Cidermaking

Campden was known for its cherry orchards, but like the rest of Gloucestershire and the ‘Three Counties’ (with Worcestershire and Herefordshire) homemade cider would have been the staple drink.

The photograph shows men standing in front of the ‘scratter’ – the machine that pulps the apples before they are put into cloths (‘cheeses’) for pressing.  On the far left hand side is the cider press, with the ‘cheeses’ full of pulped apple, ready to be pressed for the juice.  It looks as though the ‘scratter’ is steam-driven; you can see the traction engine on the far right.  It’s probably November, judging by the tree and the fact that cider-making is an Autumn activity.

The photograph was taken around the turn of the twentieth century at Izod’s farm in Westington.  The man in the bowler hat is Mr Coldicott, with Nathaniel Izod on his right and Jack Marles the man on crutches in the centre.  In front of the traction engine are Charles Izod, George Stowe and Harry Newman.  (photograph: Fred Coldicutt)