This film is part of Free

Ploughing Matches at Ivington and Cholstrey

Competing farmers show off their ploughing skills; one of the finer arts of farming.

Amateur film 1953 10 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

Two ploughing matches in Herefordshire captured on film by Frank Dale of Leominster. Firstly we are in Ivington (the black and white section of the reel) and secondly at Cholstrey. It is nice to see that some farmers still use horses to get the job done - indicative of a traditional way of farming that was in decline as tractors became more affordable. The scene at Cholstrey is particularly nostalgic featuring a fine display of hedging and the perennial lure of the beer tent.