Today we are looking at an article published in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald on April 19th 1973. But it is about an event which took place in 1916 – the first use of a tractor in South West England.
The tractor was being trialled by T H White and Co, originally a Market Lavington company and the 1973 article was to mark the company moving into newer premises in Devizes.
Back in 1916, a tractor was clearly worthy of a photo and here is the photo, as published in 1973.
The first tractor in the West of England – Market Lavington, 1916
We are reminded, of course, of how much newspaper technology has moved on in the last 40 years. But the caption is clear to read.
The article was written by T J Witchell who was an apprentice with T H Whites back in 1916. It’s well worth a read.
Click the image to see a larger version
Of course, the Market Lavington interest is that Mr Watts was the farmer at Church Farm. Does this mean Knapp Farm?
Now we’d love a real copy of that photo. Has anybody got one they could let us copy?
Tags: 1916, 1973, Agriculture, farming, tractor
Market Lavington Museum 
June 26, 2015 at 8:54 pm |
When my father moved to grove farm he took over after a Mr watts,who was the last Tennant. The farm was owned by Mr Henry Davis of Nap farm,so perhaps Mr watts owned nap farm before Mr Davis, I don’t think grove farm was big enough to think of owning a tractor,but nap farm possibly was.just a guess?.
June 27, 2015 at 5:30 am |
Thanks Phil.
I think this was just a demo – and said to be at Church Farm. Was Grove Farm ever Church Farm or could it have been a farm based around the Vicarage?
Rog