Ryedale Folk Museum

MF 35 MF35 in museum workshop, David in background busy with hayturner It was love at first sight  Kev will you behave? I thought that this deserved a blog post of it's own - Kev's new love affair, his 1959/60 MF 35. it really is a nice tractor and in excellent condition. Wendy has now got competition for his affections, it's true, I got the photo to prove it heh heh. Jonathan S

Found these photos from Novermber of ongoing restoration of various implements at the museum and Kevin Sims and his office assistant. Don't sit back Kev ! George finishing off the canopy of one of the museum's carts George Nutt and Jonathan with the finished cart                                           Ransomes of Ipswich potato spinner gearbox As above, we gave it a good coating of oil to prevent further deterioration and freed any seized components.  Wendy with a 21st century wheelbarrow John Nicoll & David Muncey wire brushing the Lister hayrake

Today the museum hosted yet another highly popular Tractor and Engine Day. Many machines were on display, but what I found most interesting were the traps; man traps, gin traps, badger traps. All now illegal to use, but a reminder of how things were done years ago before the advent of the electronic burglar alarm. Featured in the tractor run in (pole position) was our Museum Manager Kevin Sims on his beloved Fordson Dexta, and on the tandem were 2 museum volunteers, Peter and Jim. Results as follows: Best Engine- Richard Nesver showing a Lister stationary engine.                       Best Tractor- Alan and Pam Nesfield with an International Harvester                              Most Original Tractor - Chris Stevenson with a Field Marshall. Plea...

If you fancy cooking some traditional food after a visit to Ryedale Folk Museum, then the book Ryedale Recipes by Peter Brears is ideal. There was plenty of food around today, Kevin Sims made a ham mushroom and pea pie with jacket spuds in the White Cottage, whilst Peter was busy in Stang End with chicken, bread cheese and vegetables. In the Tudor Crofter's cottage Emma Hirst was cooking small mint pancakes, a joint of bacon and vegetable stew. As yesterday, all was made to a very good standard. Jonathan Severs

Today was tractor Day at Ryedale Folk Museum. Exhibitors from far and wide brought in their prized tractors, stationary engines, implements and vehicles for visitors to see. The museum's Fordson Dexta and Massey Ferguson 135 loader tractor were amongst the exhibits which were all in excellent condition. If it was not for these enthusiasts, the future of these machines would be in doubt. In the years before the advent of the National Grid, it was essential to have a power source on the farm. Initially stationary steam engines were used, and then with oil powered engines, these petrol and paraffin engines were used for a variety of tasks such as generating electricity, pumping water, powering milking machines and milling grain. At 2p.m, the tractors drove through the museum grounds and did a loop round Hutton-le-Hole. I was very fortunate to have a pillion ride on the 1950's B.S.A B31, owned by museum volunteer Jim Wood. There's nothing like the sound of a British motorcycle....

After much hard work, the new machinery shed at the museum is completed. Kevin, the Museum Manager is pictured here aboard a wheel driven Bamlett grasscutter. The Soay sheep at the museum have yielded 5 lambs from 4 ewes and are in good health. They may be much smaller than the local breeds of sheep such as the Swaledale or the crossbred Mule, but have two major advantages. The first is that they do not need clipping, the fleece just falls off, the second is that they do not suffer from the common affliction of footrot.