 in stock

Ax Men Season 3 - featuring killer bees and alligators - is now in stock at Old Pond at £19.95.

Rubber Track Revolutions DVD commended by Vintage Tractor magazine

In its new products review, the September issue of Vintage Tractor and Countryside Heritage  magazine praises Chris Lockwood's new DVD The Rubber Track Revolution:

'Some spectacular footage allows you to immerse yourself in the sight and sounds of these mighty beasts, while a highly informed commentary makes this a must for every big tractor enthusiast!'