Agricultural Society

Ploughing Match

The 4th Annual Meeting was held on 8 Oct 1841.

At 8 am, 21 teams assembled for a ploughing match in fields belonging to Mr John George at Denford.

The prize of £2.10s for the double team with wheels was won by W Litchfield, ploughman to Rev John Sergeant while Joseph Kinsley won a similar prize for the double team without wheels. There were also prizes for single teams with and without wheels.

Mr George ” with his accustomed liberality paid 10s per acre into the funds for the ploughing”.

Followed by a Dinner

At 4 o’clock , 40 – 50 gents had dinner at the Fox. The health of the Duke of Dorset was drunk.

As well as prizes to the ploughmen, there were other presentations including:

• Thomas Sawford, labourer to the Duke of Dorset,who had brought up 9 children without parochial assistance  (£2);
• John Lovell, for 50 years service on the estate of Thomas Burton  (£2);
• Ephraim Mays, 28 years with Mr W Selby  (£1)
• Samuel Kirby, received £1.10s as a subscriber for 40 years to a Friendly Society.

Note:

The Duke of Dorset

Charles Sackville-Germain, 5th Duke of Dorset KG PC, a politician and a member of the Privy Council.

He died childless in 1843 and the title became extinct. His memorial is in  St Peter’s Church, Lowick.

Reference:

Northampton Mercury 23 Oct 1841)