1953 - Food production still paramount, current chairman took tenancy
Our Chairman took complete responsibility in 1953, purchased the live and dead stock from his grandfather's executors, and took a tenancy from the Lowther Estate of the whole 3000 acres.
Food production was, nationally, still paramount in 1953 and government encouragement was immense. Drainage and land use decisions were the first priority. Areas where there no humus remained, mostly hillsides that had been denuded by the tanks, were planted with tree crops. Cottages and farm buildings were erected including winter housing for cattle, and tile drainage schemes were undertaken; all because the area had been designated for beef production (single suckling cows) and lamb production eligible for livestock rearing grants (L.F.A.). These grants amounted to 50% of the gross cost.
The black-faced sheep gradually went, to be replaced by North Country Cheviots to breed white-faced half-bred gimmer lambs. The choice for suckler cows was Irish - fundamentally Angus type Shorthorn cross - imported for many years, ultimately all replacement heifers, from Eire . Bulls used in those days were Herefords for size and well marbled meat (the consumers' choice in those days) and Angus for the light-weight quality market.
Memorials to the 39/45 military occupation abound:- Churchill House (manager), because the then Prime Minister, together with Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery, and King George VI, reviewed the troops shortly before the 1944 invasion of Europe and stood on some rising ground, on a limb on the eastern edge of the farm, to do so. This was land that had been hardly touched by the tanks until then. The Prime Minister gave his permission for this new house to be named after him.
The area of the Beef Farm, which the ex-military area had become, was fenced down into fields of approximately 40 acres. One is named Hudson 's Bank to commemorate our one shepherd who was allowed in the farm when the military were there. Most of the road network is the army's doing (a short stretch was built by Italian P.O.W.'s under the War Ag regime). The permanent grass mixture at 1000 feet which was devised all those years ago by D T Adam still stands the test of time.
At the Home Farm dairy buildings were erected (the old "model" 18th Century buildings disappeared into the M6 foundations); the dairy Shorthorns were increased to 52 cows, silage put in its appearance, and in due course Friesians took their place and were increased to 240 cows.
Food production was, nationally, still paramount in 1953 and government encouragement was immense. Drainage and land use decisions were the first priority. Areas where there no humus remained, mostly hillsides that had been denuded by the tanks, were planted with tree crops. Cottages and farm buildings were erected including winter housing for cattle, and tile drainage schemes were undertaken; all because the area had been designated for beef production (single suckling cows) and lamb production eligible for livestock rearing grants (L.F.A.). These grants amounted to 50% of the gross cost.
The black-faced sheep gradually went, to be replaced by North Country Cheviots to breed white-faced half-bred gimmer lambs. The choice for suckler cows was Irish - fundamentally Angus type Shorthorn cross - imported for many years, ultimately all replacement heifers, from Eire . Bulls used in those days were Herefords for size and well marbled meat (the consumers' choice in those days) and Angus for the light-weight quality market.
Memorials to the 39/45 military occupation abound:- Churchill House (manager), because the then Prime Minister, together with Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery, and King George VI, reviewed the troops shortly before the 1944 invasion of Europe and stood on some rising ground, on a limb on the eastern edge of the farm, to do so. This was land that had been hardly touched by the tanks until then. The Prime Minister gave his permission for this new house to be named after him.
The area of the Beef Farm, which the ex-military area had become, was fenced down into fields of approximately 40 acres. One is named Hudson 's Bank to commemorate our one shepherd who was allowed in the farm when the military were there. Most of the road network is the army's doing (a short stretch was built by Italian P.O.W.'s under the War Ag regime). The permanent grass mixture at 1000 feet which was devised all those years ago by D T Adam still stands the test of time.
At the Home Farm dairy buildings were erected (the old "model" 18th Century buildings disappeared into the M6 foundations); the dairy Shorthorns were increased to 52 cows, silage put in its appearance, and in due course Friesians took their place and were increased to 240 cows.