Broodmare Fencing.

Broodmare Fencing.

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This was the style of fencing that was errected at the Gardeners and Moor Hall paddocks for the Cliveden Stud broodmares and their foals. With one exception that it was a double fence with a hawthorn hedge planted in between to act as a windbreak and shelter. Moor Hall paddocks had an open wood and corrugated iron shelters as well if it should rain.

The wood rail fences were taken down in 1945 and the wood use for other construction around the farm and was replaced with a barbwire and post construction.

Brood Mares and Foals.

Brood Mares Crossing.

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Before we go on to other historic buildings on White place farm, I would like to point out for purpose fenced fields that were set aside as pastures for the stud mares fall is during the summer months from the early 1920s until the farm became a tuberculin attested establishment in 1936.

The stable lads would bring the mares and foals down from the stud farm at Clievden across the River Thames using a chain ferry, marked on the photograph with "X's." after that period it fell into disuse and became waterlogged, and was swept away during the 1947 flood. There was a ramp up from the riverbank and through a wrought iron gate onto the pasture of White Place Farm.

The first two pastures were right next to the Islet Park Estate of Mr. Wagg a London, Banker. These fields were named "Upper and Lower Gardeners." You can see this indicated on the photo. This

The next two fields were quite some way from the river crossing, and were known as Moor Hall West and East. Later these two fields were used as pastures for dry and in calf heifers and cows will stop they were separate from the main herds, and the Dry Stockman would give them concentrates every day to steam them up before calving.

How to read a Village.

"How to Read a Village."
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This wonderful book, written by Dr. Richard Muir, has to be a very handy reference book for anyone studying any village in Britain. I received a copy as a Christmas present from my wife Deborah. Already, several passages have enlightened me, how a village like Cookham grew from the earliest times.

One of the sources it can be obtained from, are the publishers of "This England." Located in Cheltenham Gloucestershire.

Three Timers Milking Parlour.

Three Timers

Milking Parlour.

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When this new purpose built milking parlour was built in 1936-37 is was to not only produce high quality milk, but to produce as much as possible by milking three times a day. This was the schedule that was used. Milking was started at 4:00 a.m. 12:00 noon and at 8:00 p.m. This resulted the the cowmen having to rotate four or five shifts. After milking and the cows and turning them out to pasture, they would wash down the parlour. wash and sterilze all the equipment and flush out and use steam to clean all the pipe work from the parlour to the dairy.

Before they left to go home they would go up into the loft above the parlour and refill the hoppers with cattle suppliment such as linseed cake or similar type consentrate. The system ran very effectively for two years, until the war in 1939 and blackout restrictions made it impossible, and they had to result in returning to milking twice a day.

Due to labour reductions and a scaling down of the herd, this parlour was closed down and milking continued with the old bucket and churn method from the two older cowsheds.

Finally in the end the equipment and pipework was taken out and it became a barn for rearing capon chicken, but this venture did not prove successful as the birds had to have their upper mandibile cut to kerb the fighting in such close quarters. Then the risk of fowl pest raised its ugly head, and that put and end to that venture.