Exhibitions Online: From the Hazely Brick Earth: Agriculture in North-West Essex

Introduction

From the Hazely Brick Earth: Agriculture in North-West Essex explored rural life and agricultural trades over the past four centuries. Using objects, photographs and film, the exhibition told the story of how people have made their livelihoods from trades such as malting, milling, thatching and saddlery.

Contemporary photographs and film provided by Saffron Drones were shown alongside historic objects, photographs and film from the museum’s extensive agricultural collection. Objects on display included a collection of saddlery tools used by Teddy Worley, a saddler in Saffron Walden in the early 20^th century, a range of agricultural hand tools, and paintings of local rural scenes.

The exhibition included the stories of farmers, tradesmen and scientists who continue to work in these agricultural trades and how they have changed over time. These stories included James Carter, a thatcher in Clavering who continues to use traditional methods, and Dr Christopher Burt, a wheat geneticist at RAGT Seeds in Ickleton who conducts research into wheat varieties.

Leah Mellors, curator of the exhibition, said “Uttlesford has always been, and continues to be, an agricultural district. It was fascinating to learn about the history of this agriculture, the back-breaking work that went into making a living from the land, and to compare it to how things are done today. I am delighted that the museum was able to explore and share this aspect of our district, which is easily forgotten in our modern lives.”

The exhibition was kindly sponsored by RAGT Seeds and NFU Mutual (Saffron Walden).