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Off the farm, he had many interests, with his family, in the local social community and local ‘Young Farmer’s Clubs’. Initially as a member participating in the various events then on the organising side. He followed in his fathers footsteps in the Lancaster and Morecambe Agricultural Society, as chairman of the Social Committee, as Show Chairman (for 13years; his father had been Show Chairman for 10 years), and finally as the President.
When his barn was not being used for milk production, he allowed It to be used for many social events, in support of the Lancaster and Morecambe Agricultural Show. He was Lancaster branch Chairman of St John's Ambulance Sitting Car; Lancaster Mason’s Lodges becoming Master in one and went on to get provincial honours ; as a member of the Lancaster Rotary Club, he organised Harness Racing at the village of Overton for the club charity a/c for many years ; Royal Lancashire Agricultural Soc.Council Member and Head Sheep Steward for many years; Governor at the Lancaster Friends School ; |
Brian (Show President) and Margaret with te Lancaster and Morecambe Show Committee the Major and other dignitaries at the Cross Hill Show ground
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The following is a transcription of Brian’s handwritten notes for a talk that he gave in his later life, he does not say to whom. At the end of these notes he makes a direct appeal for donations to the Lancaster Show. In the event they were crossed out and he obviously decided that it would be rather unseemly.
It is assumed that the speech would have been to The Round Table.
It is assumed that the speech would have been to The Round Table.
THE MACKERETH’s, WATERSIDE AND AGRICULTURE
by Brian Mackereth
I should just like to say why I decided to talk to you about the Mackereth’s, Waterside and Agriculture, and hope that I will not bore you. I have been led to believe that the person who speaks the shortest gets the biggest cheer. I must say at the outset that I have not spoken for years to anybody, I am not a practiced speaker but will do my best. As you all know I have had an operation and am now the possessor of a ‘ steel hip joint ‘.
In my research, my first step was to obtain a copy of the 1841 /1881 Census of the Mackereth’s in Westmorland from Kendal/Ulverston. This stated that Richard Mackereth, born at Hutton in the Hay (now New Hutton), and wife Sarah, born at Beetham, came to Waterside before 1851 (130 years ago) and we have been here ever since.
Richard Mackereth’s first job, when he came to Waterside Farm, was to reorganise all the fields, plant new hedges etc.. This he had done by 1876 and, in 1877, he entered a competition for the best managed dairy and stock farm for which he won £40 first prize. This was reported, in the Agricultural Gazette of the 6th August 1877, that the farm was run by 3 sons and 1 daughter and 1 labourer, wages £1/ week .
I must say that even in 1877 they knew about nitrogen, it was put on the land as nitro soda or sulphate of ammonia and then there was bone manure. They said take care not to impoverish the land by putting on to much nitrogen. It also stated that fat lambs were sold for 37 shillings each and cows, from certain hints, to be from £12 to £20 each.
Richard Mackereth was again visited by the Agricultural Gazette 3yrs later, in 1880, on their way to the Carlisle Show and they stayed overnight at the County Hotel in Lancaster. (They stated that it is the best country hotel that they stop at.) The paper stated that Mr Mackereth won 1st prize for cheese at Manchester and it sold for 80 shillings per cwt. The last paragraph stated that "the whole stock appears to be thriving and evidently well cared for, the farm is neatly kept and profitably managed by the combined well directed industry of all members of the family. Mr Mackereth has given his children a fair education and amongst the furniture a brand new harmonium - a sign that culture and recreation are not wholly forgotten. Bad indeed will be the future of British agriculture if farmers of the stamp of Mr Mackereth are unable to hold their own and reap a due return for their industry and intelligence." Signed W.T.C.
by Brian Mackereth
I should just like to say why I decided to talk to you about the Mackereth’s, Waterside and Agriculture, and hope that I will not bore you. I have been led to believe that the person who speaks the shortest gets the biggest cheer. I must say at the outset that I have not spoken for years to anybody, I am not a practiced speaker but will do my best. As you all know I have had an operation and am now the possessor of a ‘ steel hip joint ‘.
In my research, my first step was to obtain a copy of the 1841 /1881 Census of the Mackereth’s in Westmorland from Kendal/Ulverston. This stated that Richard Mackereth, born at Hutton in the Hay (now New Hutton), and wife Sarah, born at Beetham, came to Waterside before 1851 (130 years ago) and we have been here ever since.
Richard Mackereth’s first job, when he came to Waterside Farm, was to reorganise all the fields, plant new hedges etc.. This he had done by 1876 and, in 1877, he entered a competition for the best managed dairy and stock farm for which he won £40 first prize. This was reported, in the Agricultural Gazette of the 6th August 1877, that the farm was run by 3 sons and 1 daughter and 1 labourer, wages £1/ week .
I must say that even in 1877 they knew about nitrogen, it was put on the land as nitro soda or sulphate of ammonia and then there was bone manure. They said take care not to impoverish the land by putting on to much nitrogen. It also stated that fat lambs were sold for 37 shillings each and cows, from certain hints, to be from £12 to £20 each.
Richard Mackereth was again visited by the Agricultural Gazette 3yrs later, in 1880, on their way to the Carlisle Show and they stayed overnight at the County Hotel in Lancaster. (They stated that it is the best country hotel that they stop at.) The paper stated that Mr Mackereth won 1st prize for cheese at Manchester and it sold for 80 shillings per cwt. The last paragraph stated that "the whole stock appears to be thriving and evidently well cared for, the farm is neatly kept and profitably managed by the combined well directed industry of all members of the family. Mr Mackereth has given his children a fair education and amongst the furniture a brand new harmonium - a sign that culture and recreation are not wholly forgotten. Bad indeed will be the future of British agriculture if farmers of the stamp of Mr Mackereth are unable to hold their own and reap a due return for their industry and intelligence." Signed W.T.C.
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Lancaster Gazette 2 Mar. 1889
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1890 / 1895
Henry Mackereth was quite a character.
Grange Farm in the Village of Stodday belonged to the Dawson family. Soon after the Dawson’s, who had a son with his Degree in Engineering, hit upon the idea of knocking down Stodday Village and rebuilding it in solid concrete. At the same time, they rebuilt Grange Farmhouse in solid concrete. Henry Mackereth then asked permission, of the Ashton Hall Estate, to go and live there. It was refused and instead they would build a new house at Waterside. This was duly completed early in the year 1895 .
In copying this last paragraph , even I found it quite confusing and so I have added my version of the events at that time , with some back ground , at the end of BRIAN’s talk as a P.S.
Herbert Henry Mackereth my father was born in 1895 at Waterside.
Henry, during his life, was a very keen gardener and bee keeper, it was said that he went Madeira twice. This must have been quite a journey, in those days.
He used to say that you should always kick a lad's backside every time you see him, because he’s either coming out of trouble or thinking of making trouble.
I recently met a man, called Robert Glover, who was at Ripley when it was an orphanage. He gave me the actual reference that my grandfather Henry had given him in 1912, it read as follows:-
Henry Mackereth was quite a character.
Grange Farm in the Village of Stodday belonged to the Dawson family. Soon after the Dawson’s, who had a son with his Degree in Engineering, hit upon the idea of knocking down Stodday Village and rebuilding it in solid concrete. At the same time, they rebuilt Grange Farmhouse in solid concrete. Henry Mackereth then asked permission, of the Ashton Hall Estate, to go and live there. It was refused and instead they would build a new house at Waterside. This was duly completed early in the year 1895 .
In copying this last paragraph , even I found it quite confusing and so I have added my version of the events at that time , with some back ground , at the end of BRIAN’s talk as a P.S.
Herbert Henry Mackereth my father was born in 1895 at Waterside.
Henry, during his life, was a very keen gardener and bee keeper, it was said that he went Madeira twice. This must have been quite a journey, in those days.
He used to say that you should always kick a lad's backside every time you see him, because he’s either coming out of trouble or thinking of making trouble.
I recently met a man, called Robert Glover, who was at Ripley when it was an orphanage. He gave me the actual reference that my grandfather Henry had given him in 1912, it read as follows:-
I was showing this reference to my Uncle Billy Mackereth, he said father Henry could not write and that it would have been written by Grandma Annie.
Grandfather kept winning farm prizes, in 1894 he was awarded a certificate at the Royal Lancashire Show held at Bolton for mangles and swedes etc..
Grandfather retired to Brookfield House, Hala Rd, Scotforth before moving to Ashton House, Lonsdale Avenue, Bare, nr. Morecambe, where he lived for many years. After loosing Grandma he came back to Waterside and died in 1963 and was buried in Scotforth Cemetery.
My father Herbert Henry Mackereth took over Waterside in about 1918 after he had married Hilda Hall, on 17 September 1919, the daughter of Councillor Richard Hall of Torrisholme Hall Farm, who was Mayor of Morecambe about 1925. By the way, Councillor Hall sold a cow called ‘Bare Charm‘ to the Duke of Westminster in 1924 and it was eventually sold to go to America for £1000. Alderman Hall died of a heart attack in 1928.
My father gave up Grange Farm and continued with Waterside .
After the death of Lord Ashton (James Williamson), we took over half of Ashton Park. The deer having been shot, they were dragged by teams of horses in to a mass grave at ‘Nans Buck’s’. Eventually the whole estate was sold, William Pye buying all the farms; but Ashton Hall was withdrawn and bought later. We continued under the landlord of Mr William Pye, but eventually they made us give it up (note by Maurice: I presume Brian is referring to Ashton Hall Park ) to make way for the golf course. That was in 1932 .
Father H.H.Mackereth, during his years, was chairman of the Agricultural Committee formed in 1938 and was responsible for food production in this district. After the war he took over as Chairman of the then Lancaster Show.
About 1954 Father retired and I took over and it soon became apparent to me that things had to change. After being educated at the Friends Society School under J. Dodds Drummond, I left and went to the Agricultural College at Hutton, leaving on or about 1937 .
After visiting farms in Cheshire and Yorkshire, John Park and myself set about (with the help of F. W. Nelson (note by Maurice: Mr Nelson was a Lancaster builder) to bring Waterside Farm right up to date. So by 1958 we at Waterside were making headlines in the farming press. We found ourselves in the centre of a most interesting period of my life. Some said I had gone completely mad and needing locking up at the Royal Albert (Maurice notes: The Royal Albert was a local Institution for the mentally unbalanced). We then sold all stock except the dairy cattle and their replacement.
We decided the only way to succeed was to specialise and this we did. Nobody at that time heard of a farmer going to buy a dozen eggs, but that was me. I always remember father asking me if I really believed in what I was doing , I said I did – no half measures. He said then get on with it then . This over 28 years ago and farms are still being altered today . We virtually installed conveyor belt farming so long ago.
A few years later, W &J Pye wanted to build a new mill and required capital, so they sold all their farms to their tenants. I bought Waterside, and after that I had to go careful for quite a while .
Grandfather kept winning farm prizes, in 1894 he was awarded a certificate at the Royal Lancashire Show held at Bolton for mangles and swedes etc..
Grandfather retired to Brookfield House, Hala Rd, Scotforth before moving to Ashton House, Lonsdale Avenue, Bare, nr. Morecambe, where he lived for many years. After loosing Grandma he came back to Waterside and died in 1963 and was buried in Scotforth Cemetery.
My father Herbert Henry Mackereth took over Waterside in about 1918 after he had married Hilda Hall, on 17 September 1919, the daughter of Councillor Richard Hall of Torrisholme Hall Farm, who was Mayor of Morecambe about 1925. By the way, Councillor Hall sold a cow called ‘Bare Charm‘ to the Duke of Westminster in 1924 and it was eventually sold to go to America for £1000. Alderman Hall died of a heart attack in 1928.
My father gave up Grange Farm and continued with Waterside .
After the death of Lord Ashton (James Williamson), we took over half of Ashton Park. The deer having been shot, they were dragged by teams of horses in to a mass grave at ‘Nans Buck’s’. Eventually the whole estate was sold, William Pye buying all the farms; but Ashton Hall was withdrawn and bought later. We continued under the landlord of Mr William Pye, but eventually they made us give it up (note by Maurice: I presume Brian is referring to Ashton Hall Park ) to make way for the golf course. That was in 1932 .
Father H.H.Mackereth, during his years, was chairman of the Agricultural Committee formed in 1938 and was responsible for food production in this district. After the war he took over as Chairman of the then Lancaster Show.
About 1954 Father retired and I took over and it soon became apparent to me that things had to change. After being educated at the Friends Society School under J. Dodds Drummond, I left and went to the Agricultural College at Hutton, leaving on or about 1937 .
After visiting farms in Cheshire and Yorkshire, John Park and myself set about (with the help of F. W. Nelson (note by Maurice: Mr Nelson was a Lancaster builder) to bring Waterside Farm right up to date. So by 1958 we at Waterside were making headlines in the farming press. We found ourselves in the centre of a most interesting period of my life. Some said I had gone completely mad and needing locking up at the Royal Albert (Maurice notes: The Royal Albert was a local Institution for the mentally unbalanced). We then sold all stock except the dairy cattle and their replacement.
We decided the only way to succeed was to specialise and this we did. Nobody at that time heard of a farmer going to buy a dozen eggs, but that was me. I always remember father asking me if I really believed in what I was doing , I said I did – no half measures. He said then get on with it then . This over 28 years ago and farms are still being altered today . We virtually installed conveyor belt farming so long ago.
A few years later, W &J Pye wanted to build a new mill and required capital, so they sold all their farms to their tenants. I bought Waterside, and after that I had to go careful for quite a while .
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I have had a busy life, spent my youth with ‘ Lancaster Young Farmers‘ and when I was 25 years old I joined the Lancaster Show Social Committee until 1970 when I took over as Chairman and rechristened the show Lancaster and Morecambe Agricultural Society and bought Cross – Hill Park as a permanent home for the show. I was founder member of Fylde Farmers Club; a member of the Council of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show, a member of Rotary; President of St. Johns Ambulance Section; a School Manager at Glasson Dock.
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Brian and margaret when he was President of Lancaster and Morecambe Agricultural Show with the Mayor and Show Officials.
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This is the part which Brian crossed out in his notes for his talk and I am guessing that he did not include them .
Most people run away when they see me coming because I am always wanting money . At this time Rotary Trot, which is my baby, is endeavouring to raise £1000 for the Lancaster Show. I make a special appeal to you for help for the show. It is the biggest one day event that is put on locally at no expense to the rate payers for £1 admission, 50p for children and O A P ‘s.
A family man from Stockport wrote and told me, no sex films, no sex shops, somewhere I can turn my kids loose, the best day out for a family and he said I hope and pray that your society be given the money to carry on .
That letter convinced me that all the effort that goes into it, is worthwhile. I have been chairman for 11 years and now you know why.
To continue with Brian's talk :-
My family have always supported me with everything I have done .
I married Margaret Gibson, a State Registered Nurse, in 1954 and we have two children Andrew, who now manages the farm, and Lynn, who after gaining a Degree, has spent the last five years in South Wales but has now moved up to Ashton under Lyne, where she is a Domestic Service Manager at Tameside District Hospital and District Advisor for the Tameside area.
Most people run away when they see me coming because I am always wanting money . At this time Rotary Trot, which is my baby, is endeavouring to raise £1000 for the Lancaster Show. I make a special appeal to you for help for the show. It is the biggest one day event that is put on locally at no expense to the rate payers for £1 admission, 50p for children and O A P ‘s.
A family man from Stockport wrote and told me, no sex films, no sex shops, somewhere I can turn my kids loose, the best day out for a family and he said I hope and pray that your society be given the money to carry on .
That letter convinced me that all the effort that goes into it, is worthwhile. I have been chairman for 11 years and now you know why.
To continue with Brian's talk :-
My family have always supported me with everything I have done .
I married Margaret Gibson, a State Registered Nurse, in 1954 and we have two children Andrew, who now manages the farm, and Lynn, who after gaining a Degree, has spent the last five years in South Wales but has now moved up to Ashton under Lyne, where she is a Domestic Service Manager at Tameside District Hospital and District Advisor for the Tameside area.
A post script by Maurice
"The back ground to the incident to which Brian has referred: that of Henry Mackereth requesting permission to live at Stodday Grange Farmhouse.
"The villages of Stodday and Aldcliffe are about 1 mile apart, on the south west side of Lancaster.
In the1890s, the principal land owners were the Dawson family, living in Aldcliffe, and the Ashton Hall Estate, who owned Waterside Farm.
"The Dawson Family owned Stodday village and the rebuilding project referred to by Brian, of Stodday and Grange Farmhouse in concrete, was during a time when their was no tenant farmer at Grange Farm.
"This was a major incident in the story of the Mackereths, and Waterside, as a result of which the Ashton Hall Estate agreed to build a minor mansion at the same time as Stodday Grange farmhouse was being rebuilt.
"It seems to me fairly obviously that Henry saw his opportunity to use his natural farmers whiles to obtain what the Mackereths had needed for more than 40 years, that is decent accommodation. No doubt there was a degree of competition between the two estates. This was backed up by the various newspaper reports about the excellent farming abilities of the Mackereths despite their inadequate accommodation."
"The back ground to the incident to which Brian has referred: that of Henry Mackereth requesting permission to live at Stodday Grange Farmhouse.
"The villages of Stodday and Aldcliffe are about 1 mile apart, on the south west side of Lancaster.
In the1890s, the principal land owners were the Dawson family, living in Aldcliffe, and the Ashton Hall Estate, who owned Waterside Farm.
"The Dawson Family owned Stodday village and the rebuilding project referred to by Brian, of Stodday and Grange Farmhouse in concrete, was during a time when their was no tenant farmer at Grange Farm.
"This was a major incident in the story of the Mackereths, and Waterside, as a result of which the Ashton Hall Estate agreed to build a minor mansion at the same time as Stodday Grange farmhouse was being rebuilt.
"It seems to me fairly obviously that Henry saw his opportunity to use his natural farmers whiles to obtain what the Mackereths had needed for more than 40 years, that is decent accommodation. No doubt there was a degree of competition between the two estates. This was backed up by the various newspaper reports about the excellent farming abilities of the Mackereths despite their inadequate accommodation."
