Join us at Step Back in Time

At Step Back in Time come and view the way the farming world has progressed, from horse power to modern diesel power.  Our show has working horses for ploughing and cultivating (meaning the farmer has to walk with his horse working as a team).  There are alos show horses which are paraded and judged.

The Heavy Horses

Besides the different jobs on the land and the usual agricultural implements, horses provided the power for a variety of static appliances such as water pumps, stationary threshers, root cutters and haylifts.  All these required the services of either a horse, a pony or even a donkey to perform the boring job of walking endlessly in circles.

Today there is really no place for horses on the land.  Even the few jobs such as working in the confined rows of fruit or hop gardens - at one time the prerogative of the horse - have now been mechanised, and for all the heavy work the tractor has long since superceded the horse.  Fortunately there are still a number of enthusiasts in Great Britain who enjoy working with horses and this has saved the heavy horse breeds from complete extinction.  Indeed, by means of classes for heavy horses at agricultural shows there remains a demand both in England, as well as overseas, for heavy horses.

Horticultural machinery and vehicles

See the Steam engine which hissed and puffed but could actually be driven by the workman / farmer.  Look out for the working steam engines at our show.  These engines were made for agricultural use such as winch ploughing, pulling out timber and hauling heavy loads on the roads, but they were costly to run (needing coal, water and wood) and took a fair time to get up steam.

A big change took place in the 1930-40's when tractors started to appear on the farms, the Fordson Standards and the little Grey Ferguson's are mostly remembered.  These machines ran on petrol and TVO (Tractor Vaporising Oil) ans some even had self starters.  Then followed the Landrovers which had developed 4-wheel drive and some cover to protect the driver.  Another change came with the Ferguson's which had 3 point linkage which enabled an implement to be carried as well as towed.  In the early 1950's diesel power came along allowing bigger engines and implements, many of which will be seen working at the show.

In farm harvesting the early Scythes and Reapers were replaced by Threshers which in turn were replaced by Combine Harvesters, at first with petrol TVO engines by soon progressing to diesel.  The hay making which had needed the help of horses soon became lot easier using Tractor drawn mowers, hay turners and eventually the pick up baler.