Harvest and summer shows honour history of country life
The end of summer has long been synonymous with harvest time and agricultural shows, creating a tapestry of tradition and festivity.
Historically, the harvest has been an integral part of rural life, a labour of love involving the entire community.
In the Middle Ages, there was no machinery, and harvesting had to be done by hand. The men would scythe the crops, like barley and wheat, while the women and children would gather the sheaves and tie them into bundles.
It would culminate in a ‘harvest home’ celebration with food, music and dancing. This time of gratitude and festivity evolved through the years into agriculture shows.
These annual events were also a chance for farmers to parade their finest livestock and served as a showcase of rural life.
Today, they continue to play a crucial role in honouring country life just as they did in years gone by.
These archive images are among more than 6,500 which are available at the County Record Office – where you can browse the collection or buy photos.
If you have any further information about any of the images on this page, our archivists would be keen to hear about it. Please email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.
Mrs Simpson, haymaking at High Platts Farm, Summerbridge, undated. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
A crowd watches the sheep dog trials event at the 1946 Stokesley Show.
Kilnsey Show is one of the most important agricultural shows in the Yorkshire Dales. The event hosts many activities such as dry-stone walling, sheep dog trials and harness racing. Looking down from the top of Kilnsey Crag, 1950s. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Harvesting at Lownethwaite Farm, Richmondshire, 1940s. From a collection of British Council photographs within Richmond District Council records.
Farming at Lownethwaite Farm, Richmondshire, 1940s. From a collection of British Council photographs within Richmond District Council records.
Potato ‘scratters’ (pickers), Dunsforth, 1915. From a collection of photographs by local amateur photographer Louisa Kruckenberg.
Welcome refreshment time during the harvest, Dunsforth, October 1920. From a collection of photographs by local amateur photographer Louisa Kruckenberg.
Threshing with a traction engine, Dunsforth, October 1920. From a collection of photographs by local amateur photographer Louisa Kruckenberg.
Pages from Rosedale School Logbook (1894-1914) for the year 1894 noting absences of children due to harvesting. School holidays would eventually be arranged to coincide with late summer harvesting and potato-picking.
Observations for September, including gathering ripe fruits and hops, and sowing wheat, rye and Winter parsnips and carrots. From the almanack in Thomas Cholmeley's diary, 1717, in the Cholmeley of Brandsby archive.
Wensleydale Show programme, 1980. Part of the Wensleydale Agricultural Show collection, which includes minutes, correspondence, accounts, and programmes (1892-1950s).