LOOKING BACK

A GEM FROM THE ARCHIVE....

DURING THE 1920S HOPS FROM THE MITCHELL ESTATE WERE DRIED IN THE OAST HOUSE AT FOXBURY FARM. HOPS WERE PICKED IN THE HOP GARDENS BEFORE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED IN LARGE HESSIAN SACKS TO BE STORED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE OAST HOUSE. EACH BAG WOULD BE LIFTED BY A PULLEY AND THEN SPREAD OUT IN THE KILNS TO DRY. ONE OF THE ESTATE'S DILIGENT EMPLOYEES, BERT FARMER, WOULD SLEEP IN THE OAST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOPS DIDN'T OVER-DRY. SUCH WAS HIS DEDICATION TO THE ROLE, HIS FAMILY WOULD CARRY HIS MEALS ACROSS THE FIELDS SO THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HIS POSITION.

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