Ryhope Farming
Ryhope has always had close links with Farming. Many motorists commuting to and from Sunderland along the former A19 (now the A1018) will recall that right until the 1970s, having to patiently wait as the Dairy herd came into the top of the Village from the surrounding fields to the milking parlours of the Smith family of Willow Farm
Meanwhile at the opposite end of the village at Town Farm, the Dairy Herd of the Davidson family, had a direct route from the milking parlours to Sands Lane leading on to their salt sprayed cliff top pastures, opposite the beach fields. Here the cows would only halt any families returning home after having spent the day at the beach. All of which was oblivious to the motorists who were commuting to and from Seaham along the B1287.
Encountering the cows as they emerged through the tunnel, was akin to scenes from the cattle drives, viewed in the latest John Wayne film, shown at the local picture house "The Grand," at least it did in my young cowboy eyes.
The exodus of families from the beach was prompted by the coming and going of the tide, forcing families either onto the beach field to continue their days fun or heading home with an eye on the time, so as not to encounter the cattle drive in the middle of the tunnel.
The Davidson family have retired from farming and moved from Town Farm, but they have not retired from Village life as the move from Town Farm has only took them up the Village to South Farm.
Retired farmer Mr. Alan Davidson recalls being told by his Grandfather that when he first moved into Town Farm from nearby Seaham Grange, at the turn of the Twentieth Century, that there was a total of Eight Farms, around the Three sided Village Green, testamount to the age old tradition of Farming in the Ryhope area.
Now as we enter the Twenty First Century farming in Ryhope comes to a close at Willow Farm. Many thanks to the Smith, Davidson and all the other farming families for there hard work over the years, so no more cowboy dreams of Ryhope cattle drives for young Generation eyes!
Town Farm
Town Farm
The Greenshields family c1900
Fred
Seymour
c1928
A. Davidson &Son 1962
High
Farm Ada
Davidson 1900 - 1931
Albert
Davidson
1931 -1962
Alan
Davidson 1962 -1992
South Farm
the Lee
Family c 1900
the Smith
Family
c 1928
Cliff Smith
David Smith
Willow Farm
Willow Farm the
Smith
Family
c 1928
Cliff
Smith
David
Smith
still in the Smith
family
Laburnum Farm
Snowden's Farm the Snowden Family c 1930 - 1945
10 the Village the Willey Family c 1930
a Small family farm