12/12/2025
Dec Farm Club Meeting 💙
Emma, chair of the Farm Club, organized a talk for some of the residents about life on the farm in earlier times. Our guest speaker was Graham, a 5th-generation tenant farmer from the Somerleyton Estate, whose farm is Carpenters Shop Farm.
Graham shared stories of farm life during the war. He spoke about the working horses on the farm—they had seven in total: one Shire and six Clydesdales. The first combine harvester arrived in 1953. Before that, the young men would sharpen their scythes and work in the fields for up to 12 hours straight.
He also recounted how close the N***s came during the Coventry Blitz. On that night, German aircraft were flying low along the coastline, terrorizing locals. Graham’s grandfather was in the yard bringing in the horses when a German plane swooped down, firing shots. This led to a dramatic chase around a giant stack in the yard before the plane finally flew over the barn. Another shot narrowly missed Graham’s grandmother, who was putting the goats away—she fell and broke a finger, which remained angled at 45 degrees.
After the Land Girls left, the government sent prisoners of war to work on the farm, both German and Italian. The Germans were diligent and productive, often producing heavy loads of crops that brought in extra revenue. The Italians, however, were less enthusiastic; some would find a hay bale, take a seat, and sing like Pavarotti instead of working, much to the amusement of the farmers.
These stories evoked fond memories for John, who remembered his farm horse, ‘Kidney.’ They retired Kidney in their own field to ensure he was well looked after in old age. Kidney was also remarkably patient when being harnessed—far more so than the other horses.
