Bardwell Threshing Day October 2022
 

The Wheeler family held another very successful threshing day at Bardwell in Suffolk today. Wheat grown by them was threshed out to provide straw for thatching and grain for their windmill.

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There were two sets at work. The Wheeler family's Ruston & Hornsby 'Oliver' was driving their recently acquired Foster drum, while Stuart Hines' Fowell 'Percy' powered their original one.

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Alan Hines' Robey showman's tractor 'Bathsheba' was also in attendance.
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Musical entertainment was provided by this Dutch street organ from the nearby Grange Musical Collection.
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This interesting R Hornsby & Sons portable was also in steam.
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The Wheeler family and friends.
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And the beneficiary of the day.
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Thanks to everyone involved. A really nice, informal, day out - as usual!
Bill.

Thank you Bill for recording the day and sharing the pictures. It certainly was an enjoyable day and was helped by the weather which was superb.

Many thanks to all those involved in the day, without their help and support the event would not happen. As can be seen in Bills group picture, many hands make light work! Mum, now 92 going on 93, thoroughly enjoyed the day as can be seen!

The Foster drum is a 60" wide model from 1937. It is a true 'barn find' from Essex which is believed to have been last out in 1976, and last used at the Burrell Reunion which was 50 years ago. The drum was new to Lord Rayleigh, from Terling near Chelmsford. It came to life from its slumber relatively well, and due to its size was hungry and kept the owner and feeder (son Daniel) on his toes! The biggest issue is one wooden rear wheel, which almost let us down over the 11 mile road journey to Bardwell, which was undertaken at a snails pace behind Oliver...

The threshed wheat has been ground into flour and is available from the Windmill. The straw has gone to a thatcher. Te chaff and calder has gone for animal feed and bedding. Nothing is wasted!

With the big shows showing signs of doubt, smaller events like this may well be the future...

All proceeds went to financing further work on the mill.

BW JW