Compiled by Caroline Gould, February 2003
In 1901 the donor's family moved from Salop to Berkshire. Although the donor's grandfather had been a grocer in Wigan, his father expressed a wish to take up farming and occupied a farm at Crook, Lancashire. He possessed ample capital and after inspecting four farms in the South, decided to accept the tenancy of Radley Farm. On his marriage in 1906, he moved to Windingwood Farm and at the end of the first world war his younger brother took possession of Wickfield Farm nearby. Subsequently Knighton Farm was held jointly by the brothers. During the depression, the partnership lapsed and each brother continued on his own account. The donor's grandfather retained Radley Farm, his father Knighton Farm and his mother Wickfield Farm. His father took over Radley Farm and Clapton Farm in 1934. The farms were mainly arable, with pigs, 150 ewes and some calf heifers. From the end of the first world war until 1946 the family undertook contracts. In 1905-1906 the donor's father paid a visit to Canada
Farm size: Clapton Farm, 550 acres; Kingston Farm, 350 acres, Radley Farm, 630 acres; Wickfield Farm, 300 acres; Windingwood Farm, 350 acres; Chalk soil; at first part of the Inglewood Estate, then the Sutton Estate.
Contains: sale catalogue of livestock for sale at the Marlborough Fair, Wiltshire 1921-1930; farm diaries of Radley Farm and Windingwood Farm, Hungerford, Berkshire 1906-1941; bank pass books of Thomas Woosman Gore 1905-1911, 1931-1942; valuations for stocktaking of Windingwood Farm, Hungerford, Berkshire 1918-1919
1. CATALOGUES
2. DIARIES
Presented on permanent loan by I T M Gore (Farm Records Accession Number 398)
Open for consultation
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A detailed catalogue is available at the Museum of English Rural Life