There are buildings shown on this
site, where Back Lane crosses Chapel Lane, by 1837. The sitting room
of the present house is believed to have once been a forge. Between
the Wars, Mr Edward Pearce ran his farm and dairy here, after he moved from
Church Farm.
The cows were milked by
hand and unless the cowman was running late the milk delivery boys began
their rounds at 7.00 am and would finish about 8.30 am. Mrs Pearce
worked in the dairy too and during the winter her hands would be purple from
cold when fitting the bottle tops. The milk bikes had a wire basket on
the front that took 20 bottles; the bottles were marked “EWP” and had
cardboard tops. Quart bottles were also available and would be carried
in a raffia bag. After finishing their rounds, the milk boys were
given a cup of tea and a
cake before going off to school. They earned 2d (two old pence) per hour
and took turns to do the afternoon round, which was shorter (just around the
village). Boys had to be 11 before they were allowed to take jobs like
this.
