Life and Tradition in Suffolk

I recently came across this book by Norman Smedly: Life and Tradition in SUFFOLK and NORTH-EAST ESSEX. It was published in 1976. 

Norman Smedley was an archaeologist and museum director, notably of the Abbotts Hall Museum aka Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket, Suffolk (now the Food Museum). He established a large collection of farm implements and was particularly interested in Suffolk's rural heritage.

In this book a range of rural crafts and practices are detailed with reference to the tools that were used. Farming practices in pre-mechanisation days are described as well as the work of  the farrier, cooper, thatcher, saddler, cobbler, brick maker, basket maker, flint knapper, wheelwright, a number domestic tasks, and many more. The chapter on buildings and building materials was very interesting given the absence of stone sources in Suffolk. Written in the 1970s it was possible to interview and, in many instances, often observe prractitoners of these trades at work.

Here are a few photos copied from the book.

Mechanisation, mass production, socio-economc imperatives and convenience have overtaken many of these skills but some still exist. Now they are often specialist service providers rather than being an essential presence in virtually every village.

New litter

We had a new litter of Saddleback piglets yesterday evening. Ten born and they seem to be doing well. In the photo below you can make out a straw barrier mum had built to keep her babies close. Picture was taken when they are about one hour old. One of the piglets already took advantage of the upper deck.

The resilience of Winter Aconites

The first Winter Aconites are a beacon of woodland beauty even in a gloomy January. They are in a small wooded area; and some daffodil shoots are showing through too. The long-term presence of this independent-minded flower is something to admire and respect.   

But their dominating neighbour is a large poplar tree. The poplars along here are continually threatening to expand their territory and colonise the area. Its a threat that the aconites, daffodils snow drops and other peace-loving plants have to regularly contend with. The poplars send out thuggish suckers to intimidate the surrounding plants even though ultimately they share the same ecosystem. 

However, the poplars' behaviour has long been bounded by established management routines that oversee the area and aspire to promote balance and harmony so that all get along together in partnership. Even if these rules ever get over-ridden by the poplars the aconites are resilient enough to survive one way or another.

The poplars undoubtedly cause a lot of havoc, often in unexpected places. Of course, they are not all bad but just because the they provide some summer shade you'd think they expect a prize for this one thing whatever else they do.