Four days ago I posted the following picture and text to a historical interest group on Facebook and so far it has received 316 likes and several comments. I believe that the original which I have together with a similar image to be proofs from the Eastbourne photographer that took them.
“The last oxen to work at Exceat Farm near Seaford, East Sussex, indeed the last to have been seriously worked in England were sold on October 15 1925. Their names were Lamb, Leader; Duke, Diamond; Quick, Nimble, all being red Sussex cattle and, Gallant and Goldring which were Welsh Blacks. Curly Pope the ox herder is beside them, the wagon loaded with hurdles for the shepherd.”
The wooden planks out into the pond enabled the carters boy to take the horses out into the pond to remove the mud from the feathering on their legs at the end of their days labour.
Below, I’m adding another image taken at the same spot at Exceat and possibly predating the above 1920’s oxen image?
Viewing from L to R: one of Exceat Farm’s draught horses is being attached by rope in order to pull the forlorn, rather nice car from out the pond (the pond not there nowadays), watched by the cars chauffeur. Beyond, a servant or woman from the nearby cottages watches on as does possibly the lady passenger from the car (who appears to be on her mobile!!). Did the car suffer brake fade descending Exceat Hill, a real problem until about 70 years ago. The present-day Park Centre stands in the background as still do the Phillyria latifolia trees, they both having witnessed many traffic incidents across the years.