AN AFTERNOON ON THE FARM
by John Yeo
Today we have made our minds up to visit the farm at the Gressenhall Workhouse situated just outside the town of Dereham in Norfolk. We entered the historic walls of this much studied example of Victorian life in England. As always, I experienced a bi-polar feeling of a love\hate moment as we made our way to the ticket office.
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Our first taste of farming in action was the sight in the distance of a young man working the land with a Suffolk Punch horse. We stopped and chatted with him and he explained he was harrowing the soil, breaking up the dry large clods, ready to sow Barley in this field.
All Images © Copyright John and Margaret ~ All rights reserved
This is the magnificent Suffolk Punch horse who was working very hard when we approached.
Images © Copyright John and Margaret ~ All rights reserved
Images © Copyright John and Margaret ~ Margaret, won his heart with a few kind words and some friendly strokes and pats on his head. The horse had enormous feet and we were standing back as the young man lifted one of his hooves off the floor and pointed out the large metal horseshoes nailed to the horses feet.
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The sun was shining beautifully as we wandered around this very impressive small farm. The farm was started during the workhouse years, to employ some of the inmates and provide some food to help with the running costs and expenses. Next we visited the sheep pens and we watched a couple of lambs gambolling in the field closely guarded by their mothers. Quite a few full grown sheep were nibbling the grass in this field and I made friends with a couple of personable goats.
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We decided to explore a part of the farm that we have never encountered before, and we came across this lovely river flowing at the borders of the farm. A notice board informed us this was a tributary of the River Wensum that flows through Norfolk and there was an interesting list of wildlife to look out for.
We wandered further along the river past some very impressive, very costly property, set well back from the riverbanks. We followed the riverbank path for about half a mile just taking in the scenery.
We finally arrived back at the Workhouse where we enjoyed an excellent lunch and a welcome pot of tea for two.
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved
We finally arrived back at the Workhouse where we enjoyed an excellent lunch and a welcome pot of tea for two.
Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved
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