Ryedale Folk Museum

Volunteers and staff at the museum have been busy recently making some reproduction cart wheels for the Marshall thresher. This You Tube video shows the process of putting the iron hoop on the wheel in an episode of the B.B.C series Victorian Farm.

From Ryedale Folk Museum Archive & Collection On Sunday October 4th we are having a threshing day at Ryedale Folk Museum. The thresher is a Marshall and was restored by staff and volunteers, come along and have a look. This is just part of a good collection of tractors and implements the museum has from days gone by.

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....

A few more tractors and a threshing machine, most of which you can see at the museum. Watch this space, more to follow. N.B If you didn't know already, Ryedale Folk Museum will be the home of the Harrison Collection, a humungus collection of historical artefacts. Click on this link to go to the Gallery Blog and have a peep http://www.ryedalefolkmuseum.blogspot.com/ . The museum is currently appealing for donations for this, as we need to extend and build, which does not come cheap. Some of the collection is currently on display in the Gallery, so if you are passing Hutton-Le Hole, please pop in and have a look.

Who said we never get proper winters anymore? Horses, once the main source of power on farms were mostly replaced by tractors and combine harvesters in the twentieth century. Before snowploughs and gritters came into existence the horse was responsible for clearing the snow-bound roads. the two photographs above were taken in Hutton-Le Hole. The photographs in this post are from the archive collection at Ryedale Folk Museum. Thery depict some of the tasks that were undertaken by horses such as ploughing, pulling a reaper and potato harvesting. Threshing was mainly done with the aid of a steam engine, but these were gradually phased out with tractors replacing them. This gentleman is demonstrating how corn was threshed before the advent of a horse drawn reaper. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From Everyone at Ryedale Folk Museum.