Cost of Haymaking at Grandpont Farm, Oxford in July 1898:

Phil’s History:

A ‘work in progress’ family history website starting from an Archer family of South Oxford, who were freemen, brewers, haulage contractors, and first ‘Archer & Co’ then ‘Archer Cowley & Co’ furniture removers in the 19th and 20th Centuries, inter alia, to whom are linked by marriage the Penfolds and Wells of Southwark and Surrey, the Reeds of Devon, the Gilders of Oxford and Hinckley, the Morgans of Petworth, Sussex, the Garners of Middleton, Lancs and many others. There are connections via Phil and the present generation (born 1930s/40s) with a patent law firm known as "UD&L" with motor-racing and Scottish antecedents.

This bill of costs has been identified (in WGRA’s handwriting) as having the purpose of: “To show the cost of Hay Making at Grandpont Farm”:

The bill is from Ashwood & Son, Coal Merchants, of Littlemore, Oxon, and the bill is to Messrs Archer & Co, Oxford.

The items stretch from June 18th to July 7th 1898, and, comprising itemised costings for men and horses, are summed as “239 hours”, and WGRA has apparently written (in blue ink) at the RHS foot of the page: “See over”, presumably for the actual cost in £sd. But as of today (13.9.2017, which is 119 years and about 2 months later) I have not photographed “over” in order to be able to show how much it all came to. I could go and look at the original to do so. And I certainly ‘intend’ to get back to the original to photogrph the other side and add it to this record, but I have to admit a feeling of unease about whether life is long enough to be able to get to these tasks before some ‘change’ strikes and prevents me doing so. We shall see. You will see, dear reader (if any).

Phil’s History:

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Cost of Haymaking at Grandpont Farm, Oxford in July 1898: