2012/392/2

Clare's Textiles Ltd. (Manufacturer)

This is the second of two milking coats used when milking cows. This coat shorter than the first and has the appearance almost of overalls with a wrap-over front and a belt which buckles at the front. Both coats were used on the donor, Anne Corbin's, parents' farm, Theale Farm, in Slinfold, near Horsham, in West Sussex. The coats probably ceased to be used in about 1949 as Anne's father gave up milking in 1950 and changed to beef cattle, breeding pedigree Hereford cattle. Anne remembers rearing the calves when she was in the 6th Form at school, before she went to university in Reading in 1950. She also remembers the dirty coats being scrubbed in an old stone sink before being boiled up in an old copper tub as there was no mains electricity until circa 1952. Anne's parents were named Howard and Helen Terrell, and their farm in Slinfold was a mixed farm of approximately 180 acres, on clay soil, with a small, hand-milked, herd of about 20 dairy shorthorn cows. The crops that were grown on the farm included cereals, fodder crops for the cows and grass and hay crops. Anne's father also grew 'Timothy' and 'Cocksfoot' for grass seed, and there was a small Horsham Stone quarry.

1 coat: textile; good condition

Email, Anne Corbin to MERL, 06 November 2012 - 'Dear Greta and Ollie, // Thank you for your replies - I am sending you photos of the two coats - the first three are of the new one, which is called a 'Coverknee' as it has two flaps on the central opening to cover the knees when you are sitting on the milking stool with the bucket between your legs ! That one fastens with two tapes from the back, tied at the front, and it is a 'Utility' model - back view is 010. The other one is more like an overall and has a wrap-over front with a belt around the back fastening to a buckle at the front - we have taken views of both the front and back ! The label is on the new one. // They both came from my parent's dairy farm near Horsham, and would have been used until approximately 1950, when my father gave up milking and changed to beef cattle, breeding pedigree Herefords. // If they are suitable for the Museum, my daughter, Jane, who lives in Bracknell and works for Syngenta, could call in one weekend with one or both - as they are different models they are both quite 'historic' ! // Looking forward to hearing from you - // Anne Corbin', Letter, Anne Corbin to MERL, 15 November 2012 - 'Dear Greta, // Thank you for your letter and the Museum Object Entry Form, which I am returning, with some extra information as requested. I now realise that I should not have referred to one of the coats being a 'Utility model' as all clothing produced during the war had the Utility mark, also, they probably ceased to be used in about 1949 - I remember rearing the calves when I was in the 6th Form, before I went to Reading in 1950. I also remember the dirty coats being scrubbed in an old stone sink before being boiled up in an old copper - no mod.cons. then, mains electricity did not arrive until approx. 1952. // My parents were Howard and Helen Terrell, and they farmed at 'Theale Farm,' Slinfold, Horsham. It was a mixed farm of approximately 180 acres, on clay soil, with a small, hand-milked, herd of about 20 dairy shorthorn cows. Crops grown included cereals, fodder crops for the cows, and of course grass and hay crops. My father also grew 'Timothy' and 'Cocksfoot' for grass seed, and there was a small Horsham Stone quarry. // I hope this extra information wil be of interest - if I can be of any more help please let me know. // Yours sincerely, // Anne Corbin'

1940 - 1950